Assassin's Creed Character Takes Center Stage in 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony

Ethan James 29 Jul 2024

The opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics featured a hooded parkour man, a nod to the character Arno from Assassin's Creed Unity. This connection to the popular video game franchise added a unique twist to the event and delighted fans of the series.

The ceremony offered an extensive overview of French culture. Highlights included a beheaded figure, perhaps Marie Antoinette, part of a heavy metal performance, Celine Dion singing from the Eiffel Tower, and a mysterious figure in a white hood leaping across the rooftops of Paris.

Initially, I thought the resemblance to the Assassin's Creed character was merely coincidental. The hood design in the Olympics clip didn't seem identical to the one from the game. However, it turns out the reference was intentional. Ubisoft, the game's publisher, even tweeted about Arno potentially watching from the Parisian rooftops, confirming the connection.

Assassin's Creed Unity, approaching its ten-year anniversary, is remembered for its stunning portrayal of Paris, despite launching with significant bugs that affected its initial reception. Over time, updates have improved the game, and its detailed recreation of Paris remains impressive.

In fact, the in-game data of Notre Dame was utilized for real-life restoration efforts after a devastating fire, highlighting the game's detailed and accurate city design. This makes the Olympics' reference to the game a particularly apt celebration of French culture and the contributions of Ubisoft.

On another note, the Assassin’s Creed Shadows debate reached even the Japanese government, emphasizing that historical fiction is not a primary concern for them.