For the last four years, the team at Ubisoft Montreal behind Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag has been crafting a new beginning for the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

In Assassin’s Creed Origins, the action takes place in Ancient Egypt, the most mysterious place in history, during a crucial period that will shape civilization. Playing as Bayek, a protector of Egypt whose personal story will lead to the creation of the Assassin’s Brotherhood, players will plunge into a living, systemic open world, and discover the secrets behind the Great Pyramids, forgotten myths, the last pharaohs, and – engraved in long-lost hieroglyphics – the origin story of the Assassin’s Brotherhood.

Assassin’s Creed Origins is a brand-new vision for the franchise embracing Action-RPG elements where players level up, loot and choose their abilities to customize their very own skilled Assassin. They will experience a completely new combat system, allowing them to attack and defend multiple enemies at once and equip ultra-rare weapons against unique and powerful bosses.

A revamped narrative experience allows total freedom for players to choose and complete quests at their own pace, each telling an intense and emotional story full of colorful characters and meaningful objectives.

With an entire country to explore, from deserts to lush oases, from the Mediterranean Sea to the tombs of Giza, players will fight against dangerous factions and wild beasts as they explore this gigantic and unpredictable land.

A new title update will be released in January to add more content to the game. Here's what you can look forward to:

• A new quest to celebrate the arrival of the first expansion, The Hidden Ones
• Update to the Heka chests item pool, which adds the items from the Nightmare and First Civilization packs, as well as the Gladiator and Wacky packs to the pool
• A new option to sell outfits at weaver shops

The Hidden Ones DLC is a story-driven expansion builds upon the growth of the Brotherhood, taking players years after the events of Assassin’s Creed Origins as they clash with an occupying Roman force who occupy an all-new region in the game. This expansion will extend the level cap, allowing players to keep on making their character progress.

Here's what you can look forward to:

• Delve into an all-new vast story
• A level cap increase from 40 to 45
• The Hidden Ones will be available for no additional cost to Season Pass owners

Trials of the Gods

We hope one of your New Year's resolutions for 2018 is fighting the gods, if you haven't already! You'll be able to face two of the deities again this month.

• Anubis - January 9–16
• Sobek - January 23–30

In-game Store & Ubisoft Club Updates

• Almighty Pack – January 16
• For Honor Pack - January 30

Ubisoft Club

• Warden’s Oath Outfit - January 30 (You can obtain this outfit as a Ubisoft Club Reward for 40 Uplay Units).
• Harlequin and Chop-Chop items – January 2018

Good news! All players will be able to get the previously exclusive weapons in the Community Creation Contest as a Ubisoft Club Reward!

Key Features

• THE MYSTERIES OF ANCIENT EGYPT: Discover lost tombs, the Great Pyramids, mummies, and the gods.
• AN ORIGIN STORY Start at the beginning and uncover the origin story of the Assassin's Brotherhood.
• ALL-NEW COMBAT Experience new combat mechanics and use powerful weapons to take down epic enemies.
• MEANINGFUL QUESTS Play intense stories with impactful objectives at your own pace.
• EXPLORE A FULL COUNTRY In busy cities and down the Nile, you’ll never run out of things to do.

In the Deluxe Edition ($69.99), gamers will receive the base game, a printed version of the hand-drawn world map, the game’s official soundtrack and the Digital Deluxe Pack, including the Ambush at Sea naval mission, the Desert Cobra Pack and three bonus Ability points. The Gold Edition ($99.99) will include all of the Deluxe Edition Digital content plus the Season Pass. The Season Pass will give players access to all upcoming major expansions and equipment sets. Both Deluxe and Gold Editions will be also available on digital stores. A Gold Edition with a physical Steelbook ($109.99) is also available. For further details, please visit here.

Assassin's Creed Origins is currently available for the Xbox One, PS4 and PC.