HAMPSHIRE civic chiefs are backing plans to create an 'Anglo-Saxon experience' in Winchester that hopes to capitalise on the popularity of Assassin's Creed video game.
The county council has awarded a grant of £75,000 for the innovative new visitor experience.
It will give visitors an interactive insight into life in Anglo-Saxon times, the result of a partnership between Hampshire Cultural Trust (HCT), Ubisoft, creators of the global gaming series Assassin’s Creed and UK creative innovation studio, Sugar Creative.
Scenes from Assassin's Creed: set in Winchester
Keith Mans, leader of the county council, said: “Games such as Assassin’s Creed are played by millions of people around the world, so this is a clear opportunity to connect new and younger audiences with Hampshire’s outstanding cultural heritage.
"I am pleased to confirm that the county council will provide £75,000 towards this extremely exciting plan to bring Winchester’s history to life, which will include the use of digital assets from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The aim is to enable visitors to experience Anglo-Saxon Winchester in an interactive setting, inspiring more people to learn about this fascinating period of the city’s history. It is expected that this project will encourage people back into Winchester city centre next year, contributing to plans to boost the region’s economic recovery following the impact of Covid-19, as well as create educational resources for Hampshire’s schools and libraries.”
Assassin's Creed has sold more than 155 million copies worldwide and Winchester featured heavily in the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
Scenes from Assassin's Creed: set in Winchester
The city also features in Ubisoft’s new educational experience, Discovery Tour: Viking Age, which allows players to explore and interact with the history and culture of the Viking era in 9th century England and Norway.
Opening in autumn 2022, the experience will use immersive storytelling, 360-degree projections and the use of contemporary objects, complemented by assets from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
HCT is also working with one of the UK’s leading creative studios, Sugar Creative, on an app to accompany the exhibition, which will include augmented reality recreations of Anglo-Saxon buildings and people placed at key points around the modern-day city.
As reported, funding has also been committed to the project from Winchester City Council, with further contributions being sought from a range of external funders.
Scenes from Assassin's Creed: set in Winchester
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