The 2024 Olympics opening ceremony featured a nod to the popular video game Assassin’s Creed Unity. The ceremony, which aimed to showcase French culture, included a segment with a mysterious figure in a white hood performing parkour on Paris’ rooftops, reminiscent of the game’s main character, Arno. This inclusion was a deliberate reference to the game, as confirmed by Ubisoft, the game’s publisher.
The ceremony presented various elements of French culture, such as a heavy metal performance with a beheaded figure resembling Marie Antoinette and Celine Dion singing atop the Eiffel Tower.
The appearance of the hooded parkour character added a modern twist, blending historical and contemporary French icons. Initially, some viewers thought the character’s hood was a coincidence, but it was later confirmed as an intentional Assassin’s Creed homage.
The decision to hold the Olympics opening ceremony outside of a traditional stadium setting received mixed reactions, but segments like the Assassin’s Creed reference won over many viewers. The inclusion of the parkour bit alongside performances by groups like Stomp helped create a unique and memorable spectacle.
Ubisoft’s tweet further solidified the connection, suggesting that fans should watch for Arno on Paris’ rooftops. This tweet highlighted the direct link between the ceremony and Assassin’s Creed Unity, generating excitement among fans of the game and reinforcing the cultural significance of the reference.
Assassin’s Creed Unity, despite its rocky launch nearly ten years ago, has become appreciated for its stunning depiction of Paris. The game’s detailed recreation of the city was so accurate that it was used to help restore Notre Dame after the 2019 fire. This makes the game’s inclusion in the Olympics opening ceremony a fitting tribute to both French culture and the contributions of the French gaming industry.
