What earlier game series inspired Assassin's Creed's original concept?

The original Assassin's Creed concept was inspired by the Prince of Persia series.

During development at Ubisoft Montreal, the team explored a Prince of Persia project centered on a secondary character. That idea evolved into a new game about an elite assassin, eventually becoming Assassin's Creed rather than another Prince of Persia installment.

The connection is visible in the emphasis on acrobatic movement, rooftop traversal, historical adventure, and cinematic action. Assassin's Creed then added its own defining elements, including the Animus, genetic memories, the Assassin-Templar conflict, and social stealth within crowded cities.

The inspiration does not mean Assassin's Creed is a Prince of Persia sequel. It became a separate intellectual property with its own characters, mythology, and long-running chronology. The first game was directed by Patrice Désilets and released by Ubisoft in 2007.