The virtual reality device used in Assassin's Creed's modern-day story is called the Animus. It allows a user to experience genetic memories inherited from ancestors, turning historical lives into playable sequences.
The Animus is presented as advanced technology developed and used by Abstergo Industries, the modern-day corporate organization associated with the Templars. The Assassin Brotherhood also develops or acquires versions of the technology for its own investigations.
Desmond Miles is the best-known early user. Through the Animus, he relives the memories of Altaïr, Ezio, and Connor, helping the Assassins locate information and artifacts in the modern world. Later protagonists use newer systems, including the Helix platform.
The Animus is fictional and does not represent a real method of accessing inherited memories. In the games, the concept provides the narrative link between modern-day characters and historical settings.