Which Assassin’s Creed game introduced competitive multiplayer modes to the series?

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood introduced competitive multiplayer modes to the main Assassin’s Creed series. Released in 2010, Brotherhood added online modes in which players hunted designated targets while trying to avoid being identified and killed themselves.

The multiplayer design adapted the franchise’s stealth and social-blending mechanics for human opponents. Players selected specialized characters, moved through crowded maps, and earned rewards for careful stalking, disguise, and well-timed assassinations. The goal was not simply to defeat opponents in direct combat; remaining inconspicuous was central to success.

Brotherhood’s single-player campaign continues Ezio Auditore’s story after Assassin’s Creed II. It is set primarily in Renaissance Rome, where Ezio works to weaken the Borgia family and rebuild the Assassin Brotherhood. The game also introduced management of recruited Assassins and expanded the city’s activities.

Assassin’s Creed II, released in 2009, did not contain the series’ competitive multiplayer system. Later games, including Revelations and Assassin’s Creed III, continued and modified online multiplayer features. Brotherhood therefore marks the franchise’s first major move into competitive online play.