Ubisoft publishing Assassin’s Creed 2 novel

Yeah, you read that correctly. Assassin’s Creed 2 is joining the likes of Halo, Mass Effect and Elder Scrolls with Ubisoft announcing that it will publish a novel based on the game, called Assassin’s Creed Renaissance. 

The book, already available in the UK, is presented as a standalone novel that aims to be accessible to newcomers as well as provide a new perspective for fans of the games. It’ll be available in stores from today, so you better rush out and get it, right? 

Press release after the jump.

Ubisoft is excited to announce that it’s publishing a new book in the U.S. based on the best-selling video game Assassin’s Creed II called Assassin’s Creed Renaissance.

Full details about the new book are included below and attached is an image of the book’s cover.

Best,

Lisa

Ace Books Announces Groundbreaking Novel Based on Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed II

February 23, 2010 (New York, NY) – Ace Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), and Ubisoft® announced today a partnership that will bring together the worlds of gaming and publishing in a unique collaboration to develop Assassin’s Creed® Renaissance, a new book based on Ubisoft‘s blockbuster video game Assassin’s Creed® II.  Following the recent release of the book in the United Kingdom, this partnership marks the first time that the book will be available in the US. Assassin’s Creed Renaissance is based on the characters, setting and actions of the game, and it expands on them to provide a standalone adventure novel which will appeal to players of the game and newcomers alike.

“We’re excited to be working with Penguin Group,” said Andy Swanson, senior director of consumer products at Ubisoft. “Assassin’s Creed Renaissance will offer the public a new and exciting way to experience the narrative world of Assassin’s Creed II. The book deal with Penguin, along with the recent Assassin’s Creed Lineage short film Ubisoft produced, is part of an ambitious strategy to bring the Assassin’s Creed franchise to multiple entertainment media. We believe that these projects developed in tandem with the games themselves provide the player with a truly immersive experience into the Assassin’s Creed world.”

Assassin’s Creed® is a record-breaking video game franchise that has seduced millions since its release in 2007. It became the fastest-selling new video game intellectual property ever in the U.S., with more than nine million games sold worldwide for the first title alone. The award-winning Assassin’s Creed II sequel continues to captivate gamers and history-lovers alike.

“We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with Ubisoft on a tie-in novel to Assassin’s Creed®  II,” said Leslie Gelbman, president of Mass Market Paperbacks at Penguin Group (USA). “Our previous collaborations on novels based on several of Ubisoft’s video game franchises under the Tom Clancy’s umbrella have all been New York Times bestsellers. We’re sure that Assassin’s Creed Renaissance will be equally successful.”

Assassin’s Creed Renaissance will be released in premium mass market format on February 23rd.  The Assassin’s Creed II video game was released on November 17, 2009 and is currently available in stores.