One of the best things about the Assassin's Creed franchise is its overarching lore that spans multiple characters and centuries. However, its most integral ties are often hidden just below the surface. This is clear in the series' connections to the 2016 film. Through the past and present installments of the game franchise, there is connective tissue to the film hidden in plain sight.
While many connections are found through specific characters or details in the games, one connection has a more significant role in the franchise: The Apple of Eden. The tool that can control the will of others was introduced in the first game and appeared in multiple titles leading up to its big-screen debut. In the film, the Templars are searching for it and eventually find the golden sphere in hopes of ruling all of humanity before the Assassins foil their plans. But there are more subtle connections that keep the spirit of the film and older games alive.
The film's antagonist and leader of the Animus project, Sofia Rikkin, has deep ties to the game's lore which aren't revealed until after the film's debut. These ties appear in Assassin's Creed Origins. Through the eyes of modern-day protagonist Layla Hassan, players can search her computer files to learn that she and Sofia had collaborated in the past. As Rikkin was working tirelessly to improve the Animus' technology from what it was in the early games, Layla helped develop the six-axis arm seen on the Animus 4.3 in the film. The improvement allows for users like Callum Lynch to reenact their ancestor's memories with freedom of movement.
But Callum wasn't the only descendant of assassins using the Animus while in the Abstergo facility. One of the most subtle connections in the film comes from Cal's allies and their pasts, which connects directly to assassins seen in previous titles. For example, four of the more prominent members that help Cal share direct connections to other Assassins like Baptiste (Assassin's Creed: Liberation), Shao Jun (Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China), Yusuf Tazim (Assassin's Creed Revelations) and the assassin turncoat Duncan Walpole (Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag). Like their ancestors, these modern-day assassins impact the protagonist of the story. But Cal shares DNA with more than one famous Assassin.
During his initiation in the Animus, Cal encounters many of his ancestors. Among the lineup is the assassin seen in the film, Aguilar de Nerha, and his parents. But eagle-eyed fans can also see the protagonist from Assassin's Creed Unity, Arno Dorian. While brief, Arno's inclusion helps prove that the story is more closely tied to the games than most other video game adaptations.
The Assassin's Creed film was far from perfect. While plans for a trilogy were scrapped, the story of Callum Lynch and the characters from the film continue on through the games, both new and old. Its deep lore helps build a universe connected through lineage and character interactions over the course of history. While Cal's story appears to be concluded for now, the games continue to keep the spirit of the Assassin's Creed film alive thanks to its hidden details.