Mon Dec 09 03:49:43 UTC 2024: ## Notre Dame Reopens: Debunking the Assassin’s Creed Reconstruction Myth
PARIS — Five years after a devastating fire, Notre Dame Cathedral reopened its doors last week. The reopening reignited online conspiracy theories claiming that Ubisoft’s detailed 3D models from the 2014 video game *Assassin’s Creed Unity* were used in the cathedral’s reconstruction.
These claims, circulating widely on social media, suggest that the French video game publisher provided its models and photos to aid in the restoration effort. However, Ubisoft has repeatedly denied any involvement beyond a 2019 donation of $565,000 and a week of free game downloads.
A spokesperson stated that while Ubisoft would be happy to lend its expertise, the company was not involved in the actual reconstruction. They emphasized that the game’s model, while visually impressive, was an artistic interpretation, not a scientifically accurate replica. Creative liberties were taken for gameplay and design, resulting in discrepancies in scale and detail.
Caroline Miousse, the Associate Art Director credited with creating Notre Dame in *Assassin’s Creed Unity*, clarified that the team relied on blueprints, books, photographs, and online resources like Google to build the in-game model. This approach differs significantly from the millimetric precision required for the actual reconstruction, as confirmed by Denis Lachaud, CEO of Life3D, a company that performed detailed scans of Notre Dame before the fire. Lachaud highlighted the crucial difference between artistic rendering and the engineering precision demanded by the restoration project. Ubisoft’s high-quality model, while visually stunning, lacked the necessary level of detail for such a task. The absence of any official announcement by Ubisoft further debunks the conspiracy theory.
First Piper 