Desmond Miles

Desmond Miles is a fictional character in Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed video game series. He serves as the modern-day protagonist and framing character of the first five main installments of the series, from the 2007 inaugural title Assassin's Creed through to 2012's Assassin's Creed III. Through a device called the Animus, Desmond relives the genetic memories of several of his ancestors, including Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, Ezio Auditore da Firenze and Ratonhnhaké:ton / Connor, linking the games' different historical settings to a continuing modern-day conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order. Desmond is voiced by Nolan North, while his physical appearance was based on Canadian model Francisco Randez. Initially depicted as a reluctant participant in the Assassin–Templar conflict, he progressively acquires the abilities of his ancestors through a side effect of the Animus called the "Bleeding Effect" and develops from a largely passive framing character into an active member of the Assassins. His principal storyline concludes in Assassin's Creed III, while later installments continue to draw on his genetic memories and legacy. Critical response to Desmond was mixed, with his comparatively subdued characterization and the modern-day sequences frequently criticized as less compelling than the historical portions of the games. Later commentary has reassessed his importance as the narrative connection between the early installments following Ubisoft's reduction and restructuring of the modern-day storyline after his departure from the series. Academic writers have analyzed Desmond in relation to posthumanism, racial identity, inherited memory, historical representation and the layered relationship between the player, the modern-day avatar and the historical character being experienced through the Animus.