Former Ubisoft dev claims Middle-earth Shadow of Mordor using Assassin’s Creed code

Charles Randall, a former team lead on the Assassin's Creed series, has accused Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment of using Assassin's Creed 2 animation and code in their upcoming game, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Randall apparently spotted similarities between the two in the latest Shadow of Mordor gameplay video.

Seriously, can someone tell me how Assassin's Creed 2 code and assets are in this Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor game?

— Charles Randall (@charlesrandall) January 23, 2014

While at Ubisoft, Randall "snuck" the air assassination move in Assassin's Creed 1, which was later fully implemented in Assassin's Creed 2.

@emartelAI http://t.co/a1orhWip1C Watch the video. That's AC2 stuff in there. Code/anim for sure.

— Charles Randall (@charlesrandall) January 23, 2014

Looking at the video for the first time, there does appear to be similarities, but Randall seems confident in his accusations.

@SeventyTwo_ I spent two years staring at AC2. I know it when I see it.

— Charles Randall (@charlesrandall) January 23, 2014

Randall acknowledged that Ubisoft could have licensed the code or struck some sort of deal with Warner Bros., but we've contacted the Shadow of Mordor developer for additional information.

[CVG]