Attraction inspired by Assassin's Creed coming to Winchester this autumn

878 AD is an interactive experience that will take visitors back to a pivotal point not only in the history of the city, but in the history of England as an emerging, unified nation: the defeat of the Vikings by Alfred the Great at the Battle of Edington in May 878.

Opening at Winchester’s The Brooks Shopping Centre in November, 878 AD will recreate the atmosphere of the city and the lives of the people who lived in it on the eve of the battle, as they anxiously await its outcome.

878 AD is the result of a collaboration between Hampshire Cultural Trust, Ubisoft and its educational experience, Discovery Tour, which is free of combat and adapted for audiences of all ages. Sugar Creative, one of the UK’s leading immersive tech innovation studios, is the third partner in the collaboration.

The attraction will give visitors an insight into Anglo-Saxon Winchester through live performance, immersive storytelling, innovative interpretation, contemporary Anglo-Saxon objects from Hampshire Cultural Trust’s collections and interactive elements. Winchester featured heavily in the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and 878 AD will draw on imagery and assets from the game to create an engaging representation of the city at the time.

Once visitors have discovered the result of the Battle of Edington at The Brooks Shopping Centre, they will be able to journey through Alfred’s legacy in the second part of the 878 AD experience: 878 AD: Winchester Revealed, an app which has been specially developed by Sugar Creative.

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Using the power of augmented reality technology, users will visit key historical points throughout Winchester to uncover the past and bring to life Anglo-Saxon buildings and people, revealing stories and activities along the way.

Paul Sapwell, chief executive of Hampshire Cultural Trust, said: "878 AD is without a doubt the most exciting and innovative project that we have embarked on at Hampshire Cultural Trust. Our partnership with Ubisoft and Sugar Creative is a pioneering collaboration between the heritage sector, the gaming industry and technology innovators. We have an incredible team of historical advisors working on this project and are pleased to have funding from and the support of both Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council. We are also delighted to have received funding from Arts Council England, Garfield Weston Foundation, Art Fund and The Syder Foundation. Together with generous contributions from a number of donors, this funding is enabling us to bring this one-of-a-kind project to fruition.

"We want 878 AD to attract more visitors to our city, increasing its reputation nationally and internationally as a cultural destination, supporting the local economy through the creation of local jobs and bringing more visitors to the high street. Most of all, we want to create a sense of wonder and excitement for our visitors and through the use of gaming assets, innovative technology and real Anglo-Saxon objects, open up our history and heritage for everyone to discover."

Amy Jenkins-Le Guerroué, strategic alliances director at Ubisoft, said: "We see this immersive experience as a unique opportunity to enable players to complement their gaming experience with a physical one.

"They will be able to learn even more about Anglo-Saxon England through the new visitor experience thanks to this collaboration with Hampshire Cultural Trust and Sugar Creative. We are pleased to see this innovative and thrilling cultural initiative come to life, perfectly timed for the 15th anniversary of Assassin’s Creed."

Tickets for 878 AD will go on sale in October and people can sign up to find out more at the attraction’s website, 878AD.co.uk.