Assassin's Creed II is a 2009 developed by and published by . It is the second major installment in the , and the sequel to 2007's . The game was first released on the and in November 2009, and was later made available on in March 2010 and in October 2010. Several minor game-related features could be redeemed on and three were released on .
The plot is set in a of real-world events and follows the centuries-old struggle between the , who fight for peace with free will, and the , who desire peace through control. The framing story is set in the 21st century and follows as he relives the of his ancestor to uncover the mysteries left behind by an ancient race known as the First Civilization in the hope of ending the Assassin-Templar conflict. The main narrative takes place at the height of the in during the late 15th century, and follows Ezio's journey as an Assassin while seeking revenge against those responsible for the death of his father and brothers. The game features an comprising , , , , and , and focuses on the player's combat, stealth and abilities.
Using a newly updated game engine, Assassin's Creed II began development shortly after the release of Assassin's Creed. The game received praise from for its Renaissance setting, narrative, characters, map design and visuals, as well as the improvements over its predecessor. It has sold more than nine million copies, is considered to be one of the and popularized the Assassin's Creed franchise. The version was met with some criticism in relation to the system, and thus had the permanently removed. The game spawned two direct sequels: (2010) and (2011), and a spin-off, (2009). Remastered versions of Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood, and Revelations were released on November 15, 2016, as part of the combined Ezio Collection.