Ancient Rome in the video game medium: The case of Marcus Junius Brutus for a reflection on myth and history

This article offers a historical perspective on the representation of ancient Rome within the video game medium, focusing on the transformation of the Roman past into myth, and on the resulting creation of new ludic imaginaries of antiquity. The selected case study concerns the portrayal of Marcus Junius Brutus in some of the most commercially and culturally influential video games of the past two decades: Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (2010), Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017) and Shadow of Rome (2005). By analysing the narrative and visual characterization of Brutus, the aim is to provide insights into how historical figures, through continuous processes of rewriting, are reshaped according to contemporary sensibilities while still retaining roots traceable to ancient sources. These roots – despite historical accuracy and reimagining – may prove productive for the understanding and interpretation of the past.