An iPhone version of Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed is in development, says Gameloft. The title is technically a prequel to the PC and console games, and has Altair, the Assassin protagonist, travel to Jerusalem in 1191 in order to steal a chalice and help halt Christianity's Third Crusade. Like the original game, the iPhone version mixes aspects of stealth with action, combat and some minor puzzle-solving.

New to the iPhone are a collection of mini-games, touch-based controls, and a scaled-down 3D engine which operates primarily from an isometric perspective. The game is expected to premiere on the App Store sometime next week, and is also compatible with the iPod touch.