The incredibly detailed Notre-Dame cathedral featured in Assassin's Creed Unity could help in the rebuilding of the real thing.

For the most part, when we think of paying tribute, we think of a person - normally someone who has recently passed away. However, this week, people around the world have been taking to social media to pay tribute not to a person, but to a building: the iconic Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris.

On Monday, news broke that the almost one thousand-year-old building was engulfed in flames. Due to the size of the fire and design of the building, the fire has taken its toll and it took a long time to get the flames under control. The extent of the damage done has been pretty devastating, as is evident from the almost endless stream of photos that have been posted online this week.

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French president Emmanuel Macron has already addressed the rebuilding process, saying that he wants to make the cathedral even more beautiful than it was before. Restoring the landmark back to its formal glory will be no easy task. However, builders and designers may have a helping hand from an unexpected source: Ubisoft, the game developers behind the Assassin's Creed series. Those who have played the game will know that Notre-Dame features in Assassin's Creed Unity.

via hipertextual.com

If you have played the game and paid a visit to Notre-Dame, you will know that the likeness is incredible - and that's no accident, reports Business Insider. Ubisoft level designer Caroline Miousse spent a painstaking two years designing the building for the game, making sure that it was effectively an exact replica. She even worked with texture artists to ensure that Unity's Notre-Dame was perfect down to the very last brick.

Ironically, since Unity is set in 18th century Paris, Miousse's ode to Notre-Dame is not 100% accurate. The building's spires were not added until later. However, Miousse wanted to include them since they have become perhaps the most iconic part of Notre-Dame. If French authorities do reach out to Ubisoft, that will be an added blessing since the main spire appears to be the part of the cathedral that was damaged most.

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