Assassin’s Creed Mirage was revealed last year, accompanied by a fairly cinematic trailer. It showed the protagonist, Basem Ibn Ishaq, fleeing from the guards, using rooftops and traps to escape. A trailer that will have confirmed the fact that it will be a very different Assassin’s Creed game compared to the last entries in the series.
The developers’ comments confirm it: the title will be reminiscent of the very first Assassin’s Creed game, with a focus on parkour, stealth and a smaller map. If all goes as planned, Assassin’s Creed Mirage could be a true return to the series’ roots.
For now, here’s everything we know about Assassin’s Creed Mirage so far. This includes a preview of the latest trailer, as well as comments from developers that might hint at what the game might look like at launch. As Ubisoft announces more details, this page will be updated.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage: what is it, in a nutshell?
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is an action-adventure, stealth video game developed by Ubisoft Bordeaux and published by Ubisoft. It is scheduled for release in 2023 on Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and Amazon Luna.
This opus marks the thirteenth canonical part of the Assassin’s Creed series and takes place in Baghdad in 861, in the middle of the golden age of Islam. The player embodies Basim Ibn Ishaq, a character introduced in Assassin’s Creed Valhallaand follows his evolution from simple thief to member of the brotherhood of Assassins.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage breaks away from expansive open worlds and RPG mechanics to refocus on core franchise elements. Infiltration, parkour, investigation and stealth assassination contracts will once again be at the heart of the experience. Ubisoft promises a return to basics with a touch of modernity, in order to offer production worthy of current standards.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage: what would be the possible release date
Ubisoft has confirmed thatAssassin’s Creed Mirage will be released in 2023, before other projects like Assassin’s Creed Red et Assassin’s Creed Hexe, although the publisher has yet to confirm an exact date. The next installment of the franchise will be officially presented this summer, during the Ubisoft Forward event.
Despite this, several rumors and leaks converge on a common point: the game was initially scheduled for August 2023 internally. According to well-informed Tom Henderson, Ubisoft would have postponed the release ofAssassin’s Creed Miragethus shifting its launch window from August to October 2023. According to the words of this insider, this postponement would not be the first behind the scenes of the development of the game.
On which gaming platforms?
The platforms on which Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be available have been confirmed: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and Xbox One. Ubisoft also announced that the game will be released on PC, via the Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store platforms.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage: what would be its price?
Three editions of Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be available at launch. The Standard Edition will cost €50, the Deluxe Edition, which includes DLC inspired by Prince of Persia, will be priced at €60, and the Limited Collector’s Box, which includes a 32cm Basim figure, a map of Baghdad, a Exclusive steelbook and much more will set you back €150. If you get pre-order Assassin’s Creed Mirage now, you’ll get exclusive access to a side quest, 40 Thieves.
To read: Assassin’s Creed Mirage: where to buy the game at the best price?
Assassin’s Creed Mirage: what scenario?
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is set in the setting of Baghdad in the 9th century, precisely in the year 861, at the time of its golden age. This is located qA few decades before the events of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
According to artistic director Jean-Luc Sala, Baghdad was then a major center of the world, a key place for knowledge, art, innovation, science, commerce and power. Although the city was destroyed five centuries later, Ubisoft relied on historical documents and other cities of the time, such as Samarrah, to recreate Baghdad with the greatest possible precision.
The development team is committed to offering an immersive and authentic representation of Baghdad in the ninth century. This will include careful attention to architectural details, clothing, customs and the general atmosphere of the city at that time. Players will be able to immerse themselves in an environment rich in history and discover the wonders of this flourishing metropolis.
Ubisoft has always placed great importance on historical research for its Assassin’s Creed games, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage is no exception. The development team relied on reliable sources and experts to accurately recreate the architectural and cultural elements of the city. Narrative director Sarah Beaulieu says that “ Mirage’s narrative structure is much closer to early Assassin’s Creed games, in that it’s more dynamic and linear than what players experience in later AC games ».
While we will always have the freedom to explore and experimentin choosing which order to tackle assassination missions in, Beaulieu says that Ubisoft Bordeux wanted Mirage’s story to be a ” very intense and condensed narrative with a clear beginning and end ».
Assassin’s Creed Mirage: an open world yes, but old-fashioned
Assassin’s Creed Mirage will offer a much smaller world compared to the vast territories proposed in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Odyssey et Origins. The city of Baghdad itself will be divided into four distinct districtsincluding the industrial zone of Karhk and the sumptuous gardens of the round city.
Ubisoft promises a bustling, densely populated city, with art director Jean-Luc Sala pointing out that “ the inhabitants react to your every move ».
In addition to Baghdad, players will also have the opportunity to visit the Alamut, located outside the city. This is where the Assassins reside who laid the foundations of the Creed as we know it today. Although mentioned in older works, this is the first time this stronghold has been incorporated into an Assassin’s Creed game.
Despite downscaling the open world, Ubisoft has sought to maintain a keen attention to detail and immersion. Each neighborhood will have its own distinct charm, with unique architecture, responsive locals, and an evocative atmosphere of the era. Assassin’s Creed Mirage will thus offer a more intimate, more concentrated experience, in particular compared to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The set will be completed by a narrative progression.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage: gameplay reviewed and corrected?
Le gameplay d’Assassin’s Creed Mirage will take the series back to its origins, emphasizing stealth, fast-paced parkour, and assassination. Ubisoft Bordeaux tells us that ” every Assassin’s Creed game is present in Mirage, and players can expect to experience the series’ foundations while experiencing a modern take on gameplay and iconic features from the early games ».
Infiltration and discretion at the rendezvous
In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, players will be able to immerse themselves in a game experience centered on infiltration and stealth – fast parkour will allow to move with agility through environments, while assassinations will offer tactical possibilities to eliminate targets. The emphasis will be on immersion in a smaller world, but just as detailed.
In terms of storytelling, Assassin’s Creed Mirage will offer a scenario progression like the first games, inviting players to discover the game’s complex story and characters. Exploring the map, more contained, less time-consuming, will allow players to focus on the details and interactions with the environment.
Reworked detection systems
Selon Ubisoft, Assassin’s Creed Mirage puts a stronger emphasis on stealth compared to more recent games. The game is structured around a gameplay loop including identifying, tracking, and eliminating a target, then vanishing.
To drive the adoption of stealth, Ubisoft has reworked the detection systems to provide more accuracy and feedback. The city’s design, including its rooftops, has been redesigned to make stealth approaches easier. Additionally, new tools have been introduced to aid in combat and evasion, such as a detection mine that releases a cloud of smoke when triggered, as well as a blowgun.
These additions aim to enhance the gameplay experience by allowing players to use new tactics to stay in the shadows. Stealth thus becomes an essential component of the player’s strategic approach in Assassin’s Creed Mirage, something that was missing in the last installments of the series, for some. Ubisoft therefore wants to offer players more subtle and nuanced gameplay, where observation, planning and discreet execution are rewarded.
To read: The next Assassin’s Creed will have “more diversity” in their gameplay
As Michael Scott would say, “Parkour! »
Parkour will play a major role in Assassin’s Creed Mirage, just like it did in the first two games of the series. Traversing the buildings and rooftops of the city of Baghdad will be the primary method of travel, and according to Ubisoft’s promises, this will be felt better than ever. ” We’ve sped up the pace of parkour to make players feel nimble and self-sufficient as they traverse the city explains artistic director Jean-Luc Sala.
In addition, Ubisoft Bordeaux is bringing back many ” beloved animations and iconic moves from previous games, such as the corner swing, and introduces new parkour moves such as the pole vault to help Basim overcome large obstacles.
Parkour (re) thus becomes a central gameplay mechanic, offering players the possibility of exploration and movement. The city of Baghdad, with its densely layered buildings, will be an ideal playground to showcase Basim’s acrobatic skills.
The Return of Quiet Killings
Assassin’s Creed Mirage will have a strong focus on eliminating targets. Key assassination events will take place in what Ubisoft calls “Black Box Missions”. These missions will take place in the neighborhoods of Baghdad, giving players the freedom to carve their own path to reach their target.
You can blend into the crowd and follow their route, or stalk them from the rooftops, for example. Mirage will feature brand new assassination animations, upgradable new assassin tools, and the ability to set traps in the environment.
Additionally, Mirage will introduce a new feature similar to the Mark and Execute mechanism, introduced in Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction. This feature will allow Basim to perform multiple stealth attacks simultaneously.
