Assassin’s Creed Mirage from Ubisoft Bordeaux is the next game to follow in AC Valhalla’s wake, but it sounds like a different blast. Thankfully, Ubisoft has gone back to the games’ roots in a bold move, focusing on action-adventure and stealth/parkour over their recent RPG-infused outings.
Despite the clear influences, Mirage is a major departure from the saga by ditching the RPG progression systems that have become synonymous with Ubisoft’s open-world approach to historical settings. Marketed as a spinoff, it’s designed to have the core pillars of each Assassin’s Creed game represented. If this goes ahead, AC Mirage could be the final farewell to RPG mechanics in the franchise as Ubisoft reconfigures what the series means.
A Change of Direction
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is Ubisoft’s latest installment in their flagship franchise, bringing gamers back to the model of the once-beloved game. Instead of the recent outings’ RPG angle, which was fun and created some great stories by Ubisoft. But the RPG route wasn’t without its flaws as it cost the game some of what made Assassin’s Creed feel like an assassin.
Mirage sends players back to stealth action and parkour, with elements of other games in the series. According to the developer, you can expect the new direction to be a return to form.
Mirage Settings & Locations
AC Mirage takes us to the grandeur of Baghdad, 20 years before AC Valhalla, where you’ll be introduced to the city. The story follows Basim as he goes from being a lowly street thief to one of the key members of the mysterious Hidden Ones gang.
Ubisoft didn’t hold back on the graphics either. This level of detail sets the scene for a bustling Baghdad 861 AD when the city was at its peak and divided into four factions. The industrial and garden districts have been revealed, but every district has been designed to promote stealth and parkour.
There will be more people and much more to explore the city. One of these is the fortress of Alamut which has been officially confirmed as a location in the game and will be the Assassin Order’s headquarters. Located in a valley, it has wide natural environments to explore. Basim will also cross paths with several historical figures that bring more flexibility and content to the game’s story.
Mirage Gameplay, Narrative & Weapons
There’s not much info on the story in the Mirage debut trailer, but it’s described as a well-made (if narrative-driven) game. Basim has a tragic past, haunted by Djinn and sharing nightmares. He also has a mentor, Roshan, a former Persian slave who became a top assassin.
With the tone shift to a more stealthy design for the upcoming title, we won’t be seeing character and weapon RPG-like level ups. Stealth is the focus where you use larger crowds to blend, sneak up on ingress points or targets, clear them, and then disappear from the enemy’s sight.
Players will have social stealth, kill multiple targets, slow down time, and pole vault. Basim will also have a few side quests where he’ll remove minor targets, bribe guards, find clues, or eavesdrop on conversations to dismantle larger objectives.
Ubisoft also showed gas mines and smoke bombs to help you get out of sticky situations faster. And Enkidu, a scavenger bird Basim can call upon to give him an eagle friend that lets him see higher than any tower he can climb. Tools can be upgraded by players, and pre-orderers will get the 40 Thieves add-on content. Assassin’s Creed Mirage will release on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
