What We Know About AC Mirage so Far
The upcoming addition to the Assassin’s Creed franchise is set to go live this year. Many questions are circulating among fans, mainly due to the connection between this game and Valhalla. Fortunately, we already have some confirmed details about Assassin’s Creed Mirage. What do we know about this AC game so far?
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Assassin’s Creed Mirage Lore
Mirage takes players on an immersive journey through natural, historical settings intertwined with Middle Eastern mythology and folklore. The game centers around Basim Ibn Ishaq, a street thief in 9th-century Baghdad during its Golden Age. The story delves into Basim’s internal struggle as he becomes embroiled in the conflict between the Hidden Ones and the Templar Order.
The Hidden Ones, founded by Bayek and Aya, seek peace and liberty through stealth and assassination, while the Templar Order pursues peace through control and power. Baghdad’s vibrant backdrop as a center of learning, culture, and trade enriches the narrative, providing an excellent historical setting for the events to unfold.
The power of choice becomes a central theme, compelling Basim to decide where his loyalties lie. Players must guide him to either join the Hidden Ones in their quest for peace or succumb to the temptation of the Templar Order’s pursuit of power. The game offers a diverse experience, combining parkour, stealth, and combat as Basim learns the ways of a master assassin under the guidance of Roshan.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Setting
Mirage is set in 9th Century Baghdad, starting in 861. This period marks Baghdad as a prominent hub for knowledge, art, science, commerce, and power during its renowned Golden Age. Ubisoft has thoroughly researched the city’s significance and historical documentation to ensure an accurate reflection of the region.
A notable location players can explore is The Alamut, situated just outside Baghdad, known as the base of the Assassins’ founders. However, it’s important to note that the game won’t have an open-world exploration feature beyond these carefully crafted historical locations. Everything is mainly set in Baghdad, which will be divided into four districts.
Basim, a pivotal character in both historical and modern Assassin’s Creed Valhalla storylines, takes center stage in Mirage. Originally planned as DLC for Valhalla, the decision to make it a standalone game means Mirage’s narrative will be significant in the modern-day context. By diving into 9th-century Baghdad and exploring its Golden Age, players can expect an engaging and historically accurate experience, immersing themselves in a compelling storyline revolving around the enigmatic Basim and his impact on the Assassin’s Creed universe, past and present.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Release Date
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is set to release on October 12, 2023, as confirmed by Ubisoft. The game will be available on multiple platforms, including PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One, ensuring a broad reach to players. Additionally, Ubisoft has announced that PC gamers can access the game through the Ubisoft and Epic Games stores, offering different avenues to experience the game. With its diverse release across various platforms, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is poised to captivate a broad audience of players eager to embark on this new adventure in the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Gameplay
Mirage brings back the series to its roots, focusing on social stealth, fast parkour, and agile assassinations. Ubisoft Bordeaux aims to blend elements from past Assassin’s Creed games while offering a modern take on gameplay and iconic features. The narrative-driven progression complements a more contained map for exploration.
The gameplay trailer at the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase offered insights into the social stealth, mission variety, and assassination techniques available to the protagonist, Basim Ibn Ishaq. Ubisoft emphasizes Mirage’s heightened emphasis on stealth, introducing new detection systems, city designs to facilitate stealth approaches and combat tools like detection mines and blowdarts.
Parkour remains a central aspect, with a faster pace, empowering players to navigate Baghdad’s densely-layered city fluidly. Ubisoft reintroduces beloved animations from previous games and adds new parkour moves, like the pole vault, to overcome obstacles with finesse.
Assassinations receive increased focus, with ‘Black Box missions’ offering freedom to approach targets. Players can blend into crowds, track targets from rooftops, and utilize new upgradable Assassin’s Tools and trap-setting abilities. The game introduces fresh assassination animations and a mechanic similar to the Mark and Execute feature, enabling multiple stealth kills.
Mirage’s gameplay captures the essence of earlier Assassin’s Creed games, offering a more condensed and immersive experience. The May trailer showcased Basim’s ability to evade guards using smoke bombs and parkour effectively. Players will have multiple approaches for missions, be it through stealth, combat, or other means, enhancing replayability and strategic depth.
The appearance of spirit-like figures hints at potential abilities that aid in quick takedowns or offer optimal paths for eliminating threats. Ubisoft’s emphasis on fast-paced parkour encourages exploration, making traversal a key component of tracking and engaging targets. Fans of the series will appreciate the return of classic animations like the corner swing.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Pre-Order Editions
Assassin’s Creed Mirage offers three distinct editions to cater to players’ preferences and desires. These editions provide various in-game rewards. Here are all the pre-order packages that you can get before the game’s release:
Standard Edition
- Price: £44.99/$49.99/€49.99
- Includes the base game, providing players with the core gaming experience in 9th-century Baghdad.
Deluxe Edition
- Price: £49.99/$59.99/€59.99
- Includes all features of the Standard Edition.
- Additional content: Prince of Persia-inspired outfit, unique Eagle and Mount skins, special weapons, and more.
- Bonus digital items: Artbook and soundtrack, further immersing players in the world of Mirage.
Collector’s Case
- Price: £129.99/$149.99/€149.99
- Includes all features of the Deluxe Edition.
- Exclusive physical items: Finely detailed Basim figurine, selected game soundtrack, exclusive steel book, detailed Baghdad map for exploration, artbook showcasing stunning visuals, and Basim’s brooch for an authentic touch.
Should You Get Assassin’s Creed Mirage?
Mirage promises a thrilling gameplay experience, providing players with a compelling mix of stealth, parkour, and assassination, reminiscent of the series’ early roots. With a more focused map and expanded gameplay options, players can immerse themselves in the vibrant world of 9th-century Baghdad and shape Basim’s journey through their choices and actions. Veterans of the series and new players will surely enjoy Mirage when it becomes fully available.
