The Evolution of Assassin’s Creed: What’s New in Ubisoft’s “Mirage”?

Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed” series has been a hallmark in the gaming industry, captivating players with its historical narratives, thrilling stealth action, and immersive open-world environments. 

With each installment, the franchise evolves, introducing new elements that redefine the gaming experience. In this article, we’ll shed light on:

• How has the narrative of “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” shifted?
• What’s new about the “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” gameplay?
• Which are the main game innovations in “Mirage”?
• “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” marketing: what’s new Ubisoft has taken on?

How has the narrative of “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” shifted?

The “Assassin’s Creed” franchise has come a long way, and since the release of the first game, over 15 years have passed. “Mirage” was supposed to bring the series back to its roots. Instead of an expansive open world (as initiated in “Assassin’s Origins”), “Mirage’s” events unfold in a single location – in Baghdad and its outskirts. 

Now, the game abandons constant wandering in favor of a carefully crafted, essentially linear narrative with a focus on storytelling and exploring all the intricacies of the bustling streets of Baghdad. Stealth is once again the protagonist’s primary tool. And, for the most part, “Mirage” achieves its goal of returning to the era of true Assassins. 

“Mirage” is essentially a prequel to “Valhalla”. The player learns the path taken by an Arab assassin and how he rose from a vagabond to a master. The core of “Mirage’s” plot is an in-depth investigation into each member of the Secret Order, essentially the shadow government of Baghdad. 

The overall game narrative is conducted in a way that you theoretically already know the entire history of the hero. So, we strongly recommend playing the previous part of the game, where the whole story of Basim, the main character of “Mirage”, is explained.

What’s new about the “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” gameplay?

Quests & Investigations

The backbone of “Mirage” is investigations. This aspect creates a wonderful and convincing illusion that you are independently uncovering the key to the next step of Basim’s adventure. 

A new investigation board has appeared to help trace all these plot intricacies. Quests range from the typical “find and kill” to more intriguing ones, such as searching for hidden symbols, guiding a slave uprising, or infiltrating a harem. 

Each key character provides hints and evidence that come together to form a cohesive picture, leading Basim to his goal. The tasks resemble missions from “Hitman”. Each mission is located in different areas of Baghdad. During these missions, Basim can bribe servants for information, steal keys from guards, eavesdrop on conversations, and disguise himself.

Every mission, whether main or secondary, is like a small sandbox with numerous routes and guards that can be killed, bypassed, or simply avoided using thoughtful stealth. And here your faithful eagle Enkidu will assist you. By using him, you can scout the area, identify enemy locations, and then plan how to use the tools and abilities available in your arsenal without attracting unnecessary attention. The game’s difficulty depends on the placement of enemies, available resources, and the design of buildings.

“Mirage” brings back the traditional tower climbs, where you synchronize to reveal the surrounding area, creating a fast travel point and successfully performing the Leap of Faith.

Weapons & Gadgets

“Mirage” features an ability upgrade system. By completing tasks, you earn points that can be used to buy additional tools — five in total: smoke bombs, a blowpipe with poisoned darts, throwing knives, noise grenades, and mines. Each has several upgrade levels. All of this can be customized using materials found in chests or obtained by completing side missions.

Fortunately, upgrading weapons and armor is no longer something you cannot do without to defeat stronger enemies. Obviously, Ubisoft wanted to retain some RPG mechanics but no longer emphasized them as much as in “Valhalla” or “Odyssey”.

Which are the main game innovations in “Mirage”?

Assassin’s Focus

A significant innovation is Assassin’s Focus feature, allowing you to mark up to 5 enemies and instantly deal with them without breaking stealth. Once each enemy is marked, Basim will teleport between them, silently taking them out one by one quickly.  This makes eliminating groups of enemies less cumbersome.

Given that “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” aims to be a realistic and immersive game, this unusual ability was indeed the most unexpected announcement that surprised fans.

Open World Size

If “Valhalla” had an entire country, here we got a city. It has many interesting architectural solutions, it’s pleasant to navigate, and exploring it is intriguing. 

Thanks to Ubisoft’s decision to move away from a vast world, the world of “Mirage” has come out in detail. And the Codex of Baghdad’s history, serving as an encyclopedia with dozens of historical sketches and facts, will tell the player about this region. The Codex is very detailed and can genuinely captivate you with the history of Baghdad.

The Enemy AI

In this game, enemies can see Basim from a greater distance, but they won’t recognize him right away. Instead, they’ll go into an “Investigation” mode, telling the player to be strategic in their next moves. This updated AI behavior adds more possibilities for stealth gameplay. Now, players can lure enemies away more safely and set traps around corners for some chaotic fun.

“Assassin’s Creed Mirage” marketing: what’s new Ubisoft has taken on?

Assassin’s Creed Infinity Platform

The “Mirage” title’s release is timed to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the “Assassin’s Creed” series. It marks the inception of a new era for Ubisoft, signaling the launch of the ambitious and distinctive Assassin’s Creed Infinity platform. 

While some may view “Mirage” as a means of solidifying the studio’s existing accomplishments as it ventures into the future, it is, in fact, a crucial component and an indicator of Ubisoft’s approach to forthcoming titles.

The concept behind Assassin’s Creed Infinity sparks enthusiasm among fans, eager to witness the realization of Ubisoft’s ambitious vision. It’s not a game; rather, it serves as a central hub connecting various Creed titles from the studio’s extensive history. 

Functioning as a host for the latest releases, it integrates them into a cohesive timeline and is poised to include exclusive content. Infinity stands as a versatile platform, providing Ubisoft with a playground for experimentation and innovation.

In terms of mechanics and structure, Ubisoft aims to see audience reactions to “Mirage”, incorporating lessons learned into future games within the Infinity platform. 

However, from a narrative standpoint, “Mirage” strongly emphasizes connectivity. Infinity intends to weave the diverse stories of the franchise together, linking conflicts, locations, and characters into a rich tapestry of compelling tales. The decision to feature Basim as the protagonist instead of introducing a new character exemplifies the implementation of this interconnected concept. 

Ubisoft has used “Mirage” as a litmus test to assess the believability and interest in the link between the title and “Valhalla”, and this decision has proven successful. Audiences will approach “Valhalla” with a different perspective now, aware of the potential influences on Basim’s choices throughout the adventure. For Infinity, prioritizing storytelling takes precedence, and “Mirage” offers a glimpse into how this can be achieved on a smaller scale.

“Mirage” Comes to iPhone 15 Pro in 2024

While the title has been released on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 platforms (including Amazon Luna and Ubisoft+ subscriptions), Ubisoft also has a launch scheduled for iPhone 15 Pro in 2024. This announcement came during this year’s Apple September event, showcasing the tech giant’s newest product lineup. 

Although the Ubisoft franchise has previously appeared on mobile platforms, “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” represents the first instance where a mainline entry of such magnitude will be directly available on phones. The addition of iOS is sure to be embraced by many gamers.

Summing up

“Assassin’s Creed Mirage” checks off all the criteria that Ubisoft is aiming for. It showcases the studio’s ability to revisit classic gameplay styles, placing a strong emphasis on the return of stealth mechanics in the game. 

“Mirage” also proves that a shorter game duration can still deliver a compelling experience, with players appreciating the concise yet detailed storyline compared to some recent, more extensive titles. 

From a graphical and technological standpoint, “Mirage” signals Ubisoft’s commitment to innovation, embracing the possibilities offered by the latest console generation. Establishing a sense of comfort in this space is crucial, especially if older games are to be integrated into Infinity through an updated version. 

While initially conceived as a DLC for Valhalla, “Assassin’s Creed Mirage” has successfully carved its own identity, standing as a symbol of the franchise’s exploratory new era.