Assassin's Creed Mirage: A Game-Changer that Puts AC Red on the Edge

Highlights

Assassin's Creed Mirage brings the classic action-adventure formula back, pleasing many fans who missed it and modernizing the gameplay.

AC Red, the upcoming mainline installment, will revert to the RPG structure previously seen in Valhalla. This decision has the potential to divide the fanbase since some fans may not be keen on embracing the RPG genre again, especially after experiencing Mirage. They hold the belief that the franchise has deviated too much from its core identity with the last two RPG releases. In order to prevent alienating fans, AC Red must provide a compelling rationale for its choice to embrace the RPG genre once more.

Assassin's Creed Mirage revived the classic action-adventure formula after the series experimented with RPG elements. The return to form has garnered praise from many fans who appreciate the inclusion of missing elements and the modernized gameplay. However, the upcoming mainline title, Assassin's Creed Red, is rumored to deviate from this successful formula and instead adopt the RPG mechanics seen in Valhalla. While this change may be welcomed by some fans, it may also alienate others who were critical of the RPG games for straying from the core Assassin's Creed identity and for their excessive content. This sudden reversal in direction may create division within the fanbase as the release date of AC Red approaches.

AC Red Needs to Justify Switching Back to the RPG Formula

After Assassin's Creed Syndicate, the franchise found itself in a challenging situation. The frequent releases had caused fan fatigue, the franchise lacked a clear sense of direction, and its flaws were becoming increasingly noticeable. To address these issues, Ubisoft made the decision to take a break from the series and spend the next few years reinventing it. This led to the creation of AC Origins, which ultimately revitalized the franchise.

Origins introduced a complete transformation to the traditional Assassin's Creed formula. Rather than being solely an action-adventure game, it embraced the RPG genre, resulting in a fresh and unique experience. The game was met with critical acclaim and is regarded as one of the series' greatest entries. Despite this success, however, some fans were discontent with this new direction.

AC Odyssey and Valhalla, although enjoyable historical RPGs, have somewhat deviated from the core essence of the Assassin's Creed franchise. Odyssey prioritized RPG elements over the AC narrative, and Valhalla was overloaded with an excessive amount of content. Despite both titles achieving commercial success, they also garnered significant controversy within the fanbase. While some embraced this new direction, others strongly urged for a return to the series' roots. Acknowledging the fan demand, Ubisoft took a step back and responded to it.

Introducing Assassin's Creed Mirage, Ubisoft brought back the exhilarating action-adventure genre, offering a thrilling addition to the franchise. However, it appears that the studio doesn't intend to adhere to this approach moving forward. Instead of building upon the success of Mirage, AC Red will be reverting to the controversial RPG mechanics seen in its predecessors. Although limited information is available about the upcoming title, this sudden change in direction may potentially present challenges for the game's reception.

After experiencing the dynamic action and adventure of a modern Assassin's Creed game, some fans might find little interest in returning to the RPG genre. Furthermore, the previous two RPG installments of the franchise were unnecessarily lengthy and strayed too far from its core essence. While there is a chance that Assassin's Creed Red might rectify these issues, some fans may be reluctant to give it a fair chance. However, if Ubisoft were to abruptly revert back to the Mirage concept after Red, it would create a fragmented and inconsistent franchise. Therefore, it is imperative for the franchise to either adhere to its original template or for Assassin's Creed Red to demonstrate convincingly why the RPG genre should shape its future.

Assassin's Creed Mirage is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.