Players who enjoyed the original Assassin's Creed game will be pleased to find that Assassin's Creed Mirage brings back a nostalgic feature. Ubisoft is returning to a familiar setting and focusing on action-adventure elements in this new title, taking players on a journey to explore 9th century Baghdad as Basim, a young street thief who rises to become a legendary Master Assassin. Unlike the RPG style of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Mirage is a return to the action-adventure roots that made the first game so beloved. Ubisoft is also placing a strong emphasis on gameplay, with Basim being touted as "the most versatile Assassin" in franchise history. With a variety of tools and parkour skills at his disposal, Basim is sure to navigate the bustling city of Baghdad with ease.
Assassin's Creed Mirage, the latest installment in the popular Assassin's Creed franchise, is set to feature a unique "nostalgic visual filter" option that pays homage to the original game released back in 2007. This feature, which can be turned on by players, will give the game a desaturated blue-gray color palette reminiscent of the early days of Assassin's Creed on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. In a new video titled "A Return to the Roots," the development team demonstrates this feature in action as Basim navigates the bustling streets of Baghdad and carries out an assassination on a rooftop.
Ubisoft has emphasized that Assassin's Creed Mirage is a labor of love created by a team of passionate developers who want to honor the legacy of the franchise. The game's core focus is on parkour, stealth, and assassination, but players can also expect some surprises along the way. The nostalgic visual filter is just one of these surprises, and Ubisoft has promised to reveal more details about the game in subsequent videos and trailers.
The inclusion of the returning color palette in Assassin's Creed Mirage is a charming touch from the development team. While some may view the filter option as simply catering to fans, it is a clear indication that major Ubisoft franchises are refocusing on their roots in order to rebuild trust with the community and delight fans with thrilling new releases.
Assassin's Creed Mirage takes a nostalgic look back at the franchise's history, but also offers exciting features that could steer the series in a fresh direction. The inclusion of Arabic voice-overs and subtitles in the game marks a first for the series, demonstrating Ubisoft's heightened attention to detail. This level of care may bode well for future Assassin's Creed titles.
Assassin's Creed Mirage launches October 12 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.