Assassin's Creed Mirage Leak Unveils Thrilling Comeback of Highly Controversial Element from Modern Games

Highlights

Assassin's Creed Mirage will have microtransactions according to a leak, going against fans' hopes for a full return to the series' roots.

Ubisoft's adoption of a games-as-a-service approach has proven to be lucrative, leading to a significant boost in revenue. The leaked equipment pack implies that Mirage might follow a premium in-game currency model, akin to Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

The leaked information about Assassin's Creed Mirage confirms that microtransactions will be present in the game, despite Ubisoft's claims of returning to the series' roots. This decision has divided the fandom, as Ubisoft's adoption of the games as a service model has been a contentious issue. Nevertheless, the company has seen significant financial success since implementing this approach in 2017, with a nearly $1 billion increase in annual revenue. In response to fan demand for a shorter, more traditional experience, Mirage was announced in September 2022.

Mirage, intended as a tribute to the original Assassin's Creed, will incorporate equipment microtransactions seen in recent games in the franchise. A leaked image shows Assassin's Creed Mirage will have a Fire Demon Pack, including armor, a chamfron mask, and a flaming sword for Basim. The pricing of this equipment pack is uncertain, but its existence suggests the game may use a premium in-game currency model, similar to Assassin's Creed Valhalla. In Valhalla, certain armor sets like Black Raven, Einherjar, and Draugr required payment and were priced at up to 800 Helix Credits. The smallest Valhalla currency bundle with 2,300 credits usually costs $19.99, but is often discounted.

During a Reddit AMA in July 2023, Creative Director Stephane Boudon revealed that Ubisoft has no plans to provide extensive post-launch support or DLC for Assassin's Creed Mirage. However, the company has confirmed that the game will feature a special Forty Thieves quest as a pre-order bonus, along with Prince of Persia-themed content included in the Deluxe and Collector's Case editions.

For those who dislike microtransactions, the Assassin's Creed series has generally avoided aggressive monetization practices compared to other Ubisoft games. Paid content in Valhalla and previous entries in the franchise has been limited to DLC story missions and equipment that doesn't necessarily surpass what players can unlock through regular gameplay. Additionally, recent Assassin's Creed titles have offered opportunities to earn a limited number of Helix Credits for free.

Assassin's Creed Mirage launches October 12 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.