Revolutionary Renaissance: The Unparalleled Need for an Assassin's Creed 1 Remake

Debuting in November 2007, the Assassin's Creed franchise is nearing its 16th anniversary, marking a remarkable journey over the past 16 years. Originally conceived as a spinoff of Prince of Persia, Assassin's Creed quickly carved out its own identity. It has since become one of the most beloved gaming franchises, seamlessly blending action-adventure, stealth, and RPG elements with captivating historical narratives. Although Assassin's Creed Mirage may be a smaller installment in the long-standing series, it has still generated significant buzz.

Initially revealed in September of the previous year after some leaks, Assassin's Creed Mirage promises a more compact adventure set in 9th-century Baghdad, following the story of Basim Ibn Ishaq, a character introduced in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. While it serves as the next main entry in the franchise, Assassin's Creed Mirage does not strive to revolutionize mechanics or setting. Instead, it embraces a return to the series' foundations, which has ignited tremendous anticipation among fans. Considering the demand for a return to these roots, a remake of the first Assassin's Creed seems like a logical choice.

Assassin's Creed Mirage Shows Fans Want a Return to Basics

After the huge success of Assassin's Creed in 2007, Ubisoft focused on refining the stealth-action gameplay for Assassin's Creed 2 and further improved it with Assassin's Creed Brotherhood. However, for the following five years and six mainline entries, the gameplay formula for Assassin's Creed remained largely unchanged. By the time Assassin's Creed Syndicate was released in 2015, many fans had grown tired of this formula and as a result, Ubisoft decided to reevaluate the franchise for a few years.

In 2017, Assassin's Creed Origins was released and marked a new phase for the franchise. It took the stealth/action-adventure elements from previous entries and incorporated them into a larger, open-world setting. In addition, major RPG features were introduced. Although some fans were not pleased with these significant changes, the general market responded positively, as Assassin's Creed Origins rejuvenated the franchise and established a new formula that has been used ever since. However, over time, this new formula has become monotonous, and fans are now seeking another overhaul.

Ubisoft is positioning Assassin's Creed Mirage as a significant transformation for the franchise. Press releases for Assassin's Creed Mirage have clearly indicated that Ubisoft intends to present this game as a nostalgic throwback to the series' early days. By incorporating a smaller setting, emphasizing stealth, featuring classic parkour styles, and reintroducing fully-fledged assassination missions, Ubisoft is tapping into the beloved formula of the original Assassin's Creed entries. While fans had enthusiastically demanded a change in the formula back in 2015, the power of nostalgia has prompted many of them to yearn for a return to the series' roots.

The overall response to the marketing campaign for Assassin's Creed Mirage has been overwhelmingly positive, with the majority of fans commending the decision to revisit the franchise's origins. Although the game's release is still some time away, it appears highly probable that Assassin's Creed Mirage will garner favorable sales. In such a scenario, it would be wise for Ubisoft to promptly develop a remastered version of the original Assassin's Creed, incorporating all the updated features and enhancements introduced in Mirage. The demand for a revival of the original formula is evident, and failing to capitalize on this opportunity would mean leaving potential revenue untapped.

Assassin's Creed Mirage is set to release on October 12, 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.