Assassin’s Creed Mirage: From DLC to Stand-Alone Game

Recent reports have confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Mirage initially began as downloadable content (DLC) for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Ubisoft, the game’s publisher, has now provided more insight into the early stages of the project.

Successful Pitch for Assassin’s Creed Mirage

According to Game Informer, Ubisoft’s creative director, Stephane Boudon, shared that the team had originally planned for Valhalla protagonist Eivor to journey to the Middle East in the next Valhalla expansion. Eivor had already explored France, Ireland, and Svartalfheim, the dwarven realm, in previous DLCs, so the Middle East was seen as another exciting destination.

Boudon stated, “At first, we were working on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and the DLC, and the idea came up to create a specific expansion for Valhalla and go back to the Middle East. We wanted, as longtime fans of the series, to revisit this environment with its unique vibes. Additionally, the timing was perfect as it coincided with the 15th anniversary of the Assassin’s Creed brand. So, it was something we were eager to bring back for the players.”

The Transition from DLC to Stand-Alone Game

However, the pitch for Assassin’s Creed Mirage exceeded expectations and was eventually approved to become a stand-alone game. Boudon revealed that Mirage was only considered DLC for a brief period before it evolved into its own independent project.

Surprisingly, Boudon mentioned, “We initially developed a complete pitch for a DLC, but early on, we saw the potential for something more. So, towards the end of the presentation, we added the idea of it becoming more than just DLC. We took a chance, and it was a wonderful success for everyone involved.”

Mirage: The Unique Blend

Assassin’s Creed Mirage appears to straddle the line between DLC and a full-fledged game. It will be shorter than the recent three entries and priced lower as well. However, it will still be larger in scale than any previous Assassin’s Creed DLC. This approach aligns with the earlier installments of the franchise, appealing to those who were critical of the bloated RPG elements introduced in recent releases.