Ubisoft has officially unveiled the Assassin’s Creed Mirage DLC, themed around Saudi Arabia and titled Valley of Memory. This complimentary expansion promises at least six hours of fresh content. The developers encountered specific challenges due to the inconsistent historical records associated with the al-Ula setting. “The primary challenge is to accurately depict the location as it might have appeared in the ninth century,” stated Florian Salomez, the artistic director for Valley of Memory, during a newly released developer diary video that was part of the announcement. “On one side, a prosperous civilization, and on the other, an ancient wilderness. Similar to the splendid Baghdad of its golden age, much documentation of this incredibly rich environment has been lost over time. As is customary for the Assassin’s Creed series, we strive to ensure that both the setting and its historical context are presented in all their glory. The process of recreating this environment is both an artistic challenge and a historical one.” Although modern knowledge of al-Ula has inherent limitations, Ubisoft has nonetheless crafted urban marketplaces, farms by the oases, and the grand necropolis structures that still endure today.
Insights from the Development Team
Ubisoft emphasizes that it maintains creative oversight on the Assassin’s Creed Mirage DLC. This announcement, made in Saudi Arabia, has raised eyebrows among employees, some of whom express concerns about potential funding from the Saudi government.
Valley of Memory is designed as a polished DLC aimed at dedicated fans, though it may significantly alter the immersive experience of the game.
Two years further into the series, following the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft surprised fans by announcing this free DLC, countering previous statements that the game was complete.
According to Olivier Leonardi, the creative director for Valley of Memory, “We have put considerable effort into accurately recreating the most iconic landmarks while ensuring engaging gameplay.”
Gameplay and Historical Context
Stephane Boudon, creative director for Mirage, mentions that this DLC will offer “over six hours of gameplay” as well. Valley of Memory integrates a wealth of actual history, featuring notes about the region that players will have the chance to discover and explore. Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, the VP of culture at the Royal Commission for al-Ula, expressed hope that this content will inspire players to learn more about the intriguing history and rich heritage of al-Ula.
While Valley of Memory appears to cater specifically to dedicated fans, there remains a critical discussion regarding its Saudi Arabian setting. Investments from Saudi Arabia have been confirmed to fund the expansion, but the specifics of the collaboration between Ubisoft and the country are yet to be revealed. Human Rights Watch has raised concerns that the Saudi investments in sectors like sports and entertainment serve to divert attention from the country’s poor human rights record. Furthermore, the Royal Commission for al-Ula is directed by a board chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
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