Alongside triple-A games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Street Fighter 6, which we told you all about on the RC Online, Assassin’s Creed: Mirage is arguably one of the most eagerly awaited titles slated for release in 2023. And according to recent leaks, the next instalment in Ubisoft’s flagship series could hit the shelves sometime in August.
The thirteenth mainline installation in the Assassin’s Creed franchise might be much more imminent than gamers might have previously thought. According to a tip posted on Reddit by an alleged GameStop employee, Ubisoft could aim for a summer 2023 release. The post contained a screenshot that, if grainy, seemed to spring from the company’s internal system and indicate an August release. While such information remains questionable considering the dubious nature of its source, this purported time frame aligns with previous reporting.
Speculation has been rife within the Assassin’s Creed community for the past few months. Earlier this year, IGN reported that the title could be released on June 30, according to the listing of Polish retailer Allegro. However, Ubisoft did not confirm this window. In fact, the gaming giant has remained eerily silent since the game’s official announcement at the Ubisoft Forward event in September 2022.
Incidentally, die-hard fans of the series were eagerly looking forward to the E3 to learn more about the upcoming title. The unexpected cancellation of the Los Angeles gaming show dampened their hopes until Ubisoft finally went public to announce a Ubisoft Forward conference on June 12. Going live from LA, the show will be streamed on the studio’s official website.
Whether in June or August, Assassin’s Creed: Mirage is coming near anyhow. And the title has the potential to become a smashing summer blockbuster. For all its ambition, however, developers have described the upcoming game as a smaller endeavour than its massive predecessors. Contrary to the expansive open-world maps travelable in Odyssey or Valhalla, Mirage will have players parkour through a mere four districts. Gameplay will focus on stealth rather than pure exploration. Moreover, the main storyline will reportedly wrap up in 15 to 20 hours.
Mirage shall therefore be a spiritual successor to the early days of the franchise. In a fitting tribute to the series’ origins, the developers even pushed the comparison further by returning to the Middle East. Released in 2007, the first Assassin’s Creed took players to the Holy Land across as many legendary cities as Damascus, Acre, and Jerusalem. Celebrating the franchise’s 15th anniversary in Middle-Eastern style, Mirage will take place in 9th-century Baghdad. And a familiar face will embark fans on a journey through the wonders of the Abbasid Caliphate, with players even able to travel to the legendary home of the Hidden Ones, Alamut Fortress.
First introduced in AC: Valhalla, Basim Ibn Ishaq will play centre stage in Mirage. Players will lift the veil on his street-thieving past in this coming-of-age story unfolding decades before the events depicted in the previous Viking-themed title. Little else is known about the overarching plot, other than Mirage will be more story-focused than the most recent entries in the series.
Gameplay-wise, hardcore fans will also see the return of the so-called Black Box assassination missions from AC: Unity and AC: Syndicate. Contrary to rumours that leaked shortly after the game’s announcement, however, Mirage will include no lootboxes or microtransactions. The game was mistakenly rated Adults Only for a passing moment, but Ubisoft quickly clarified that it had no intention of introducing real gambling. Regardless, there are plenty of online options to turn to for gamers with a knack for gambling.
Platforms like CasinoReviews.com help newcomers find the perfect fit. Seasoned players can also spice up their gambling sessions by switching to a brand-new casino. Expert reviewers test several websites to single out the cream of the crop, paying extra attention to a site’s overall reliability. Even inexperienced users can therefore play it safe online while enjoying the juiciest bonuses as they wait for more Assassin’s Creed news to hit the frontpages.
Rumours and leaks have long dotted the development of Assassin’s Creed: Mirage. Ubisoft dispelled some misleading claims in no time, while others left fans making wild guesses online. So, will Mirage effectively come out next August? Chances are, fans will finally get their prayers answered during the next Ubisoft Forward livestream. In the meantime, they might check out Ubisoft-endorsed webcomics and podcasts to alleviate the wait.
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