Assassin’s Creed Mirage developers worked with experts to ‘tackle some common cliches’ about Baghdad

After a long period of rumors followed by an official announcement, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is finally nearing launch. Ubisoft’s next installment takes place in 9th-century Baghdad, with Basim Ibn Ishaq taking center stage. Mirage is said to return to the Assassin’s Creed series roots, embracing stealth and parkour.

As the case with past Assassin’s Creed games, Mirage features historical locations and figures that complement more fantastical aspects of its story. In the latest developer behind-the-scenes, the Mirage team discussed the meticulous details and research that went into making Mirage. It’s all in an effort to deliver a more authentic recreation of Baghdad—one that doesn’t fall victim to common tropes and cliches.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage focuses on the beauty of Baghdad

With its rich history, Baghdad is an easy city to draw inspiration from. It was once the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, and it had the honor of being one of the world’s biggest cities during the Islamic Golden Age. Even so, despite its rich history, Mirage developers were aware modern depictions of Baghdad often neglect this rich cultural heritage.

According to artistic director Jean-Luc Sala, research for Mirage was a little harder than usual because, unlike other settings, “almost nothing from the period has survived to the present day.” Hence, they consulted various experts and relied on descriptions from Medieval travelers, as well as archaeological findings from neighboring cities. Using this information, the team carved out their rendition of Baghdad into four distinct regions:

• Abbasiyah – Baghdad’s cultural hub where scholars and scientists congregate.
• Karkh – A market district where people barter, bargain, and trade.
• Harbiyah -The industrial district,  described as a “dense, grimy part of the city.”
• Madinat As-Salam – Baghdad’s vibrant center.

In the video, Sala highlighted how modern depictions of Baghdad in movies and games often portray it as a ruined landscape. While developing Mirage, the team took their approach the opposite direction, attempting to capture the city’s beauty and culture instead. As you explore Baghdad, you’ll experience the city’s vibrant culture and note some of those small, attention to detail moments. Listen closely and you’ll hear the Adhan – the Muslim call to prayer – when approaching the mosque. Through these moments, developers hope to “tackle some of the common cliches about the region and its culture.”

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is slated to release on October 5 on PC, as well as current and last-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles.