Ubisoft Constructs Genuine Urban Landscape in Assassin’s Creed Mirage

Ubisoft's highly anticipated game, Assassin's Creed Mirage, is set to launch on October 5, taking players back to ninth-century Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate with the help of three experts and a team of in-house historians to ensure authenticity and cultural accuracy.

Ubisoft enlisted the help of three experts to ensure the utmost authenticity in capturing the rich cultural and historical setting
Attention to detail extended to the English version with actors of Middle Eastern nationalities bringing an Arabic flair to their English performances
The game's Middle Eastern influences are evident throughout, from its soundtrack to the Mirage-specific redesign of the Assassin Crest in Arabic calligraphy

Ubisoft’s highly anticipated game, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, is set to launch on October 5, taking players back to ninth-century Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate. This period in history was not only a golden age for Islam but also a time of great advancements in art, science, culture, poetry, and architecture. To ensure the utmost authenticity in capturing this rich cultural and historical setting, Ubisoft enlisted the help of three experts: Mohammed Alemam, Malek Teffaha, and Maya Loréal.

Mohammed Alemam, localization and social media manager at Ubisoft MENA, along with Malek Teffaha, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Senior Manager of Project Management, and Maya Loréal, Senior Manager of Inclusive Games and Content, joined forces with Ubisoft’s Humanities & Inspiration taskforce. This collaboration also involved in-house historians Dr. Raphaël Weyland and Maxime Durand, as well as Strategic Alliances director Amy Jenkins. Together, they worked closely with the development team at Ubisoft Bordeaux to ensure the game’s authenticity.

Rather than simply checking the team’s work, Alemam and Teffaha were instrumental in building a comprehensive lexicon of expressions, words, pronunciations, spellings, and audio recordings. They meticulously reviewed scripts and voice actor recordings to guarantee accuracy. The development team placed immense trust in their expertise throughout the process.

Alemam’s extensive experience as a localization manager for over a decade made him an invaluable asset when it came to accurately representing the Arabic language. Instead of relying on phonetic spellings of Arabic words using Latin letters, Alemam recorded himself pronouncing each word. Additionally, dialect coaches were present during recording sessions to assist the actors in delivering authentic Arabic dialogue. This attention to detail extended to the English version as well, with actors of Middle Eastern nationalities bringing an Arabic flair to their English performances.

The decision to cast a younger actor for the character Basim in Assassin’s Creed Mirage was driven by the desire for authenticity. Lebanese-born actor Lee Majdoub was chosen to represent Basim at the age of 17, allowing for a more genuine portrayal, especially in situations where Arabic is spoken. This commitment to language and cultural accuracy extends to the game’s localization, as Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be the first in the series to have full Arabic localization for a global release.

While Islam is not the main focus of the game’s narrative, it is impossible to separate the setting from its influence. Mosques, veiled women, and recitations of the shahada are all integral parts of the game’s depiction of Baghdad. To further immerse players in the experience, the team incorporated the Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, into the game. However, to avoid overwhelming players with constant recitations, the Adhan is played only once a day in-game.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage goes beyond entertainment and aims to educate players through its History of Baghdad feature. This feature covers a wide range of topics, including the five pillars of Islam, providing players with a unique opportunity to learn while they play. The game’s Middle Eastern influences are evident throughout, from its soundtrack featuring Grammy-nominated violinist Layth Sidiq to the Mirage-specific redesign of the Assassin Crest in Arabic calligraphy by Hatem Arafa.

The attention to detail and commitment to authenticity in Assassin’s Creed Mirage have created a truly immersive experience. Mohammed Alemam expresses his excitement for the project, stating that it has become a passion project rather than just a part of his day job. Players can look forward to exploring this meticulously crafted world when Assassin’s Creed Mirage launches on October 5 for various platforms.

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Background Information

About Ubisoft:

Ubisoft is a important video game company that was founded in 1986 in France by the Guillemot brothers: Christian, Claude, Gérard, Michel, and Yves. The company is known for developing and publishing a wide range of popular video game franchises, including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six, and Watch Dogs. Ubisoft is recognized for its commitment to delivering immersive and engaging gaming experiences across multiple platforms, from consoles and PCs to mobile devices.