Assassin’s Creed Mirage offered in Arabic
Posted on Nov 10, 2023 by FEED Staff
The upcoming instalment of Assassin’s Creed will feature characters that speak Arabic, as new game is set in 9th-century Iraq
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is the franchise’s latest release set in ninth-century Baghdad, Iraq. The game follows a long line of stealth adventures, from Assassin’s Creed Origins, set in Ancient Egypt, to Assassin’s Creed Infinity, partially set in feudal Japan. Game developer Ubisoft has set Mirage apart in one key way: the characters speak Arabic.
Previous Assassin’s Creed heroes have been English speakers, despite the stories frequently taking place in non-English-speaking countries such as Greece or Norway. Mirage’s developers wanted to maintain the game’s authenticity by having characters speak the local language, a classical version of Arabic which is still widely understood today. This decision opposes negative stereotypes of Arabic speakers in the media, which often depicts them as villains or terrorists.
The latest Assassin’s Creed creators also wanted to ensure historical accuracy, keeping the fictional Baghdad faithful to its ninth-century status as a centre of intellectualism and invention.
Ubisoft hopes that players appreciate Mirage’s commitment to its setting and characters, urging them to play in the original Arabic, though English is available as an alternative.
Originally published in the Winter 2023 issue of FEED.
