UPDATE: Jul. 19, 2023, 12:00 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest preorder availability info.
So long, Ravensthorpe. Next stop: Baghdad.
Ubisoft has confirmed that Assassin’s Creed Mirage will debut on Thursday, Oct. 12 — almost three years after the release of 2020’s Viking epic Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, marking the longest-ever gap between installments of the action-adventure stealth franchise.
Mirage will take place in the bustling Middle Eastern capital 20 years prior to Valhalla and feature the coming-of-age story of a “cunning street thief” named Basim Ibn Ishaq, who players might remember as the helm of the Hidden Ones’ bureau in Constantinople. (Maybe not so fondly.)
Ubisoft is billing Mirage as a “shorter, more narrative-driven game” than its predecessors that “pays tribute to the series’ roots,” so expect more stealth and parkour and less direct combat. That being said, the gaming gurus over at IGN (which is owned by Mashable’s publisher, Ziff Davis) have reported that Mirage will introduce several new mechanics, including time-slow and multi-assassination abilities. Your trusty bird friend and their “Eagle Vision” ability are slated to return, though with a twist: Certain archers will be able to shoot them out of the sky.
Mirage will be available in three different editions. Here’s where you can pre-order each one (and score some bonus retailer freebies while you’re at it):
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Standard Edition — $49.99
Players who pre-order the base version of the game will receive access to a bonus quest called “The Forty Thieves” no matter where they buy it. It’s currently up for grabs at Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, Walmart, the Epic Games Store, the Microsoft Store, the PlayStation Store, and the Ubisoft Store. Two of those retailers were giving away exclusive freebies at the time of writing:
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Amazon is offering a set of three lithographs and a map of Baghdad with copies of Mirage‘s Standard Edition, which it’s calling the Launch Edition.
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Best Buy throws in a free limited-edition art print worth $9.99.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Deluxe Edition — $59.99 (or free with Ubisoft+)
Upgrade to the Deluxe Edition of Mirage for a Prince of Persia-inspired in-game outfit, eagle and mount skins, weapons, a digital artbook, and a digital soundtrack in addition to the “Forty Thieves” bonus quest. Go through Best Buy if you want that aforementioned limited-edition art print — otherwise, copies are available via Amazon, GameStop, Target, Walmart, the Epic Games Store, the Microsoft Store, the PlayStation Store, and the Ubisoft Store.
If you’re a member of Ubisoft+, the publisher’s Xbox Game Pass-style subscription service, you’ll be able to play the Deluxe Edition of Mirage on PC on launch day at no extra cost. Plans start at $14.99/month.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Collector’s Case — $149.99
Hardcore Assassin’s Creeders who shell out for the Mirage Collector’s Case will receive a Basim figurine, a replica of Basim’s brooch and Baghdad map, and an exclusive Steelbook featuring a fan-chosen design in addition to all the bonuses from the previous editions. GameStop is currently the only place you can buy it for PlayStation or Xbox.