Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the Ubisoft stealth game spin-off from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, codenamed Red and set to launch just before Assassin’s Creed Infinity, will have some deep references to both Arabic and Muslim mythology.
AC Focusing on Basim, Ivor’s companion from Valhalla, Assassin’s Creed Mirage takes place in 9th-century Baghdad, and is expected to focus more on stealth gameplay and a self-contained story than some of its larger, RPG-style counterparts. It will launch ahead of Codename Red, set in Japan, and the mysterious Codename: Hex, which is rumored to focus on witch trials and 16th-century Europe, both of which will be part of the new Ubisoft hub service Assassin’s Creed Infinity. The early trailers of Mirage reveal a shadowy, otherworldly image that seems to haunt Basim as he progresses from apprentice to master assassin. Now, Sarah Beaulieu, Narrative Director of AC Mirage, has confirmed that this mysterious entity will be based on key elements of Arabic and Muslim myth.
“The creature Basim sees in the Assassin’s Creed Mirage trailer is actually a genie,” Beaulieu wrote. Twitter. “We call it ‘the genie’; We use Arabic words. I saw your theory about her. Many great ideas, but none of them are close to the truth. Don’t worry, you’ll meet our Ginny soon.”
Jinn occupies a varied and ambiguous position in both Arabic folklore and Islam. Obviously spirits, they differ from conventional ghosts because they are not dead people who have come back to life, but entities that have existed on earth since creation. In some cases, jinn may make good sense, follow good and Islamic practices. In other cases, they may be corrupt and unbelieving, like demons, but still subject to God’s word. Although they form part of the larger Islamic theology, they predate the religion’s foundation in 7th-century Saudi Arabia, and have long existed as part of Arabic and Middle-Eastern mythology.
Assassin’s Creed fans have speculated on the nature of the Mirage gene, saying that it may be the embodiment of Loki’s spirit that Ivar witnesses in Valhalla. “My theory is that Disney is seen through the cultural myth of Loki Basim,” AC Fan wrote. “Ivar sees Loki through his Norse filter because of his faith and where he comes from.” “My theory is that what Basim is seeing is the data corruption of Loki’s resurrection protocol,” said Another “As it looks absolutely terrifying, Basim identifies it as a genie.” What these theories are that Beaulieu describes as “not even close” is unclear, however, and the nature of the genes in Assassin’s Creed Mirage may be something entirely different.
As we head into the next installment of Assassin’s Creed, it’s time to get the most out of Valhalla with our tips and tricks guide. You might also want to find all the tomb locations in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, or sample something else entirely from our list of the best RPGs on PC.
