Ubisoft is aware that excessively lengthy titles are becoming tedious, so Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be a shorter experience.

Mollie has been playing video games since she was able to hold a controller or mouse in her small hands. The ones she remembers playing most are Killer Instinct, Toontown and Audition Online, which still give a glimpse into her gaming preferences after two decades. She became part of PC Gamer in 2020, searching the internet for news and stories. She’s often found in Limsa Lominsa, spending hours AFK and writing about Final Fantasy 14. Aside from that, she can also be seen playing rhythm games, fighters and JRPGs – often for the fifth time.

When I think of a Ubisoft RPG, the first thing that comes to mind is that they are way too big. Others feel the same way, and the developer is conscious of the fact that many people are beginning to become worn out on humongous open worlds. That’s why it’s relieving to hear that Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be taking on a smaller size. Creative director Stéphane Boudon mentioned to GamesRadar that the community has had a major part in the development of the new entry in the series. He said, “Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla are all great video games that offer a grandiose journey within a dreamlike world, and their scopes were adjusted to meet these ambitions by using RPG mechanics.” However, fans and the Ubisoft team alike started expressing a need for an account that is focused on the core elements of the first Assassin’s Creed games, with a more intimate scope. This ended up being the origin of the project.

Taking the aspects of the previous, less extensive Assassin’s Creed games and applying them to modern gaming appears to be a thrilling prospect. The length of video games has been a changing subject, with the amount of time people have available to play a single game becoming less and less due to services like life and the obligations of adulthood. For instance, Assassin’s Creed 2 is about 35 hours to finish and Valhalla is around 139 hours to finish, not including the DLC. Though it appears that Ubisoft isn’t quite ready to get rid of all the components that have become associated with their RPGs, with Boudon adding that Mirage will have a “richer and denser map compared to the first ACs,” and “more gameplay opportunities, more interactions between systems, and more depth.” He concluded by saying that the goal of Mirage is to provide a complete experience in 9th century Baghdad and the major occurrences of the Hidden Ones, hoping that it will be a standalone title that everyone can enjoy.

With the recent cancellation of some Ubisoft titles, the delay of Skull & Bones, and the drop in their share price, Assassin’s Creed Mirage has to be a success. It’s likely not going to be the company’s last chance to release a hit game, but it feels like the clock is ticking.