Ubisoft announced a special collaboration with the University of Edinburgh’s College of Art in the development of Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
Dr. Glaire Anderson specializes in medieval Islamic art and architecture, and provided expert analysis on bringing the location and time period of the game to life.
“I showed my work to my son, who was about 11 at the time, and he said, ‘Oh mom, if you’re interested in that kind of stuff you should check out Assassin’s Creed!’ I did, and I loved how they were visualizing medieval Islamic monuments and urban environments. Then, when I learned they were engaging with museums and academics to enhance the educational aspects of their games, I reached out to Ubisoft’s head of world-building, historian Maxime Durand.
“The impact on my work has been dramatic. Collaborating with Ubisoft has allowed me to bring my work out of the university and share it with a broader audience of people of all ages who play video games. I respect what Ubisoft have achieved and how they are helping people engage with history.
“Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed games have introduced millions of players of all ages around the globe to medieval Islamic art, architecture, and history. That’s extraordinary impact.”
Dr. Anderson also contributed to the educational mode, History of Baghdad, where players can learn about the real history of Mirage’s setting. With History of Baghdad, players can visit and learn about 66 historical sites throughout the game’s world.
“With information curated by experts, History of Baghdad offers a research-based perspective over 9th century Baghdad and the Abbasid Empire, tackling pre-conceptions and clichés often associated with them,” said Thierry Noel, Head of Humanities & Inspiration Department, Ubisoft. “Our collaboration with esteemed partners and experts to bring this feature to life in Assassin’s Creed Mirage further highlights the commitment to authenticity and accuracy that is a hallmark of the series.”
Assassin’s Creed Mirage will release on October 12 on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
