Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Ubisoft’s latest entry in the franchise, transports players back to the hustle and bustle of 9th-century Baghdad. Critics have praised the return to the series’ roots with its focus on parkour, hidden blade assassinations, and a smaller, more focused approach compared to the bloated Valhalla in 2020.
The newest Assassin’s Creed title may have flown under the radar among the other huge launches in the second half of 2023. However, one aspect of Mirage‘s historical accuracy deserves due credit.
A Medley Of Languages Was Key To Simulating Baghdad
In an interview with Game Rant, Ubisoft historian Raphael Weyland highlighted the importance of portraying Baghdad’s multicultural identity in Mirage:
Yes, I really, really wanted to make sure that the city felt like it was inhabited by multiple people, people from multiple backgrounds. It was not only people speaking Arabic and only Muslim people, but there were also people speaking Persian, Chinese, Hebrew, and some Greek. This, for me, was absolutely essential because it is a really important aspect of the city. It is what made it essential at the time, and we managed to do it. It took time.
Weyland’s commitment to linguistic accuracy goes a long way, as it’s a very accurate reflection of the historical reality of Baghdad as a bustling crossroads of cultures.
During the Abbasid Caliphate, Baghdad was a hub of intellectual and cultural exchange. Scholars, traders, and artists from across the known world converged in its busy markets and libraries. This exchange brought about remarkable diversity, with Arabic serving as the main language, while other languages like Persian and Greek continued to flourish.
Other Adaptations Can Learn From Assassin’s Creed Mirage
For Assassin’s Creed Mirage, capturing the linguistic variety was a significant development effort, as Weyland explained:
It meant recording multiple people in multiple languages and making sure all of it was accurate. We managed to do it, so I’m really proud of that.
Players venturing through the lively streets of Baghdad in Assassin’s Creed Mirage can hear all these languages intertwine with each other, making for an immersive soundscape that properly respects the diversity in cultures of the era.
Weyland’s pride in this achievement is well-founded. In video games, historical accuracy often focuses on architecture and clothing. While these are important, language also plays a vital role in shaping a society’s character. By fixating on Baghdad’s linguistic diversity, Assassin’s Creed Mirage goes beyond just the visual to create a truly immersive and historically accurate experience.
Ubisoft’s commitment to linguistic attention to detail is a welcome departure from the norm, and a promising sign for future historical games from the European publisher.
