After a detour to the frigid north with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the famed open-world series returns to its Middle Eastern roots with the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
If a hotter climate isn’t enough of an incentive to stay in the shadows, Ubisoft Bordeaux focused on creating mechanics that support stealth. The most notable of these is the Notoriety system, which builds on the Wanted system of the older games.
In a recent interview with Gamereactor, the game’s mission and world director Simon Arsenault explained how the new system incentivizes stealth by punishing crime and limiting your traversal options:
“We also have some higher-level mechanics, such as the Notoriety System, where any illegal behavior within the city will be punished, and this includes not only killing people, but also drawing swords, beating people, or robbing treasure chests. Wanted posters began to appear, and eventually civilians watched Posters, they will call the guards when you get close.
If you’re just at level one on the notoriety system, you can go to the rooftops and you’ll still be relatively fine. However, if you continue to do illegal things, your notoriety will rise, and on the second level, you have a lookout on the roof. So your playground on the rooftop is no longer so free. All of this is to encourage you to return to invisibility.
In an interview with Gamereactor, Simon Arsenault also said that Mirage, which retains Valhalla’s combat system, is “a bitpunish”, to encourage stealth. You can read more about it in our full interview with Quest and World Director.
If you prefer a guided tour of 9th century Baghdad, we also have a comprehensive preview of Assassin’s Creed Mirage for you to enjoy.
