Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory (First Look)

Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory at a glance:

• New story arc exploring Basim’s past and relationship with his father
• New biome: Al-Ula region (8 AC)
• Mirage gameplay improvements for parkour, mission replay, and tool upgrades
• Additional difficulty options, new skills, and customization features for main game and DLC

Ubisoft is celebrating the 2nd anniversary of AC Mirage with the announcement of a free extension Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory - a storyline placed shortly before the finish of the core game - exploring the past of Basim, the relationship with his father, and the motivations that will inspire his grand destiny.

This article aims to summarise the key information revealed in the Ubisoft preview, highlights what’s included in the DLC, and why I’m personally excited to return to follow the steps of Basim in this new chapter of AC Mirage...

A New Chapter for Basim

The preview of this DLC makes the promise of a thrilling (and more personal) chapter of Basim's journey, as he venture in region Al-Ula looking for his father.

Whilst we know only little about Ishaq (Basim's father), this character is no stranger to AC as he has been mentioned multiple times in previous games, artbooks, and printed AC fiction. AC Wiki (Fandom) is doing a great job of summarising his background, and the impact of his personality on Basim's character arc (more especially towards the end of Mirage and later in Valhalla).

Ishaq

Ishaq (Arabic: إسحاق; died c. 850s) was an architect active in early to mid-9th century Samarra, then the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. He was the father of Basim Ibn Ishaq. Though responsible for the construction of the Great Mosque of Samarra,[1] another man stole his credit[2] and Ishaq was exiled, later dying in poverty.[1] With Ishaq’s death, Basim became an orphan who grew up in the streets of Baghdad, his mother having died years earlier when he was a child.[3] In his teenage…

Fandom, Inc.Contributors to Assassin’s Creed Wiki

I hope the DLC will further explore the development Basim as it has been encountered in AC Valhalla. This would serve his character's arc well, and will help answer the final scenes of Mirage with a little more context (expecially with Enkidu).

Sign up for MattGoesRogue

Storytelling In Interactive Entertainment, video games, and TTRPGs

Subscribe

Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Father and Son

There is no doubt the DLC will be exploring the themes of memory, identity, and family. This is not without precedent for the franchise when looking back to AC Origins, AC Odyssey and AC Valhalla - all giving their unique takes on the topic of bloodline, legacy, loyalty, honour, and belonging.

The father-and-son dynamic, more specifically, is often used as a plot device to confront the protagonist against a future that was once decided by his family (fated) - in direct opposition with the life he chose for himself (free will/agency), the emancipation of his moral principles, and the adoption of personal accountability (often at cost).

It's hard not to be visited by the thoughts of Bayek, Kassandra and Eivor when considering the above - as they all share difficult, often painful, connections with their direct families. Whilst AC Mirage : Valley of Memory may not be an exeception to the rule, we can hope for a new and unexpected approach on this topic. Needless to say, this setup is rich with possibilities, and I am looking forward to being surprised and moved by the prospect of this two characters to be reunited.

A New Historical Playground: The Al-Ula Region

One of the most striking aspects of the DLC is its new setting: the Al-Ula region.

> Al-Ula was a market city on the historic incense trade route that linked India and the Persian Gulf to the Levant and Europe. From an archaeological perspective, the immediate vicinity contains a unique concentration of precious artifacts, including well-preserved ancient stone inscriptions that illustrate the development of the Arabic language, and a concentration of rock dwellings and tombs that date from the Nabatean and Dedanite periods that coincided with Greco-Roman influence during classical antiquity. - Wikipedia

Where Baghdad felt dense, urban, and politically charged, the walled oasis city of Al-Ula seems to offer something else entirely - a welcome addition to the map providing a new layer of stunning sceneries, mystery, and cultural appeal to the overall Mirage experience.

This particular region will give the player with the opportunity to develop an appreciation for the historical heritage of Hegra, The iconic tomb of Qaṣr al-Farīd, the Madain Saleh Necropolis, the popular Elephant Stone (sandstone monolotyth), the crowed markets of the old city, the luxurious plam groves and abundant agricultural sites, and the caravan roads connecting the different part of the world in culural emergence.

Community Response & Gameplay Enhancement

Alongside its new story content, the DLC comes with a variety of gameplay updates rolled out for the core game - featuring smoother parkour, expanded difficulty customisation, new challenges, new tool levels, mission replay, and much more...

This level of investment and continuous development in AC Mirage demonstrates a clear response to the feedback provided by the community - these enhancements are everything fans have been asking for, the whole thing carefully wrapped and gifted as an anniversary present.

For free.

Thank you.

Final Thoughts

I am really excited with the prospect of returning to Assassin’s Creed Mirage and to explore further the story of Basim, a character I am particularly fond of. The main storyline focused on family matters is a great choice, especially as Basim's past is wrapped in mystery. I am looking forward to stepping back in the sand once again, and venturing to Al-Ula to unveil all the secrets and adventures this extention has to offer...

Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory will be released on 18th November. The DLC will be available for free on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, and recent OS devices.

Mentioned in This Article: Assassin’s Creed Mirage Valley of Memory, Basim DLC story expansion, Al-Ula Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Assassin’s Creed Mirage update November 2025, Assassin’s Creed Mirage parkour improvements, Free DLC Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed anniversary update, Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed anniversary update

Photo credit: 'Assassin's Creed Mirage' and 'Assassin's Creed Miragee: Valley of Memory' Anniversary Announcement Stream (C) Ubisoft - All rights reserved.

Useful Links

Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory | Ubisoft (EU / UK)

Valley of Memory, a free major update, introduces the stunning new region of AlUla and features a new story arc for Basim.

Assassins Creed Franchise

Buy Assassin’s Creed Mirage - Also Available Now on Ubisoft+

Experience the story of Basim, a cunning street thief with nightmarish visions, seeking answers and justice as he navigates the bustling streets of ninth-century Baghdad. Through a mysterious, ancient organization known as the Hidden Ones, he will become a deadly Master Assassin and change his fate in ways he never could have imagined.

Ubisoft StoreUbisoft

Ubisoft Bordeaux | Ubisoft (US)

Official Site. Ubisoft Bordeaux is engaged with Ubisoft’s major franchises, including the launch of Assassin’s Creed Mirage and our collaborations on Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Beyond Good & Evil 2. Discover more about us

Ubisoft.com