Ubisoft just announced a surprise free expansion for Assassin’s Creed Mirage. The new content will add a fresh story chapter and missions set in AlUla, an ancient oasis settlement in what’s now northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The DLC keeps Mirage‘s ninth-century setting intact. Players will explore AlUla during the same historical period as the main game, which takes place in Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate. Basim Ibn Ishaq will travel to this new location for reasons Ubisoft hasn’t revealed yet.
AlUla isn’t just any desert town. The oasis was a major stop on ancient trade routes, particularly for incense merchants traveling between southern Arabia and the Mediterranean. The area features stunning rock formations and is home to Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its Nabataean tombs carved directly into sandstone cliffs.
This expansion might have an interesting backstory. French newspaper Les Echos reported earlier this year that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund was involved in funding additional Mirage content. Ubisoft declined to comment on those reports at the time. The Saudi government has been investing heavily in gaming through its Savvy Games Group, while also promoting AlUla as a tourist destination.
Beyond the new story content, Ubisoft promises “general gameplay improvements for the whole game.” The company hasn’t specified what these changes will include, but they’ll be available to all players when the update drops.
Desert parkour incoming
Mirage launched in October 2023 as a deliberate return to classic Assassin’s Creed gameplay. The game focused on stealth, parkour, and a tighter narrative compared to the massive RPGs like Valhalla and Odyssey. Most players finish the main story in 12–20 hours.
The AlUla DLC will arrive “later this year” according to Ubisoft, though no specific date has been announced. Since it’s free, all Mirage owners on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC will get automatic access when it launches.
