Crafting Assassin's Creed Mirage: A Journey to Cultural and Linguistic Authenticity

The latest installment in the Assassin's Creed series, Mirage, marks a significant milestone in the gaming industry as one of the first AAA titles to feature Arabic audio and text. Set in 9th century Baghdad, the game's narrative is deeply rooted in the city's rich cultural heritage, with classical Arabic being a prominent aspect of the game's language and atmosphere. According to Mohammed Alemam, Ubisoft's localization manager and cultural consultant, the primary objective of the localization process was to capture the essence of the language while ensuring cultural relevance. Alemam and art director Jean-Luc Sala worked closely to incorporate classical Arabic into the game, with Sala emphasizing the importance of creating an immersive experience for players. The game's full Arabic voice acting was a deliberate design choice, inspired by the success of games like Ghost of Tsushima, which allowed players to experience the game in its native Japanese language. The implementation of classical Arabic began early in the game's development, with Alemam noting that the language is still widely used and taught in schools today. To ensure the cultural accuracy of the game, Ubisoft collaborated with linguistic experts, historians, and cultural consultants, including Dr. Raphaël Weyland and art historian Glaire Anderson. The development team also worked with experts from various fields, such as Maya Loréal, senior manager of inclusive games and content, and Malek Teffaha, diversity inclusion and accessibility senior manager of project management. The team's efforts were supported by Ubisoft's humanities and inspiration taskforce, led by Thierry Noël, and strategic alliances director Amy Jenkins. Throughout the development process, cultural experts were present during each voice recording session to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the Arabic dialogue. The game's English voice cast also underwent a rigorous selection process, with Sala emphasizing the importance of authenticity in the casting choices. The English voice cast features actors of Arabic heritage, including Eyad Nassar, who voices the protagonist Basim in the Arabic version of the game. The authenticity of the culture and language was a top priority for the development team, with Sala noting that the team's open-minded approach and willingness to ask questions and learn from each other were crucial to the game's success. As the game's launch approaches, Alemam and Sala look forward to the community's response, particularly the debate between players who prefer the Arabic audio with English subtitles and those who prefer the English voiceover. The team's dedication to cultural authenticity and linguistic accuracy has set a new standard for the gaming industry, and Mirage is poised to make a significant impact on the gaming landscape.