After years of exclusively releasing its PC games through the Epic Games Store and its own service, Ubisoft has made a surprising move: they’re returning to Steam. The first game to make this leap is last year’s critically acclaimed Assassin’s Creed Mirage, set to launch on Steam later this month, coinciding with its first anniversary on October 5th. The Steam page is already live, allowing eager fans to wishlist the game ahead of its release.
While the game can be played without needing a separate Ubisoft Connect download, it requires a Ubisoft Connect Launcher account, as outlined on the Steam page. Mirage follows the journey of Basim, a character introduced in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, as he unravels his past and trains to become a master assassin. This installment deviates from its predecessors by offering a smaller, more focused experience, returning to the stealth-centric gameplay that captivated players before the release of Origins. However, as Digital Trends’ Tomas Franzese noted in his review, Mirage doesn’t quite manage to reinvigorate the long-running series. He describes it as a ‘classical motion’ of an old-school Assassin’s Creed game, but lacking the passion and innovation necessary to make it truly memorable.
Despite its shortcomings, Mirage might just be the perfect short, classic adventure to hold you over until the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which was recently pushed back from November 15, 2024, to February 14, 2025. Ubisoft cited the need for more time to “polish and refine the experience” as the reason behind the delay, a decision that coincided with an executive announcement of significant changes following the less-than-expected sales of their latest open-world action RPG, Star Wars Outlaws. This announcement also included a return to day-one Steam releases and the elimination of season pass models from future games.
This shift in strategy signals a change in direction for Ubisoft, potentially bringing them closer to their fanbase and a more traditional approach to game releases. The move back to Steam, coupled with the abandonment of season passes, suggests a focus on providing a more straightforward and enjoyable experience for players, and possibly a renewed commitment to the quality and innovation that fans expect from the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
