Ubisoft has announced Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory, a free story expansion arriving on November 18, bringing new missions, gameplay updates, and some renewed debate over the studio’s partnerships. The DLC marks a significant content drop more than two years after the base game’s release, adding roughly six hours of additional story content centered on Basim’s search for his long-lost father in ninth-century AlUla.
Set in a new desert region inspired by the ancient Saudi Arabian site, Valley of Memory expands Mirage’s world with fresh assassination targets, side quests, and contracts. Ubisoft says the update will also introduce a new take on the series’ signature “black box” missions, where players can choose how to execute their objectives. The main questline pits Basim against a powerful band of robbers, with multiple gameplay refinements designed to make stealth and parkour feel more fluid.
Among the improvements coming with the update are better rooftop transitions, a manual jump toggle, and enhanced movement customization, including adjustable side and back ejects. The DLC will also bring replayable missions and challenges that can be customized — such as completing assassinations without Eagle Vision or avoiding detection altogether. On the combat and progression side, Ubisoft is adding a new skill (Engineer 2), a third-tier mod system for tools, and two additional difficulty levels. All of these enhancements will carry over to the base game.
While the free expansion has been welcomed by players, its setting and reported funding have sparked criticism. Multiple reports suggest the DLC was developed in part through a partnership between Ubisoft and a Saudi-backed esports organization, with links to the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The PIF has recently expanded its footprint in global entertainment, including a $55 billion acquisition push across gaming and media sectors. Some Ubisoft employees have reportedly expressed discomfort about the collaboration, citing concerns over ethical and political implications tied to Saudi Arabia’s government.
Despite the controversy, Valley of Memory signals Ubisoft’s continued investment in Assassin’s Creed Mirage, a game that was initially positioned as a return to the franchise’s stealth-driven roots. By blending new story content with tangible gameplay improvements, the studio appears to be using the DLC both to reengage players and to refine the mechanics that could carry forward into future titles.
How Valley of Memory is received may depend as much on its narrative and design as on how Ubisoft addresses the questions surrounding its production. For now, fans can expect to revisit Basim’s journey — and uncover another layer of Mirage’s world — when the DLC releases on November 18.
