Saudi-Backed Mirage DLC Could Be In the Works as Ubisoft Declines Addressing Rumors of Controversial Funding

The last few days have been full of Ubisoft news with the release of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Early Preview. We’ve gotten everything from controversial reviews praising the game, to classic controversies of misrepresentation and the question of the studio’s commitment to authenticity. The latest controversy is completely different though.

A new report speculates that a potential DLC for Assassin’s Creed Mirage could be funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). On the surface, it makes sense considering the company’s current situation and the Middle East’s increased interest in the industry in recent years. The company has remained tight-lipped about the alleged deal.

The focus is allegedly all on Assassin’s Creed Shadows

On January 24, 2025, French financial newspaper Les Echos reported that Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot had secured funding from the PIF during a recent meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. According to the report, the alleged aim of the investment was to finance additional content for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, a game released by the studio in late 2023.

NEWS: Ubisoft has declined to comment on the deal with the Saudi Savvy Games Group, which was reported to lead to the production of Assassin’s Creed Mirage DLC🚀

“We’ll decline to comment. We are focused on finishing Assassin’s Creed Shadows and excited for players to get to… pic.twitter.com/HjDyidBPc3

— Rino (@RinoTheBouncer) January 27, 2025

Ubisoft responded to these rumors on January 27 with a spokesperson stating to Eurogamer that, “We’ll decline to comment. We are focused on finishing Assassin’s Creed Shadows and excited for players to get to play it on 20th March.“

Coming to the topic of Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the game was supposed to be a step back for the studio. It was designed as a smaller project that would take the series back to its roots instead of being another open-world spectacle like Odyssey or Valhalla. While it did achieve that to an extent, the rumor of a DLC is definitely interesting because what could it possibly add?

The stakes keep getting higher for the company’s future

The company’s struggles are no secret. Recent layoffs have affected 185 employees across multiple studios, including the permanent closure of Ubisoft Leamington. The studio had contributed to titles like Far Cry 5 and The Division but has apparently been deemed expendable in the company’s ongoing cost-cutting measures.

Ubisoft then: “Get used to not owning your games.”

Ubisoft now: “Get used to not having jobs.”

The arrogance and destruction of AAAA gaming, DEI and not listening to what gamers want. pic.twitter.com/FNVf6idFNV

— Grummz (@Grummz) January 27, 2025

I get it’s a work-in-progress but Ubisoft really not helping themselves lmao

Marketing for AC Shadows has been nothing short of a disaster. pic.twitter.com/lKeWxAoB2o

— Michael (@LegacyKillaHD) January 28, 2025

So they’re not just disappointing us but also their developers. This is why the stakes are high for the studio with AC Shadows. Set to release on March 20, 2025, the game has already faced backlash from fans following a recent screenshot from the Early Preview. And the multiple delays haven’t helped one bit.

The company needs the game to succeed both critically and commercially. There’s a storm coming in 2025 with the upcoming release of big-name titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Ghost of Yotei. The studio can’t have another Star Wars Outlaws or Skull and Bones situation this year and for all its mistakes, losing an entire studio isn’t something any of us want.

The possibility of a DLC for Assassin’s Creed Mirage is definitely an interesting prospect. It has the potential to be a big help for the studio financially, but the caveat of being funded by controversial figures is also sketchy. What are your thoughts?