Assassin’s Creed Mirage: The Truth Behind the “Real Gambling” Controversy

Will Assassin’s Creed Mirage have a Real Gambling system?

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is the latest installment in the popular historical action-adventure franchise by Ubisoft. The game was announced during the Ubisoft Forward event on September 11, 2022, and is set to release in 2023 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia.

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Soon after the game’s reveal, a controversy erupted over its rating and content. The Xbox Store listing for Assassin’s Creed Mirage showed that the game had an Adults Only (AO) rating by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), which is the highest and most restrictive rating for video games in North America. The listing also claimed that the game featured “Real Gambling”, a classification that is separate from loot boxes and in-game casinos, which are classified as “Simulated Gambling”. If a game contains Real Gambling then players can gamble their real-life cash at a chance of getting more back.

This caused a lot of confusion and speculation among fans and media outlets, as very few games ever receive an AO rating from the ESRB, and those that do face an uphill climb to success, thanks to the limited places they are generally sold or allowed to be marketed. It also raised questions about what kind of gambling systems or microtransactions Assassin’s Creed Mirage would have, as the franchise has been criticized in the past for its controversial leveling system and boosts that could be purchased with real money.

However, Ubisoft quickly clarified that Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s listed AO rating and hints of gambling were a mistake. In a statement to Eurogamer, Ubisoft said, “following the announcement of Assassin’s Creed Mirage during Ubisoft Forward, some store pages mistakenly displayed the game for preorders with an Adults Only ESRB rating. While Assassin’s Creed Mirage is still pending rating, Ubisoft wants to reassure players that no real gambling or lootboxes are present in the game.” Microsoft has since updated the game’s listing to reflect that it has not received a rating yet.

So how did this error happen? According to Ubisoft, it was due to a technical issue with their backend system that caused some incorrect information to be displayed on some store pages. The company also apologized for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused to their fans and customers. It is not clear how long the erroneous listing was up before it was corrected, but it seems that it was spotted soon after the game’s announcement.

The mistake was also surprising because major retailers and console storefronts don’t sell games with AO ratings. Given that Assassin’s Creed is Ubisoft’s flagship series, it is unlikely that they would want to jeopardize their sales by releasing an AO-rated game. Moreover, the ESRB does not rate any title until release is imminent — and Assassin’s Creed Mirage isn’t coming out until October 2023.

As for what kind of rating Assassin’s Creed Mirage will actually have, it is expected to be rated M for Mature, which is the usual rating for most Assassin’s Creed games. The M rating means that the game may contain content that is suitable for persons ages 17 and older, such as intense violence, blood and gore, sexual themes, nudity, strong language, etc. However, this does not mean that Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be devoid of any controversial or mature elements. The game’s setting and premise suggest that it will deal with topics such as religious conflicts, political intrigues, slavery, torture, assassinations, etc.

Ubisoft has assured fans that Assassin’s Creed Mirage will not have any real gambling or loot boxes in the game. However, it remains to be seen what kind of optional microtransactions or cosmetic items the game will offer. Ubisoft has said that they will share more details about Assassin’s Creed Mirage in the coming months. Until then, fans can watch the game’s cinematic trailer and gameplay footage on YouTube or visit the game’s official website for more information.

Why did Assassin’s Creed Mirage have an AO rating and “Real Gambling” on its Xbox Store listing?

Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s listed AO rating and hints of gambling were a mistake. According to Ubisoft, it was due to a technical issue with their backend system that caused some incorrect information to be displayed on some store pages. The company also apologized for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused to their fans and customers. Microsoft has since updated the game’s listing to reflect that it has not received a rating yet. Ubisoft has assured fans that Assassin’s Creed Mirage will not have any real gambling or loot boxes in the game.