Basim’s character in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was so compelling that Ubisoft gave him a standalone Assassin's Creed entry with Mirage. His story was too good to pass up. Now that both games are available to the general public, it’s a shame that Ubisoft only developed two games featuring Basim instead of creating an entire trilogy, as they did with Ezio.
Of all the characters in the modern Assassin’s Creed titles who could benefit from a trilogy, Basim is the most deserving.
Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Mirage. Proceed with caution.
Why Basim?
If you finished Valhalla, you likely already know where this is going. Basim is essentially a reincarnation of Loki, just as Eivor and Sigurd are reincarnations of Odin and Tyr, respectively. They are among the survivors of the cataclysmic event that led to the downfall of the Isu—hence, Ragnarok.
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+ 4The ending of Valhalla sets Basim’s character up for further development in a third entry. With a Piece of Eden in his possession and all the knowledge of his ancestors at his disposal, the potential for a new historical timeline is immense.
A Complex Character
Basim isn’t inherently evil, nor is he entirely good. In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, we got a glimpse of his everyday life in 9th-century Baghdad before he discovered his ancestral origins. He was just a street thief searching for a new path in life. However, with the constant presence of Nehal—Loki’s subconscious—haunting him, his journey was never easy.
click to enlarge + 4The series needs more complex characters like Basim. Unlike Ezio, whose entire life revolves around leaving a legacy, Basim has different ambitions. His story, especially after the events of Valhalla, was set up for future exploration, including his search for his children with Angrboda (or Aletheia).
The Hidden Ones Moving Forward
There is excellent potential for Basim in a third entry. Ubisoft could explore his life after Valhalla or the period between Mirage and Valhalla. His connection to the Assassin Brotherhood remains strong, as does his relationship with Shaun and Rebecca in the modern era. This could open the door to an entirely new storyline—perhaps even a World War II setting in the future?
click to enlarge + 4Ezio’s trilogy followed different stages of his life, spanning multiple years, and Basim could follow a similar trajectory. We’ve already seen his origin story in Mirage, and a proper sequel to Valhalla would allow him to grow even further as a character.
Ubisoft Needs to Develop Its Characters Beyond One-Off Entries
Ubisoft has a habit of abandoning its protagonists after a single game, much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe does with its villains. While Layla Hassan had a recurring presence in the modern storyline, most historical protagonists in the Animus get only one game before being replaced.
click to enlarge + 4It would be refreshing to see Ubisoft return to the storytelling model used with Ezio, allowing characters to develop over multiple entries without compromising the overarching narrative. Despite Ezio’s trilogy, the story maintained momentum, ultimately leading to Desmond’s arc concluding (more or less) in Assassin’s Creed III.
A Mirage DLC?
There is some hope for Basim’s story. Rumors suggest an upcoming DLC for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which is set to release two years after the game’s launch. This is an unusual move for Ubisoft, as they typically release expansions much sooner.
Speculation grew after Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot reached an agreement with the Saudi multinational investor group Savvy Games. This partnership reportedly includes plans for additional Mirage content.
At this point, these are just rumors. Given the timeline and the focus on Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft may forgo a DLC in favor of a standalone Basim game—just as Mirage was initially conceived as a Valhalla expansion before becoming a full title.
The Case for More Basim
I loved Basim’s character arc across his two games. He has so much untapped potential, and Ubisoft needs to stop discarding well-developed characters in favor of introducing entirely new ones. Ubisoft’s commitment to Ezio was evident in his three games, and with enough fan support, Basim could receive similar treatment.
With more voices from the fanbase and the dedicated Basim supporters, Ubisoft might finally hear our plea—bringing him back for another adventure in the future.
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