According to reports

Ubisoft employees raise concerns about company partnership with Saudi Arabia to create new Assassin's Creed Sea City Rage DLC is a new report.

The upcoming content was first reported by French financial newspapers in January Les respondedThis suggests that the DLC has received funds from Saudi Arabia’s controversial Public Investment Fund (PIF). Ubisoft No response When asked to comment on the report at the time.

A few months later, Ubisoft quietly announced the DLC itself in late Augustin a social media post a Saturday morning. A brief revelation confirms that the add-on will see the Phantom Hero Basim visiting Alula, an ancient ruin that is now one of Saudi Arabia’s cultural highlights.

In the internal Q&A shared with Ubisoft employees, GamefileOne employee asked management if they believed working with Saudi Arabia, especially after the killing and dismemberment of the Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi, would damage the company’s image.

Management responded to the fact that Guillemot recently visited Saudi Arabia as part of his delegation with French President Evan Macron, but saw it as a “classic diplomatic tool to expand France’s influence and expand the world around the world” which would help spread the country’s values.

As for the origin of DLC, managing the response to the query simply put, Ubisoft “does not comment on rumors.”

Assassin's Creed Sea Rage player, we'll be surprised later this year!

📖New story chapters and missions were set in 9th century Alura
🎮Basic Games and Game Improvements in New Positions
🎁Free

stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/8cjb3mrvfr

– Assassin's Creed (@assassincreed) August 23, 2025

Ubisoft Management also attempts to distinguish between the country’s leader and PIF chairman, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the PIF itself. “The latter's money is not MBS' money, and talking to partners who don't share our democratic values ​​does not mean giving up them,” the company's response said.

Gamefile reported that Guillemot visited Saudi Arabia again last month to speak at a new global sports conference and announced Mirage’s Alula DLC at the event (which also explains the timing of the same time open news, although no mention of Guillemot’s speech).

“We are working with UNESCO's Alula, which is not clear,” Guillemote said. “But we are creating content that will be available for free to players who play Mirage, and they will be able to access the site.

“As you can see, they will be able to play there, there is a story in this environment. I'm sure they'll love the area, and that's also because it's done with the Experts (Of) archaeology and does know what happened at that time and why it's so important.”

IGN recently asked Ubisoft for more details about the matter and was told that like every Assassin's Creed game, it has creative control over what is proposed. Ubisoft added that the title update for Assassin's Creed Raage “benefits from support from local and international organizations,” achieved, through access to experts, historians and resources to ensure the creation of a real and accurate environment. ”

Tom Phillips is the news editor for IGN. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on the Blues @tomphillipseg.bsky.social