If cinema is an effective way of combating stereotypes, so too are video games. "Assassin's Creed" is one of the most popular games of our time, and its creators decided to give the lead role in the latest version to Lebanese-Canadian actor Lee Majdoub, hoping to change Western mindsets about their perception of the Arab world.
In 'Assassin's Creed: Mirage', the latest instalment in Ubisoft's hit series, released worldwide last week, players find themselves immersed in Arab and Muslim culture with a level of respect that the medium has never seen before. Set in ninth-century Baghdad, the game follows Basim Ibn Ishaq, one of the most complex characters in the franchise's history.
"Now that the game has been released and I've finally had the chance to start playing it, I've also been struck by a feeling I wasn't expecting. I felt a strange sadness. I realised that I hadn't been back to Lebanon for a long time and that there are so many parts of the Middle East that I've never explored. It's wonderful to take a journey in this game, but now I want to forge a deeper connection" Lee Majdoub, for Arab News.