VIKING VACATION
ASSASSIN’S CREED VALHALLA is invading PC this year
After a year of rumors, the Viking is finally out of the bag: Ubisoft has unveiled Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. It’s taking the murderous series to 9th century England where our Viking hero Eivor will duke it out with Saxons led by the King of Wessex, Alfred the Great.
Ubisoft announced the new game in a pretty unconventional and slightly exhausting way, livestreaming the creation of some concept art. We were expecting a trailer, which did eventually follow, but first we had to sit through an eight-hour painting session as Boss Logic painstakingly put together a teaser, frequently going back and tweaking castles and boats as we waited for confirmation that it was what we expected.
Valhalla continues the series’ progression from sneaky parkour game to open-world RPG, and while
Eivor—whose gender you can pick—does still carry the infamous hidden blade, they’re going to be pretty busy dabbling in a lot of other activities. Like any good Viking, they love a raid, so expect to lead attacks on Saxon settlements, terrifying villagers and stealing all their prized possessions. You’ll also be able to get into larger battles with Saxon armies, leading your very own warband.
RAID GROUP
The Vikings were pretty extra, and Eivor’s the most extra of them all, able to dual-wield pretty much every weapon. Not historically accurate, perhaps, but pretty cool. This
THE VIKINGS WERE PRETTY EXTRA, AND EIVOR’S THE MOST EXTRA OF THEM ALL
ABOVE, TOP:
Remember to admire the beautiful vistas before you burn everything down. ABOVE, BOTTOM:
No confirmation if you can dualwield bears, but we can hope.
includes shields. Yes, you can charge into battle carrying two shields. What a time to be alive.
While Origins and Odyssey were framed as a journey where you go to a new area, clear its quests, and then move on, Valhalla will feature a hub that you return to and nurture over the course of the game. The Vikings aren’t just raiding and pillaging; they’ve come to England to start a new life, with families in tow. Your settlement will let you recruit new troops, but you’ll also be able to construct buildings. It’s also at the center of Valhalla’s quests, and the decisions you make will be reflected in the settlement’s development.
England in the 9th century isn’t a united country, so various kingdoms are vying for control, both Saxon and otherwise. Historically, Alfred the Great laid the seeds for a unified England, but there was plenty of opposition. The other Saxon monarchs had their own ambitions, and the Danes, Norse, and Celts certainly weren’t keen to be ruled by Wessex. It looks like you’ll be able to take advantage of that in Valhalla, conducting diplomacy and forging alliances with the lords of England. You’ll also get help from your pals online, using Viking warriors that they’ve created in your own raids. You’ll be able to start chopping off Saxon heads in winter 2020.
Fraser Brown