Assassin’s Creed Valhalla,which many had believed would be calledRagnarokdue to a series of seemingly credible leaks, has officially been announced. As expected,Valhallawill let players step into the boots of aViking during the 9th century.OriginsandOdyssey,the last two entries in the series, took place much further back, and feature far more mythology than actual history, especially inOdyssey’scase.
However, withValhallaset further in history than the other two, there are likely going to be more historically accurate aspects to the game, whichAssassin’s Creedwas known for initially. That’s not to say that there won’t be any supernatural factors at play here,Assassin’s Creed Valhallawill incorporate Norse mythology, but it does, to some degree, limit how many liberties Ubisoft can take, historically speaking.
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There still isn’t a ton playersknow aboutValhalla,but Ubisoft has confirmed that the game will take place, at least in part, in the 870s. That’s a pretty large chunk of time, during a particularly tumultuous period of world history, especially in Britain. That opens up plenty of opportunities forAssassin’s Creed Valhallato incorporate historical events, though how those are balanced against the games mythological aspects will likely be a defining factor of the game. That being said, there are plenty of events that players should get to partake in.
While not confirmed to be in the game, there is a strong chance that some of these events will appear, and givenAssassin’s Creed’stendency to remain true to history when possible, some of this information could be seen as potential spoilers for the game, so possibleAssassin’s Creed: Valhallaspoilers ahead.
The Great Heathen Army
This is an obvious one. During the 870s, the Great Heathen Army, comprised of various Norse warriors, fought againstthe main Four Kingdoms of Britain. Originally arriving in the mid to late-860s, the Great Heathen Army will likely play a significant role in the main story, presumably being the faction that Eivor, the protagonist, owes allegiance to. It’s not clear how major of a role Eivor would play in the army, though he or she— depending on which gender the player chooses— will likely be of some esteem, considering their role of building up their own settlement.
There are plenty of different mechanics Ubisoft could choose to include with the Great Heathen Army, though, with how little is currently known about the game, it isn’t certain how great of a role the larger Viking population will play inValhalla,or if the game will attempt to keep things relatively confined to the player’s own settlement in terms of keeping its populace happy, assuming that’s a mechanic in the first place. However, it does seem pretty likely that Ubisoft would choose to incorporate some sort of morale mechanic, either for the village or the army. Functionally, it could operate similarly toRed Dead Redemption 2’scamp, but hopefully with greater depth.
Battle of Reading
Occurring in 871, the Battle of Reading was a significant victory for the Vikings, as it proved their capacity to defend a fortified position. With the opposition led by Alfred the Great— who was featured in theAssassin’s Creed: Valhallareveal trailer— and his brother, things at first seemed grim for the Vikings, though they were eventually able to push back Alfred the Great and his Saxon forces.
The battle would be a solid event to mark the early portions of the game. WatchingEivorrally the troops to victory after what seems like a crushing defeat would be an excellent moment, and certainly help build the character a little bit. Of course,Valhallais another RPG, so the player could be presented with a few different options for including it, like facing the opposition directly or sneaking behind enemy lines, giving the player more control over the protagonist.
Battle of Edington
In 878, the Vikings faced a decisive defeat at the Battle of Edington, ultimately surrendering toAlfred the Great. The effects of a crushing defeat on Eivor would be interesting to witness, as it often leads to some of the best character-building moments in theAssassin’s Creedfranchise, whether its with Ezio, Edward, or any of the series' other protagonists facing their “all is lost” moment in the story.
Considering the warrior culture of the Vikings, seeing an entire army suffer defeat together, then watching how that affects Eivor on an individual level, would be an interesting perspective, and a wonderful space for the game to explore in general.
Siege of Dumbarton
The Siege of Dumbarton lasted four months in 870, and would be a pretty amazing openerAssassin’s Creed Valhalla.All of Dumbarton’s buildings were destroyed by the Vikings, showing some of their destructive power. After their victory, the Vikings supposedly required 200 longboats to transport their men and spoils back to Dublin.
While players likely don’t want to stand around for four months waiting for their enemies to run out of water and surrender,Valhallacould use the siege to establish how great of a threat the Vikings posed. It could give players a better sense of power, before ultimately facing defeat at the Battle of Edington later on in the game.Assassin’s Creedhas had plenty of protagonists that start out arrogant before becoming tempered, stalwart assassin’s, and the siege could help establish that for Eivor.
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Ubisoft will almost certainly release DLC forAssassin’s Creed Valhallapost-launch, and considering how much history spans past the 870s in Britain, exploring everything else the period has to offer would be great to see.Odysseyhad stellar DLC itself, and ifValhallacontinues that trend, players should have plenty to look forward to.
The return to a period with more tightly recorded history will be great for fans that want to learn something while playing. While the implementation of Norse mythology will likely mean the game takes some liberties, fans should get a good glimpse at what life as a Viking was like, at least to some degree. Plus, watching more of the earlyAssassin’s struggle against the Order of the Ancients— precursors to the Templars— is sure to be interesting.
Assassins Creed Valhallareleases Holiday 2020 for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
