<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Valhalla	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2020	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
by	O
Ubisoft	O
Montreal	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Ubisoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
twelfth	O
major	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
series	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
successor	O
to	O
2018	O
's	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Odyssey	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Principally	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
years	O
872	O
–	O
878	O
AD	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
recounts	O
a	O
fictional	O
story	O
during	O
the	O
Viking	B-Application
expansions	O
into	O
the	O
British	O
Isles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
control	O
Eivor	O
Varinsdottir	O
,	O
a	O
Viking	B-Application
raider	O
who	O
,	O
while	O
attempting	O
to	O
establish	O
a	O
new	O
Viking	B-Application
clan	O
in	O
England	O
,	O
becomes	O
embroiled	O
in	O
the	O
centuries-old	O
conflict	O
between	O
the	O
Assassin	O
Brotherhood	O
,	O
who	O
fight	O
for	O
peace	O
and	O
liberty	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Templar	O
Order	O
,	O
who	O
desire	O
peace	O
through	O
control	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
began	O
in	O
2017	O
,	O
around	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Origins	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Numerous	O
people	O
involved	O
in	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
past	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
games	O
returned	O
for	O
Valhalla	B-Application
,	O
including	O
Ashraf	O
Ismail	O
,	O
who	O
served	O
as	O
the	O
creative	O
director	O
for	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
(	O
2013	O
)	O
and	O
Origins	O
;	O
Darby	O
McDevitt	O
,	O
the	O
lead	O
writer	O
for	O
Black	O
Flag	O
and	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
:	I-Application
Revelations	I-Application
(	O
2011	O
)	O
and	O
co-writer	O
of	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Unity	I-Application
(	O
2014	O
)	O
;	O
and	O
composers	O
Jesper	O
Kyd	O
and	O
Sarah	O
Schachner	O
,	O
who	O
composed	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
soundtrack	O
alongside	O
musician	O
Einar	O
Selvik	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
also	O
sought	O
to	O
address	O
some	O
issues	O
found	O
by	O
players	O
with	O
Odyssey	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
its	O
over	O
ambitiousness	O
,	O
small	O
focus	O
on	O
the	O
Assassin-Templar	O
conflict	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
absence	O
of	O
traditional	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
gameplay	O
elements	O
like	O
social	O
stealth	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valhalla	B-Application
was	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X	I-Device
and	I-Device
Series	I-Device
S	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Stadia	B-Application
on	O
November	O
10	O
,	O
2020	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
version	O
following	O
on	O
November	O
12	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
had	O
the	O
biggest	O
launch	O
in	O
the	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
series	O
to	O
date	O
,	O
selling	O
the	O
most	O
copies	O
within	O
its	O
first	O
week	O
and	O
becoming	O
the	O
second	O
most	O
profitable	O
Ubisoft	O
title	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ubisoft	O
supported	O
Valhalla	B-Application
extensively	O
with	O
two	O
years	O
of	O
additional	O
content	O
,	O
including	O
both	O
free	O
and	O
paid	O
story	O
expansions	O
,	O
game	O
modes	O
,	O
and	O
events	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
will	O
be	O
followed	O
in	O
2023	O
by	O
Assassin	B-Device
's	I-Device
Creed	I-Device
Mirage	I-Device
,	O
which	O
features	O
a	O
historical	O
setting	O
in	O
Baghdad	O
during	O
the	O
Islamic	O
Golden	O
Age	O
and	O
follows	O
Basim	O
Ibn	O
Ishaq	O
,	O
a	O
major	O
supporting	O
character	O
from	O
Valhalla	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Valhalla	I-Application
is	O
an	O
action	B-Application
role-playing	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
structured	O
around	O
several	O
main	O
story	O
arcs	O
and	O
numerous	O
optional	O
side-missions	O
,	O
called	O
"	O
World	O
Events	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
takes	O
on	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
Eivor	O
Varinsdottir	O
(	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
Viking	B-Application
raider	O
,	O
as	O
they	O
lead	O
their	O
fellow	O
Vikings	B-Application
against	O
the	O
Anglo-Saxon	O
kingdoms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
has	O
the	O
choice	O
of	O
playing	O
Eivor	O
as	O
either	O
female	O
or	O
male	O
(	O
voiced	O
by	O
Cecilie	O
Stenspil	O
and	O
Magnus	O
Bruun	O
respectively	O
)	O
,	O
or	O
letting	O
the	O
game	O
alternate	O
between	O
the	O
two	O
at	O
key	O
moments	O
in	O
the	O
story	O
(	O
with	O
the	O
female	O
avatar	O
depicting	O
Eivor	O
's	O
life	O
and	O
the	O
male	O
avatar	O
depicting	O
the	O
physical	O
appearance	O
of	O
the	O
Isu	O
Odin	B-Application
,	O
due	O
to	O
his	O
connection	O
with	O
Eivor	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Eagle	O
Vision	O
mechanic	O
of	O
previous	O
titles	O
returns	O
in	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
"	O
Odin	B-Application
Sight	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
's	O
companion	O
animal	O
is	O
a	O
raven	O
named	O
Sýnin	O
(	O
Old	O
Norse	O
for	O
"	O
insight	O
"	O
)	O
who	O
can	O
be	O
used	O
to	O
scout	O
the	O
nearby	O
areas	O
,	O
much	O
like	O
previous	O
avian	O
companions	O
had	O
done	O
in	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Origins	I-Application
and	O
Odyssey	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
parts	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
world	O
from	O
afar	O
before	O
Eivor	O
engages	O
in	O
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
"	O
social	O
stealth	O
"	O
concept	O
from	O
earlier	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
games	O
returns	O
:	O
Eivor	O
can	O
hide	O
from	O
enemies	O
not	O
only	O
in	O
stationary	O
environmental	O
objects	O
but	O
can	O
pull	O
down	O
the	O
hood	O
and	O
slip	O
into	O
certain	O
crowds	O
to	O
use	O
them	O
as	O
cover	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valhalla	B-Application
has	O
a	O
familiar	O
structure	O
of	O
main	O
story	O
missions	O
and	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
optional	O
side-missions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
main	O
storyline	O
in	O
past	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
games	O
typically	O
moved	O
linearly	O
through	O
the	O
main	O
sections	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
world	O
,	O
Valhalla	B-Application
has	O
the	O
player	O
often	O
returning	O
to	O
the	O
main	O
settlement	O
and	O
back	O
to	O
areas	O
previously	O
visited	O
as	O
information	O
about	O
the	O
new	O
areas	O
of	O
England	O
is	O
learned	O
by	O
the	O
Vikings	B-Application
through	O
reconnaissance	O
or	O
from	O
contacts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
team	O
aimed	O
to	O
introduce	O
a	O
wider	O
range	O
of	O
enemy	O
archetypes	O
to	O
Valhalla	B-Application
than	O
in	O
previous	O
titles	O
as	O
they	O
wanted	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
be	O
continually	O
surprised	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
even	O
after	O
playing	O
for	O
tens	O
of	O
hours	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
is	O
able	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
Viking	B-Application
mercenary	O
,	O
or	O
Jomsviking	O
,	O
that	O
can	O
be	O
recruited	O
by	O
other	O
players	O
to	O
act	O
as	O
a	O
non-playable	O
character	O
within	O
those	O
games	O
;	O
the	O
player	O
gains	O
additional	O
in-game	O
rewards	O
for	O
successful	O
missions	O
that	O
their	O
Jomsviking	O
takes	O
part	O
in	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
first	O
season	O
of	O
DLC	B-Protocol
content	O
,	O
an	O
expanded	O
"	O
River	O
Raids	O
"	O
game-mode	O
was	O
introduced	O
which	O
offers	O
replayable	O
raiding	O
locations	O
in	O
new	O
regions	O
of	O
England	O
not	O
reachable	O
in	O
the	O
main	O
map	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
also	O
sees	O
the	O
return	O
of	O
player	O
settlements	O
,	O
which	O
have	O
been	O
absent	O
from	O
the	O
series	O
since	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
where	O
previous	O
player	O
settlements	O
offered	O
passive	O
gameplay	O
bonuses	O
,	O
the	O
settlement	O
in	O
Valhalla	B-Application
takes	O
on	O
a	O
renewed	O
importance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
build	O
these	O
structures	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
needs	O
to	O
lead	O
the	O
Vikings	B-Application
on	O
raids	O
to	O
collect	O
resources	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
these	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
engage	O
in	O
a	O
variety	O
of	O
activities	O
such	O
as	O
;	O
hunting	O
,	O
fishing	O
,	O
brawls	O
with	O
other	O
Vikings	B-Application
,	O
drinking	O
contests	O
,	O
and	O
flyting	O
challenges	O
,	O
which	O
Ubisoft	O
described	O
as	O
"	O
Viking	B-Application
rap	O
battle[s]",	O
in	O
addition	O
to	O
an	O
original	O
dice	O
game	O
called	O
"	O
Orlog	O
"	O
and	O
Cairn	O
construction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
873	O
CE	O
,	O
political	O
pressures	O
in	O
Norway	O
prompt	O
Eivor	O
Varinsdottir	O
and	O
her	O
adoptive	O
older	O
brother	O
,	O
Sigurd	O
Styrbjornsson	O
,	O
to	O
lead	O
their	O
clan	O
of	O
Vikings	B-Application
to	O
settle	O
new	O
lands	O
in	O
Anglo-Saxon	O
England	O
,	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Viking	B-Application
expansion	O
across	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
clan	O
comes	O
into	O
conflict	O
with	O
the	O
kingdoms	O
of	O
Wessex	O
,	O
Northumbria	O
,	O
East	O
Anglia	O
,	O
and	O
Mercia	O
over	O
the	O
next	O
several	O
years	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
warring	O
sons	O
of	O
the	O
legendary	O
Viking	B-Application
warrior	O
Ragnar	O
Lothbrok	O
,	O
who	O
made	O
up	O
the	O
Great	O
Heathen	O
Army	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
previous	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
Valhalla	B-Application
also	O
features	O
a	O
narrative	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
modern	O
day	O
,	O
which	O
follows	O
Layla	O
Hassan	O
,	O
the	O
modern-day	O
protagonist	O
previously	O
featured	O
in	O
Origins	O
and	O
Odyssey	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valhalla	B-Application
also	O
contains	O
story	O
elements	O
related	O
to	O
the	O
Isu	O
,	O
who	O
,	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
lore	O
of	O
the	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
series	O
,	O
are	O
an	O
advanced	O
civilization	O
that	O
pre-date	O
humanity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Layla	O
Hassan	O
,	O
Shaun	O
Hastings	O
,	O
and	O
Rebecca	O
Crane	O
receive	O
a	O
signal	O
with	O
coordinates	O
in	O
New	O
England	O
,	O
where	O
they	O
exhume	O
a	O
Viking	B-Application
raider	O
's	O
remains	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Touching	O
it	O
,	O
Eivor	O
experiences	O
a	O
vision	O
of	O
Odin	B-Application
,	O
leading	O
her	O
to	O
consult	O
the	O
local	O
seeress	O
,	O
Valka	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eivor	O
then	O
secures	O
alliances	O
with	O
neighboring	O
Saxon	O
kingdoms	O
and	O
Viking	B-Application
clans	O
led	O
by	O
Ivar	O
,	O
Halfdan	O
,	O
Ubba	O
Ragnarsson	O
,	O
Guthrum	O
,	O
and	O
Ceolwulf	O
of	O
Mercia	O
,	O
and	O
helps	O
Hytham	O
assassinate	O
local	O
Order	O
members	O
,	O
following	O
tip-offs	O
from	O
a	O
"	O
Poor	O
Fellow-Soldier	O
of	O
Christ.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Valka	O
gives	O
her	O
an	O
elixir	O
that	O
makes	O
her	O
dream	O
of	O
Asgard	O
from	O
Odin	B-Application
's	O
perspective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hoping	O
to	O
avert	O
his	O
own	O
fated	O
death	O
during	O
Ragnarök	O
,	O
Odin	B-Application
imprisons	O
Loki	B-Device
's	O
son	O
Fenrir	O
,	O
who	O
is	O
foretold	O
to	O
kill	O
him	O
,	O
and	O
travels	O
to	O
Jotunheim	O
to	O
retrieve	O
a	O
magical	O
mead	O
that	O
will	O
ensure	O
his	O
and	O
the	O
other	O
Aesir	O
's	O
souls	O
will	O
be	O
reincarnated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Layla	O
realizes	O
these	O
are	O
actually	O
visions	O
of	O
the	O
Isu	O
shortly	O
before	O
the	O
Great	O
Catastrophe	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
Loki	B-Device
,	O
who	O
was	O
forbidden	O
to	O
reincarnate	O
himself	O
after	O
betraying	O
Odin	B-Application
,	O
found	O
another	O
way	O
to	O
ensure	O
his	O
survival	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eivor	O
and	O
Sigurd	O
later	O
travel	O
to	O
Norway	O
,	O
where	O
they	O
uncover	O
an	O
Isu	O
temple	O
with	O
an	O
advanced	O
tree-shaped	B-Application
computer	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
siblings	O
connect	O
to	O
it	O
and	O
are	O
seemingly	O
transported	O
to	O
Valhalla	B-Application
,	O
where	O
they	O
enjoy	O
endless	O
battles	O
,	O
until	O
Eivor	O
realizes	O
Valhalla	B-Application
is	O
a	O
dream-world	B-Application
and	O
escapes	O
with	O
Sigurd	O
after	O
resisting	O
Odin	B-Application
's	O
influence	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Outside	O
,	O
they	O
are	O
confronted	O
by	O
Basim	O
,	O
who	O
reveals	O
himself	O
,	O
Eivor	O
,	O
and	O
Sigurd	O
to	O
be	O
reincarnations	O
of	O
Loki	B-Device
,	O
Odin	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Tyr	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Basim	O
,	O
having	O
been	O
overtaken	O
by	O
Loki	B-Device
's	O
personality	O
,	O
attacks	O
Eivor	O
,	O
seeking	O
revenge	O
on	O
Odin	B-Application
,	O
but	O
she	O
and	O
Sigurd	O
trap	O
him	O
in	O
the	O
computer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
Basim	O
escapes	O
the	O
temple	O
with	O
the	O
Staff	O
of	O
Hermes	O
—	O
containing	O
the	O
consciousness	O
of	O
Loki	B-Device
's	O
lover	O
,	O
Aletheia	O
—	O
and	O
meets	O
Shaun	O
and	O
Rebecca	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
they	O
leave	O
to	O
bring	O
William	O
Miles	O
,	O
Basim	O
enters	O
the	O
Animus	O
to	O
track	O
down	O
Loki	B-Device
's	O
missing	O
children	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eivor	O
learns	O
that	O
the	O
Children	O
of	O
Danu	O
,	O
a	O
cult	O
of	O
druids	B-Application
who	O
seek	O
to	O
oust	O
the	O
Norse	O
and	O
Christian	O
faiths	O
from	O
Ireland	O
,	O
are	O
responsible	O
,	O
and	O
begins	O
hunting	O
down	O
their	O
members	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
aftermath	O
,	O
the	O
Kings	O
of	O
Ireland	O
decide	O
to	O
eradicate	O
the	O
druidic	O
faith	O
entirely	O
,	O
and	O
Flann	O
reluctantly	O
agrees	O
to	O
launch	O
an	O
inquisition	O
against	O
the	O
druids	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
885	O
,	O
Eivor	O
is	O
recruited	O
by	O
Toka	O
Sinricsdottir	O
,	O
a	O
Viking	B-Application
raider	O
from	O
Francia	O
,	O
to	O
partake	O
in	O
a	O
planned	O
raid	O
on	O
the	O
city	O
of	O
Paris	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
meeting	O
with	O
and	O
being	O
betrayed	O
by	O
Charles	O
,	O
Eivor	O
returns	O
to	O
Sigfred	O
,	O
just	O
as	O
the	O
Viking	B-Application
army	O
prepares	O
for	O
the	O
siege	O
of	O
Paris	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
Vikings	B-Application
raid	O
the	O
city	O
,	O
Eivor	O
becomes	O
dejected	O
after	O
witnessing	O
Sigfred	O
's	O
bloodlust	O
,	O
and	O
infiltrates	O
Odo	O
's	O
palace	O
to	O
force	O
him	O
to	O
surrender	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Deciding	O
to	O
celebrate	O
their	O
victory	O
,	O
Eivor	O
invites	O
Kassandra	O
to	O
attend	O
a	O
wedding	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
latter	O
reveals	O
that	O
she	B-Application
has	I-Application
been	I-Application
traveling	I-Application
alone	I-Application
for	I-Application
a	I-Application
long	I-Application
time	I-Application
and	O
has	O
trouble	O
socializing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
Odin	B-Application
and	O
Frigg	O
's	O
son	O
Baldr	O
is	O
kidnapped	O
by	O
the	O
Muspelheim	O
warlord	O
Surtr	O
,	O
the	O
two	O
travel	O
to	O
Svartalfheim	O
amid	O
the	O
Muspel	O
's	O
invasion	O
to	O
rescue	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Odin	B-Application
fights	O
Surtr	O
,	O
but	O
is	O
defeated	O
,	O
and	O
Frigg	O
is	O
killed	O
by	O
Surtr	O
's	O
wife	O
Sinmara	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Left	O
for	O
dead	O
,	O
Odin	B-Application
is	O
saved	O
by	O
the	O
dwarves	O
who	O
have	O
taken	O
shelter	O
from	O
the	O
invasion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Seeking	O
a	O
way	O
to	O
defeat	O
Surtr	O
,	O
Odin	B-Application
rescues	O
the	O
dwarf	O
leader	O
Ivaldi	O
from	O
Surtr	O
's	O
son	O
Glod	O
and	O
kills	O
the	O
latter	O
in	O
combat	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Odin	B-Application
later	O
fights	O
Surtr	O
's	O
daughter	O
Eysa	O
,	O
hoping	O
to	O
use	O
her	O
to	O
bargain	O
for	O
Baldr	O
's	O
life	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
she	O
escapes	O
,	O
Odin	B-Application
learns	O
of	O
a	O
powerful	O
relic	O
called	O
Salakar	O
that	O
Surtr	O
seeks	O
for	O
himself	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Odin	B-Application
retrieves	O
the	O
Salakar	O
before	O
Surtr	O
can	O
and	O
obtains	O
Eysa	O
's	O
allegiance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Odin	B-Application
pursues	O
Sinmara	O
and	O
finds	O
the	O
real	O
Baldr	O
,	O
already	O
dead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sinmara	O
kills	O
Eysa	O
for	O
her	O
betrayal	O
before	O
being	O
slain	O
by	O
a	O
grieving	O
Odin	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Odin	B-Application
then	O
goes	O
after	O
Surtr	O
and	O
manages	O
to	O
defeat	O
him	O
using	O
the	O
Salakar	O
,	O
avenging	O
his	O
son	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Odin	B-Application
vows	O
to	O
survive	O
it	O
,	O
even	O
if	O
not	O
in	O
his	O
current	O
body	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Years	O
after	O
resisting	O
Odin	B-Application
's	O
influence	O
,	O
Eivor	O
realizes	O
she	O
can	O
not	O
suppress	O
her	O
other	O
half	O
forever	O
and	O
,	O
feeling	O
she	O
has	O
done	O
everything	O
she	O
could	O
for	O
the	O
Raven	O
Clan	O
,	O
decides	O
to	O
travel	O
to	O
far	O
away	O
lands	O
to	O
better	O
understand	O
her	O
connection	O
with	O
Odin	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
,	O
Eivor	O
spends	O
her	O
final	O
years	O
talking	O
with	O
Odin	B-Application
,	O
who	O
tells	O
her	O
about	O
the	O
Great	O
Catastrophe	O
that	O
wiped	O
out	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
Isu	O
,	O
and	O
how	O
he	O
and	O
his	O
kind	O
came	O
to	O
reincarnate	O
themselves	O
throughout	O
the	O
ages	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
present	O
,	O
these	O
memories	O
are	O
being	O
watched	O
by	O
Basim	O
,	O
who	O
realizes	O
Eivor	O
's	O
connection	O
with	O
Odin	B-Application
is	O
different	O
from	O
his	O
own	O
connection	O
with	O
Loki	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
completing	O
Eivor	O
's	O
memories	O
,	O
Basim	O
is	O
met	O
in	O
the	O
Animus	O
by	O
William	O
Miles	O
,	O
who	O
stipulates	O
that	O
if	O
they	O
are	O
going	O
to	O
work	O
together	O
,	O
he	O
will	O
first	O
need	O
a	O
sample	O
of	O
Basim	O
’s	O
genetic	O
material	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
Assassins	O
to	O
access	O
Basim	B-Device
’s	I-Device
genetic	I-Device
memories	I-Device
.	I-Device
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Valhalla	I-Application
had	O
been	O
in	O
development	O
for	O
more	O
than	O
two	O
and	O
a	O
half	O
years	O
by	O
its	O
announcement	O
in	O
April	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
development	O
was	O
led	O
by	O
the	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Origins	I-Application
team	O
at	O
Ubisoft	O
Montreal	O
and	O
supported	O
by	O
fourteen	O
other	O
Ubisoft	O
studios	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
tail-end	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
development	O
fell	O
during	O
the	O
COVID-19	O
pandemic	O
,	O
the	O
bulk	O
of	O
the	O
Ubisoft	O
staff	O
assigned	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
were	O
able	O
to	O
work	O
from	O
home	O
with	O
the	O
support	O
of	O
Ubisoft	O
's	O
information	B-General_Concept
technology	I-General_Concept
departments	O
,	O
assuring	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
ready	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ashraf	O
Ismail	O
served	O
as	O
the	O
creative	O
director	O
,	O
having	O
previously	O
led	O
work	O
on	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Origins	I-Application
and	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
IV	I-Application
:	I-Application
Black	I-Application
Flag	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
narrative	O
director	O
was	O
Darby	O
McDevitt	O
,	O
who	O
was	O
the	O
lead	O
writer	O
for	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
:	I-Application
Revelations	I-Application
and	O
Black	O
Flag	O
and	O
co-writer	O
of	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Unity	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
USGamers	O
Mike	O
Williams	O
described	O
the	O
large	O
scope	O
and	O
effort	O
behind	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Valhalla	I-Application
as	O
the	O
equivalent	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
"	O
grand	O
unifying	O
theory	O
"	O
to	O
combine	O
all	O
the	O
past	O
design	O
and	O
development	O
work	O
into	O
a	O
single	O
vision	O
without	O
necessarily	O
reinventing	O
any	O
of	O
the	O
previously	O
developed	O
concepts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
McDevitt	O
explained	O
that	O
Valhalla	B-Application
story	O
was	O
written	O
as	O
a	O
recap	O
of	O
all	O
the	O
prior	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
games	O
,	O
connecting	O
them	O
in	O
non-trivial	O
fashions	O
,	O
but	O
not	O
intended	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
final	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
stated	O
that	O
his	O
experimental	O
structure	O
to	O
the	O
narrative	O
was	O
"	O
quite	O
unique	O
for	O
any	O
game	O
"	O
he	O
had	O
seen	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
for	O
the	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
series	O
itself	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ismail	O
cited	O
Michael	O
Crichton	O
's	O
1976	O
novel	O
Eaters	O
of	O
the	O
Deaditself	O
a	O
retelling	O
of	O
the	O
epic	O
poem	O
Beowulfas	O
playing	O
a	O
major	O
role	O
in	O
influencing	O
Valhallas	B-Application
setting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
McDevitt	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
recognized	O
there	O
would	O
be	O
similarities	O
to	O
the	O
God	O
of	O
War	O
games	O
,	O
but	O
felt	O
those	O
games	O
"	O
skew	O
very	O
heavily	O
towards	O
the	O
mythology	O
"	O
,	O
whereas	O
Ubisoft	O
wanted	O
Valhalla	B-Application
to	O
be	O
a	O
more	O
"	O
historically	O
grounded	O
"	O
experience	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Ismail	O
,	O
this	O
was	O
based	O
on	O
how	O
Eivor	O
and	O
the	O
Vikings	B-Application
may	O
take	O
uncommon	O
events	O
to	O
be	O
signs	O
of	O
their	O
gods	O
 '	O
involvement	O
rather	O
than	O
the	O
more	O
overt	O
role	O
that	O
mythology	O
played	O
in	O
Origins	O
and	O
Odyssey	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
select	O
Eivor	O
's	O
gender	O
,	O
Thierry	O
Noël	O
,	O
an	O
advisor	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
stated	O
that	O
while	O
there	O
was	O
still	O
historical	O
debate	O
to	O
how	O
much	O
degree	O
females	O
participated	O
as	O
warriors	O
within	O
the	O
Vikings	B-Application
,	O
Ubisoft	O
believed	O
that	O
women	O
featured	O
prominently	O
in	O
both	O
Norse	O
mythology	O
and	O
society	O
,	O
and	O
so	O
sought	O
to	O
reflect	O
the	O
Viking	B-Application
idea	O
that	O
"	O
women	O
and	O
men	O
are	O
equally	O
formidable	O
in	O
battle	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
researching	O
the	O
time	O
period	O
,	O
Ismail	O
and	O
McDevitt	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
found	O
that	O
most	O
historical	O
records	O
of	O
the	O
Viking	B-Application
expansion	O
into	O
Britain	O
were	O
written	O
decades	O
,	O
if	O
not	O
centuries	O
,	O
after	O
the	O
event	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
were	O
often	O
written	O
from	O
the	O
perspective	O
of	O
the	O
Anglo-Saxons	O
and	O
so	O
portrayed	O
Vikings	B-Application
as	O
bloodthirsty	O
invaders	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
felt	O
that	O
this	O
overlooked	O
the	O
Vikings	B-Application
 '	O
success	O
in	O
settling	O
in	O
England	O
and	O
the	O
contributions	O
they	O
made	O
to	O
agricultural	O
practices	O
and	O
their	O
influence	O
on	O
the	O
English	O
language	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
team	O
thus	O
sought	O
to	O
portray	O
the	O
Viking	B-Application
Age	O
more	O
accurately	O
,	O
emphasising	O
elements	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
settlement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
represented	O
in	O
the	O
trailer	O
and	O
promotional	O
materials	O
by	O
juxtaposing	O
Alfred	O
the	O
Great	O
's	O
narration	O
warning	O
of	O
the	O
threat	O
posed	O
by	O
the	O
Vikings	B-Application
with	O
scenes	O
showing	O
the	O
Viking	B-Application
community	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
research	O
,	O
in	O
turn	O
,	O
led	O
the	O
team	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
settlement	O
a	O
focal	O
point	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
gave	O
Valhalla	B-Application
more	O
of	O
a	O
role-playing	O
flavor	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
lead	O
producer	O
Julien	O
Laferrière	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
compared	O
the	O
settlement	O
's	O
relevance	O
to	O
the	O
importance	O
of	O
Skyhold	O
in	O
Dragon	B-Application
Age	I-Application
:	I-Application
Inquisition	I-Application
or	O
the	O
SSV	O
Normandy	O
in	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Laferrière	O
added	O
that	O
the	O
team	O
came	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
settlement	O
not	O
only	O
to	O
show	O
the	O
more	O
cultured	O
side	O
of	O
the	O
Vikings	B-Application
,	O
but	O
as	O
a	O
means	O
to	O
show	O
the	O
player	O
the	O
results	O
of	O
choices	O
they	O
made	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
"	O
harsh	O
choices	O
[	O
one	O
had ]	O
to	O
face	O
"	O
from	O
missions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
Tweet	B-Application
that	O
was	O
later	O
deleted	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
's	O
head	O
of	O
communications	O
for	O
the	O
Middle	O
East	O
Malek	O
Teffaha	O
discussed	O
the	O
subject	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
world	O
where	O
he	O
stated	O
that	O
Valhalla	B-Application
will	O
not	O
be	O
the	O
largest	O
or	O
biggest	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Teffaha	O
also	O
stated	O
that	O
Valhalla	B-Application
would	O
address	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
main	O
criticisms	O
of	O
Odyssey	O
,	O
namely	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
suffered	O
from	O
a	O
bloated	O
world	O
populated	O
by	O
repetitive	O
locations	O
;	O
in	O
their	O
review	O
of	O
Odyssey	O
,	O
IGN	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
main	O
story	O
campaignnot	O
including	O
downloadable	O
contentlasted	O
for	O
roughly	O
forty	O
hours	O
,	O
but	O
that	O
completing	O
every	O
side	O
quest	O
and	O
location	O
could	O
extend	O
that	O
to	O
over	O
one	O
hundred	O
hours	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Music	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
composed	O
by	O
Jesper	O
Kyd	O
and	O
Sarah	O
Schachner	O
,	O
both	O
of	O
whom	O
have	O
worked	O
on	O
past	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Einar	O
Selvik	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
written	O
original	O
songs	O
for	O
the	O
History	O
Channel	O
show	O
Vikings	B-Application
,	O
worked	O
with	O
Kyd	O
and	O
Schachner	O
on	O
new	O
songs	O
for	O
Valhalla	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reports	O
from	O
French	O
newspaper	O
Libération	O
and	O
American	O
news	O
agency	O
Bloomberg	O
News	O
stated	O
that	O
besides	O
concerns	O
related	O
to	O
professional	O
misconduct	O
within	O
the	O
company	O
,	O
Hascoët	O
and	O
other	O
members	O
of	O
the	O
editorial	O
team	O
had	O
also	O
suppressed	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
female	O
characters	O
in	O
several	O
of	O
the	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Some	O
members	O
of	O
the	O
Valhalla	B-Application
development	O
team	O
later	O
stated	O
that	O
they	O
had	O
wanted	O
the	O
protagonist	O
to	O
be	O
exclusively	O
female	O
and	O
had	O
selected	O
the	O
name	O
"	O
Eivor	O
"	O
as	O
an	O
exclusively	O
female	O
name	O
in	O
Nordic	O
databases	O
,	O
but	O
had	O
been	O
turned	O
down	O
by	O
executives	O
who	O
believed	O
that	O
a	O
female-only	O
protagonist	O
would	O
be	O
detrimental	O
to	O
total	O
game	O
sales	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
:	I-Application
Valhalla	I-Application
introduces	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
features	O
designed	O
to	O
make	O
the	O
game	O
more	O
accessible	O
to	O
physically	O
impaired	O
gamers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valhalla	B-Application
was	O
originally	O
announced	O
to	O
release	O
on	O
November	O
17	O
,	O
2020	O
,	O
before	O
later	O
confirming	O
that	O
the	O
release	O
date	O
had	O
been	O
brought	O
forward	O
to	O
November	O
10	O
,	O
2020	O
,	O
so	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
could	O
be	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X/S	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
being	O
released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
,	O
Stadia	B-Application
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X/S	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
also	O
the	O
first	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
title	O
for	O
the	O
next	O
generation	O
of	O
consoles	O
,	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X/S	I-Device
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ismail	O
said	O
that	O
Valhalla	B-Application
represents	O
Ubisoft	O
's	O
"	O
flagship	O
"	O
game	O
for	O
these	O
next-generation	O
systems	O
,	O
and	O
has	O
been	O
developed	O
to	O
take	O
advantage	O
of	O
faster	O
loading	O
times	O
both	O
new	O
consoles	O
offer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Four	O
editions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
were	O
released	O
:	O
a	O
standard	O
edition	O
,	O
a	O
"	O
Gold	O
Edition	O
"	O
with	O
a	O
bundled	O
season	O
pass	O
,	O
a	O
"	O
Valhalla	B-Application
Edition	O
"	O
with	O
that	O
plus	O
various	O
in-game	O
customizations	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
"	O
Ragnarok	O
Edition	O
"	O
with	O
that	O
plus	O
a	O
steelbook	O
and	O
personal	O
statue	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
on	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
or	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
are	O
able	O
to	O
upgrade	O
their	O
game	O
to	O
the	O
next-gen	O
version	O
on	O
their	O
respective	O
platform	O
at	O
no	O
extra	O
cost	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ubisoft	O
's	O
2019	O
title	O
Tom	B-Application
Clancy	I-Application
's	I-Application
The	I-Application
Division	I-Application
2	I-Application
included	O
an	O
Easter	O
egg	O
in	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
a	O
poster	O
that	O
appeared	O
to	O
tease	O
the	O
next	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
game	O
as	O
named	O
Valhalla	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
poster	O
included	O
an	O
image	O
of	O
a	O
Viking	B-Application
dressed	O
in	O
a	O
similar	O
fashion	O
to	O
an	O
Assassin	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
previous	O
titles	O
and	O
held	O
what	O
appeared	O
to	O
be	O
an	O
Apple	O
of	O
Eden	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
Isu	O
artifacts	O
featured	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Easter	O
egg	O
led	O
Jason	O
Schreier	O
of	O
Kotaku	O
to	O
report	O
that	O
there	O
was	O
a	O
new	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
title	O
in	O
development	O
,	O
planned	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
official	O
announcement	O
in	O
April	O
2020	O
,	O
McDevitt	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
Easter	O
egg	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Division	I-Application
2	I-Application
was	O
a	O
coincidence	O
as	O
the	O
Swedish	O
studio	O
behind	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
Massive	O
Entertainment	O
,	O
wanted	O
to	O
incorporate	O
some	O
Swedish	O
iconography	O
into	O
The	B-Application
Division	I-Application
2	I-Application
and	O
had	O
no	O
intention	O
of	O
referencing	O
or	O
teasing	O
Valhalla	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ubisoft	O
announced	O
that	O
they	O
would	O
release	O
an	O
exclusive	O
mission	O
titled	O
The	O
Legend	O
of	O
Beowulf	B-Operating_System
for	O
players	O
who	O
pre-ordered	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
included	O
several	O
story	O
expansions	O
;	O
the	O
first	O
,	O
titled	O
Wrath	O
of	O
the	O
Druids	B-Application
,	O
takes	O
Eivor	O
to	O
Ireland	O
to	O
eliminate	O
a	O
cult	O
of	O
druids	B-Application
called	O
the	O
Children	O
of	O
Danu	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
to	O
what	O
they	O
had	O
done	O
for	O
Origins	O
and	O
Odyssey	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
developed	O
an	O
additional	O
Discovery	O
Tour	O
mode	O
for	O
Valhalla	B-Application
,	O
which	O
removes	O
all	O
combat	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
allows	O
players	O
to	O
roam	O
Medieval	O
England	O
and	O
Norway	O
at	O
their	O
own	O
pace	O
and	O
learn	O
more	O
about	O
their	O
history	O
and	O
culture	O
by	O
embarking	O
on	O
guided	O
tours	O
curated	O
by	O
historians	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
mode	O
,	O
titled	O
Discovery	O
Tour	O
:	O
Viking	B-Application
Age	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
free	O
in	O
October	O
2021	O
,	O
serving	O
as	O
the	O
third	O
installment	O
of	O
the	O
Discovery	O
Tour	O
sub-series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2021	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
announced	O
that	O
Valhalla	B-Application
would	O
be	O
the	O
first	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
game	O
to	O
receive	O
a	O
second	O
year	O
of	O
support	O
,	O
including	O
new	O
updates	O
and	O
expansions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
third	O
story	O
expansion	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
titled	O
Dawn	O
of	O
Ragnarök	O
,	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
March	O
2022	O
,	O
and	O
focuses	O
on	O
Norse	O
mythology	O
;	O
it	O
introduces	O
the	O
dwarven	O
realm	O
of	O
Svartalfheim	O
,	O
where	O
Eivor	O
must	O
step	O
back	O
into	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
Odin	B-Application
to	O
rescue	O
his	O
son	O
Baldr	O
from	O
the	O
fire	O
jötunn	O
Surtr	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2022	O
,	O
a	O
free	O
rogue-like	O
game	O
mode	O
titled	O
The	O
Forgotten	O
Saga	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
which	O
again	O
follows	O
Odin	B-Application
as	O
he	O
travels	O
to	O
Niflheim	O
to	O
confront	O
Hel	O
and	O
demand	O
that	O
Baldr	O
be	O
resurrected	O
after	O
his	O
death	O
in	O
Dawn	O
of	O
Ragnarök	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Odin	B-Application
,	O
players	O
have	O
to	O
explore	O
Niflheim	O
through	O
various	O
individual	O
"	O
dungeons	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
run	O
the	O
risk	O
of	O
permadeath	B-Application
as	O
they	O
face	O
increasingly	O
powerful	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
September	O
2022	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
announced	O
The	O
Last	O
Chapter	O
,	O
a	O
free	O
expansion	O
to	O
serve	O
as	O
a	O
conclusive	O
epilogue	O
to	O
Eivor	O
's	O
story	O
and	O
her	O
relationship	O
with	O
Odin	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
the	O
announced	O
content	O
,	O
the	O
update	O
also	O
included	O
a	O
bonus	O
mission	O
featuring	O
Roshan	O
,	O
a	O
character	O
from	O
Valhalla	B-Application
's	O
successor	O
,	O
Assassin	B-Device
's	I-Device
Creed	I-Device
Mirage	I-Device
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
keep	O
Eivor	O
's	O
hood	O
on	O
at	O
all	O
times	O
(	O
without	O
affecting	O
gameplay	O
)	O
and	O
a	O
final	O
legacy	O
outfit	O
inspired	O
by	O
Ezio	O
Auditore	O
's	O
appearance	O
in	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
II	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
first	O
major	O
expansion	O
–	O
Wrath	O
of	O
the	O
Druids	B-Application
–	O
was	O
promoted	O
by	O
Tourism	O
Ireland	O
,	O
the	O
marketing	O
body	O
responsible	O
for	O
marketing	O
the	O
island	O
of	O
Ireland	O
overseas	O
,	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
boost	O
tourism	O
interest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Valhalla	I-Application
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
"	O
from	O
critics	O
,	O
according	O
to	O
review	O
aggregator	O
Metacritic	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Informer	O
gave	O
a	O
highly	O
positive	O
review	O
,	O
praising	O
the	O
narrative	O
,	O
mix	O
of	O
gameplay-systems	O
and	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
Valhalla	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Each	O
installment	O
hits	O
different	O
sweet	O
spots	O
for	O
different	O
players	O
with	O
varying	O
degrees	O
of	O
success	O
,	O
but	O
for	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
the	O
balance	O
feels	O
perfect	O
in	O
Assassin	O
’s	O
Creed	O
Valhalla	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
its	O
engaging	O
combination	O
of	O
combat	O
,	O
open-world	O
exploration	O
,	O
crafted	O
story	O
content	O
,	O
and	O
settlement	O
management	O
,	O
this	O
Viking	B-Application
saga	O
is	O
an	O
epic	O
with	O
a	O
little	O
something	O
for	O
everyone.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
reviewer	O
summarized	O
the	O
4.5/5	O
star	O
review	O
by	O
writing	O
:	O
"	O
With	O
a	O
sprawling	O
world	O
to	O
conquer	O
and	O
gory	O
combat	O
but	O
also	O
the	O
chance	O
to	O
use	O
that	O
iconic	O
hidden	O
blade	O
,	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Valhalla	I-Application
brings	O
a	O
triumphant	O
balance	O
to	O
the	O
series.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Escapist	O
lauded	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
a	O
highpoint	O
in	O
the	O
franchise	O
,	O
praising	O
the	O
combat	O
,	O
characters	O
,	O
narrative	O
and	O
the	O
improved	O
qualities	O
as	O
a	O
role-playing	O
video	O
game	O
compared	O
to	O
its	O
predecessors	O
:	O
"	O
Since	O
nearly	O
all	O
the	O
various	O
trinkets	O
and	O
relics	O
and	O
map	O
markers	O
have	O
meaningful	O
purpose	O
,	O
Assassin	O
’s	O
Creed	O
Valhalla	B-Application
is	O
a	O
rare	O
open-world	O
game	O
where	O
virtually	O
every	O
activity	O
feels	O
worth	O
doing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
Eivor	O
scaling	O
the	O
snow-covered	O
mountains	O
of	O
Norway	O
,	O
Valhalla	B-Application
achieves	O
new	O
heights	O
for	O
the	O
RPG	O
era	O
of	O
Assassin	O
’s	O
Creed	O
,	O
and	O
I	O
’ve	O
never	O
been	O
more	O
excited	O
to	O
see	O
where	O
the	O
series	O
goes	O
next.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
gave	O
the	O
game	O
8/10	O
,	O
praising	O
the	O
story	O
and	O
conclusion	O
to	O
several	O
plotlines	O
from	O
the	O
franchise	O
,	O
but	O
noted	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
character	O
development	O
,	O
ultimately	O
saying	O
"	O
Valhalla	B-Application
is	O
a	O
confident	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
title	O
that	O
takes	O
a	O
few	O
narrative	O
risks	O
which	O
,	O
as	O
a	O
whole	O
,	O
pay	O
off.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
also	O
gave	O
it	O
8/10	O
,	O
writing	O
:	O
"	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Valhalla	I-Application
is	O
a	O
massive	O
,	O
beautiful	O
open-world	O
fuelled	O
by	O
brutal	O
living	O
and	O
the	O
dirty	O
work	O
of	O
conquerors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Hardcore	O
Gamer	O
compared	O
the	O
game	O
favorably	O
to	O
its	O
predecessors	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Odyssey	I-Application
and	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Origins	I-Application
,	O
citing	O
the	O
improvements	O
in	O
gameplay	O
as	O
the	O
reason	O
:	O
"	O
Assassin	O
’s	O
Creed	O
Valhalla	B-Application
brings	O
quality	O
of	O
life	O
improvements	O
to	O
the	O
new	O
Assassin	O
’s	O
Creed	O
model	O
but	O
does	O
n’t	O
stray	O
too	O
far	O
from	O
familiar	O
territory	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
you	O
enjoyed	O
the	O
last	O
two	O
games	O
and	O
want	O
more	O
of	O
that	O
,	O
Valhalla	B-Application
is	O
exactly	O
what	O
the	O
doctor	O
ordered	O
,	O
but	O
there	O
may	O
be	O
some	O
who	O
after	O
spending	O
200+	O
hours	O
completing	O
Origins	O
and	O
Odyssey	O
are	O
burnt	O
out	O
on	O
the	O
format.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
GameRevolution	O
gave	O
the	O
game	O
2.5/4	O
stars	O
,	O
writing	O
:	O
"	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Valhalla	I-Application
should	O
serve	O
as	O
a	O
learning	O
experience	O
like	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
Unity	I-Application
,	O
the	O
last	O
installment	O
that	O
forced	O
Ubisoft	O
to	O
rethink	O
its	O
approach	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valhallas	B-Application
unnecessarily	O
inflated	O
hour	O
count	O
,	O
limited	O
stealth	O
mechanics	O
,	O
disconnected	O
story	O
,	O
and	O
overwhelming	O
sense	O
of	O
familiarity	O
all	O
point	O
to	O
a	O
series	O
once	O
again	O
on	O
the	O
decline	O
because	O
of	O
its	O
inability	O
to	O
focus	O
on	O
its	O
strengths.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Valhalla	B-Application
is	O
daunting	O
and	O
messy	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
’s	O
also	O
a	O
pick	O
‘	O
n’	O
mix	O
of	O
all	O
the	O
best	O
bits	O
from	O
the	O
series	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
conclusion	O
,	O
the	O
reviewer	O
wrote	O
that	O
"	O
Valhalla	B-Application
is	O
so	O
complex	O
that	O
it	O
's	O
a	O
poor	O
entry	O
point	O
if	O
you	O
’ve	O
never	O
played	O
an	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
game	O
before	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
NRK	O
gave	O
the	O
game	O
a	O
positive	O
review	O
,	O
describing	O
it	O
as	O
an	O
"	O
exciting	O
,	O
fun	O
,	O
rewarding	O
,	O
interesting	O
and	O
enjoyable	O
journey	O
back	O
to	O
the	O
Viking	B-Application
Age	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
as	O
having	O
"	O
by	O
far	O
the	O
most	O
beautiful	O
representation	O
of	O
Norway	O
in	O
any	O
game	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
early	O
February	O
2021	O
,	O
Ubisoft	O
was	O
criticized	O
by	O
fans	O
for	O
what	O
they	O
perceived	O
as	O
prioritizing	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
microtransactions	O
over	O
gameplay	O
improvements	O
and	O
bug	B-Error_Name
fixes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Reddit	B-Application
post	O
gained	O
traction	O
with	O
the	O
observation	O
that	O
Valhallas	B-Application
in-game	O
store	O
was	O
currently	O
selling	O
nine	O
exclusive	O
armour	O
sets	O
,	O
released	O
after	O
launch	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
the	O
same	O
number	O
of	O
sets	O
available	O
in	O
the	O
base	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
:	I-Application
Valhalla	I-Application
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
Innovation	O
in	O
Accessibility	O
and	O
Best	O
Action/Adventure	O
at	O
The	O
Game	O
Awards	O
2020	O
,	O
and	O
for	O
Outstanding	O
Video	O
Game	O
at	O
the	O
2021	O
GLAAD	O
Media	O
Award	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
:	I-Application
Valhalla	I-Application
sold	O
more	O
copies	O
during	O
its	O
first	O
week	O
of	O
release	O
than	O
any	O
other	O
Assassin	B-Application
's	I-Application
Creed	I-Application
game	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
PC	O
version	O
also	O
had	O
the	O
most	O
successful	O
launch	O
of	O
any	O
PC	O
game	O
published	O
by	O
Ubisoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
version	O
sold	O
45,055	O
physical	O
copies	O
within	O
its	O
first	O
week	O
on	O
sale	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
the	O
second	O
bestselling	O
retail	O
game	O
of	O
the	O
week	O
in	O
the	O
country	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
version	O
was	O
the	O
twenty-fifth	O
bestselling	O
retail	O
game	O
in	O
Japan	O
throughout	O
the	O
same	O
week	O
,	O
with	O
4,227	O
copies	O
being	O
sold	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Valhalla	B-Application
will	O
be	O
followed	O
by	O
Assassin	B-Device
's	I-Device
Creed	I-Device
Mirage	I-Device
,	O
a	O
smaller	O
title	O
intended	O
to	O
be	O
more	O
akin	O
to	O
earlier	O
installments	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
focusing	O
on	O
a	O
smaller	O
setting	O
and	O
stealth	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
is	O
set	O
in	O
9th-century	O
Baghdad	O
,	O
during	O
the	O
Islamic	O
Golden	O
Age	O
,	O
and	O
will	O
explore	O
the	O
backstory	O
of	O
Basim	O
Ibn	O
Ishaq	O
,	O
thus	O
serving	O
as	O
a	O
prequel	O
to	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Valhalla	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mirage	O
is	O
set	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
2023	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X	I-Device
and	I-Device
Series	I-Device
S	I-Device
,	O
and	O
Luna	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
