The trailers for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla that have been released this week have been rather forthcoming about when Ubisoft’s next open-world action-RPG is coming out and what its gameplay will be like. However, the newest trailer, released today, takes a different approach by veering away from gameplay and focusing instead on the inner turmoil the game’s protagonist Eivor will face.
The Assassin’s Creed series has no shortage of memorable protagonists, but Eivor is an unique addition. Whereas AC Odyssey had players choose between two different protagonists if they wanted to play as a male or a female, here Eivor is the same character regardless of which gender players decide to go with. It’s an interesting approach, one that has had fans wondering how Eivor’s fluid identity might affect Valhalla’s story.
According to what Ubisoft has revealed so far, the game will follow Eivor as they lead their Viking clan in search of a new home in ninth-century England, all while facing strong resistance from the local factions. That alone would provide the story with enough conflict for players to deal with, but the new trailer for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla drops hints that the search for a home will be complicated further by Eivor’s personal quest for glory, and the threats that will bring.
“I see conquest," the trailer’s narrator warns ominously. “I see your enemies. Your struggles. Your doubts. Glory awaits you, Eivor, but it will cost you everything. I can see all of it. Blood and flame, loyalty and family, betrayal, hunger. There is a war within you, and glory will not be enough."
What this could mean is anyone’s guess at the moment, but there are plenty of intriguing possibilities, starting with the game’s settlement-building feature, which Ubisoft has confirmed will play a large role in Valhalla’s gameplay and, by extension, story. Eivor’s personal turmoil could also be fueled by the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients, the precursors of the Assassins and Templars, though Ubisoft hasn’t yet detailed how the two factions will fit into the story.
Only four months remain until the game is finally released, however, so it’s unlikely fans will have to wait long for Ubisoft to share more clues regarding the mysteries it’s currently teasing.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla launches on November 17 for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions to follow.