One big selling point pushed for Assassin's Creed Valhalla is its fluid protagonist Eivor. Assassin's Creed Valhalla players can always change their gender, with an in-universe explanation that the Animus cannot determine which is correct, and thus leaves it ambiguous. Many still want to know how this makes both genders of Eivor canon to the story at the same time, and one fan has an interesting explanation.
A Twitter user who goes by sagowormz posted her theory that Eivor is a "human chimera" of sorts, one individual with two sets of DNA that can explain why it would not be strange for the character to switch genders on a dime. She floats her theory to Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Narrative Director Darby McDevitt, asking if she can get a free copy of the game if she is correct. McDevitt replied, "We shall see."
The chimera is a Greek mythological beast typically depicted as a hodgepodge of creatures. However, modern genetics has more widely recognized humans as being born with distinct strands of DNA, according to a 2007 study from the University of Akron, which can contribute to factors like individuals being born intersex. It may be a stretch to believe Ubisoft went this deep into the concept, as Assassin's Creed Valhalla videos have shown basic gender swap mechanics, but it's an interesting explanation nonetheless.
While the idea that Eivor can swap genders at any time has drawn a lot of attention, it was not always the plan. Some Assassin's Creed devs wanted Eivor to be canonically female, but the idea was allegedly shot down so that a male Eivor could be prominently used in the game's promotional material.
This is not a new concern. Ubisoft has been one of the focal points in a movement against sexism and sexual misconduct in the video game industry over the last few months, with one story finding that former Chief Creative Officer Serge Hascoet said games like Assassin's Creed Odyssey "would not sell" with a woman protagonist.
Hascoet was fired following investigations into his behavior at Ubisoft, and the company is continuing to rebuild from the inside. Lately, the Assassin's Creed community has been celebrating its female assassins and creators, suggesting things may change for the better, but for now sagowormz' chimera idea may hold water in its upcoming title.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla releases November 17 for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One. PS5 and Xbox Series X versions to follow.
Sources: University of Akron, U.S. National Library of Medicine