Assassin's Creed Valhalla
News, coverage and analysis tracking Assassin's Creed Valhalla across the outlets.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced sells 2 million copies in 1 day and achieves the 'highest concurrent player count ever recorded for an Assassin's Creed title' on SteamAssassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced achieved over two million sales on its first day and set a new record for the highest concurrent player count for an Assassin's Creed title on Steam. This success for the remastered 13-year-old game surpasses newer entries in the franchise, including Assassin's Creed Shadows.- Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Has The Best Launch The Series Has Seen In YearsAssassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has achieved the best launch performance for the series in years, with over 100,000 players on Steam alone, excluding other PC storefronts and consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Despite this success, Ubisoft Barcelona is implementing layoffs impacting around 51 developers as part of broader company cuts.
Black Flag Resynced blows every other Assassin's Creed - and very nearly The Witcher 3 - out of the Steam watersAssassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced has achieved a series-high concurrent player count of nearly 100,000 on Steam, surpassing other recent Assassin's Creed titles like Odyssey and Shadows. While it fell slightly short of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's peak, its performance is notable for a single-player game, especially considering the current hot weather. The article also briefly mentions Skyrim's launch numbers and highlights the appeal of open-world and pirate-themed games.
As Black Flag Resynced's audio evolves, one dev admits some things stay the same: "Edward drowning is…Ubisoft's Erik-Jon Evangelista, audio director for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, discusses the remake's audio design, focusing on recreating, elevating, and innovating upon the original's soundscape. He highlights the use of the Anvil engine for realistic spatial audio and dynamic music systems, while also revealing he personally recorded the iconic drowning sound effect for the protagonist, Edward.
Guild Wars 3 may have cracked the MMO code for tired millennialsArenaNet studio head Collin Johanson stated that Guild Wars 3 aims to respect players' time, allowing them to play as much or as little as they desire. This approach contrasts with many modern MMORPGs and live-service games that can feel like a second job due to mechanics like battle passes and repetitive tasks. The article suggests that if Guild Wars 3 can remain captivating without demanding excessive playtime, it could appeal to a growing audience of adult gamers.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Ended Up Great–If You Played All The DLCThis article argues that the post-launch DLC for Assassin's Creed Shadows, particularly the "Black Tides" expansion, significantly improved the game's narrative and structure, making it feel more like a complete Assassin's Creed experience. The author expresses disappointment that these improvements were not part of the base game, which suffered from a lengthy and aimless second act and an abrupt conclusion.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Brings Back the Joy of ExplorationAssassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced aims to recapture the joy of exploration and pirate adventure from the original game with a new engine, dynamic weather, and expanded content. This enhanced version promises a more immersive Caribbean experience, addressing limitations of the original and offering a fresh take on the beloved title. The article compares its exploration-focused design favorably against Assassin's Creed Valhalla's more RPG-centric approach.
All changes in Assassin's Creed Black Flag ResyncedAssassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a remake that modernizes the original game with technological advancements and updated sensibilities, while also removing certain elements. Key changes include the removal of modern-day sequences, revamped tailing missions with multiple success paths, and the addition of three new crewmember officers with unique abilities. Gameplay enhancements feature reworked combat, improved parkour, more nuanced stealth, a dynamic weather system, and expanded underwater exploration. The multiplayer component has been removed, and the game integrates with the Animus Hub platform, featuring live service elements. Visually, the remake boasts enhanced graphics, lighting, and textures, with no loading screens when entering cities, and environmental destruction.
Assassin's Creed Shadows sequel or extra DLC could be on the cards, fans speculate, as Ubisoft's final update sets up a new story for its protagonistsFans are speculating about potential future DLC or a sequel for Assassin's Creed Shadows following its final update, Black Tides. The update's ending leaves Naoe and Yasuke's story open, with associate game director Simon Lemay-Comtois hinting at possibilities similar to Assassin's Creed Mirage's surprise DLC. While a direct sequel is unlikely given the series' protagonist patterns, characters could return in future entries or expansions.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Could Be the Comeback Fans Have Been Waiting ForAssassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is positioned as a potential comeback for the series, aiming to recapture the beloved pirate fantasy and focused gameplay of the original. The remake promises to bypass the dense RPG mechanics of recent titles and address drawbacks like tedious missions, while leveraging next-gen technology. Despite concerns stemming from the troubled development of Skull and Bones, the remake carries significant weight for Ubisoft, representing an opportunity for revalidation and a potential return to the franchise's roots.
As Ubisoft says goodbye to Assassin's Creed Shadows, fans spot a new reference to a fan-favorite protagonist that has them hoping for "a proper continuation"The final update for Assassin's Creed Shadows includes new data files referencing past protagonists Basim and Kassandra, sparking fan discussions about potential future storylines. Players expressed a desire for a more direct continuation of Basim's modern-day narrative from Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
Ubisoft’s Next Ghost Recon Game Reportedly Running Into Big ProblemsUbisoft's upcoming Ghost Recon game, codenamed Project OVR, is reportedly facing significant development issues, including unrealistic deadlines and poor management, potentially leading to a complete reboot or cancellation. The project has already seen silent layoffs, and Ubisoft is implementing a more hands-on approach with additional executives overseeing development. This news comes as Ubisoft reported a substantial operating loss and is looking to upcoming titles like Assassin's Creed Hexe and a new Far Cry to return to profitability.
Are Games Getting Longer? The 2026 Data | TAGAnalysis of game length data from 2010-2026 reveals a significant increase in typical playthrough times, with the median notable release growing from approximately 16 hours to 25-27 hours. This trend is attributed to the prevalence of open-world design, marketing emphasis on content hours, and the influence of live-service models, leading to a decline in shorter, finishable games and contributing to player backlog guilt.
Assassin's Creed Shadows Isn't Done Yet, Teases 'One Last Update'Ubisoft has announced that Assassin's Creed Shadows will receive one final update, version 1.1.11, on June 16th. This comes as a surprise, as the company had previously indicated that post-launch support for the game was largely concluded. The nature of this update remains undisclosed.
What We Played – 007 First Light, Mina The Hollower & Gothic RemakeSeveral gaming outlets shared their recent play experiences, including 007 First Light, LEGO Batman, and Mina The Hollower. Other titles mentioned include Skull & Bones, Diablo 4, God of War, and the newly released Gothic 1 Remake. The article also touches on upcoming previews and reviews for various games.
Ubisoft returning to Assassin's Creed 2-style cities would be the best thing for HexeRecent leaks suggest Ubisoft's upcoming Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe will be set in a single medieval German town, potentially returning the series to its roots of focused city-based stealth gameplay. This approach could be a bold move for Ubisoft, which has faced financial challenges and restructuring, making Hexe a crucial title for the franchise's future growth.
"It has done something useful for the world": how Ubisoft uses its games to create content for museums and TVUbisoft is leveraging its video game assets to create educational content for museums and television. The company's SVP of new business, Deborah Papiernik, highlighted how games like Assassin's Creed Origins and Mirage, along with Far Cry Primal, have been adapted into "Discovery Tours" and digital films for institutions. These collaborations, while not a significant revenue source, help museums increase visitor engagement and provide unique historical and scientific narratives affordably.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Director Says Modern Audience Doesn’t Care About Desmond’s StoryAssassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced game director Richard Knight stated that the remake will omit the modern-day gameplay segments due to a perceived lack of audience interest in Desmond's storyline. The game will instead focus on Edward Kenway's pirate adventure, with new "what if" scenarios hinting at the ongoing modern-day narrative established in recent titles like Assassin's Creed Shadows. The remake is set to release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on July 9th.
Sorry, Black Flag fans: the new Assassin's Creed remake isn't adding any more legendary ship battlesThe upcoming remake of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, titled Resynced, will not be adding new legendary ship battles, according to game director Richard Knight. While the remake features graphical updates, a new combat system, and new officers, the original five legendary ships will remain. Knight also commented on the decision to exclude the Freedom Cry DLC, focusing solely on Edward Kenway's story for this release.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Might Be Adding As Many Problems As It's FixingA preview of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced reveals a remake that aims to fix issues with the original while potentially introducing new problems. While the enhanced opening and some mission adjustments are praised, concerns are raised about the inconsistent cutscene quality, potential removal of the modern-day storyline, and changes to Edward Kenway's characterization. The preview also noted significant bugs in the build, leaving the combat's quality uncertain.