Ubisoft has announced that it is releasing a new free update for 2020’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla on November 5th, bringing a New Game+ mode to the open-world title. The company has acknowledged that it was “one of the community’s most requested features” that has been “(very, very, very) long-awaited”.
Along with New Game+, the update will also introduce a new optional progression mode that will make gear, Runes, and Masteries all contribute to protagonist Eivor’s overall Power. There will also be new Runes, achievements, a stash system, and new rewards like a Master Assassin outfit based on Naoe’s look from Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
For further boosts in power, players will be able to find a new resource, Mithril, that can be used to upgrade Divine Gear and can also strengthen Runes. Feeding into this new upgrade level, all items can be upgraded to Divine quality. The company has said that more details about the update will be revealed in the coming days.
The idea that Ubisoft might release a new feature update for a game that is almost six years old at this point is an interesting one, since the company has released two new mainline entries in the Assassin’s Creed franchise since then – Mirage and Shadows – as well as a remake of a beloved classic with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. The company has certainly provided plenty of post-launch support, with the last major one being released in January 2025 to fix compatibility issues that were introduced with Windows 11’s 24H2 update.
In the meantime, director of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Eric Baptizat, has returned to Ubisoft as the overall franchise’s game director. As noted by the franchise’s head of content, Jean Guesdon, Baptizat’s return to the company comes after he led development on the Dead Space remake at Motive Studios.
“Thrilled to share some exciting news. After an incredible professional journey, including 16 years at Ubisoft and then leading the critically acclaimed Dead Space remake at EA Motive, Eric Baptizat is coming back to the Assassin’s Creed family as our new Game Director for the brand.”
“Eric needs no introduction in this universe. 16 years at Ubisoft, key contributions to Black Flag, Origins, and Valhalla as Game Director, his passion for gameplay craft and his deep connection to this franchise speak for themselves. Seeing someone with his expertise, his rigor, and his collaborative spirit step into this role fills me with confidence and, honestly, a lot of excitement for what’s ahead for the brand. Welcome back, Eric. We’re so glad to have you home.”
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was originally released on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, being the first entry in the franchise to come to the modern generation of consoles. The title also got expansions following its release, including Wrath of the Druids and The Siege of Paris in 2021, and Dawn of Ragnarök in 2022. A free expansion, Forgotten Saga, was released in 2022, giving players a new roguelite-inspired game mode that would take them through Niflheim.
For more details, check out our thoughts on why Valhalla was so divisive.
