Assassin's Creed Valhalla received a new trailer earlier today that briefs fans on Norse mythology and the timeline in which the game takes place. The trailer features Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Narrative Director Darby McDavitt, who takes us through the video.
According to McDavitt, Assassin's Creed Valhalla will take place during the period when pagan religions of old Europe were transitioning to modern Christianity. In the game, players will find that Christianity has already gained a strong foothold in England, where most of the game takes place. Nonetheless, the country also has several pagan religions that are flourishing, including the Pantheon of Gods worshipped by the Norse people of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark as we know them today.
The Pantheon of Gods is a collection of Norse gods, which includes iconic figures like:
- Odin: The Allfather and King of all gods
- Freyja: The Goddess of love and battle
- Loki: The obstinate trickster
The Pantheon of Gods and their stories put together a living religion, which serves as a source of comfort and wisdom to the people who revere them.
According to Norse mythology, the world was broken into nine realms, with Asgard being the home of the most important gods. In Asgard there is a site at Odin's Hall for fallen warriors, called Valhall or Valhalla. It was believed that this was the final resting place for all warriors that went into war and were slain. The warriors who went to Valhalla remained at Odin's side until the end of time, or Ragnarok.
The Norse people also held virtues like honor and reputation above everything else. However, this does not mean that the Norse lacked goodness or ethics. While there are ancient Nordic texts that consist of passages that speak of cruelty and debauchery, there are also other texts that emphasize great beauty and common sense.
The trailer also shows off various in-game footage, like seasonal changes, and shots from Asgard itself.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla is releasing on November 10 for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia. The game will also release on the PS5 on November 12.
