AC Valhalla: Rumours reveal a lot about the new DLC – but what’s the truth?

By
Michael
-
0
1108
A‎C Valhalla Rumors reveal a lot about the new DLC

 

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will get a big expansion in 2022. Supposedly it’s called Dawn of Ragnarok and is set in the Dwarf Kingdom. We analyse the leaks.

Dataminers have meanwhile amassed a whole mountain of info chunks about the big new DLC, which they are gradually digging out of the code of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. So that you don’t have to watch hours of English (or French) videos about it, we’ll summarise all the important details for you and classify the leaks and rumours – after all, there’s a lot of nonsense on the internet.

Among other things, we already know an alleged name for the next expansion, the setting and that you can apparently play Valhalla without the main story. Even about the add-ons after that, a lot is already known – even a possible reunion with Odyssey heroine Cassandra, if the leaks are true. How likely that is and what’s in it, you can read here.

Dataminer finds name, location and more about the next DLC

YouTuber and streamer j0nathan is a dataminer – so he digs through the game files of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and finds answers to our questions directly in the code, for example around the next big DLC that Ubisoft has announced for 2022. The information is accordingly more credible than any anonymous sources – theoretically, anyone can check it directly in the game as long as the developers don’t remove it.

His latest find came after the current patch and confirms the previous theory that the first new addon will take you to Svartalfheim (more on that below). In addition, a name now appears in the game and trophies that provide the first clues to the plot:

Dawn of Ragnarok: is the title of the expansion. This fits in with the mythological theme of the end of the world and the twilight of the gods in the Nordic mythological world, which was already hinted at in the main game Valhalla. The Atlantis DLCs for Odyssey also continued the story around the Isu here. In addition, the term “Dawn” could allude to the fact that the saga of doom is only just beginning – after all, three DLCs with different Nordic realms are supposedly awaiting you.

It’s just getting started: According to the Achievements, Muspelheim’s forces invade Svartalfheim, ushering in Ragnarok. So it’s not far-fetched that we not only beat them back, but also make our way to their homeland as part of the expansions. Read more about the other locations and the overarching plot below.

Without further ado: According to the information in the code, the required power level for the expansion is 340, so you must have played through the main story – theoretically. A text suggests that you can also jump directly from the main menu to Svartalfheim. You start the story there and get a ready-made selection of skills, weapons and equipment, as well as a slimmed-down tutorial. If you only want to experience the climax of the mythological saga after Atlanis, you can probably use this option. It remains to be seen whether this means that the addon will also be offered in a standalone variant.

What’s inside: New locations, skills and more

  • Your tasks apparently include “completing all territories of Svartalfheim”, which again suggests a division into relatively independent territories. You can also “discover all dwarven underhatchings” whose home is the Norse realm and “improve Odin’s bracer”; apparently some kind of mythical item – perhaps an Eden artefact? If you’ve completely blocked those out, our story overview of the present will help.
  • The spear Atgeir, known from Valheim, will probably also make an appearance, as well as new abilities that make Eivor invisible for a short time, even allow her to fly, teleport arrows, use ice and fire powers or resurrect enemies as allies. These sound like pretty spectacular innovations, which fit in with the fact that the new add-ons are much less down-to-earth and focus on gods or legendary figures.
  • You seem to keep returning to England and to your settlement. There, the residents tell of treasures in Svartalfheim that you are supposed to find – but not all legends are true.
    AC Valhalla promises plenty of new content in the future to keep players interested in 2022. But to get the maximum fun out of it, you might have to rethink your playing habits.

    Where did the original leak on “Meteor” come from?

    The first leak also came from YouTuber j0nathan, who already knew many details for Valhalla in advance and is therefore considered credible. He also correctly predicted almost the entire Wrath of the Druids DLC this year – all based on the game files. At the end of March, for example, he discovered the Bayek costume in advance, as well as weapons and achievements from the first DLC.

    The same principle applies to Meteor: Here, too, he examined the game files and found the name “DLC_EXP3_Meteor”, which works according to the same pattern as the first two DLCs. The tweet about it is no longer available, however, because his account has been blocked.

    Since the hint is found in the game itself and the parallels to the other DLCs are clear, one can currently draw a connection to the upcoming addon. Since the YouTuber is also a Ubisoft insider, he also provides further details: Allegedly, the DLC is not being developed by the Valhalla studio, but by Ubisoft Sofia. This fits in with the fact that the abbreviation “TST_SOF” appears in the files under the category “ACK_EXP3Meteor_Prototypes”.

    So far, two DLCs have been released alongside some free content updates and events for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla:

    DLC apparently comes from Ubisoft Sofia

    The new developer location actually bites with further leaks from him around the new Assassin’s Creed, which is also said to originate from Sofia. However, he provides an explanation for this himself: according to him, Ubisoft decided to prioritise the development of the new DLC over the other AC project at Sofia due to problems caused by the Corona pandemic and the success of Valhalla. That is said to have only been in an early development phase anyway and is currently on hold because the team changed focus.

    With Rafiti, another well-known leaker supports his thesis (he predicted, among other things, that Valhalla would get the settlement and no co-op). Just like j0nathan, he assumes a standalone add-on in the style of Far Cry: New Dawn that uses the same map as Valhalla or at least draws on numerous existing assets. The fact that you can supposedly start and play Dawn of Ragnarok without knowing the story of Valhalla fits in nicely here.

    How credible are the leaks about the Valhalla DLC?

    Both leakers are relatively credible considering their leak history with some correct predictions. In addition, the term “meteor” and the first details about the DLC can be found directly in the game and are not based on pure source statements. However, it could also simply be a leftover from development – for example, an originally planned addon that was then discarded. After all, Meteor does not appear in the Season Pass and a new one for next year has not yet been revealed.

    However, we now know that further DLCs for Valhalla are to come in 2022. Ubisoft already confirmed this at E3 2021. So it’s quite possible that Meteor even stands for several DLCs that will hit next year – haha. Or the term only refers to the first DLC. That’s what the leaked achievement list suggests, where you get an achievement that reads “finish the Meteor campaign (Dawn of Ragnarok)”.

    Meteor should thus only be a working title. It could even refer quite clearly to Sofia, whose Assassin’s Creed Rogue was codenamed “Comet”. The other two DLCs also mention the locations instead of the titles. This is probably less true for Meteor, but if the name does not refer to the studio, it possibly alludes to the approaching end of the world, which characterises the more recent AC parts in the present. The alleged name “Ragnarok” from the more recent leak, which stands for the downfall of the Norse gods, also fits in with this.

     

    Muspelheim, Cassandra and more: what happens next?

    The expansion is supposed to focus more on Isu and Norse mythology – analogous to the Atlantis DLC for Odyssey, which also continued the present-day story. YouTuber JorRaptor discovered a possible clue directly in the game a while ago: Since the Ostara update 1.2.0, blacksmith Gunnar has new dialogue lines that he sometimes utters before Eivor speaks to him.

    He angrily demands that Eivor finally release him. Our main character will regret what he has done and receive his just punishment.

    Since you will return to the settlement more often in the alleged Dawn of Ragnarok DLC, it might have something to do with it. However, the fact that the new dialogue lines found their way into the game so early speaks against such a connection. At least in Wrath of the Druids they did not play a role yet.

    The DLC Siege of Paris also took place completely independently of the events in England and Asgard, which in the test did not necessarily strengthen our connection to the story. Of course, there were no new clues to the mythological plot.

    Is Muspelheim coming as a new area?

    There was a little confusion here at first, so let’s endle up the whole thing in detail: A hint that there could be a new mythological area with Muspelheim wasinitially provided by j0nathan. As a basis, an info from the files of AC Valhallais also used here. There, Muspelheim is listed under “LocationWorldEntry” next to places like Asgard or Jotunheim, which can already be visited in the main game.

    Muspelheim is additionally provided with a DLC tag, which suggests that we are visiting it in an expansion. Since Paris and Ireland have already been released, only the addons planned for 2022 remain. In addition, Muspelheim can already be seen on old concept art – alongside other Nordic empires such as Helheim or Niflheim.

    Is Muspelheim in North Africa?

    In another video, the YouTuber expanded on the Muspelheim rumours. According to this, Muspelheim could correspond to the earthly setting of North Africa. Since Vikings are supposed to have made it there, we could also set off for new shores as Eivor. However, due to the mythological theme, it seems much more likely that Muspelheim is oriented towards North Africa in terms of culture and landscape.

    This is based on a post by narrative director Darby McDevitt, who responds to a fan theory. This theory states that the individual Isu realms in the game are modelled on earthly locations and cultures. Muspelheim he assigns to Egypt. McDevitt praises the user for his analysis and says “he is on the right track with it”. However, he says, they were guided by larger geographical zones – in the case of Muspelheim, North Africa.

    ‎Since AC Origins already played in North Africa, you could theoretically also fall back on assets used here‎

    Dwarves and Elves: Svartalfheim still ahead of Muspelheim?

    Muspelheim seems very likely as a DLC location, j0nathan is also convinced of that. But he still has to correct himself: According to new information, we will only visit Muspelheim in the second addon, while the first one will take us to Svartalfheim, a mountainous world reserved for dwarves and dark elves – pretty high fantasy for Assassin’s Creed.

    Svartalfheim in Norse is the home of the dwarves, who live there underground and excel in their craftsmanship. Along with the name Schwarzalbenheim, theories exist that it is also home to dark elves. According to j0nathan, the game files indicate that Ubisoft will take up both races – it is possible that the elves live there on the surface of the earth.

    According to this, Meteor would be more of a Season Pass than a single DLC. Specifically, composed of three expansions, each dedicated to a Nordic realm, as the leaker claims. His research was inspired by the gateway in the first teaser from E3 2021, which clearly leads to the fiery world of Muspelheim, but starts from a place that has nothing in common with the earthly locations in the game.

    Odin’s travels in focus?

    Fitting with this is his theory that Odin’s travels through the Norse realms are the focus after the death of his son Balder. The name Balder also appears in the game files and from Ubisoft itself came the hint that Odin plays an important role. According to this, it could still go to Vanaheim, Alfheim, Nidavelir, Nilfheim or even Helheim.

    Kassandra returns – maybe even as an opponent?

    Maybe there is even a reunion with an old acquaintance somewhere. According to j0nathan, the game code suggests that Odyssey heroine Cassandra will return in some form and meet Eivor. If true, this could be made possible by the Hermes Staff – or it could be some kind of dream sequence.

    In any case, the seer in your village, in lines of dialogue that have appeared there, implies that Eivor will fight Randvi, who threatens the inhabitants of the Isle of Skye. Considering who your companion looks like in the game, this could in fact be Cassandra. After initially appearing to be suspicious of each other, however, according to game files, the two are apparently still working together against a greater threat to protect an Eden artefact.

    Skye, however, is in Scotland and thus at the top end of Britain instead of the mystical realms. That we will also experience parts of the upcoming DLCs here, or that a new expansion will revolve entirely around it, is not out of the question, though.

    ‎According to the canon, Cassandra would be the official heroine of Odyssey, not her brother Alexios

    What do the game files reveal about the new area?

    Compared to Muspelheim, there are many more mentions of Svartalfheim, which suggests that the area will find its way into the game before then. For example, there is talk of a dwarven fortress or a dwarven mausoleum – probably matching armour and weapons. The dwarves there already forged Odin’s spear Gungir, which Eivor can also wield in the game.

    Ivaldi, an already known NPC, is also mentioned in connection with the alleged DLC. He returned to Svartalfheim in the main game. So the chances are not bad at all that we could meet him there again.

    According to Mythology, we can expect high mountains and deep caves, which fits the teaser and some terms from the files like “Crystal Cave” or “Mylna Grotto” – locations we can probably visit.

    If there really will be three addons, we can probably assume that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will be supported throughout in 2022 and that we can only expect a new, stand-alone Assassin’s Creed in 2023.