Assassin’s Creed Valhalla‘s The Most Requested Update is live now, a free patch that enhances your endgame experience.
The update brings New Game+, extended progression mode, new resources and rune upgrades, and more.
Lead Game Designer David Larouche shares his insights on creating a player-focused update.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s The Most Requested Update is now live on XBOX Series X|S and XBOX One. This update brings several exciting new features to the game, giving you new ways to enjoy your Viking adventure. The Most Requested Update is centered around the addition of New Game+, one of the most fan-requested features for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The other features included in the patch all ensure that your endgame and New Game+ experience is fresh and challenging, with rewards that make it worth your while.
New Game+: This can be accessed after completing the Holy Day Quest.
Mithril: A new resource that can be used to upgrade divine gear.
We spoke to Lead Game Designer David Larouche to learn more about the update and how the team keeps players at the forefront of everything they do.
What parts of this update are a direct response to community feedback?
David Larouche: The New Game+ feature was definitely the most requested feature from fans. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a massive game, but for some, playing it once is not enough. With this update, we are incredible excited to now allow our most dedicated Vikings to play through the adventure once again, but this time, with their endgame character.
How did the team ensure the requested features would meet player expectations?
DL: We wanted the New Game+ experience to not simply be a do-over; we wanted to allow players to keep climbing in power, feel a more granular progression, and to keep improving their characters. For all those reasons, we added an extended progression mode, further upgrades on all pieces of divine gear, a new tier of rune and over 300 possible new rune perks that can be engraved in the rune forge , and all of those features are available without New Game+ as well. With all those additional features, we believe that the New Game+ experience will encourage players to push Eivor to their full potential.
Were there any surprising challenges implementing any of these updates?
DL: I think the most surprising thing to us was that there weren’t really any big challenges that had us stumped. We managed to put a really strong team of devs who are experienced in adding New Game+ onto already existing games; the production process was incredibly smooth.
Is there a feature you’re most excited to see in the game?
DL: With the update, we’ve added basically every single perk that was on an item as a rune that can be engraved in the rune forge, regardless of if it was released in the extended experience, from an expansion, or even from the Store. I can’t wait to see how players use all of these different perks together and create all sorts of different synergies. I’m sure there are many overpowered combinations to be found!
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla had its final content update years ago. Why give The Most Requested Update to players now?
DL: Valhalla may have released its final content update years ago, but that doesn’t mean players stopped caring about the game, and neither did we. We know New Game+ is something the community has wanted for a long time, and when the opportunity came up to finally make it happen, we couldn’t wait to pursue it.[MB1] [BS2] Ultimately, it’s about giving longtime players another reason to return to a world they’ve invested so much time in, and to experience Eivor’s journey again from a different perspective while bringing along much of what they’ve earned along the way. The fact that some time has passed doesn’t make that experience any less meaningful to us, or, hopefully, to our players.
How important is the Assassin’s Creed community to the Assassin’s Creed team?
DL: Community is incredibly important to me and to the team. Personally, I check social networks regularly to see what players are talking about, and as a team, we pay close attention to feedback and conversations across the internet. We love seeing what players create and share around our games. That connection with community is incredibly rewarding, and it’s a big part of why we do what we do.
Play Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: The Most Requested Update today on XBOX Series X|S and XBOX One.