After the success ofOdyssey, many have been wondering what’s up next for theAssassin’s Creedfranchise. WhileOriginsandOdysseyaided in the series' resurgence in popularity, all eyes are on the 2020 entry and what history-hopping adventure fans will get to experience next.
Pretty much every leak and rumor so far points to a Viking-themedAssassin’s Creedgame coming at the end of this year. Some leaks and rumors sayRagnarok, some sayValhalla, but altogether they all point to a Norse-inspired setting coming to the franchise for the first time. Like any unreleased game, there’s been a fair share of believable and obviously fake rumors/leaks, but there are some plausible details that might outline what to expect for the upcoming iteration.
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Early Assassin’s Creed Ragnarok Leaks
Rumors for the nextAssassin’s Creedhave been circulating as early as April of last year, though many were either inconclusive or proven false. There was a slight tease from anin-game poster inThe Division 2that hinted at a Viking setting, which was then used to fuel a fake leak that involved doctored images from another game calledMount & Blade. It was quiet for a little while after that “leak” was disproven, but then even more leaks/rumors started popping up later on in 2019.
Later on in 2019, starting around November, leaks came out stating thatthe nextAssassin’s Creedwould be calledRagnarok.Along with the supposed confirmation of the subtitle, the leak also detailed several more specific facts. The game was confirmed to release for the PS5 and Xbox Series X, continue with the RPG elements introduced inOrigins, and include Naval combat that was redesigned to fit Viking-era longships. One of the more distinctive aspects of this leak was that NPC recruitment, like the system inAssassin’s Creed: Brotherhoodwould return toRagnarok.
Leaks beyond that confirmed several more specific details. A leak in December confirmed gender choice would return with a male/female customizable character named Jora.Ragnarok’s narrative was also rumored to involve more supernatural elements, and players would directly interact with Norse gods like Asgard, Jotunheim, Odin, Loki, and Yggdrasil. This leak did also state the game would be revealed duringthe rumored PS5 reveal event at the Sony Hallin February, but that rumor never came to fruition. Other minor details include a co-op mode, a berserker bar, and details as to its potential map.
Contradictory Information
More recently there have been rumors about 2020’sAssassin’s Creedentry that challenge the previous leaks, ranging from slightly different to greatly opposing information. The first rumor was a potentially leakedXbox Achievement list for a game calledAssassin’s Creed Valhalla. Presumably still in line with the previous Viking-era rumors ofRagnarok, this leak provides an entire list of achievements supposedly fromAssassin’s Creed2020. While each achievement itself contains a description or prerequisite, none of these achievements have individual icons, nor does the game itself have a description or logo/image. This was the first leak to contradict many of theRagnarokrumors, but it certainly wasn’t the last.
Another more challenging rumor stated that theAssassin’s Creed’s 2020 would avoid the Viking time period entirely. EntitledAssassin’s Creed: Counter Culture, the game would be centered on the Summer of Love (1960s) that would featurea dual-protagonist dynamic similar toAssassin’s Creed Syndicate. Players will take on the role of Alice or Miles Lane, a husband-wife Assassin team.Counter Culturewould be a return to form for the series supposedly, eschewing the RPG elements and incorporating more action-stealth gameplay mechanics with a heavy focus on sidearms. Players would also have access to a motorcycle and a grappling hook as means of traversal. The Lane family would be tasked with crafting a new Assassin brotherhood in the 60s in a relatively modern society.
RELATED:Assassin’s Creed Avoids Its Own Setting and Time Period Teases
Fact Or Fiction
Now it’s important to note that, other thanThe Division 2"hint" artwork, all of these rumors are unsubstantiated. There’s been no evidence outright confirming any of these leaks, though many fellow leakers have corroborated one another. That being said, the sheer amount of Viking-related rumors has to be more than just coincidence or sheer desire. Ubisoft is known for having a serious amount of leaks/rumors,some of which Ubisoft itself outright confirmed, that come true about its next projects as the game’s true reveal inches closer. That track record means it’s likely the Viking-era rumors at their core are most likely true, but any of the secondary/tertiary details surrounding them are up to interpretation.
What’s interesting is the difference inRagnarokandValhalla, as it’s hard to determine which one is correct/incorrect. The issue with the name difference is that it’s very possibleRagnarokwas a project name and thatValhallais the official game title, or vice versa. Some of the early rumors touted the project name “Kingdom,” though none of the rumors beyond April 2019 mentioned “Kingdom” explicitly. One theory is thatRagnarokcould’ve been changed toValhallato avoid potential copyright issueswith Marvel filmThor: Ragnarok. Either way this does likely discount theAssassin’s Creed: Counter Culturerumor, as not only does it not match up with any previous leaks at all, but it would also be nearly impossible to have any kind of information regarding anyAssassin’s Creedgames beyond 2020.
Regardless, fans should be excited for a Vikings-themedAssassin’s Creedgame, as it’s a very interesting and popular time period in history worth exploring. Plus consideringAssassin’s Creedis all about violent combat and murder, what better way to celebrate that than emulating the brutality of the Viking Age?
