This past week Ubisoft unveiled Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the next title in the Assassin's Creed franchise. To start, Ubisoft put out a cinematic trailer introducing players to Assassin's Creed Valhalla's male protagonist. However, like with Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Valhalla will feature both a man and a woman for players to choose from as their character. Now Assassin's Creed fans have their first look at the game's female protagonist, a Viking warrior by the name of Eivor.
Unfortunately, our introduction to Eivor isn't part of any in-game footage or screenshot. Instead, it's via a statue of Eivor that will be included with Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Collector's Edition. It's a solid 30cm statue featuring Eivor holding her battle axe high, giving a battle cry from the prow of her ship. The detailed statue shows her in impressive full armor. Still, it's not the same as seeing the male Eivor in full cinematic glory.
Ubisoft's character designers and artists have done an excellent job of creating distinct but remarkably similar characters for the male and female versions of Eivor. Even their haircuts, replete with braided hair and shaved sides of head, are near identical. There's clearly no need to worry that Ubisoft might try to downgrade female Eivor's badass Viking warrior strength.
For those unfamiliar Eivor is a Viking raider and the leader of a Nordic clan at the height of The Viking Age. Eivor, due to political machinations, seeks out a new home for her clan, which takes them to England. Unfortunately for them, England is being terrorized by the Great Heathen Army. Eivor will have to carve out a piece of England for her people quite literally.
Also exciting about the protagonist is that both male and female Eivor are canon. This wasn't expanded on, other than to say that Valhalla's story will make clear how both characters can exist in the same space.
More information about Assassin's Creed Valhalla is coming very soon. Ubisoft plans to debut Valhalla's gameplay this upcoming week. It isn't clear whether female Eivor will be featured in the gameplay showcase or not, however. Hopefully, she gets some of the spotlight while Ubisoft is promoting Valhalla so strongly.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla releases holiday 2020 on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.