Assassin's Creed Valhalla Has Huge Potential for a Fall of Rome Spin-Off
Ubisoft often introduces spin-off titles for its games, putting twists on the core stories that they're derived from, or doing something radically different. This is most evident in the Far Cry series, which has seen entries like Blood Dragon and New Dawn, both of which are departures from their source material. However, Assassin's Creed has also received spin-off titles, most notably the standalone Black Flag DLC Freedom Cry.
With Assassin's Creed Valhalla now in the books, there's a very clear setting for a side entry, and one that would fit well in line with what Ubisoft has done with its games before. And while reusing maps typically gets a lukewarm-at-best reception from gamers, it would be wonderful to see the fall of Rome in Britain from the eyes of a Hidden One.
Scattered throughout Valhalla's take on ninth-century Britain are Roman ruins, showing off a heap of the society that once stood in its place, hundreds of years before Valhalla takes place. They're a near-constant reminder of how the tumultuous relationships in Assassin's Creed Valhalla came to be, with the societal landscape significantly shifting after Rome fell, changing the world forever.
From time to time, fans get a glimpse of what happened through notes found around the map, and while they do paint something of a picture of what happened in the region, it certainly isn't complete. That opens up a few possibilities for a potential spin-off game, as players already have a vague idea of what went on, seeing it take place before their very eyes would be a cool nod to Valhalla.
Plus, scattered around the world is a series of ruined Hidden Ones Bureaus, which are puzzle areas that reward gear and are host to notes that give insight into the events that led to their abandonment. Seeing the bureaus in their full glory would be a good payoff for fans of Valhalla, perhaps diving into their construction, what they were like in their prime, and how the Hidden Ones operated while fully organized, something that fans haven't seen much of in recent entries.
It isn't quite the opportunity to be an assassin in the Brotherhood that fans have been aching for, but it's about the closest one could get given the constraints. By introducing the elements that could lead to a spin-off, Ubisoft has also set itself up to satiate the fans that want to return to a traditional role in the Assassin's Creed universe, and it isn't an opportunity that the company should simply pass up.
What makes the Fall of Rome so interesting, particularly as it relates to Britain, is that significant elements of it are disputed. It encompasses the late fourth century and early fifth century, that much is certain, but historians don't completely agree about the exact timeline. That's true with a lot of history, but with how much Rome has affected the world to this day, exploring its demise and disputed events would undoubtedly be interesting to see.
Overall, it would fit in well with the franchise, and let players see a piece of history they may not be familiar with. It gives Ubisoft the chance to give fans a return to form without being too much of an investment, and could hold players over until the next major entry in the franchise drops, depending on how long Ubisoft takes to release the next entry in the franchise. All told, those are all compelling reasons for Ubisoft to give it a try, though it's not 100% clear if the company will give it a shot.
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