Assassin's Creed Valhalla Free Update Adds New Game+, Rune Forge Upgrades and Mithril
The Most Requested Update is live on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, adding New Game+, a new resource called Mithril, higher gear levels and a revamped Rune Forge.
What the update adds
Assassin's Creed Valhalla has finally received New Game+, the feature its lead game designer calls the most requested by fans. According to Xbox Wire, The Most Requested Update is a free patch that is now live on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, and it is aimed at improving the endgame experience.
New Game+ becomes available once you complete the Holy Day Quest. Each time you start a new run, the game scales up in difficulty to keep things challenging, Xbox Wire says.
The full feature list
Here is what the patch includes, based on the Xbox Wire post:
- Mithril: a new resource for upgrading divine gear. In New Game+, you get it when you receive a piece of gear or interact with a book of knowledge you already own. It can also be found in the Niflheim, Mastery and River Raid shops.
- Gear upgrades: the maximum level for each piece of gear goes from 13 to 27.
- Wealth Chests: in New Game+, looting Carbon, Nickel and Tungsten gives Platinum instead.
- Extended Progression Mode: when active, gear upgrades, runes and masteries all contribute to your overall power level.
- Stash: a feature in Ravensthorpe that lets you store any piece of gear and any rune from your inventory.
- Rune Forge update: runes can be upgraded for silver from the menu and can now reach a new Superior tier.
What the developer says
Lead Game Designer David Larouche told Xbox Wire the team did not want New Game+ to be "a do-over". Instead, the goal was to let players keep growing in power and feel a more granular sense of progression.
Larouche said the update adds an extended progression mode, further upgrades on all divine gear, a new rune tier and more than 300 possible new rune perks that can be engraved in the Rune Forge. He said all of those features are also available without New Game+.
He added that nearly every perk that appeared on an item has been added as a rune, whether it came from the extended experience, an expansion or the Store. He said he expects players to find powerful combinations.
Larouche also said no big challenges stumped the team, because the developers involved had experience adding New Game+ to existing games. Asked why the update arrives years after Valhalla's final content update, he said players had not stopped caring about the game, and neither had the team. The source text is cut off before the rest of his answer.
What it means for you
If you own Valhalla on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One, the update is free. According to Larouche, the extended progression mode, further gear upgrades, new rune tier and new rune perks are also available without New Game+. To start New Game+, you first need to finish the Holy Day Quest.
Also read Xbox Cloud Gaming Gets Phone Controller and Wi-Fi "Cloud Connect" Previews
Quick answers
How do I unlock New Game+ in Assassin's Creed Valhalla?
You need to complete the Holy Day Quest. After that, New Game+ can be accessed, and difficulty scales with each iteration.
Is the update free?
Yes. Xbox Wire describes The Most Requested Update as a free patch.
Do I need New Game+ to use the new rune features?
No. Larouche said the extended progression mode, extra gear upgrades, new rune tier and new rune perks are also available without New Game+.
Keep it in Saved stories on this device to read later.
