In the amazing open world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Ubisoft Montreal recreated the Dark Ages of England and the turbulent invasion of Vikings into the Saxon kingdoms. Turns out that Tourism Ireland has been rather impressed by its work and uses the game to promote visits to the country.
Tourism Ireland was thrilled with Ubisoft's work on Wrath of the Druids and has teamed up with the studio to encourage tourism to the Emerald Isle. I'll tell you something - if you've been fortunate enough to see your own culture or hometown represented in a video game, it fills you with a sense of pride. Or, a taste for chaos, as I laid waste to St Albans Abbey and set Chiltern on fire. Either or.
What's more, in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, you're able to ride a ginormous fluffy lynx across the English countryside. And they're beautiful. Don't pretend like you're not adding the game to your basket right now. Check it out here.
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"Gamers, check out Viking Ireland in Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids," said the company in the description of a video comparing real life locations to their simulated historical counterparts. "Dublin, Benbulben, the Giant's Causeway, the Hill of Tara... have a look at these ancient sites brought to life in the game!"
"It's maybe the most contrasted game of all the games we've built so far in Assassin's Creed," said brand art director Raphael Lacoste in an interview with us last year. "You can play the violent Viking if you want, but you can also be the Viking chilling in the environment, just enjoying the landscape, playing with cairn stones, waiting for the sun to rise, wearing very fancy outfits, getting fancy tattoos and stuff like that. I think we're giving the freedom to the player to take whatever direction they want."
I will be honest with you - it is taking me a very long time to complete Valhalla because I keep wandering off into the Weald. And can you blame me? When you stuff England to the brim with things to do in the midst of a pandemic, I will explore every nook and cranny, snapping photos of seals on the sea shores and foxes scampering in the grasses. Goodness only knows when I'll get to Wrath Of The Druids, the new expansion that takes Eivor to Ireland, which Ewan said was "gorgeous" though light on the sidequests and "[captures] the country's raw and wild beauty."
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The reception to the trailer has been so wholesome, too. "Chills!!! That is so awesome. Will be buying," said Elaine Madelon in the YouTube comments. "It's so great to finally see my country of Ireland in a video game!" added TopsDaily Productions.
Featured Image Credit: UbisoftTopics: News, Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft