Regardless of how you might feel about the open world RPG overhaul of Assassin's Creed, there's simply no getting around just how successful Origins, Odyssey, and now Valhalla have been for Ubisoft. A combination of free content updates, in-game purchases, and paid expansions have ensured the ongoing commercial success of all three games — but it's Assassin's Creed Valhalla that's really performed above and beyond the French publisher's expectations.
During its most recent financial briefing, Ubisoft confirmed that Valhalla — just under a year old — is now the company's second most profitable game ever. A ridiculous achievement, given the publisher's long history and the fact that Valhalla is a single-player title. Yet another indication of just how important long term support can be — especially when it's backed by microtransactions and DLC.
Did you think Assassin's Creed Valhalla would be this successful? Hop aboard your longboat in the comments section below.
[source gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 50
Hmmmm….maybe there is still a market for single player RPGs without live services baked in?
Ugh. That’s all I have to say. Ugh.
@JTTS Hooters Road Trip
That's actually kind of surprising to me. Valhalla didn't seem to leave the same lasting impression that Origind or Odyssey did. But maybe I was just too preoccupied with the launch of the PS5 to really notice.
Neither U nor anyone else cares, but I’ll never buy one of their games new again. Pretty much every bad trait that a company can possess.
@Enuo I liked it but Odyssey was my favourite, Valhalla probably got a boost from the lockdown.
@Enuo it’s because it’s Vikings. Nothing to do with how good (or bad...) the game is. Vikings are popular right now. Nothing more.
I really, really liked this game. But, even for me, it was waaaaay too long. I’ve put some 130 hours in and still have yet to finish it. Could’ve been a really great game if they just made it more concise.
I thought this game was awful. If this is where Ubisoft is heading, and it likely is, I'm fine just not buying their games at all.
@Nancyboy
Totally agree with you. The company protected rapist managers for years. It's difficult to keep track of the sins of each corporation, but Ubisoft is so rotten I couldn't bring myself to buy one of their games even if they weren't riddled with microtransactions.
I haven't played it yet, myself, but..... Remember when Assassin's Creed was about assassins, not warriors?
@fR_eeBritney I didn't know there was a viking zeitgeist going on at all... What started it?
Sunk around 250 hours 100% + DLC’s on Valhalla and loved it. Unpopular opinion on this site but I love the new games and I have played them all since AC1.
Kinda cliffhanger to not mention the first one. Only clicked to see who's taking the top spot. My guess would be Rainbow Six Siege.
@Bamila felt the same way. After some Googling, still don’t know… which is why I am guessing they did not include it. Found one article that said Far Cry 5 was Ubisofts highest selling game of all time, but don’t know if that means it is the most profitable.
@NEStalgia it still has plenty to do with assassins and templars, play the game first.
@bassjas12 That's really a big surprise, I have never thought Far Cry 5 of all the games Ubisoft has to be the Ubi's best selling game of all time !!
And I always come across hate for Far Cry 5 more than any other Ubi game that's why I'm surprised
@SamMR it's definitely siege.
Didn't care for Valhalla. But Odyssey really was one of the best games on PS4 for me. Changing to Action RPG was a fantastic idea for Assassin's Creed.
Still haven't gotten around to trying it yet. Maybe one day. The thing is Odyssey left such a bad taste in my mouth that I keep talking myself out of it every time I think about trying it. It's too bad too since I heard one of the DLCs harken back to the older AC games. I wanna play that but I also don't want to do the modern AC formula to get there! What a dilemma!
Not surprised, Good game. Also enjoyed the season pass. 120+ hrs easy.
You also get the educational walk tour that is great
No need to buy a single microtransactionn to finish it.
The game isn't bad, and I enjoyed recent ubi games such as Far Cry 6/Watch Dogs Legion. The difference is AC Valhalla is way too long. After 40 plus hours and I'm not even half way. I wrapped up both other mentioned games in that time. Even if it had been 40 hours I would have been okay with that, but the same old grind gets boring for minimum 80 hours.
@SamMR I'm definitely one of those fc5 haters. It was just... Off. The whole semi supernatural but not thing just didn't work for fc. The exotic locals, the totally cray but highly competent, and arguably sympathetic villains make it click. Montana and a cult leader they keep trying to turn into supernatural horror instead of criminally insane mastermind....I regretted buying that. At least I got 3 remaster with it!
@Nk08 I'm hoping. I actually bought the game quite some time ago on a sale. The gold edition in fact, because I've technically always loved the series, though ended up not finishing the prior 2 to the end. Ended up playing Fenyx first instead of Valhalla (which is fantastic.).
Everything I've heard so far about Valhalla, though, sounds like it's a good game but not really assassin's Creed... Similar to black flag and 3 (I still hate 3. I had an ok enough time with it, but hated how much it emphasized fighting and lacked stealth options or verticality. I heard they remedied some of that in the remaster, which I own, but have to get through the newer games before replaying any.)
@Darylb88 it's funny to hear the length complaint from somebody with a Yakuza avatar. I'm at like 120 hours in 0 with plenty more to go. Darned Pocket Circuit and Cabaret management game.....
@Bamila same lol, and I do believe it's r6s as well. It has apparently made ubisoft more than a billion $ back in may 2019 already. Don't know why it's so hard to find though.
The public have spoken and confirmed that its a great game 🙂 now they will make more of these for us to enjoy 😁
I’m yet to play Valhalla but I loved Odyssey and liked Origins, so I’m sure I’ll like it.
My love for Odyssey has caused me to go back and start playing the older titles too, which I’m also enjoying.
I'm kind of shocked to be honest. I haven't played as much of Valhalla as I did the other two recent entries to the series, but from what I played it feels like a step back from Odyssey for me.
@NEStalgia I've only played YLAD and I finished that in about 50 hours, which again not as bad as 80+ hours for the story alone in AC Valhalla
Goes to show that all the overly negative comments online about Ubisoft come from the loud minority. Most gamers still greatly enjoy their games.
Don’t tease! haha what was 1st
Really did not like this one just got very boring very fast something missing loved Odyssey and Origins completed both and side quests. But Valhalla stopped playing becouse just never hooked me
Well good luck to all of those that want the series to go back to its roots...
And you don't even mention what is first. Cmon man.
I actually really enjoyed Valhalla. Platinumed it and actually preferred it in many ways to Odyssey.
I think a lot of it’s success comes down to it being the first AC on a next gen console so a lot of people sat on the fence about AC games may have dipped in as it was one game close to console launch that offered a next gen experience. In fact, that’s exactly the reason I gave it a go and I hadn’t played an AC game since AC3. Recently played Odyssey after this.
@frankmcma Valhalla is a live service, it may lack a MP side but its structure is very much of that of a live service. I will live Ubi credit in that they know a good live service game should already be a packed game and not a bare bones game and that it should have plenty of free content included with the paid content.
@fR_eeBritney Why ugh? Valhalla is not perfect but its very good game.
Everyone wondering what ubi's number one game is, it's beyond good and evil
@WallyWest It’s a very good 50-60 hour game trapped inside a 150-160 hour game (if you do everything). Not even including the DLC...
That’s 100 extra hours of nonsense filler, which makes it an extremely dull and repetitive game (if not an outright bad one).
The ‘Ugh’, was because if this really is their ‘second most profitable game ever’ then we’re probably stuck with this bland formulaic AC template for a good while longer.
I’m clearly in the minority but I used to look forward to the next AC game... I don’t think I’ll even bother with the next unless they scale it WAY back and improve the writing. As they say, sometimes less is more.
Well I liked it.
The game is pretty solid though much more enjoyed Origins and Odyssey. The loot usually drives me forward in these games and the viking fur stuff just kinda sucks.
@WallyWest It does not require an internet connection to play the game on PS4/5, so I don't feel it is a live service game (as opposed to like The Division 2 which definitely is). You lose a few things like the photo sharing mode where the snaps are saved to their servers and the store and Ubisoft connect, not great losses. Next AC is for sure live service.
For some reason I can't get into this game. I tried restarting it 3 times over since release, but I end up being done after a couple of hours.
I got the platinum for Odyssey, with a around 200 hours played, and about 100 hours in Origins.
@Darylb88 I started ylad into early Yokohama so far.... I'm surprised it's shorter than older games. Possibly happy though. That cabaret economy game goes on a little long....
Kinda surprised, I figured alot of people were skipping this one.
Probably got a bump from the next-gen launch...
@Scarla88
I played around 140 hours in pursuit of the platinum and had a great time. Having said that, I never bothered with DLC as by the time the plat popped I'd had my fill.
I cannot stand these games and don’t get the hype. I always found the combat controls atrocious.
Not sure how micro transactions add anything to a game.
Also, does the story state which game is first? Maybe I’m reading wrong..
@frankmcma Live services don't require an always online connection, its usually a thing most have but its not in the rule book they need one. Valhalla is a live service and that's coming from Ubi themselves, they made it clear a few years back that any game they make in the future will be one.
@Arnna MTX add money to the game, its most likely why Ubi is happy to give out tons of free stuff for the game. The various armour and weapon sets what you get from the store are pretty popular so they most likely make a killing from them, it helps they have sales frequently and will discount bundles if you already own who bits from it.
@WallyWest They should be giving away that stuff regardless. I don’t buy for a second that they need to offset the cost of a few cosmetic items of weapons with millions of dollars of MTX. Especially from a company as huge and profitable as Ubisoft.
Normalising MTX hurts the games industry. They are nothing more than cynical ways to gouge gullible customers. Especially when they sell things like in-game currency in bundles which cost the same as the base game. It’s anti-consumer nonsense.
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