Starfield vs Assassin Creed Valhalla

• Perspective: First-Person (Default), Third-Person (Optional)
• Multiplayer: None (Single-Player Only)
• Setting: The Settled Systems (Approx. 50 light-years around Sol), Year 2330
• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S
• Unique Feature: Extensive Spaceship Customization & Combat, Over 1000 Explorable Planets, Deep Character Creation & Skill System, Outpost Building, 'NASA-Punk' Aesthetic.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: None (Primarily Single-Player with minor online social features)
• Setting: Viking Age (873 CE) - Norway & Anglo-Saxon England (Mercia, East Anglia, Wessex, Northumbria), Mythical Realms (Asgard, Jotunheim), Ireland (DLC), Francia (DLC)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia (discontinued), Amazon Luna
• Unique Feature: Viking Raids & Settlement Building, Dual-Wielding Combat System, Extensive Skill Tree & Abilities, Exploration of Norse & Anglo-Saxon History/Mythology, Playable Male/Female Eivor with Shared Progression.

• Constellation Members (Sarah, Sam, Andreja, Barrett): Core companions who can follow the player, participate in combat, carry gear, and have unique dialogue and personal quests. Each has a set of skills that provide bonuses to the player or their ship when assigned as active companion or crew. Romance options are available with these four.
  Human
• Vasco: A loyal robot companion available early. Provides combat support and significant ship-based skill bonuses (Aneutronic Fusion, Shield Systems, EM Weapon Systems). Cannot be romanced.
  Robot (Constellation Expeditionary Model)
• Hirable Crew Members: Numerous NPCs can be hired from bars and spaceports across the Settled Systems to serve as crew on the player's ship or at outposts. Each has a unique set of skills (e.g., Piloting, Weapon Systems, Outpost Engineering, Gastronomy) that provide passive bonuses when assigned to relevant posts. Some named recruitable characters have more personality than generic hires.
  Human (Various Backgrounds)
• Adoring Fan (Trait-based): If the 'Hero Worshipped' trait is chosen during character creation, this overzealous NPC will randomly appear and offer to join the player's crew. He is enthusiastic, provides gifts, and has combat skills, but his constant adoration can be a humorous annoyance.
  Human

• Synin (Eivor's Raven): Eivor's raven companion, used for scouting from an aerial perspective (similar to Eagle Vision in previous AC games). Synin can spot enemies, identify points of interest, locate resources, track targets, and sometimes distract enemies. Not directly involved in combat but essential for reconnaissance.
  Corvus corax (Raven)
• Viking Crew (Jomsvikings for Raids & River Raids): Eivor leads a crew of Viking warriors (Jomsvikings) on their longship. During Raids on monasteries or settlements, the crew disembarks and fights alongside Eivor, helping to defeat enemies and open chests/doors. Players can customize their personal Jomsviking lieutenant, who can also be recruited by other players. For River Raids, a larger crew is assembled.
  Human (Norse Warriors)
• Story-Specific AI Companions (Sigurd, Basim, Ivarr, Ubba, etc.): During many main story quests and alliance arcs, key characters like Sigurd, Basim, or regional allies will temporarily join Eivor, fighting alongside them as AI-controlled companions. Their presence and combat abilities are scripted for those specific missions.
  Human (Various)
• Wolf Mount (Can be acquired): Besides horses, Eivor can acquire a wolf as a rideable mount through specific means (e.g., special editions, in-game store, or specific quests in DLCs like Dawn of Ragnarök). Functions similarly to a horse for traversal.
  Canis lupus (Large Wolf)

• Snow Globes (Earth Landmarks): Unique snow globes depicting famous landmarks from Old Earth (e.g., Empire State Building, Pyramids, London Shard). Finding them often requires reading specific books or notes that provide clues to their location across various planets.
• Skill Magazines (Constellation Guides, Grunt Issue, Kryx's Journal, etc.): Magazines found throughout the Settled Systems. Each one picked up for the first time provides a permanent small buff to a specific skill or character stat (e.g., +5% pistol damage, better prices, increased carry capacity).
• Antique Earth Relics: Various trinkets and items from Old Earth (e.g., antique guns, baseballs, vinyl records) that can be found and sold for credits or kept as mementos. Some are tied to specific points of interest or minor quests.
• Unique Weapons & Armor Pieces: Named legendary items with unique appearances, stats, and powerful pre-set enchantments. Found as rewards for completing difficult quests, defeating powerful enemies, or hidden in high-level areas or locked containers.
• Slates (Audio Logs & Notes): Data slates containing text logs, audio recordings, or notes that provide lore, backstory, environmental storytelling, or clues to quests and hidden items. Found extensively throughout all locations.

• Wealth (Ingots, Gear, Cargo, Books of Knowledge, Abilities): Marked by golden icons on the map. Ingots (Carbon, Nickel, Tungsten) are used for upgrading gear quality. Gear icons represent new weapons or armor pieces. Cargo is raw materials used for building and upgrading settlement buildings in Ravensthorpe. Books of Knowledge unlock or upgrade Eivor's special combat Abilities.
• Mysteries (World Events, Flyting Duels, Offering Altars, Standing Stone Puzzles, Treasures of Britain, Legendary Animals, Lost Drengr, Daughters of Lerion, Fly Agaric Hallucination Challenges, Animus Anomalies): Marked by blue icons. These encompass a wide variety of side activities: World Events are short, often quirky, narrative encounters. Flyting is a Viking rap battle. Offering Altars require specific items. Standing Stones are environmental perspective puzzles. Treasures of Britain lead to powerful Isu artifacts. Legendary Animals are tough boss fights. Lost Drengr are duels against old Viking warriors. Daughters of Lerion are mystical boss fights. Fly Agaric challenges are hallucinatory puzzles. Animus Anomalies are platforming puzzles in a glitchy modern-day simulation.
• Artifacts (Roman Artifacts, Cursed Symbols, Flying Papers, Rigsogur Fragments, Treasure Hoard Maps, Isu Data Fragments - in Anomalies): Marked by white icons. Roman Artifacts can be traded for settlement decorations. Cursed Symbols are small environmental puzzles that must be destroyed to lift a curse from an area. Flying Papers are parkour challenges to catch a moving collectible. Rigsogur Fragments tell parts of a Norse saga. Treasure Hoard Maps provide clues to hidden wealth.
• Opal: A premium-like currency found in small quantities throughout the world or earned from Reda's daily/weekly contracts. Used to purchase unique cosmetic items or gear from Reda's shop.
• Order of the Ancients Medallions / Clues: Dropped by defeated Order members or found as clues. Collecting medallions and clues helps Eivor identify and track down other members of the Order, ultimately leading to the Grand Maegester.

• Space Exploration
• Discovery
• Sci-Fi
• The Future of Humanity
• Mystery
• Faction Politics
• Colonization
• Adventure
• Hope
• Existential Questions
• Artifacts

• Viking Expansion & Raiding
• Settlement Building & Community
• Norse Mythology & Paganism vs. Christianity
• The Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
• Fate & Destiny (Wyrd)
• Honor & Glory
• Political Intrigue
• The Hidden Ones (Assassins) vs. Order of the Ancients (Templars)
• Family & Clan Loyalty

• Ballistic Weapons (Pistols, Rifles, Shotguns, SMGs, Heavy): Firearm (Projectile-based)
  Wide variety of conventional firearms using physical ammunition. Includes pistols (Eon, Sidestar), rifles (Grendel, Beowulf, Lawgiver), shotguns (Coachman, Pacifier), and heavy weapons. Can be modified extensively for different ammo types, barrels, stocks, sights, etc.
• Energy Weapons (Laser Pistols, Laser Rifles): Firearm (Directed Energy)
  Weapons firing laser beams, effective against robots and some enemy types. Includes pistols (Equinox, Solstice) and rifles. Use energy cells as ammunition. Modifiable.
• Electromagnetic (EM) Weapons (EM Pistols, EM Rifles): Non-Lethal Firearm (Stunning/Disabling)
  Weapons designed to incapacitate targets by dealing EM damage, draining their 'stun' meter rather than health. Useful for non-lethal takedowns or capturing ships. Includes Novalight pistol, Novablast Disruptor rifle.
• Particle Beam Weapons (Particle Pistols, Particle Rifles, Particle Shotguns, Heavy): Advanced Firearm (Energy/Ballistic Hybrid Damage)
  High-tech weapons that deal both energy and physical damage simultaneously. Very effective against a wide range of targets. Includes Va'ruun Inflictor, Big Bang, Magshear, MagSniper. Uses specialized particle ammunition.
• Melee Weapons (Knives, Axes, Cutlasses, Rescue Axe, Tanto, Va'ruun Painblade): Close Quarters Combat
  Various bladed and blunt weapons for close-quarters combat. Damage and speed vary by type. Some unique melee weapons have special properties.
• Explosives (Grenades, Mines): Throwable/Deployable (Area of Effect)
  Includes Frag Grenades, Incendiary Grenades, Impact Grenades, various types of Mines. Used for area denial, crowd control, or dealing heavy damage.
• Unique & Legendary Weapons: Varied (Named Special Versions)
  Special named versions of standard weapons with unique appearances and pre-set powerful enchantments (e.g., increased damage, elemental effects, special properties). Found as quest rewards, loot from powerful enemies, or in specific locations.

• Axes (Bearded Axe, Dane Axe, Varin's Axe): One-Handed / Two-Handed Melee
  Iconic Viking weaponry. Bearded Axes are typically one-handed and fast. Dane Axes are powerful two-handed weapons with wide swings. Eivor can dual-wield axes or combine them with shields or other one-handed weapons.
• Swords (Short Sword, Greatsword): One-Handed / Two-Handed Melee
  Includes faster one-handed short swords and slower, more powerful two-handed greatswords. Offers a balance of speed and damage.
• Hammers & Flails: One-Handed / Two-Handed Melee (Blunt/Impact)
  Hammers (one or two-handed) deal significant stun and blunt damage, effective against armored foes. Flails are flexible weapons that can bypass shields to some extent.
• Spears: Two-Handed Melee (Reach)
  Long-reaching weapons ideal for keeping enemies at bay and performing thrusting or sweeping attacks. Good for crowd control.
• Daggers: One-Handed Melee (Fast, Stealth)
  Very fast attacking weapons, excellent for quick combos, applying status effects, or stealth takedowns. Can be dual-wielded for rapid attacks.
• Shields (Light Shield, Heavy Shield): Defensive / Offensive (Off-Hand)
  Used for blocking, parrying, and shield bashing. Light shields are quicker for parrying, while heavy shields offer better protection and can stagger enemies more easily. Can be equipped in the off-hand when dual-wielding or with a one-handed weapon.
• Bows (Hunter Bow, Light Bow, Predator Bow): Ranged
  Hunter Bows are versatile for mid-range. Light Bows offer rapid fire at shorter ranges. Predator Bows are for long-range sniping, allowing manual aiming and zoom. Various arrow types available (standard, fire, poison, explosive).
• Mythical Weapons (e.g., Gungnir, Mjolnir, Excalibur, Gae Bolg - DLC): Unique Legendary (Various Types)
  Powerful, named weapons often tied to Norse or Arthurian legends, possessing unique perks and visual effects. Typically acquired through completing difficult challenges, mysteries, or DLC content.
• Hidden Blade: Stealth Melee (Assassination)
  The iconic Assassin weapon, worn by Eivor on top of the wrist (Viking style). Used for stealth assassinations. Can be upgraded to perform chain assassinations or advanced assassinations on tougher targets.

• Spacesuits: The primary protective gear. Provides physical, energy, and EM damage resistance, as well as protection against environmental hazards (thermal, corrosive, airborne, radiation). Spacesuits have various stats, mod slots, mass, and value. Tiered from common to legendary with special perks.
• Packs (Boost Packs): Equipped alongside spacesuits. Provide additional damage resistances and environmental protection. Crucially, they enable boosted jumps and short bursts of flight (jetpack functionality), essential for traversal. Can be modded for different boost types and stats. Tiered.
• Helmets: Complete the spacesuit ensemble. Offer damage resistances and environmental protection, particularly for airborne hazards. Can be modded. Tiered.
• Apparel (Underneath Spacesuit): Clothing items worn under the spacesuit when in hazardous environments, or as standalone outfits in safe, breathable locations (cities, ships, outposts). Apparel items can offer minor stat boosts (e.g., +persuasion chance, +O2 capacity) or perks. Huge variety of styles.
• Armor Tiers & Quality (Common, Calibrated, Refined, Advanced, Superior / Legendary Perks): Spacesuits, Packs, and Helmets come in different quality tiers (e.g., Common, Calibrated, Refined, Advanced, Superior for base stats) and can also have up to three legendary perks (e.g., Chameleon, Incendiary, Sentinel) that provide powerful passive effects.

• Armor Sets (Helm, Torso, Cloak, Bracers, Pants - Raven, Bear, Wolf Aligned): Eivor can equip five pieces of armor. Each piece provides defensive stats (Armor, Light Resistance, Heavy Resistance, Evasion) and belongs to one of three alignments: Raven (stealth/assassination focus), Bear (melee combat/durability focus), or Wolf (ranged combat/utility focus). Equipping multiple pieces from the same set often grants set bonuses that enhance the aligned playstyle. Armor is color-coded by quality (Fine to Mythical) and can be upgraded to improve stats and unlock rune slots.
• Runes (Weapon & Armor): Enhancements that can be socketed into weapons and armor pieces with available slots. Provide various passive bonuses like increased critical chance, attack speed, elemental damage, health, armor, or resistance to specific damage types.
• Cosmetic Customization (Tattoos, Hairstyles, Beard Styles, Warpaint, Ship & Settlement Decorations): Extensive cosmetic customization options for Eivor (tattoos, hair, beard, warpaint), their longship (hull, sail, shields, figurehead, tailpiece), and their settlement Ravensthorpe (various decorative items). These are primarily visual and do not offer direct stat bonuses, though some settlement decorations might provide minor passive buffs to feasts.
• Transmogrification (Change Appearance): A system allowing players to change the visual appearance of any equipped weapon or armor piece to look like any other item of the same type that they have previously collected, while retaining the stats of the originally equipped item. This is done at the blacksmith in Ravensthorpe.

• Apparel Sets (Outfits): Various complete outfits that can be worn in breathable environments (cities, ships, outposts). These range from casual wear (street clothes, corpo attire) to faction uniforms (UC SysDef, Freestar Ranger, Ryujin) and specialized clothing (miner gear, scientist outfits). Some provide minor perks or stat boosts.
• Individual Apparel Pieces: While not as granular as some games, players can often find individual pieces like hats, glasses, or specific clothing items that can be mixed, though the primary 'armor' system revolves around the Spacesuit/Pack/Helmet combination.
• Spacesuit Visuals: Different spacesuits, helmets, and packs have unique visual designs, reflecting their origin (e.g., UC Marine, Freestar Militia, Constellation, Pirate, Ecliptic Mercenary) or manufacturer. Players often choose these for their stats and perks, but aesthetics also play a role.

• Armor Sets (Raven, Bear, Wolf Aligned): Eivor can equip five pieces of armor: Helmet, Torso, Cloak, Bracers, and Pants. Each piece is aligned with one of three skill tree philosophies: Raven (stealth, assassination), Bear (melee combat, brawling), or Wolf (archery, utility). Equipping multiple pieces from the same set (e.g., Hidden Ones' Set, Thegn's Set, Huntsman Set) provides synergistic set bonuses. Armor can be upgraded in quality (Fine to Mythical) and enhanced with runes.
• Cosmetic Customization (Tattoos, Hairstyles, Beard Styles, Warpaint): Eivor's appearance can be heavily customized. Tattoo designs can be collected and applied at the tattoo shop in Ravensthorpe. Various hairstyles and beard styles (which can be changed and grow) are available. Warpaint can also be applied.
• Transmogrification (Change Appearance): Players can change the visual appearance of any equipped armor piece or weapon to look like any other item of the same type they have collected, while retaining the stats of the originally equipped item. This is done via the blacksmith Gunnar in Ravensthorpe.
• Longship Customization: Eivor's longship, the 'Nottfeigr' (or player-named), can be customized with different hull paints, sail designs, shields displayed along the sides, figureheads, and tailpieces. These are primarily cosmetic and unlocked through purchase, exploration, or as rewards.
• Raven Customization (Synin): Eivor's raven companion, Synin, can have its appearance changed with different cosmetic skins unlocked through challenges or store purchases.
• Settlement Decorations (Ravensthorpe): Players can find or purchase various decorative items to place around their settlement of Ravensthorpe, personalizing its appearance. Some specific decorations are tied to seasonal festivals or completing certain activities.

Player progression uses a skill system divided into five trees: Physical, Social, Combat, Science, and Tech. Each skill has multiple ranks that are unlocked by spending skill points (earned by leveling up) and then completing in-game challenges related to that skill. Research projects at workbenches unlock new crafting recipes for weapon mods, suit/pack/helmet mods, outpost components, and chems/food. Powers, akin to space magic, are unlocked by finding and interacting with alien temples.

The game features a vast open world encompassing large swathes of England (Mercia, East Anglia, Wessex, Northumbria, etc.) and parts of Norway. Additionally, players can visit mythical realms like Asgard and Jotunheim through vision quests. DLCs added Ireland ('Wrath of the Druids') and Francia ('The Siege of Paris'). The total landmass is significant, with diverse biomes including rolling hills, dense forests, marshlands, snowy mountains, and fortified cities like Lunden (London), Jorvik (York), and Wincestre (Winchester). Map size estimations for England alone are often cited as over 120-140 sq km, with other regions adding substantial area.

• Player Starships (Various Manufacturers & Classes): Customizable Spacecraft (Primary Vehicle)
  The player's primary means of interstellar travel, combat, and mobile base. Ships come in various classes (A, B, C - determining module compatibility and reactor power) from manufacturers like Stroud-Eklund, Deimos, Nova Galactic, Taiyo Astroneering, HopeTech. Can be heavily customized with different weapons (lasers, ballistics, missiles, particle beams, EM), shields, engines, grav drives, reactors, cargo holds, hab modules, and cosmetic parts. Can be stolen, bought, or awarded.
• Boost Pack (Jetpack): Personal Traversal Gear
  Equipped as part of the 'Pack' armor slot. Allows for boosted jumps, short bursts of flight, and maneuvering in low-gravity environments. Different types of boost packs offer varying thrust, duration, and control.
• Ground Traversal (On Foot): Player Locomotion
  Primary means of exploring planetary surfaces. Player movement includes walking, running, sprinting (uses O2), jumping, and using the boost pack. There are no player-controlled ground vehicles like rovers or bikes in the base game for planetary exploration.
• Enemy/NPC Starships: AI Controlled Spacecraft
  Various starships piloted by factions (UC, Freestar, Crimson Fleet, Spacers, Ecliptic, Va'ruun), traders, and civilians. Encountered in space for combat, piracy, or peaceful interactions.

• Longship ('Nottfeigr' / Player Named): Primary Watercraft / Mobile Base for Raids
  Eivor's Viking longship, used for navigating rivers and seas in England and Norway. Essential for initiating Raids on monasteries and settlements. Can be customized with different hull paints, sails, shields, figureheads, and tailpieces. The crew can sing sea shanties during travel.
• Horse Mounts (Various Breeds/Skins): Primary Land Traversal
  Eivor's primary means of land travel. Various horse breeds and cosmetic skins can be acquired from stables in Ravensthorpe or other settlements. Horses can be taught new skills (like swimming) by upgrading the stable. Can be called with a whistle.
• Wolf Mount (Unlockable/Store): Alternate Land Traversal
  A large wolf that Eivor can use as a mount. Functions similarly to a horse but with a different aesthetic. Often available through special editions, in-game store, or specific DLC content (like in Dawn of Ragnarök).
• Small Boats / Rowboats: Minor Watercraft
  Smaller boats found along rivers and coasts, useful for short-distance water travel or reaching areas inaccessible by longship.
• Fast Travel (Synchronization Points & Docks): Map Traversal Mechanic
  Eivor can synchronize high points (typically church towers or ancient ruins) to reveal map details and unlock them as fast travel locations. Docks for the longship also serve as fast travel points.

• Ashta (Akila): Canid-like Predator
  Hostile Apex Predator on Akila, resembles a wolf/hyena hybrid.
• Terrormorph: Apex Xenomorph
  Extremely Hostile, Powerful, and Feared Alien Creature, central to a major faction questline.
• Hunting Grazer / Flocking Filterer / Herding Herbivore (Generic Procedural Types): Various Procedurally Generated Fauna
  Common herbivores found on many planets, varying in appearance and behavior. Primary source for organic resources and XP via scanning/hunting.
• Hunting Swarmer / Flocking Scarab / Herding Beetle (Generic Procedural Types): Various Procedurally Generated Insectoid/Small Fauna
  Smaller creatures, often in groups, some may be passive or mildly hostile. Source for specific organic resources.
• Apex / Scavenger / Hunter (Generic Procedural Predator Types): Various Procedurally Generated Carnivores
  Predatory creatures found on many planets, ranging from pack hunters to solitary apex threats. Their aggression and abilities vary widely.
• Floating Gas Bags / Filter Critters (Generic Procedural Aerial/Aquatic Fauna): Various Procedurally Generated Aerial/Aquatic Life
  Creatures found flying in atmospheres or swimming in bodies of water on different planets. Some may be passive, others defensive.
• Unique Handcrafted Creatures (Planet Specific): Various Named Species
  Specific, named alien creatures found on handcrafted planets or involved in quests, with unique designs and behaviors (e.g., Kreet Stalker, Sirens of Titan).

• Player Character ('The Captain' / 'Dusty'): Protagonist / Member of Constellation
  A customizable character (appearance, background, traits) who starts as a miner for Argos Extractors. After touching a mysterious alien artifact, they experience visions and are recruited into Constellation, an organization of explorers seeking to unravel the universe's greatest mysteries.
• Sarah Morgan: Ally / Companion / Chair of Constellation
  The dedicated and composed leader of Constellation. A former UC Navy officer and navigator, she is driven by exploration and the pursuit of knowledge. One of the first main companions available.
• Sam Coe: Ally / Companion / Constellation Member
  A former Freestar Ranger and descendant of Solomon Coe, the founder of Akila City. He's an adventurous space cowboy type, accompanied by his young daughter, Cora Coe. Offers piloting and rifle certification skills.
• Andreja: Ally / Companion / Constellation Member
  A mysterious Constellation operative with a shadowy past and connections to House Va'ruun. She is pragmatic, skilled in stealth, particle beams, and has a guarded personality. Offers stealth and particle weapons skills.
• Barrett: Ally / Companion / Constellation Member
  An adventurous and eccentric Constellation scientist and explorer who first encounters the player at Argos Extractors. Known for his witty banter and engineering skills. Offers starship engineering and particle beam weapon skills.
• Vasco: Ally / Companion / Constellation Robot
  A modified expeditionary robot belonging to Constellation, one of the earliest companions. Loyal and capable, providing combat support and ship system bonuses. Offers Aneutronic Fusion, Shield Systems, and EM Weapon Systems skills for the ship.
• The Hunter: Antagonist / Starborn
  A powerful and relentless Starborn who believes in a 'survival of the fittest' approach to acquiring artifacts and reaching the Unity. Serves as a recurring, formidable antagonist.
• The Emissary: Antagonist/Neutral Figure / Starborn
  Another powerful Starborn who represents a more ordered or controlled approach to the Unity and the artifacts, often clashing with The Hunter and the player. Their identity is a key reveal.
• Walter Stroud: Ally / Financier of Constellation
  The co-owner of Stroud-Eklund, one of the major starship manufacturers, and the primary financial backer of Constellation. A pragmatic businessman with a keen interest in their discoveries.
• Vladimir Sall: Ally / Constellation Member / Former Crimson Fleet Pirate
  Resides on 'The Eye,' Constellation's space station. He helps locate temples and artifacts and has a colorful past as a pirate.
• Commander Ikande (UC SysDef): Faction Leader / Potential Ally or Antagonist
  Leader of UC SysDef, dedicated to eradicating the Crimson Fleet. The player can choose to work with him or against him during the Crimson Fleet questline.
• Delgado (Crimson Fleet): Faction Leader / Potential Ally or Antagonist
  Leader of the Crimson Fleet pirates. The player can choose to infiltrate or genuinely join his faction.

• Eivor Varinsdottir / Varinsson (Wolf-Kissed): Protagonist / Viking Raider / Raven Clan Leader
  The player-customizable protagonist (male or female options, voice acting changes accordingly). A fierce and respected Viking warrior who leads their clan from Norway to England to build a new home. Eivor is also revealed to be a reincarnation of Odin (Havi) and grapples with this divine connection throughout the story.
• Sigurd Styrbjornsson: Ally / Eivor's Adoptive Brother / Jarl of Raven Clan
  Eivor's ambitious and charismatic adoptive older brother, and the Jarl of their clan. He believes himself to be descended from the gods and seeks glory and a divine destiny, which often puts him at odds with Eivor and leads to conflict.
• Basim Ibn Ishaq / Loki: Ally (Initially) / Antagonist / Hidden One Master
  A Master Hidden One from Constantinople who travels to Norway with Sigurd. He mentors Eivor in the ways of the Hidden Ones and their conflict with the Order of the Ancients. His true identity as a reincarnation of the Norse god Loki is a major plot reveal, making him a complex antagonist with his own agenda.
• Layla Hassan (Modern Day Protagonist): Modern Day Protagonist / Assassin
  The modern-day protagonist using the Animus to relive Eivor's memories. Her story arc from previous games continues as she seeks to prevent another global catastrophe, interacting with other modern-day Assassins like Shaun Hastings and Rebecca Crane.
• King Alfred the Great of Wessex: Antagonist / Historical Figure
  The king of Wessex, the last major Saxon kingdom resisting Viking incursions. A pious, intelligent, and cunning ruler who also operates in the shadows as the Grand Maegester of the Order of the Ancients in England.
• Randvi: Ally / Sigurd's Wife / Ravensthorpe's Strategist
  Sigurd's wife and the chief strategist for the Raven Clan in Ravensthorpe. Eivor consults with her at the Alliance Map to pledge to different regions in England. A potential romantic interest for Eivor.
• Valka: Ally / Raven Clan Seer
  The Raven Clan's seer (völva). She provides Eivor with potions that induce visions, allowing them to experience mythological events in Asgard and Jotunheim as Havi (Odin).
• Hytham: Ally / Hidden One Apprentice
  Basim's young apprentice in the Hidden Ones. He tasks Eivor with hunting down and eliminating members of the Order of the Ancients throughout England, managing the Hidden Ones Bureau in Ravensthorpe.
• Ivarr the Boneless & Ubba Ragnarsson: Allies / Historical Viking Leaders
  Sons of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok and leaders of the Great Heathen Army. Eivor forms alliances with them to conquer parts of Mercia.
• Oswald, Ceolwulf, Halfdan Ragnarsson, Soma, Hunwald, Goodwin: Allies / Saxon & Viking Regional Leaders
  Various kings, ealdormen, jarls, and thegns Eivor interacts with and forms alliances with (or deposes) across the different shires of England. Their individual storylines form the regional story arcs.
• Fulke: Antagonist / Order of the Ancients Agent
  A sadistic and fanatical agent of the Order of the Ancients who plays a key role in Sigurd's capture and torment, believing him to be a divine being.
• The Builder (Asgard Vision): Antagonist (Mythological)
  A Jotun (giant) who tricks the Aesir gods in Asgard, encountered during Eivor's vision quests as Havi.

• Main Questline (Constellation & The Artifacts)
  A series of core story missions following the player's journey with Constellation to find and understand mysterious alien artifacts, leading to encounters with the Starborn and revelations about the universe and the Unity. This questline culminates in a major decision impacting the player's progression into New Game Plus.
• Faction Questlines (UC Vanguard, Freestar Rangers, Ryujin Industries, Crimson Fleet)
  Extensive, multi-part storylines associated with the major factions in the Settled Systems. Players can choose to join one or more of these factions (though some choices may have consequences for others). Each offers unique missions, characters, rewards, and moral dilemmas (e.g., UC Vanguard involves fighting Terrormorphs; Freestar Rangers act as space western lawmen; Ryujin Industries focuses on corporate espionage; Crimson Fleet involves piracy and a choice to betray or fully join them).
• Companion Quests
  Personal quests related to the four main Constellation companions (Sarah, Sam, Andreja, Barrett). Completing these deepens the relationship with the companion, reveals their backstory, and can lead to romance or commitment.
• Side Missions (Activities & Miscellaneous Quests)
  A vast number of smaller, optional quests found by exploring cities, settlements, space stations, or by overhearing conversations and reading slates. These range from simple fetch quests to more involved local stories, bounty hunting, or resolving minor conflicts.
• Outpost Establishment & Resource Management
  Missions or self-directed objectives related to building and managing outposts for resource extraction (mining minerals, harvesting flora/fauna, generating power) and crafting. This includes setting up cargo links between outposts.
• Ship Combat & Bounty Hunting (Mission Board)
  Engaging in space combat against pirates, spacers, or faction enemies. Players can take on bounty hunting missions from mission boards to track down and eliminate or capture wanted ships and individuals.
• Planetary Survey & Exploration
  Fully surveying planets by scanning all their unique flora, fauna, resources, and discovering all planetary traits. Survey data can be sold for credits. Exploration can also lead to finding hidden points of interest, caves, abandoned facilities, and unique encounters.

• Main Story Arcs (Norway, England Pledges, Asgard/Jotunheim Visions, Order of the Ancients Hunt, Modern Day)
  The overarching narrative divided into several major arcs: Eivor's departure from Norway, establishing Ravensthorpe and forging alliances by pledging to various shires in England (each a self-contained regional storyline), experiencing mythological sagas as Havi in Asgard and Jotunheim, systematically hunting down members of the Order of the Ancients, and Layla Hassan's modern-day investigation into Isu mysteries and a looming global threat.
• Raids
  Lead Eivor's Viking crew on longship raids against monasteries, encampments, and fortresses along rivers in England to pillage Raw Materials and Supplies needed for upgrading the Ravensthorpe settlement. Involves combat and breaking open chests/doors with crew assistance.
• Assaults (Large Scale Battles)
  Major story-driven battles where Eivor and their allies (often from pledged regions) lay siege to large enemy fortresses or defend against significant attacks. These involve multiple stages, siege weapons, and fighting alongside numerous AI combatants.
• World Events (Mysteries)
  Short, often quirky, self-contained narrative encounters found throughout the world. These can range from helping a child find their pet, to resolving a dispute between villagers, or participating in a bizarre local custom. They offer XP and a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people.
• Flyting Duels (Mysteries)
  Engage in a battle of wits and rhyming insults with various NPCs. Winning requires choosing the correct responses that match the opponent's rhythm and theme, increasing Eivor's Charisma (which unlocks unique dialogue options).
• Offering Altars (Mysteries)
  Find altars that require a specific offering (e.g., a certain number of fish, animal parts, or silver) to appease local spirits or fulfill a request. Completing these rewards skill points.
• Standing Stone Puzzles (Mysteries)
  Environmental puzzles where Eivor must find the correct vantage point to align symbols carved on standing stones, revealing a larger pattern. Rewards skill points.
• Treasures of Britain (Mysteries)
  Explore dangerous, puzzle-filled Isu (First Civilization) vaults hidden across England to collect mysterious tablets. Collecting all of them unlocks the legendary weapon Excalibur.
• Legendary Animal Hunts (Mysteries)
  Track and defeat exceptionally powerful and unique animals found in specific locations. Rewards include XP, resources, and a trophy for the longhouse in Ravensthorpe.
• Lost Drengr (Mysteries)
  Challenge and defeat six legendary Viking warriors, former members of Ragnar Lothbrok's army, who seek a glorious death in battle. Each is a difficult duel.
• Daughters of Lerion (Mysteries)
  Defeat three powerful and mystical sisters who guard pieces of Thor's armor set. Each is a challenging boss fight with unique magical abilities.
• Fly Agaric Hallucination Challenges (Mysteries)
  Consume Fly Agaric mushrooms to enter a hallucinatory state and solve a short environmental puzzle or complete a bizarre task. Rewards skill points.
• Animus Anomalies (Mysteries)
  Modern-day data fragments manifested as glitched platforming puzzles in the historical simulation. Eivor (controlled by Layla) must navigate these unstable structures to retrieve Isu data. Rewards lore.
• River Raids (Repeatable Game Mode)
  A separate repeatable game mode where Eivor leads their Jomsvikings on raids along various rivers to find new gear, resources, and Books of Knowledge. Features unique river maps and upgradable Jomsviking barracks.
• Tombs of the Fallen (Free DLC)
  Explore hidden Isu tombs filled with environmental puzzles and platforming challenges to uncover powerful artifacts and lore.
• DLC Story Campaigns (Wrath of the Druids, The Siege of Paris, Dawn of Ragnarök)
  Major expansions with their own main questlines, new regions (Ireland, Francia, Svartalfheim), characters, enemies, gear, and abilities.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is primarily a single-player experience. It does not feature traditional cooperative or competitive multiplayer modes. Some online elements exist, such as sharing photos, avenging fallen players (community Jomsvikings), and the River Raids mode which allows recruiting other players' Jomsvikings for your crew.

Available in Standard Edition, Premium Edition (included 'Shattered Space' story expansion upon release, Constellation Skin Pack, digital artbook & soundtrack, and 5 days early access), and the Constellation Edition (physical collector's edition with a SteelBook display case, Constellation patch, Chronomark watch & case, credit stick with game code, and all Premium Edition digital content).

Available in Standard, Gold (includes Season Pass), Ultimate (Gold content + Ultimate Pack with Berserker items, settlement pack, runes), and Collector's Edition (Ultimate content + Eivor statue, SteelBook, art prints, soundtrack, certificate). A Ragnarök Edition included the base game and the 'Dawn of Ragnarök' expansion. The Complete Edition bundles the base game and all major expansions.

The first major story expansion, 'Shattered Space,' is confirmed and included in the Premium/Constellation Editions, expected in Fall 2024. Bethesda has also stated plans for ongoing support with new content, features, and official mod support (Creations).

Valhalla received extensive post-launch support. This includes two major paid story expansions: 'Wrath of the Druids' (set in Ireland) and 'The Siege of Paris' (set in Francia). A third large expansion, 'Dawn of Ragnarök,' (mythological focus, playing as Odin/Havi) was also released. Numerous free updates added content like River Raids, Mastery Challenges, Tombs of the Fallen, seasonal festivals (Yule, Ostara, Sigrblot, Oskoreia), New Game+, transmog, and 'The Last Chapter' (a free story epilogue).

• Q: How many planets are in Starfield?
  A: Starfield features over 1,000 planets and moons across approximately 100 star systems that players can explore.
• Q: Is Starfield a direct sequel to Fallout or Elder Scrolls?
  A: No, Starfield is a completely new intellectual property (IP) from Bethesda Game Studios, set in its own unique universe, distinct from their Fallout and The Elder Scrolls series.
• Q: Can I fly my spaceship seamlessly from space to planet surfaces?
  A: While you can fly in space and select landing spots on planets from orbit, the transition from space to being on the planet surface (and vice-versa) involves a short loading screen/cutscene. You cannot manually pilot your ship through a planet's atmosphere down to the ground in a seamless manner like in some other space games.
• Q: Is there base building in Starfield?
  A: Yes, players can establish and build Outposts on many planets and moons. These outposts can be used for resource extraction, crafting, storage, and as player homes. They can be customized with various modules, defenses, and crew assignments.
• Q: How does spaceship customization work?
  A: Starfield features an extensive ship builder. Players can buy pre-built ships or heavily customize existing ones by adding, removing, and modifying various modules like cockpits, engines, weapons, shields, cargo holds, habs (living quarters), and structural components. Ships can also be painted and decorated.
• Q: Are there aliens to interact with besides hostile creatures?
  A: The game focuses on human factions and the mystery of alien artifacts. While there is abundant alien flora and fauna, and enigmatic precursor alien technology, there are no sentient, spacefaring alien civilizations to interact with in the traditional sense (like in Mass Effect) within the base game, aside from the Starborn.

• Q: Is Assassin's Creed Valhalla a traditional Assassin's Creed game?
  A: Valhalla blends traditional Assassin's Creed elements (stealth, assassinations with the Hidden Blade, conflict between Hidden Ones/Order of the Ancients, modern-day story) with significant action RPG mechanics (skill trees, gear upgrades, dialogue choices, large open world, settlement building). It leans more into the RPG aspects than earlier titles in the series.
• Q: Can I play as a male or female Eivor?
  A: Yes, players can choose to play as either a male Eivor (Varinsson) or a female Eivor (Varinsdottir). The story and dialogue are largely the same for both, with voice acting being the primary difference. Players can also let the Animus choose, which sometimes switches between them at key moments (canonically, Eivor is female).
• Q: What is Ravensthorpe, and how does settlement building work?
  A: Ravensthorpe is the Viking settlement Eivor establishes in England. Players can upgrade the settlement by constructing various buildings (e.g., blacksmith, barracks, trading post, hunter's hut, seer's hut, museum) using resources gathered from raids. Each building provides new services, quests, characters, or passive benefits for Eivor and their clan.
• Q: Are there choices and consequences in Valhalla?
  A: Yes, Valhalla features numerous dialogue choices and decisions during quests that can impact character relationships, the outcome of regional story arcs, alliances, and even aspects of the main story's ending. Some choices have more significant long-term consequences than others.
• Q: What are the Asgard and Jotunheim sequences?
  A: These are vision quests where Eivor, through Valka's potions, experiences events from Norse mythology as Havi (another name for Odin). These sequences feature unique mythical environments, characters (like Thor, Loki, Freya, Tyr), and storylines that tie into the Isu lore and Eivor's own destiny.
• Q: Does Valhalla have naval combat like previous AC games?
  A: While Eivor has a longship for river and sea travel and for initiating raids, direct ship-to-ship naval combat with cannons and complex maneuvers (like in Black Flag or Odyssey) is not a primary feature. The longship is mainly for transport, raiding party deployment, and navigating waterways. Limited ranged combat from the ship is possible.

Developed on Creation Engine 2, Starfield showcases Bethesda's 'NASA-Punk' art style, blending realistic near-future technology with rugged, functional designs. It features detailed planetary surfaces, diverse biomes, impressive lighting (especially in space and during sunrises/sets on planets), and detailed character/ship models. The scale of the universe and seamless transitions from space to planet (with a loading screen) are key visual aspects.

Powered by AnvilNext 2.0, Valhalla showcases detailed and expansive environments, from the fjords of Norway to the rolling hills and forests of England, and the mythical realms. It features impressive lighting, weather effects, and detailed character models. The game's art style captures the rugged beauty of the Viking Age and the distinct cultures of Norse and Anglo-Saxon societies.

Original score composed by Inon Zur, featuring sweeping orchestral themes that evoke a sense of wonder, exploration, and epic adventure. Music is dynamic and adapts to gameplay situations. Sound design focuses on realistic weapon effects, spaceship sounds (engines, grav jumps, combat), and diverse alien creature vocalizations and environmental ambiances.

Original score composed by Jesper Kyd, Sarah Schachner, and Einar Selvik (of Wardruna). The music blends epic orchestral themes with authentic Norse folk instrumentation and vocals, creating a powerful and atmospheric soundscape. Features Viking chants, sea shanties sung by Eivor's crew, and ambient tracks reflecting the different regions. Sound design includes visceral combat sounds, distinct weapon effects, and immersive environmental audio.

Features a clean, sci-fi 'NASA-Punk' aesthetic HUD displaying health, oxygen, ammo, and a compass. Menus for inventory (grid-based), skills, ship management, starmap, and missions are navigated through a wrist-mounted device interface. Scanning mode highlights resources, flora, fauna, and points of interest.

Features a customizable HUD with health, adrenaline, stamina, and equipped abilities/tools. A compass with objective markers aids navigation. The world map is extensive with filters for activities and collectibles. Menus for inventory, skills, abilities, quests, and settlement management are accessible. Eagle Vision (Odin's Sight) highlights enemies, loot, and points of interest.

Includes options for subtitle customization (size, background, speaker names), control remapping (PC), adjustable text size, aim assist toggle, options to change hold-to-activate to a toggle, large menu fonts, and various gameplay settings to tweak difficulty and visual effects like motion blur and film grain.

Offers a wide range of accessibility options, including extensive control remapping, subtitle and caption customization (size, background, speaker names), options for QTEs (hold vs. tap), aim assist options, colorblind modes, options to reduce camera motion/screen effects, audio cues for important events, and adjustable text/icon sizes.

• Official system requirements from Bethesda. Performance can vary significantly depending on specific hardware, settings, areas in-game, and background applications. An SSD is MANDATORY. The game is known to be CPU intensive.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop models of listed desktop GPUs may work if their performance is comparable, but TGP (Total Graphics Power) and cooling are extremely critical for this demanding title. **Starfield is a very graphically and CPU intensive game; high-end laptop hardware is required for enjoyable experiences, especially at higher resolutions/settings. Upscaling is highly recommended.**
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP is crucial for performance.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Excellent cooling is essential to prevent severe thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Laptops with sustained high CPU power limits will perform better, as Starfield is CPU-bound in many scenarios.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM (DDR5 preferred) significantly benefits performance.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended for optimal framerates.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Supports AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 2 (FSR 2). NVIDIA DLSS support was added via official patch; DLSS 3 Frame Generation is also supported if your GPU allows. Intel XeSS may be available via mod or future update.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Shadow Quality, Volumetric Lighting, Crowd Density, GTAO Quality, Grass Quality, Motion Blur, and Dynamic Resolution (if not using fixed FSR/DLSS percentages) heavily impact performance. Render Resolution Scale is the primary tool for performance tuning.
• Game Name: Starfield

• Official PC system requirements from Ubisoft. Performance can vary significantly depending on specific hardware, settings, areas in-game (especially dense settlements or large battles), and background applications. An SSD is strongly recommended.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop models of listed desktop GPUs will require comparable performance, high TGP (Total Graphics Power), and excellent cooling. **Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a demanding title, especially at higher resolutions or with maxed-out settings due to its large, detailed world.**
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Good TGP is important for consistent framerates.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Robust cooling is essential for sustained performance during raids and exploration.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A strong CPU is needed for NPC simulation, large-scale battles, and world streaming.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM benefits performance.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Supports AMD FSR 1.0 (later versions may require mods or specific game updates). DLSS support is not native but might be possible via mods on PC for some users.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: World Details, Clutter, Shadow Quality, Volumetric Clouds, Water Quality, Screen Space Reflections, Character Texture Quality, and Anti-Aliasing heavily impact performance. The game offers an adaptive quality setting.
• Game Name: Assassin Creed Valhalla

• Upscaling Tech: Supports AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 2 (FSR 2). NVIDIA DLSS support was added via official patch; DLSS 3 Frame Generation is also supported if your GPU allows. Intel XeSS may be available via mod or future update.
• Key Settings Impact: Shadow Quality, Volumetric Lighting, Crowd Density, GTAO Quality, Grass Quality, Motion Blur, and Dynamic Resolution (if not using fixed FSR/DLSS percentages) heavily impact performance. Render Resolution Scale is the primary tool for performance tuning.

• Upscaling Tech: Supports AMD FSR 1.0 (later versions may require mods or specific game updates). DLSS support is not native but might be possible via mods on PC for some users.
• Key Settings Impact: World Details, Clutter, Shadow Quality, Volumetric Clouds, Water Quality, Screen Space Reflections, Character Texture Quality, and Anti-Aliasing heavily impact performance. The game offers an adaptive quality setting.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP is crucial for performance.
• Cooling Thermals: Excellent cooling is essential to prevent severe thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: Laptops with sustained high CPU power limits will perform better, as Starfield is CPU-bound in many scenarios.
• R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM (DDR5 preferred) significantly benefits performance.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is highly recommended for optimal framerates.

• G P U T G P: Good TGP is important for consistent framerates.
• Cooling Thermals: Robust cooling is essential for sustained performance during raids and exploration.
• C P U Power Limits: A strong CPU is needed for NPC simulation, large-scale battles, and world streaming.
• R A M Speed Dual Channel: Fast dual-channel RAM benefits performance.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Using a MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is recommended.