At some point between Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, the series had developed some severe franchise fatigue. The yearly cycle hurt the games more than it helps, so 2017’s Assassin’s Creed Origins flipped the franchise on its head by introducing RPG elements. Both Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla have experimented with this approach, and while the future remains uncertain, it seems the RPG mechanics are indeed working in terms of engagement.
However, as much “new” that came with those games also came “old.” An Assassin’s Creed game completely untouched by former CCO Serge Hascoet has yet to be seen, as this one figure in the company had the power to greenlight or cancel any project, enforce any changes, and more. Employees had to prepare for his meetings, and he enforced the belief that “women don’t sell” on several games. Aya’s role in Assassin’s Creed Origins, that of a mother losing her child and founding the Creed, was diminished. Alexios was only a playable character because of this belief, crudely attaching him to Kassandra’s side, and arguably, his impact can still be felt in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla‘s approach to gender.
Hascoet was removed from the company this past summer, so there’s certainly hope for the future that the franchise will be exactly what it always promised: “a game produced by a multi-cultural team of of various beliefs, sexual orientations, and gender identities,” not something confirmed to the beliefs of one person. Hopefully, this is something that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla moves beyond, and it’s possible to put hope for that on Darcy.
Despite the fact that Ubisoft is insistent that Watch Dogs and Assassin’s Creed exist in separate universes, there’s a lot of “fan service” for the latter franchise. It’s already possible to play a descendant of Jacob Frye in Watch Dogs: Legion, but the game is getting a full crossover event in August. Not much is known about it quite yet, but players will get access to new missions, a new world event themed after Assassin’s Creed, and a new playable Assassin in Darcy.
Darcy is a non-canon member of the British Brotherhood of Assassins. It’ll be interesting to see how she interacts with Deadsec, but as a character, her stature is impressive as it is. It seems Watch Dogs: Legion tech will be involved as she displays the symbol of a digital device, and her hidden blade is unique, more like a hidden sword. The sheer length of her hidden blade certainly is something, but her overall existence is even more.
For now, it’s hard to pass judgement on how this DLC is handled and how Darcy’s stole is told, but the very fact that she’s upfront and not hidden is noteworthy. As aforementioned, it’s really hard to see beyond Ubisoft’s past when looking at how Eivor is treated in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Despite being the canon character, as she is named Eivor Varinsdottir, she plays second fiddle to male-dominated marketing. Male Eivor, as he appears on the cover of the game, will never historically exist in the context he is marketed. Spoilers aside, it’s even harder to find any marketing for Eivor Varinsdottir, as what should be her funko pop is also dedicated to male Eivor (both of them!)
As such, it’s refreshing to see Darcy front and center for what is, and should be, her DLC. Time will only tell how she is treated and how her story unfolds in-game, but it’s something that she’s effectively on the “cover.” Hopefully, this is just a sign to come where, regardless of how Ubisoft approaches the next Assassin’s Creed, the marketing reflects the content of the game. Marketing didn’t for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and beyond any debate about social stealth and RPG, how the franchise treats its characters might always speak volumes about Ubisoft’s own practices.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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