Why Can't You Kill Animals In Assassin's Creed Valhalla? Ubisoft Provides Answers

David

3 min read

Post on May 21, 2025

4.6

Share

Why Can't You Kill Animals in Assassin's Creed Valhalla? Ubisoft Provides Answers

Assassin's Creed Valhalla, a sprawling open-world RPG set in 9th-century England, offers players a wealth of activities beyond its main storyline. From raiding monasteries to building settlements, the possibilities seem endless. However, one notable absence has puzzled many players: the inability to kill seemingly harmless animals. This departure from previous Assassin's Creed games, where hunting and animal interactions were often integral, has sparked significant debate among fans. Why the change? Ubisoft has finally provided some answers.

A Shift in Gameplay Focus and Narrative Consistency:

Ubisoft's reasoning, while not explicitly stated in a single press release, emerges from a combination of developer statements and in-game observations. The core argument revolves around aligning gameplay with the overall narrative and tone of Valhalla. Unlike previous titles that often featured a more pronounced focus on survival mechanics, Valhalla emphasizes a different aspect of the Viking experience: the establishment and growth of a settlement.

This shift in focus meant prioritizing certain gameplay loops over others. The decision to restrict animal killing wasn't arbitrary; it was a deliberate choice made to maintain narrative consistency and enhance the overall player experience within the game's established world. The developers sought to create a more harmonious relationship between Eivor and the environment, fostering a feeling of belonging within the burgeoning settlement and the wider world.

Environmental Storytelling and the World of Valhalla:

The world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla is meticulously crafted, with a keen attention to detail in its environments and inhabitants. The decision to limit direct animal interaction likely stems from a desire to preserve the immersive quality of this detailed world. Killing every animal you encounter would disrupt the carefully constructed ecosystem and ultimately detract from the overall feeling of realism and immersion that Ubisoft strived to achieve. The game subtly emphasizes the importance of respecting the natural world through the subtle environmental storytelling woven into its design.

Technical Limitations and Development Choices:

While not the primary reason, technical limitations and development priorities likely also played a role. Developing realistic animal AI with complex behaviors, including reactions to player actions such as killing, requires significant resources and development time. Given the sheer scale of Valhalla's world and the numerous features already implemented, prioritizing animal killing might have meant sacrificing other aspects of the game's development. This streamlining allowed the team to focus on delivering a polished and engaging core experience.

Community Response and Future Iterations:

The inability to hunt animals in Valhalla has certainly been a point of contention among players accustomed to the hunting mechanics present in previous Assassin's Creed titles. Many have expressed disappointment, while others understand and appreciate the narrative direction Ubisoft took. It remains to be seen how future installments in the Assassin's Creed franchise will handle animal interactions. Will we see a return to traditional hunting mechanics, or will this more restricted approach become the new norm? Only time will tell.

Conclusion:

The decision to remove the ability to kill animals in Assassin's Creed Valhalla was a complex one, driven by a combination of factors including narrative consistency, environmental storytelling, technical considerations, and development priorities. While this decision has sparked debate within the gaming community, it ultimately reflects Ubisoft’s broader vision for the game’s immersive world and carefully constructed gameplay loop. Ultimately, the game’s success suggests that this design choice, while controversial for some, didn’t significantly detract from the overall player experience.