Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Every new feature in franchise's PS5 and Xbox Series X debut

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is coming towards the end of 2020, and that means we'll be able to live out our Viking fantasies in just a few short months.

If you're wondering what new features the game brings to a franchise that began all the way back in 2007, we've rounded up all the ones we've found so far.

Read More: Assassins Creed Valhalla: UK Release Date, Trailer, Updates, Features, Pre-Order Guide And More!

Of course, there are some more obvious additions. There's an entirely new world, of course, and this time we'll be exploring ninth-century England – with some sections set in Norway, too.

We'll be squaring off against King Alfred of Wessex, an important historical figure known for helping unite England. This being Assassin's Creed, there will still be a modern-day plot segment, continuing Layla's story from the last two games, Origins and Odyssey.

We'll be playing as Eivor, a Viking who stumbles into the conflict between The Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients – that's Assassins and Templars to the rest of us. Eivor can be male or female, and both are considered canon.

The game will also mark the franchise's debut on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Looking for more tangible gameplay changes? Here we go!

• A new settlement can be built and upgraded, with decisions made there having long-reaching consequences like strengthening or weakening your army, for example.
• Character customisation has improved, allowing for tattoos, hair options, new clothing, and war paint to make your Eivor stand out on the battlefield.
• Players can form their own units of Viking raiders and send them online, presumably in asynchronous multiplayer.
• Combat has been tweaked, and Eivor can dual wield many of the game's weapons – and even shields.
• The hidden blade is back (although not very hidden) after its absence in Odyssey.
• Throwing axes are available.
• Viking longships will allow players to traverse the waters and can lead to raids on enemy settlements.
• The game is once again an RPG, with levelling and gear systems returning.
• Perhaps most excitingly of all, Valhalla will introduce "flyting" – a sort of Viking rap battle/trash talk hybrid.