Ubisoft would be better off releasing a sequel to Assassin's Creed Valhalla as opposed to more DLC. While flawed, Valhalla did have positives leading to its massive commercial success. A sequel would also be the first time since the Ezio Trilogy that the series has used the same protagonist in consecutive games, and it could present an opportunity to finally have another one with a lasting legacy.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla was released in November 2020 with generally positive reviews. The game follows Eivor, a Viking who travels from Norway to England in search of a new life away from the political conflict back home. It was the third game in the soft reboot of the series, which gradually shifted the design philosophy from linear action to fantasy RPG. Valhalla has received three DLC expansions: Wrath of the Druids, The Siege of Paris, and the recent Dawn of Ragnarok. The continued support of the game has so far paid off from Ubisoft, as AC Valhalla is the highest-earning game in the series.
While the continued support is appreciated by fans of Valhalla, the game still has fundamental issues that can only be fixed with a completely new game. Aside from the Basim spin-off, it's not yet known if the series will stay in the time period for the next big game, but Ubisoft should consider it. There's plenty of room to expand on Eivor's story as it crosses paths with the Hidden Ones, and it gives Ubisoft a chance to make up for a broken promise that was made before Assassin's Creed Valhalla's release.
Why Ubisoft Should Consider A True AC Valhalla Sequel
AC Valhalla had a number of good things going for it - as one would expect from a consistent bestseller - but it also didn't address more than a few problems that have persisted since Assassin's Creed Origins. The last three games, for example, have thrown stealth to the wayside, with some enemies being so powerful that the hidden blade isn't a one-hit kill. That, in addition to inconsistent enemy AI and a lack of social stealth, makes the assassin fantasy nearly impossible, a mistake Ubisoft lied about fixing with the latest game. Another big complaint throughout this new phase of the series is the fact that the open worlds suffer from "level-gating," or having sections of the maps require specific levels before the player can explore them freely. This is done by making enemies in those sections significantly more powerful than the player, and it's generally agreed that it does more harm than good as it limits exploration. These systems are integral to Valhalla, and an overhaul would only be possible with an entirely new game
Developing a true AC Valhalla sequel would also allow Ubisoft to develop Eivor further and make them a more compelling protagonist. When it comes to Assassin's Creed heroes, each new one is immediately compared to Ezio Auditore. The reason for this is simple: Ezio was charismatic and given a trilogy of games spanning his entire life. The series has since seen multiple intriguing protagonists - including the arguably better Arno Dorian from Unity and Edward Kenway from Black Flag - but their stories received nothing more than post-launch DLC. While Eivor lacks the immediate likability of the previous three mentioned, that could change if their journey took them to interesting places. Perhaps a sequel could see working with the Hidden Ones again. It would also be a good opportunity to revisit Vinland, a severely underused portion of Assassin's Creed Valhalla with lush woodlands that broke the visual monotony of England.
Aside from the Basim spin-off, it hasn't been confirmed if there will be another game in the setting and time of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Ubisoft has announced that its future titles will be housed within a live service experience called Assassin's Creed Infinity, and there's great anticipation to see what it will look like. It's believed that multiple time periods will be featured, so the best of Eivor may be yet to come.