Ubisoft recently revealed that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla would be getting a Discovery Tour mode this Autumn as part of a new DLC. Valhalla will be the third game in the series to feature this game mode, which will serve as an educational side mode of Valhalla, where the player will be given a virtual tour of ninth-century England and Norway. The mode is created as part of a collaboration with historians and archaeologists to take a deeper dive into the world of Valhalla, removing many gameplay aspects from the main game, including all combat mechanics and quests.
Discovery Tour is a breath of fresh air for many gamers as it allows them to experience the historical worlds of the Assassin’s Creed series without interference. It focuses solely on the historical periods and settings, providing a unique glimpse into cultures of the past. In a way, Ubisoft has turned its players into digital heritage tourists. Heritage tourism refers to exploring the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past. Video games like Assassin’s Creed are just one example of how heritage tourism has entered the digital age, providing individuals without the means to travel a glimpse into these aspects of years past.
But Assassin’s Creed’s Discovery Tour isn’t the only historical video game to feature heritage tourism. In fact, many historical video games, like Age of Empires and Civilization, feature heritage tourism. Any video game that authentically portrays history – from the world’s architecture, geography, and world-building right down to the character clothing and accents – is participating in heritage tourism.
And many video games don’t have to be 100 percent accurate to history to feel authentic. Some titles, like the Wolfenstein series, touch on the surface history of Nazi Germany while immersing players in a dystopian, alternative take on post-World War II. Other games like A Plague Tale: Innocence do a magnificent job of portraying 14th century France during the height of the Bubonic Plague, capturing the culture at the time, from the character attire to the look of the cities and towns.
Epoch XP Can Help
Game developers that want to create a historical video game should consider incorporating heritage tourism within your title. Incorporating heritage tourism adds value to the experience by preserving the past and providing players from around the globe an opportunity to explore distant times and cultures. Not only does heritage tourism make video games more attractive for history buffs and fans of specific historical settings, but it also pays honor to the respective culture and heritage.
At Epoch XP, we specialize in creating compelling narratives and provide research to give your game the kind of details that engage your players and create a resonant world they want to spend time in. If you are interested in learning more about our gaming research services, you can browse Epoch XP’s service on our parent site, SJR Research.
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(This article is credited to Ben Price. For as long as he can remember, Ben has always loved playing, discussing, and writing about video games. Since receiving his B.A. in English, he now writes about them for a living.)