Ubisoft Releases Dramatic Podcast to Teach Viking History

Ubisoft does a lot of things wrong -- from aggressive microtransaction practices to, you know, years and years of promoting and empowering abusers within their company -- but one thing they've always done right is use their Assassin's Creed games as a chance to educate as well as entertain. Their last two Assassin's Creed games, Origins and Odyssey, have both had "educational modes", which let people learn about the time and culture the games were set in.

We can safely assume that the next big Assassin's Creed game, Valhalla, will have something similar. But in the meantime, Ubisoft is getting folks hyped for history with a 5-part dramatic documentary about the history of Vikings called Echoes of Valhalla, which is currently free on Spotify.

Here's what you can look forward to:

• Episode 1 : The Sons of the Great North - Who are the Vikings? Share the way of life, customs and beliefs of these men of the North. Understand exactly what is going to urge them to leave their lands and magnificent lands to risk it all for the chance to find fame and fortune.
• Episode 2 : Dragon of the Seas - Embark on a Viking ship, travel the seas, overcome huge waves and dodge lightning! Feel the fear in an untamed ocean. If you let yourself be carried away and stave off hunger, you may be lucky enough to see earth appearing on the horizon...
• Episode 3 : Thor’s Hammer - Set off with the Great Army to conquer English Kingdoms. Find yourself in the midst of a conquest, battles and pillages. Also discover some very special ordeals reserved for a few unhappy prisoners...
• Episode 4 : Birth of an Empire - 10 years after the conquest and your very first victories, it’s time to start building! It’s time for setting down roots, from colonisation to trade. But in England, some are still resistant, still fighting your presence...
• Episode 5 : the Dawn of a New Era - Viking attacks continued in England, but Alfred the Great and his troops fought back. Maybe it’s time for you to go and discover the rest of the known world?

Each episode is dramatized, so there is voice acting and sound effects and other things to try to make it more immersive. Personally, I find it a bit distracting, but I can respect that some people would really enjoy the radio drama feel.

Anyway, love or hate Ubisoft, nothing wrong with some well-produced educational content, so I suggest you give it a listen.