Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s free “Most Requested Update” went live on November 5, 2026, adding New Game+, a new Mithril resource, divine gear up to level 27, more than 300 engravable runes and PS5 Pro support with 60fps in Quality mode. Here is how to unlock NG+, what changes, and whether it is worth starting before GTA 6 lands on November 19.
Last checked on November 5, 2026. Official Everything below comes from Ubisoft: the Xbox Wire post, the PlayStation Blog post (both written by Ubisoft) and the official 1.8 patch notes as published by Push Square. Tips marked Our advice are HUDWire’s.
How to unlock New Game+ in AC Valhalla
- Update the game (patch 1.8, “The Most Requested Update”).
- Finish the Holy Day quest, the last quest of the Hamtunscire region.
- NG+ is then available. Ubisoft notes this is before the true ending, an intentional shortcut because the game is so long.
- Each new NG+ loop is harder than the last.
Our advice If you are close to the end, finish the true ending first for the story payoff, then start NG+. If you stopped mid-game, Holy Day is the earliest gate.
Everything in the update
| Feature | What it does | NG+ only? |
|---|---|---|
| New Game+ | Replay with your endgame character; each loop scales difficulty | — |
| Mithril | New resource to upgrade divine gear; from duplicate gear/books in NG+ and the Niflheim, Mastery and River Raid shops | Earned mainly in NG+ |
| Divine gear cap | Max upgrade level 13 to 27 | No |
| Platinum | Carbon, Nickel and Tungsten from Wealth Chests turn into Platinum in NG+; Divine quality no longer needs Dawn of Ragnarok | Yes (drops) |
| Extended Progression Mode | Gear upgrades and runes add +1 Power; Masteries add Power every 5 skill points | No (optional setting) |
| Stash | Store any gear and runes in Ravensthorpe | No |
| Rune Forge | Upgrade runes for silver; new Superior tier (needs Mithril); 300+ engravable perks for 450 silver | No |
| New outfit | Master Assassin Naoe outfit | No |
| Achievements | Ivaldi’s Heir (fully upgrade divine gear), Circle of Renewal (finish an NG+ run) | — |
| PS5 Pro | Upgraded PSSR: sharper 4K, Quality mode at 60fps | PS5 Pro only |
Extended Progression Mode, explained with numbers
Our math Ubisoft’s patch notes say that with Extended Progression on, gear upgrades and runes increase Power by 1 point, and Masteries add Power every 5 skill points. If each upgrade level counts once, taking one divine piece from level 13 to the new cap of 27 is 14 upgrades, or +14 Power from that item alone. Five fully upgraded pieces would add about 70 Power before runes and Masteries. Ubisoft calls the mode harder but more rewarding, so expect enemies to keep pace in NG+.
Balance changes worth knowing
- Dual wielding tuned up: most regular-attack multipliers on the Bearded Axe, Dagger, Greatsword, Dane Axe and Shortsword go up (for example, Dane Axe regular attacks x1.49 to x1.77), though a few heavy-weapon combos dip slightly.
- Some heavy alternate attacks drop: Hammer alternate attacks go from x1.98 to x1.4 with no off-hand.
- Masteries reworked: Raven, Bear and Wolf masteries now add Health and their own damage type instead of Ability Damage.
- Weapon speed: Sickle, Shortsword, Scythe and Atgeir animation speed now scales with your speed stat.
Platforms
| Platform | Status |
|---|---|
| Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One | Official live (Xbox Wire) |
| PS5, PS5 Pro | Official live; PSSR upgrade on Pro (PlayStation Blog) |
| PC, PS4 | Not mentioned in the posts we checked |
Should you start NG+ before GTA 6?
Our advice Two weeks is not enough for a full Valhalla run, so set a goal. Upgrading one piece of divine gear for the Ivaldi’s Heir achievement, or trying the PS5 Pro 60fps Quality mode for an evening, both fit. A full NG+ loop does not. Also plan storage: GTA 6’s preload opens November 10 and needs up to 212 GB. Our GTA 6 storage calculator shows whether Valhalla can stay installed. Other games to fit in before November 19 are in best open-world games before GTA 6 and November 2026 game releases.
Frequently asked questions
How do you unlock New Game+ in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
Complete the Holy Day quest, the last quest of the Hamtunscire region. Ubisoft lets you start NG+ there, slightly before the game’s true ending.
Is the Valhalla New Game+ update free?
Yes. The Most Requested Update is a free patch, live from November 5, 2026.
What is Mithril in AC Valhalla?
A new resource used to upgrade divine gear beyond level 13, up to 27. In NG+ you get it from duplicate gear or books of knowledge, and it is sold in the Niflheim, Mastery and River Raid shops.
Does Valhalla run at 60fps on PS5 Pro now?
Yes. Ubisoft says the upgraded PSSR lets the Quality mode run at 60fps with sharper 4K image quality on PS5 Pro.
Which platforms get the update?
Ubisoft’s posts confirm Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5 and PS5 Pro. The PC and PS4 versions were not mentioned in the posts we checked.
Does NG+ get harder each time?
Yes. Each New Game+ iteration scales up in difficulty, according to Ubisoft.