Another audio thing, I use 5.1 surround (true/speakers) and the center channel mix is way off. There is way too much audio data coming through the center channel, including all the player movement SFX. It sounds pretty bad, and also "audio pro" by trade.

Any updates? I tried playing again yesterday after waiting months, and the audio is still unbearably awful. I can only move around for like 30seconds before I just can't stand how bad it sounds. It's beyond immersion breaking and totally distracting.

Yeah with 1.04 patch I'm not hearing any improvement. It's really bad if you have a 5.1 setup and all the motion SFX are crammed into the center channel. The low resolution audio is really bad. I went back and played Odyssey to compare. Sure, a lot of audio data is in the center channel but the quality of audio is so much better it's totally ok. I was really hoping for any improvement so I could actually start playing the game.

• Did you start to play Valhalla before the initial game updates were released?
  • Started on launch day.
• What is your platform, and if on PC, what are your system specs? (CPU, GPU, RAM, etc.)
  • PC (10700K, 3080, 32GB)
• What is your audio set-up? Are you using a headset (wired or wireless?), a speaker system, a surround sound system, etc.?
  • 5.1 Surround Speakers using SoundBlaster ZX, Denon Receiver with External analog input)
• What audio output is in use? 7.1, 5.1, Surround, Stereo?
  • 5.1
• A video demonstrating the issues you are experiencing.
  • All you have to do is start the game and move around. The center channel mix is way too loud and the sound files sound like their bit and sample rates are really low. I compared against AC:Odyssey and the difference in mix and sound quality using the same hardware is dramatic.

@raski0611 The snow footstep SFX and mix is so bad, it's really over the top that it got released like this.

We'll see, maybe one day. Just tried the game again after 1.1.1, walked in snow for 3 seconds. Center channel mix is way too loud, and SFX are super muffled sounding. Quit game.

And another update to the Known Issues list, not a word on sound or audio of any kind! Such a bummer, is AC:V audio broken forever?
https://discussions.ubisoft.com/topic/76980/assassin-s-creed-valhalla-known-issues-updated-jan-22?lang=en-US

New big patch, audio still sucks. Can't they do anything?

Same issue, can't turn them off so it's spoiler central. Such a disappointment.

@orcbeard92 Hey, thanks for the detailed summary and comparison, really helpful. I really enjoyed both GoT and KD, both great games and really fun and immersive to play through.

I like what you are saying about ACV, it seems despite the slightly distracting "layer", overall it could still be a fun and immersive Viking adventure. I think maybe I should still give it a go and see how it "feels" playing as the male Eivor.

For the record I did enjoy AC Origins and Odyssey, and yeah I played as Alexios. I played some of the Odyssey DLCs but they eventually lost my interest, the more fantastical these games get, the less they seem to hold my interest, they just work better as "semi-historical" games for me. Although the "fantasy" parts in Origins did work better for me, perhaps it was the setting.

Thanks again, appreciated.

@orcbeard92 Hey, thanks for the detailed summary and comparison, really helpful. I really enjoyed both GoT and KD, both great games and really fun and immersive to play through.

I like what you are saying about ACV, it seems despite the slightly distracting "layer", overall it could still be a fun and immersive Viking adventure. I think maybe I should still give it a go and see how it "feels" playing as the male Eivor.

For the record I did enjoy AC Origins and Odyssey, and yeah I played as Alexios. I played some of the Odyssey DLCs but they eventually lost my interest, the more fantastical these games get, the less they seem to hold my interest, they just work better as "semi-historical" games for me. Although the "fantasy" parts in Origins did work better for me, perhaps it was the setting.

Thanks again, appreciated.

@orcbeard92 Thanks for the reply and information. That's really too bad. I wanted to ask do you think it's still worth playing?

What I want is a historical immersive RPG. Similar to Ghost of Tsushima or even Kingdom Come Deliverance. Where I can immerse myself in the story and the time period and enjoy myself over an open world.

Thanks for any info.

Honest question...

If I choose to play AC:V exclusively as the male character does the game still refer to me as as a female? Meaning, using "she/her" in NPC interactions even though I chose to play exclusively male?

Was wondering if this was ever "fixed" so that this mis-gendering doesn't happen during gameplay.

I know female is ~90% canon but it is not how I would be able to enjoy the game. If I can not play exclusively as a male character and have the game "respect" my choice it allowed me to make, then it's probably still a pass for me.

Thanks for any help, appreciated.

New big patch, audio still sucks. Can't they do anything?

Any updates? I tried playing again yesterday after waiting months, and the audio is still unbearably awful. I can only move around for like 30seconds before I just can't stand how bad it sounds. It's beyond immersion breaking and totally distracting.

And another update to the Known Issues list, not a word on sound or audio of any kind! Such a bummer, is AC:V audio broken forever?
https://discussions.ubisoft.com/topic/76980/assassin-s-creed-valhalla-known-issues-updated-jan-22?lang=en-US

We'll see, maybe one day. Just tried the game again after 1.1.1, walked in snow for 3 seconds. Center channel mix is way too loud, and SFX are super muffled sounding. Quit game.

Title Update 1.1.1 coming tomorrow, not a single thing about the totally broken and horrible sound issues that ruin the game. Such a bummer, will they ever even take a look at this issue? It so bad and obvious I never have been able to get past the first 10min of the game. How is this not a tier 1 issue?

Any progress on this issue, dev acknowledgement at all? Still waiting to start playing Valhalla. Super ironically playing CP2077 in the mean time, actually having a great time!

@raski0611 Totally agree. Looks like I'm staying over in Night City, Valhalla will wait.