Valkyrie Elysium - What We Know So Far

Square Enix surprised fans with the announcement of "Valkyrie Elysium," the next installment in the "Valkyrie" series, during the March 2022 Sony State of Play. Drawing heavily on Norse mythology, the "Valkyrie" games present a world in which humanity is on its last legs and divine beings walk the land. The franchise got its start with "Valkyrie Profile," which released for PlayStation in 2000, with two more entries following for PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. It then went quiet for about a decade, finally experiencing a revival with the 2019 worldwide launch of "Valkyrie Anatomia: The Origin" for mobile.

According to the publisher, "Valkyrie Elysium" couples the classic action-RPG elements that first drew in players with innovative new concepts to modernize the experience. This includes a "unique combo system" designed to keep you on your toes and hone your response time (via PlayStation Blog). Series composer Motoi Sakuraba also returns with a tailored soundtrack. If a fresh but familiar jaunt through the End Times sounds like a win, here's what you should know about "Valkyrie Elysium."

Square Enix did not offer a "Valkyrie Elysium" release date during the State of Play reveal, however, it provided a launch window: 2022. Beyond news of the impending drop, the company specified that the RPG will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Steam. This marks the first "Valkyrie" game to have made the jump to PC, exposing the series to a much broader pool of gamers — especially given the ongoing rollout of the Steam Deck.

Those who have managed to secure an elusive PS5 can look forward to running "Valkyrie Elysium" in 4K at 60 FPS. Though Tri-Ace developed the first three titles in the series, "Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time" developer Soleil has taken up the mantle for the newest installment. The studio's other works include "Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker" and "Ninjala." It currently has three other games in its production pipeline: "Wanted: Dead," "Vengeance is Mine," and "Project Edo."

In "Valkyrie Elysium," you play as a Valkyrie created by the All-Father in a final bid to save the world from Ragnarok. With the fate of realms in your hands, you descend to the broken land in search of information, encountering several threats along the way. As you fight through waves of enemies, you have the option to recruit other warriors to your cause, summoning them at your times of need.

While the details of the plot remain hazy, it seems another Valkyrie will play a key role in your journey. Sporting a helmet that covers the upper portion of her face, it's uncertain if she'll act as friend or foe. Given her prominent placement in the "Valkyrie Elysium" key art and the final moments of the announcement trailer, she could serve as the game's central antagonist or otherwise have a connection to the impending destruction of the world. Expect more information from Square Enix in the coming months.