At launch Assassin's Creed Valhalla (our full review here) on Xbox Series X and PS5 offered a single mode, a crisp and smooth (up-to) 4K 60fps presentation. On most TVs out there though, it wasn't without issues. Screen-tearing was prevalent, on the account of it being tuned to the few VRR displays out there. And we say 'was' because the new 1.0.4 update deals with the screen-tearing and adds a new Quality Mode.

One which "enables the game to run maximum resolution and graphic settings while maintaining 30 FPS". Though after experiencing Valhalla at 60fps, we're not sure if it's something we'd want to switch to. That said, it's good to see the option there for those that prioritise visuals over performance. The default mode remains Performance -- except on Xbox Series S which will use Quality.

But, as the first big post-launch patch for the game there are a tonne of bug fixes and changes too, including some welcome improvements to stealth.

Guards who clearly saw Eivor shoot their ally will now turn hostile.
Guards will now hear the impact of dead bodies dropping to the ground.
Improved guard reactions to whistling.
Improved disguise behavior in distrust zones.
Players will now be able to air-assassinate sleeping NPCs

Head here for the full Patch Notes

It's great to Ubisoft address the whole V-Sync issue. Sreen-tearing occurs when refresh rates and display timings aren't locked between each frame so you get a brief mashup of two. Screen-tearing isn't entirely about frame-rate dips either -- even something locked to 60fps can still tear. For VRR displays that use technology like G-Sync or FreeSync, it's a smooth and automated process that adjusts according to the signal. This is why the issue wouldn't be seen when playing Assassin's Creed on the latest LG OLED or Samsung QLED. V-Sync is important and no doubt will become a key component of next-gen 60fps titles moving forward as most 4K TVs sold today do not feature VRR as standard.