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Comparing version 1 (10 September 2026, 19:38 UTC, imported from the content file) with version 1 (10 September 2026, 19:38 UTC, imported from the content file).
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- Developer: Iron Gate Studio (Sweden)
- Publisher: Coffee Stain Publishing
- Engine: Unity
- Composer: Patrik Jarlestam
- Genre: Open-world survival
- Early access release: 2 February 2021 (Windows, Linux)
- Full release (1.0): 9 September 2026
- Players: 1–10, single-player or co-op
- Platforms: Windows, Linux, macOS, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 (per Wikipedia contributors)
- Development
- Valheim is developed by Iron Gate Studio, a Swedish studio formed during the game's production, and published by Coffee Stain Publishing.
- According to Wikipedia contributors, Richard Svensson began work on the project in 2017 under the working title Fejd; he left Pieces Interactive in 2018 to work on it full-time and later that year convinced co-founder Henrik Tornqvist to join him.
- The game runs on the Unity game engine. Its original soundtrack was composed by Patrik Jarlestam and released by Iron Gate AB on 29 October 2021.
- The development team has five people.
- Releases
- Valheim was released in early access on Linux and Microsoft Windows via Steam on 2 February 2021.
- Versions for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S followed on 14 March 2023, with the Xbox ports handled by external studios Piktiv and Fishlabs.
- A macOS version was released on 10 June 2024.
- The full 1.0 release shipped on 9 September 2026 alongside versions for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, ending an early access period of about five and a half years.
- Iron Gate announced the 1.0 release date in a YouTube trailer on 7 June 2026.
- Gameplay
- From a third-person viewpoint, Valheim is an open-world survival game in which participants gather resources, construct shelters and battle foes in order to stay alive. The game features both solo and multiplayer options, offering co-operative play for as many as ten people as well as voluntary player-versus-player fighting.
- A player gathers resources by foraging, hunting, mining and farming, then uses them to craft gear, cook food and construct bases. Three bars — health, stamina and Eitr — are affected by what the player eats and by combat. A skill system lets each skill be raised up to level 100.
- Wikipedia contributors record that the world is procedurally generated from a map seed and contains multiple biomes: meadows, the Black Forest, swamps, mountains, plains, oceans, the Mistlands, the Deep North and the Ashlands. Travel between biomes is on foot or by crafted boats ranging from rafts to Viking longships. The game uses a day and night cycle, and an in-game raven offers occasional guidance.
- Combat uses one- and two-handed weapons, shields, bows, spears and magic weapons. The main objective is to defeat eight bosses located across the biomes by offering specific items at each altar; defeated bosses drop trophies that can be placed at a central altar for power-ups.
- Wikipedia contributors state that the setting draws on Norse mythology: "Valheim" denotes a fictional tenth world within Yggdrasil, and slain Vikings must prove themselves fit for Valhalla by defeating the evils that stalk the world.
- The Hearth & Home update was released on 16 September 2021. The Mistlands update followed in December 2022 and added a magic system and four magic weapons. The Ashlands update launched in May 2024, expanding the magic system with gem crafting and adding Fader, the seventh of eight expected final bosses. After Ashlands came a Call to Arms expansion that updated weapon mechanics and added a trinket system.
- Reception and sales
- According to Metacritic, Valheim received "generally favourable" reviews from critics, with a PC score of 89/100. OpenCritic determined that 86% of critics recommended Valheim as of 8 September 2026.
- According to Wikipedia contributors, one month after its early access release in March 2021, Valheim had sold over five million copies and was among the most-played games on Steam. Wikipedia also cites a figure of 5.7 million copies sold in five weeks (Engadget, March 2021), and a later figure of over 10 million copies on Steam by July 2022.
- Valheim was nominated for Best Debut Indie Game and Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards 2021. PC Gamer named it Game of the Year for 2021. It won Best Debut and the Audience Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards 2022.
- 94% of 259,539 English user reviews on Valheim's Steam page were positive as of 9 September 2026. The Steam page lists 53 Steam Achievements and tags including Online Co-Op, Singleplayer, Early Access and Open World Survival Craft.
- The first hour of Valheim 1.0 Recorded on release day, 9 September 2026, showing what a new character does first in the shipped 1.0 build.
- What Valheim asks of a new player A spoiler-free guide to the core loop — gather, build, cook and fight a boss — in under twelve minutes.
- The Deep North announced Iron Gate's own trailer for the final biome and the 1.0 release date.
- How to Buy Valheim Chapter of "Do THIS First in Valheim 1.0" by Spopes, showing where to purchase the game.
- Creating a World in Valheim Chapter of "Do THIS First in Valheim 1.0" by Spopes, covering the world-creation menu in the 1.0 build.
- Cheats & Mods Chapter of "Do THIS First in Valheim 1.0" by Spopes, addressing cheat options and mod support.
- First Steps of Survival Chapter of "Do THIS First in Valheim 1.0" by Spopes, covering the opening moves after spawning in.
- 1.) Vegetation Quality Setting Chapter of "Do THIS First in Valheim 1.0" by Spopes, advising on a graphics setting.
- 2.) Watch Out for That Tree Chapter of "Do THIS First in Valheim 1.0" by Spopes, flagging a common hazard for new characters.
- 3.) Corpse Run Chest Chapter of "Do THIS First in Valheim 1.0" by Spopes, showing the corpse-run chest system.
- Food Chapter of "Valheim 1.0 COMPLETE BEGINNERS GUIDE" by Annarf, covering food and the three resource bars.
- Exploration Chapter of "Valheim 1.0 COMPLETE BEGINNERS GUIDE" by Annarf, covering exploration across biomes.
- Crafting & Base Tips Chapter of "Valheim 1.0 COMPLETE BEGINNERS GUIDE" by Annarf, covering crafting and base building.
- Combat Chapter of "Valheim 1.0 COMPLETE BEGINNERS GUIDE" by Annarf, covering weapons, blocking and combat basics.
- Skills Chapter of "Valheim 1.0 COMPLETE BEGINNERS GUIDE" by Annarf, covering the skill-level system.
- Recommended Mods Chapter of "Valheim 1.0 COMPLETE BEGINNERS GUIDE" by Annarf, listing recommended community mods.
- Timeline
- 2017: Richard Svensson begins work on the project under the working title Fejd.
- 2018-06: Valheim enters alpha.
- 2021-02-02: Wikipedia contributors record that Valheim enters early access on Steam for Linux and Microsoft Windows.
- 2021-09-16: The Hearth & Home update is released.
- 2021-10-29: The original soundtrack is released by Iron Gate AB.
- 2022-12: The Mistlands update is released, adding a magic system and four magic weapons.
- 2023-03-14: Valheim is released for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
- 2024-05: The Ashlands update is released, adding the seventh boss, Fader, and gem-crafting for magic.
- 2024-06-10: Valheim is released for macOS.
- 2026-06-07: Iron Gate reveals the 1.0 release date in a YouTube trailer.
- 2026-09-09: Valheim 1.0 ships, alongside PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 versions, ending about five and a half years of early access.
Revision history
- Version 6 current · imported from the content file by import, 23 October 2026, 15:24 UTC …
- Version 5 · imported from the content file by import, 21 October 2026, 10:55 UTC …
- Version 4 · imported from the content file by import, 20 October 2026, 19:55 UTC …
- Version 3 · imported from the content file by import, 17 September 2026, 11:26 UTC …
- Version 2 · imported from the content file by import, 13 September 2026, 10:20 UTC …
- Version 1 · imported from the content file by import, 10 September 2026, 19:38 UTC …