Valheim leaves Early Access on September 9, 2026, when version 1.0 adds the Deep North and launches on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. Windows, Linux, Mac, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S remain part of the lineup, and Iron Gate says every platform will support full crossplay.

Existing saves will remain available after the update. Older worlds can also receive the new content, although only areas that have not been explored can generate the updated biome correctly. Iron Gate recommends starting a new world for the best version of the full journey.

Valheim 1.0 quick facts

  • Release date: September 9, 2026. Iron Gate has not announced an official release time.
  • Platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2.
  • Multiplayer: Full crossplay across all announced platforms, with 1–10 players on a server.
  • Old saves: They remain available, but new biome generation requires areas that have not been explored.
  • Main addition: The Deep North is the focus of the 1.0 update. There is no Ocean biome update in this release.
  • Estimated download: About 4.3 GiB on most platforms, about 3.0 GiB on Xbox One, and about 6.5 GiB through the Mac App Store and Microsoft Store.

When does Valheim 1.0 release?

Valheim 1.0 releases on September 9, 2026. The date applies to the desktop and console platforms listed by Iron Gate. The Steam page also identifies September 9 as the day the game leaves Early Access.

There is no official release time yet. Iron Gate has not published a midnight unlock, regional schedule or global launch hour. Players should avoid treating store countdowns or unsourced time conversions as the studio’s confirmed plan.

Anyone who already owns Valheim in Early Access will receive the full version as an update and will not need to buy the game again. The official FAQ confirms that ownership carries forward. Store prices can vary by region and change over time.

What does the Deep North add to Valheim 1.0?

The Deep North is the final biome in Valheim’s planned progression. Iron Gate’s release announcement promises new enemies, building options and weapons. The official trailer shows frozen shores, sea ice, fortified interiors and creatures built for the colder setting.

Version 1.0 does not include an Ocean biome update. Iron Gate says there is some new content elsewhere in Valheim, but the Deep North receives the dedicated biome work. The studio has not published a complete item, enemy or boss list, so those details remain limited to what the official materials show and name.

The update also includes smaller performance changes. Iron Gate specifically mentions fewer microstutters when zones load, faster saving and other minor optimizations. Large settlements are not expected to receive the same level of improvement, and the studio plans to keep working on performance after launch.

A Viking longship approaches a snow-covered shore through broken sea ice in Valheim’s Deep North.
The 1.0 update focuses on the Deep North, the final biome in Valheim’s planned progression. Image: Iron Gate.

Do old Valheim saves and worlds work with 1.0?

Old saves stay where players left them, and they can be opened after installing version 1.0. The launch does not require everyone to abandon an existing character or world.

New biome generation works only in areas that have not been explored. If a group has already revealed parts of the Deep North, those places cannot generate the new content in the same way as untouched map areas. Unexplored sections of an older world can still receive the update.

Iron Gate recommends creating a new world for the best overall experience. That is a recommendation rather than a technical requirement. Players who want to keep a large build can continue in the old world and travel toward sections of the map that were never visited.

How achievements and cheats work in Valheim 1.0

Version 1.0 includes over 50 achievements. Tracking begins from the moment the update is downloaded. Progress from before 1.0 is not applied automatically, so an achievement tied to defeating Eikthyr would require another defeat after installing the full release.

Most developer commands permanently flag both the character and world save. Iron Gate uses “spawn” as an example. Characters that used cheats before version 1.0 will also be marked, while a small number of commands such as “freefly” are exceptions.

Spawned items are marked too. A clean character who picks one up enters a temporary cheat state and cannot unlock achievements while carrying a marked item. Throwing out every cheated item restores eligibility. Hammer mode also creates a temporary cheat state for the achievements it affects, and the game requires confirmation before entering a cheated state after 1.0.

An armored Viking carrying a torch enters a blue-lit stone fortress in Valheim’s Deep North.
Version 1.0 also adds achievements, with special rules for characters and worlds affected by cheats. Image: Iron Gate.

Will mods and a Public Test Branch work at launch?

Valheim has no official mod support, and version 1.0 has no Steam Workshop. Iron Gate cannot guarantee that existing PC mods will work when the base game changes. Mod authors may need time to update their projects, and consoles will not receive mod support for 1.0.

There is no Public Test Branch for the 1.0 update. Iron Gate wants every platform to receive the full release at the same time. Earlier testing mentioned in old developer posts does not describe a public preview of the final launch build.

Valheim 1.0 platforms, crossplay and cross-save

The full release will be sold through Steam on Windows, Linux and Mac; the Mac App Store on Mac; Humble on Windows, Linux and Mac; and the Microsoft Store on Windows. Console versions cover Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2.

Full crossplay connects all announced platforms. A player on Nintendo Switch 2, for example, can join friends using Xbox, PlayStation or a supported computer storefront. Iron Gate keeps the current server limit at 1–10 players.

Cross-save is much narrower than crossplay. Xbox players can access their saves on PC when they launch the Microsoft Store version. Beyond that Xbox-to-Microsoft-Store connection, there is no other cross-platform save sync.

Two players cross a bright icy landscape together in Valheim’s Deep North.
Valheim 1.0 supports full crossplay across every announced platform for groups of up to 10 players. Image: Iron Gate.

Valheim 1.0 download size and player count

The estimated download is about 4.3 GiB on most platforms. Iron Gate estimates about 3.0 GiB for Xbox One and about 6.5 GiB for the Mac App Store and Microsoft Store versions. These are download estimates, so the final installed size and temporary space needed for an update can differ.

Valheim remains a game for 1–10 players. It can be played alone or with a group, and the Steam version continues to support player-hosted dedicated servers. Full crossplay refers to who can join the same game; it does not expand the 10-player limit or create wider cross-save support.

What Iron Gate has not confirmed yet

The exact September 9 release time remains unannounced. Iron Gate has also not provided a complete Deep North content list or a detailed schedule for updates after 1.0.

The studio says bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements will continue. It is too early to say how long that support will run or whether later updates will add more content. The current official plan also excludes an Ocean biome update from version 1.0.

The Valheim game page keeps the release date, platforms, trailer and confirmed features together. The Games hub includes Pixel Twelve’s latest game news and guides.