Summary
Despite the relative popularity ofValheim, the game’s update schedule might just be too slow to maintain a steady audience. Having been released in Early Access in 2021, the game has seen several major updates since it was initially made playable, and is steadily progressing towards a full release. However, the relatively long wait between updates has seen the game’s audience shrink drastically from the time of its launch, and further delays may make the issue even worse.
AlthoughValheimupdates fairly consistently with bug fixes, quality-of-life changes, and other minor additions,players have to wait long periods between actual content updates. The most recent major addition,Valheim’s Ashlands update, was released fairly recently in May 2024 - roughly 1.5 years after the previous major update, Mistlands, which was released in December 2022. And, while Ashlands is still new enough to keep the game’s audience engaged, some players are already wondering if the wait for the next update, which will bring the game into 1.0, will be equally long - or even longer.
Will Valheim Ever Release On PS5 Or Nintendo Switch?
With the popular indie game launching on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass, does Valheim have any plans of coming to the PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch?
The Next Valheim Update Might Take A Year - Or Longer
Valheim’s Deep North Update Might Not Be Released Until Late 2025 or 2026
The next planned update forValheim, which will add the Deep North biome and bring the game out of Early Access, currently has no release date announced or even hinted at - but given the wait between Mistlands and Ashlands,it could be coming in 2025, or even as late as 2026. In an interview withEurogamer, lead artist Robin Eyre stated that the developers are looking to make the Deep North update “feel like an actual 1.0 release,” making it clear that it will “upgrade some other parts, not only Deep North.” As a result, it’s likely that the game’s final Early Access update will take even longer than the previous patch.
And, while the actual quality ofValheim’s updates haven’t been in question, such a long wait could have a negative effect on the game’s playerbase. From the peak of its popularity at release, where the game peaked at an audience of around 400,000 players on Steam, according toSteam Charts, its popularity has already seen a drastic decrease, peaking at around 30,000 more recently, and often dipping well below that number.
Valheim Ashlands Is Great, But One Key Mechanic Is Seriously Holding It Back
Ashlands is Valheim’s latest added biome and brings the game one step closer to its full release, but some mechanics still need some ironing out.
A Long Wait Isn’t The End For Valheim
Despite The Long Wait, There Are Good Signs For Valheim 1.0
Of course, the numbers don’t tell the whole story, and while Valheim has maintained only a fraction of its audience from the time of its semi-viral Early Access launch in 2021, the drop-off is hardly the sign of a dying game. Very few games ever maintain their absolute peak audience, especially games which, likeValheim, have immediate explosive popularity on launch. Additionally, there’s a good chance that the 1.0 release of the game will see a resurgence in popularity similar to2023 Game of the YearBaldur’s Gate 3, another game which spent multiple years in Early Access.
So, while it’s likely thatValheimwill see some dropoff in terms of its audience during the long wait for its next update, it doesn’t necessarily mean the death of the game overall. With the next update marking the full release of the game, it’s likely to see a surge in popularity as it gains new and returning players who were waiting for the game to exit Early Access. The wait forValheim’s Deep North update might be difficult for the game’s current core audience, but given it’s overall quality, it should be worthwhile.
Sources:Eurogamer,Steam Charts
Valheim
In Valheim, players assume the role of a recently slain warrior, recently sent to the tenth world. Now with the ultimate goal of making their way to Valhalla for glory, players must explore a procedurally generated open world, build bases, craft weapons and armor, and slay intimidating beasts to earn their eternal glory. As an open-world action game, players must survive the harsh elements alone or with other fallen warriors as they prepare to face insurmountable foes in third-person action combat.
