Applies to the Valheim 1.0 launch of September 9, 2026, and the current live default branch, patch 0.221.12 (released February 19, 2026). Valheim is still in Early Access as of this writing — it has not left Early Access yet. Iron Gate AB has published a release date, the Deep North biome name and an official 1.0 FAQ, but not a full changelog; anything about how the Deep North actually plays is preview material, not confirmed content. Figures below are quoted from Iron Gate's own 1.0 FAQ and store listings.
After more than five and a half years in Early Access, Valheim finally has a finish line. Iron Gate AB has confirmed that Valheim 1.0 — the game's full 1.0 release — arrives on September 9, 2026, roughly a week and a half from now. It ships with the game's eighth and final biome, the Deep North, and, for the first time ever, brings the Viking survival game to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2.
This is the single biggest moment in Valheim's history, and it has kicked up an enormous amount of confusion: Do your old saves survive? Is there cross-save between PS5 and PC? Does the price go up? Will your mods still load? This guide pulls every confirmed fact into one place, quotes Iron Gate directly where it matters, and — just as importantly — tells you what has not been confirmed so you don't get burned by a hosting-blog rumor.
Quick answer: Valheim 1.0 at a glance
- Release date: September 9, 2026. Everyone gets it simultaneously — there is no 1.0 public test branch (Src: Iron Gate 1.0 FAQ, valheimgame.com).
- What's new: the Deep North biome, the game's final biome, plus new platforms and a new achievements system. The official post promises "new enemies to kill, bases to build and weapons to craft."
| - Platforms: PC, Linux, Mac, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, and — brand new — PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. Each is a separate purchase in its own storefront. |
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- Price: $29.99 (Iron Gate notes "there may be regional differences"). Existing owners are not charged again — your Early Access copy updates to 1.0 for free.
- Crossplay: yes, across all platforms. Cross-save: only between Xbox and PC (via the Microsoft Store) — not for PS5 or Switch 2.
- Your saves: nothing happens to them. A new world is recommended, not required to see the Deep North.
- Still Early Access today: the live build is patch 0.221.12; do not believe anyone who says 1.0 is already out.
When does Valheim 1.0 come out?
Valheim 1.0 releases on September 9, 2026. Iron Gate announced the date in a news post titled "Valheim Has A Release Date!" on valheimgame.com, mirrored to the Steam news feed on June 7, 2026, and reconfirmed it in the "Word from the Devs: Almost there…" post on August 20, 2026 — the studio's most recent official update. A Deep North animated trailer premiered around Gamescom in late August 2026 to build the drumbeat toward launch.
Two things to keep straight:
- Valheim has not left Early Access yet. It entered Early Access on February 2, 2021, and Steam still lists it as Early Access today. As of this writing the 1.0 launch has not happened — it is still ahead of us on September 9.
- The live build is 0.221.12 (released February 19, 2026). You may see hosting sites call 0.221.13 "the latest patch." It isn't — 0.221.13 is a Public Test branch build only and has never been promoted to the default branch. Don't plan around it.
Crucially, Iron Gate has said there is no public test branch for 1.0 — "everyone gets it simultaneously on launch day." So there's no early build to preload from; the Deep North goes live for all players at once.
What is the Deep North in Valheim 1.0?
The Deep North is Valheim's eighth and final biome — the frozen expanse at the top of the map that has, until now, existed only as an empty snow placeholder. Valheim 1.0 fills it in. Per Iron Gate's announcement, it brings "new enemies to kill, bases to build and weapons to craft."
Here is where you need to be careful. Iron Gate has not published a full 1.0 changelog. The official post is short. That means:
- The eighth boss's name, its summoning offering, and its Forsaken Power are not confirmed. Neither are Deep North gear tiers, armor stats, new materials or dungeon names.
- Anything you see in "everything in the Deep North" videos or datamined biome maps is preview or speculation, not an Iron Gate statement. The animated Gamescom trailer is a hype piece — treat its contents as preview material until the patch notes drop on September 9.
What we can say with confidence is where the Deep North sits in the progression ladder. Valheim is a gated linear game: each boss drops the key to the next tier. The confirmed order today runs through seven bosses, and the Deep North's boss will sit at the very top:
| # | Biome | Boss (the Forsaken) | Boss HP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meadows | Eikthyr | 500 |
| 2 | Black Forest | The Elder | 2,500 |
| 3 | Swamp | Bonemass | 5,000 |
| 4 | Mountain | Moder | 7,500 |
| 5 | Plains | Yagluth | 10,000 |
| 6 | Mistlands | The Queen | 12,500 |
| 7 | Ashlands | Fader | 25,000 |
| 8 | Deep North | Confirmed at 1.0 — not yet named | — |
(Boss HP and order sourced from the Valheim Wiki against build 0.221.12.) If you want the full route through the existing bosses before you sail north, see our Valheim boss order guide, and our Ashlands survival guide covers the biome you'll need to clear right before the Deep North opens up.
Which platforms does Valheim 1.0 come to?
| Valheim 1.0 launches on the platforms it already supports plus two brand-new ones. From Iron Gate's 1.0 FAQ, verbatim: *"Valheim will also be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, for purchase in these platforms' respective digital storefronts."* |
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| - Already available: PC (Steam / Microsoft Store), Linux, Mac, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S. Xbox has been a thing since March 14, 2023 (day one on Game Pass); Mac arrived June 10, 2024. |
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- Brand new at 1.0: PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. These are the first PlayStation and Nintendo releases of Valheim, ever — a huge deal, because PS5 and Switch 2 players currently have zero Valheim guides written for their platform.
A few things to internalize before you preorder anything:
- Each platform is a separate purchase. There is no cross-buy — buying it on Steam does not get you the PS5 version.
- The PS5 store page is live but bare. As of late August 2026, `store.playstation.com` shows Valheim with "Releases on: 2026" — no date, no price, no preorder button yet. The listing confirms 1 player local, up to 10 online, PS Plus required for online play, DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers, and Remote Play support (ESRB Teen).
- Switch 2 details are almost entirely unconfirmed. Iron Gate has not published a Switch 2 price, a resolution/frame-rate target, or performance details. Be skeptical of any site claiming to know them.
For the deep dive on the console launch, our Valheim on PS5 guide breaks down everything the PlayStation storefront confirms and what's still missing.
Does Valheim 1.0 have crossplay and cross-save?
This is the number-one source of confusion, because crossplay and cross-save are two different things and Valheim only offers one of them broadly.
Crossplay: yes, everywhere. From the 1.0 FAQ: "Yes, Valheim will support crossplay between all platforms." PC, Xbox, PS5 and Switch 2 players can all play together in the same world.
Cross-save: almost nowhere. From the FAQ, verbatim: "If you are playing on an Xbox, you will be able to access your saves from a PC, provided that you launch the game from the Microsoft store. Beyond this, there will be no cross platform sync for your save files."
In plain terms: your characters and worlds sync only between Xbox and the Microsoft Store PC version. There is no cross-save for PS5 or Switch 2 — start a character there and it stays there. Don't buy the PS5 version expecting to continue your 2,000-hour Steam save. If you want to play with friends on other platforms, join their world via crossplay; the world lives on the host's machine. Our Valheim crossplay guide walks through actually connecting a mixed-platform group.
How much does Valheim 1.0 cost, and do existing owners pay again?
No, existing owners do not pay again. If you own Valheim in Early Access, it updates to 1.0 for free — you already have it.
For new buyers, Iron Gate's FAQ states: "Valheim will receive a new price of $29.99 (though there may be regional differences)." The Steam store already lists Valheim at $29.99 in the US, and it has held a single price point with no DLC, no season pass and no battle pass since 2021.
One nuance worth flagging: some outlets reported a price hike from $19.99 to $29.99 at 1.0. The Steam page already shows $29.99 today, so treat the specific "old price" figure with caution and go by Iron Gate's own number — $29.99, with possible regional variation. Console pricing for PS5 and Switch 2 has not been published.
Do I need a new world for the Deep North in Valheim 1.0?
Short version: your saves are safe, and a new world is recommended but not required.
Straight from the 1.0 FAQ, when asked what happens to old saves: "Nothing. Your old saves will still be where you last left them, and you can continue to play with them if you like."
The Deep North generates in unexplored northern zones. Valheim bakes terrain into the world file the first time anyone loads a zone and never re-evaluates it — so if you've already sailed deep into the old empty-snow north, those baked zones may keep the old placeholder, while unexplored areas will generate the new biome. That's why many players are spinning up fresh worlds for 1.0 rather than risk it. Whatever you decide, back up your world file before September 9. We cover the carryover mechanics in detail in our Valheim 1.0 new world and save carryover guide.
What else is confirmed in Valheim 1.0?
A few concrete facts from the FAQ that don't fit anywhere else but matter:
- A new achievements system. 1.0 adds numerous achievements, but they only track from 1.0 onward — an "kill Eikthyr" achievement requires killing Eikthyr again after launch. Note: using cheats permanently locks achievement eligibility on that character and world, and spawned items are flagged.
- Player count stays 1–10. Per the FAQ: "Just like it is now, Valheim 1.0 will be a game for 1-10 players."
- Download size: "Valheim 1.0 will be about 4.3GiB in size to download on most platforms. Xbox One will be slightly smaller at around 3.0GiB, while the Mac AppStore and Microsoft Store versions will be about 6.5GiB in size."
- Mods are unofficial and PC-only. The FAQ: "Since we don't have any official mod support, we cannot guarantee that any mods will be functional when 1.0 releases." Expect your BepInEx/Thunderstore stack to break on day one and need updates.
- No Ocean biome update, no big performance overhaul. 1.0 is Deep North-focused; save times and zone-load microstutter improve, but large-base performance is not specifically optimized. Bug fixes and quality-of-life work continue post-launch.
- No split-screen or couch co-op on any platform — the PS5 listing confirms "1 player" local. If you're still deciding whether to jump in now, our play now or wait for 1.0 guide lays out the case both ways.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Valheim 1.0 release? Valheim 1.0 launches on September 9, 2026, on PC, Linux, Mac, Xbox, and — for the first time — PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. Iron Gate confirmed the date on valheimgame.com and reconfirmed it in the August 20, 2026 dev update.
Is Valheim 1.0 out yet? No. As of this writing Valheim is still in Early Access, and the live build is patch 0.221.12. The full 1.0 release is still ahead on September 9, 2026. Ignore any site claiming 1.0 or patch 0.221.13 is already the live version — 0.221.13 is a Public Test branch build that never went to the default branch.
Do I need a new world for the Deep North? No, a new world is recommended but not required. Iron Gate says your old saves are untouched and you can keep playing them. The Deep North generates in unexplored northern zones, so a fresh world guarantees the new biome appears cleanly. Back up your world file before launch either way.
Is there cross-save between PS5 and PC in Valheim 1.0? No. Cross-save works only between Xbox and the Microsoft Store PC version. Iron Gate confirmed that "beyond this, there will be no cross platform sync for your save files," so PS5 and Switch 2 saves stay on those platforms. Crossplay (playing together) still works across all platforms.
How much does Valheim 1.0 cost? $29.99, with possible regional differences, per Iron Gate. Existing Early Access owners are not charged again — the 1.0 update is free for anyone who already owns the game. Console pricing for PS5 and Switch 2 has not been announced.
Will my mods work in Valheim 1.0? Probably not on day one. Iron Gate has no official mod support and "cannot guarantee that any mods will be functional when 1.0 releases." Mods are PC-only (BepInEx / Thunderstore), and you should expect them to need updates after the patch. Many players are planning vanilla, no-mod worlds for the launch.
Is there a public test or preload for Valheim 1.0? No. Iron Gate confirmed there is no 1.0 public test branch — everyone gets the update simultaneously on September 9, 2026.
