The release will add the final Deep North biome, an achievement system (which won’t be unlocked retroactively), crossplay across all platforms, and promises of optimization. What’s definitely missing, however, is the ocean update many have been waiting for years. Below are all the details of version 1.0, a table of changes, and the answer to the main question: should you buy now or wait?
Table of Contents
Valheim will increase in price by 50%: from $20 to $30 – what does this mean for players?
Iron Gate Studio announced the price increase alongside the release date announcement. Valheim currently costs $19.99 on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation. Starting September 9th, it will cost $29.99. This is the first price change in over five years – the game launched in Early Access on February 2, 2021, and has cost $20 since then.
How much does Valheim cost now, and how much will it cost?
*Regional prices after the increase have not been confirmed. Converting at the exchange rate yields ~2,400 ₽, but this is not the official figure.
The current price on Russian Steam is 1,099 ₽. The Steam Summer Sale is running until September 9th with a 50% discount — 549 ₽. This is the absolute lowest price Valheim has ever been available for.
Why is Iron Gate raising the price now?
The developers justify the increase as follows: during five years of Early Access, they added seven biomes (from Meadows to Mistlands), ship mechanics, building, crafting, and trading, improved enemy AI, and implemented dedicated servers. Meanwhile, Valheim didn’t have a single paid DLC, battle pass, or subscription—on PC or consoles. The increase to $30 is for the full release, not for additional content.
What will Valheim 1.0 bring? A new biome, achievements, crossplay, and more.
Valheim 1.0 doesn’t simply switch from Early Access to Release. It’s a major update with new content and system changes.
Deep North is the final biome, but not the endgame.
The Deep North biome—the snowy lands in the north of the map—will be added. Iron Gate clarifies: this is not the final endgame location, but rather another area to explore, with its own set of resources and enemies. There’s no official description of all the creatures and items yet, but the developers promise that the biome will be a “logical conclusion to the world” of the game.
Achievements will not count retroactively.
An achievement system will be available on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation. Important: progress is not retroactive. If you’ve already killed all the bosses or built a huge base, achievements will not unlock automatically. Iron Gate explains: the achievement system is technically being implemented only with version 1.0; it’s not possible to track past actions. You’ll have to replay the game or create a new world after September 9th.
Crossplay and Cross-Progression: What Works
Valheim 1.0 supports full crossplay between PC (Steam, Microsoft Store), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. Cross-progression is also supported—you can transfer saves between platforms via the cloud. At the start of version 1.0, all this will be active.
Old saves are usable, but starting over is best.
Iron Gate states that old worlds and characters will work in 1.0. However, the developers strongly recommend starting a new game: due to changes in world generation, Deep North may not appear on old maps, and achievements, as mentioned above, will not unlock. If you don’t want to risk it, start a fresh run after September 9th.
What’s missing in Valheim 1.0: the ocean, mods, and content updates
Ocean biome: fans’ hopes dashed
Many players expected the ocean to be reworked in the release, adding new sea monsters, ships, and underwater locations. Iron Gate has stated bluntly: there will be no ocean biome update in 1.0. The ocean will remain a “path” between lands—it will not receive new mechanics or content. The developers explained that their priority is terrestrial biomes, and the ocean was originally designed as a transition zone, not a playable location.
Will there be new updates after release?
The Iron Gate team is cautious in its promises. There are no major content updates after 1.0 on the horizon. Bug fixes, optimization, and minor improvements are definitely on the horizon. However, new biomes, creatures, or mechanics are questionable. The official FAQ states: “We will focus on stability and polishing, and then we’ll see.”
No official mod support at launch.
Steam Workshop will not be available on release day. Mods will work through third-party tools (such as BepInEx), but there will be no official support or API from Iron Gate. The developers haven’t ruled out integration with Workshop in the future, but haven’t specified a timeframe.
How to buy Valheim cheap before the price increase – last chance
If you’ve been planning to buy Valheim but have been putting it off, your last chance to get the game at the old price is until September 9, 2026. The best option right now is the Steam Summer Sale, which runs until September, where the price drops to 549 rubles. That’s even less than $19.99.
Other platforms (Xbox Store, PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop) may not have their own sales—keep an eye on local promotions. However, please note: this is informational material, not a guide to finding the best price. If you need a detailed overview of all stores and a comparison of regional prices, that topic is worth a separate article.
In short: buy now while the price is good, and if you wait for a sale, you’ll get an even better deal. After September 9th, it’s only $30 and up.
Player reaction: What’s being discussed on Reddit and why everyone’s angry at the ocean
The Valheim community is divided. On Reddit and the official Discord, the main topics are:
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Price—some players think $30 is a fair price for five years of content, while others say the increase should have happened sooner, and now it’s a “punishment” for those who waited for the release.
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The ocean is the main source of anger. Many fans theorized that the ocean would be reworked in 1.0, with the addition of naval battles and whales. Iron Gate’s statement that the ocean wouldn’t receive updates was perceived as a betrayal.
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Achievements – disappointment that progress isn’t retroactively applied. This is especially frustrating for those with hundreds of hours in the game.
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Saves – the recommendation to start over is also controversial. Some are happy to replay from scratch, while others don’t want to lose what they’ve built.
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The overall atmosphere is one of restrained disappointment, but without a mass boycott. Most understand that Iron Gate didn’t charge for DLC and faithfully developed the game for five years. However, the ocean became a trigger.
Table Summary: Valheim Before and After 1.0
Valheim 1.0 is not a revolution, but a logical conclusion to a long journey. The game is more expensive, but in return it gets a new biome, achievements, crossplay, and polish. The ocean will not be updated—that’s a fact you’ll have to live with.
The main takeaway for players: if you haven’t bought Valheim yet, do so before September 9th, preferably during the summer sale for 549 rubles. After that date, the price will increase by at least 50%, and the previous discounts will no longer be available. If you’re already playing, prepare for a new world and new achievements; it’s best to save your old saves for later.
