Valheim 1.0 is live
Valheim left Early Access on September 9, 2026. Version 1.0 completes the main progression with the Deep North, adds 53 achievements, and brings new equipment, food, creatures, building pieces, locations, music, events, and upgrade systems. If you already own Valheim, 1.0 arrives as a normal update; you do not need to buy it again.
| Release fact | Verified answer |
|---|---|
| Full release | September 9, 2026 |
| Final biome | Deep North |
| Supported group size | 1–10 players |
| Crossplay | Supported across all released platforms |
| Existing owners | No second purchase required |
What the 1.0 update adds
Iron Gate's launch announcement lists 40+ weapons, four armor sets, two capes, two trinkets, 10+ creatures, 80+ build pieces, five crafting-related build pieces, 30+ crafting materials, and 20+ food items. The release also adds achievements, locations, mechanics, events, music, tools, bombs, ammunition, and permanent pocket upgrades.
The numbers above describe the launch version, not every later hotfix. Use the Deep North guide for the biome's actual progression chain and the Forge of Potential guide for the new risky refinement system.
Should you start a new world?
Iron Gate says you can open an existing world and head north, but recommends starting over for the intended 1.0 journey. The safe decision depends on what you value: keep the old world if its builds and shared history matter most; start fresh if you want discoveries and progression to unfold in the new order.
Before loading a valuable save in 1.0:
- Back up the world and every character used in it.
- Record the world name and seed.
- Update a dedicated server and every client to the same build.
- Remove or update unsupported mods before the first test.
- Open a copy first and confirm portals, bases, inventories, and server access.
Valheim still has no official mod support. A mod that worked before 1.0 may fail after the update, and console versions do not gain mod support with the launch.
Achievements do not fully backfill
Version 1.0 begins tracking many statistics only after the update. A boss achievement may therefore require defeating that boss again even if an older character already killed it. The achievements checklist shows all 53 Steam entries and identifies the conditions Steam deliberately hides.
Most cheat commands can permanently mark the current character and world as cheated. Spawned items are also marked; picking one up temporarily blocks achievements until every cheated item is discarded. Some world modifiers, including Hammer mode, can also block specific achievements. Make a separate test world before experimenting with devcommands.
Platforms and saves
At the 1.0 launch, Valheim is available on Steam for Windows, Linux, and Mac; the Mac App Store; Humble; Microsoft Store for Windows; Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S; PlayStation 5; and Nintendo Switch 2. The official FAQ says all platforms can use crossplay.
Cross-platform play is not the same as cross-platform save sync. Xbox saves can be accessed from a PC when Valheim is launched through Microsoft Store, but the official FAQ does not promise general save synchronization among Steam, PlayStation, Switch, and the other stores. Read the crossplay guide before moving a group.
What to do next
New players should follow the full progression route, not sail directly to the final biome. Returning players should back up first, verify their server and mods, then use the Deep North guide as the handoff from Ashlands to the 1.0 endgame.
Sources and review date
Last checked: September 17, 2026.