Valheim Release Date: Early Access Timeline to the 1.0 Launch

Valheim entered Early Access on 2 February 2021 and launched version 1.0 on 9 September 2026, so Early Access ran for about five years and seven months (calculated from Iron Gate’s own dates). The 1.0 release covers PC, Linux, Mac, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, and adds PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2; the standard price moved to 29.99 USD. Existing saves are not deleted, but Iron Gate recommends starting a new world, because new content generates reliably only in unexplored areas.

Timeline

Date	Event	Source
2021-02-02	Valheim enters Early Access	Steam store page
2026-01-28	Iron Gate first shows Deep North winter content	Official dev update
2026-02-02	Early Access fifth anniversary, patch 0.221.10	Official announcement
2026-02-05	Nintendo Switch 2 version announced	Official announcement
2026-02-19	Pre-1.0 maintenance patch 0.221.12	Official announcement
2026-06-07	1.0 set for 9 September; PS5, Switch 2 and full crossplay confirmed	Official announcement
2026-07-01	1.0 FAQ published: price, platforms, download size, saves, mods	Official FAQ
2026-08-20	Final developer update before launch	Official dev update
2026-09-09	Valheim 1.0 launches	Official announcement

What 1.0 changed

• Status: it left Early Access and became a full release, so describing it as an Early Access game is now out of date.
• Price: the official FAQ confirms the move to 29.99 USD because the game “will transition from an Early Access game to a full release.” Regional pricing varies.
• Platforms: PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 were added.
• Existing owners: anyone who owned the Early Access version updates for free and does not buy it again.

What happens to old saves

The official FAQ says old saves “will still be where you last left them” and remain playable. It also says:

• the world receives new content, but biome generation only works properly in areas you have not yet explored;
• Iron Gate therefore recommends starting over for the best experience;
• you may head straight for Deep North, but starting over is still the recommendation.

In short: restarting is a recommendation, not a requirement.

What to do now

If you played Early Access:

1. Decide between continuing your world and starting fresh — a new world is the recommended way to see the full new biome;
2. Remember achievements start counting from the 1.0 download, so old kills do not count;
3. Check whether your mods have been updated for 1.0.

If you are new:

1. Start with the Valheim beginner guide;
2. Plan the route with the Valheim progression guide;
3. Check price and requirements before buying in the Valheim Steam version guide.

What media and players said at launch

• IGN (Len Hafer, 2026-09-08) scored it 10/10, calling it “the oath of the ultimate survival crafting adventure fulfilled and carved into the very bones of the Earth.”
• PCGamesN (Shaun Walton, 2026-09-08) scored it 8/10, praising Deep North as “one of the single greatest areas I’ve experienced in gaming” while saying the road there “will take days and frustrate players to no end.”
• Postmode (2026-09-08) treats Deep North as the official ending to the game.
• Steam reaction is split the same way: positives centre on multiplayer and replayability, negatives on the long-standing lack of quality-of-life features and the overall pace.

So the reception is strong, but whether it is worth starting from scratch depends on whether you can live with how slow it is.

Media scores are independent verdicts, not official statements; player statements are sampled.

Unconfirmed items

• Iron Gate has published no post-1.0 content roadmap, so no “next biome” or “next version” claims appear here.
• Actual store unlock times can differ slightly by region and time zone; only Iron Gate’s published dates are quoted.

Version and limits

• This page targets Valheim 1.0 (released 2026-09-09); volatile figures carry a verification date.
• The Early Access duration is derived from Iron Gate’s two dates.

Sources and verification dates

• Valheim 1.0 Has Arrived!: https://www.valheim.com/news/valheim-1-0-has-arrived-/ — 2026-09-09
• Valheim Has A Release Date!: https://www.valheim.com/news/valheim-has-a-release-date-/ — 2026-06-07
• Valheim 1.0 FAQ: https://www.valheim.com/support/valheim-1-0-faq/ — 2026-07-01
• Valheim on Steam (Early Access and full release dates): https://store.steampowered.com/app/892970/Valheim/ — checked 2026-09-11
• Valheim: Patch 0.221.10 – Five Years of Valheim: https://www.valheim.com/news/five-years-of-valheim- — 2026-02-02

Related pages

• What 1.0 actually added: Valheim 1.0 update
• Platform and crossplay table: Valheim platforms and crossplay
• Steam price and requirements: Valheim Steam version guide