Valheim Sits on a Gold Mine Best Saved for After Early Access

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Valheim Sits on a Gold Mine Best Saved for After Early Access

Highlights

  • Valheim, a co-op survival game by Iron Gate Studio, soared to success with over 5 million PC copies sold and record-breaking player counts.
  • The game is currently only available on Xbox consoles and PCs, but fans eagerly await its potential release on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation.
  • Iron Gate Studio may consider bringing Valheim to these consoles post-early access to ensure players receive the complete Viking survival experience.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Valheim has been one of the most captivating and immersive games to grace our screens in recent memory. The sheer scale and depth of this co-op survival masterpiece is truly unparalleled, especially considering it was crafted by a team of just five individuals.

As an ardent fan, I can confidently say that Valheim, crafted by the indie powerhouse Iron Gate Studio, stands tall among the most successful indie games of recent years. This titanic co-op survival adventure immerses players in a captivating Viking-themed fantasy realm brimming with diverse landscapes and hidden perils around every bend. To thrive in this unforgiving, untamed wilderness, gamers must gather precious resources, construct robust settlements, fabricate an array of weapons, and engage in fierce battles against formidable adversaries, even tackling epic boss fights.

Upon its debut in early 2021 on PC platforms, the game Valheim swiftly climbed to the pinnacle of global sales and player count rankings. In less than a month after its Early Access launch, the game achieved an unprecedented peak of over half a million simultaneous players on Steam, making it one of the most-played games on Valve’s platform at that time. Valheim also sold more than 5 million copies within a single month on PC. Critics and players alike showered the game with praise, awarding it a 94% Very Positive user rating on Steam. Given these outstanding figures, it is evident that Valheim has been a smash hit for Iron Gate Studio. To further boost its popularity, the developer could consider launching the game on consoles such as the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.

Iron Gate Studio Should Bring Valheim to Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PS5

Valheim is Currently Only on Xbox Consoles and PCs

The console editions of ‘Valheim’ have been launched, specifically for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. These adaptations were revealed during the 2022 Xbox Games Showcase Extended by both Microsoft and publisher Coffee Stain Studios. Unlike the initial PC version, these console versions weren’t developed by Iron Gate Studio; instead, they were produced by German game developer Fishlabs in partnership with external support studio Piktiv.

Approximately four months after its initial reveal, the game “Valheim” became available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on March 14, 2023. This release version included crossplay functionality from the start and was also simultaneously launched on Game Pass. However, as of now, “Valheim” has not been officially announced for PS4, PS5, or Nintendo Switch.

It’s possible that Valheim hasn’t been released on PlayStation or Nintendo systems because these platforms typically don’t support early-access games as frequently. While it’s true that some in-development titles have appeared on PS5 and Switch, such as Disney Speedstorm, Palia, and TemTem, the number of work-in-progress games available on those consoles is significantly less than what’s offered on Xbox. This discrepancy may be due to the fact that Microsoft provides its own Game Preview program, enabling developers to bring their games to Xbox before official release. Consequently, launching early-access games on Xbox platforms might be a simpler process compared to releasing them on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles.

Valheim Should Come to Nintendo and PlayStation Alongside Its 1.0 Launch

If Iron Gate Studio plans to release Valheim on PS4, PS5, and Switch at some point, it might be wiser for them to do so after the game has moved beyond early access. This could mean that players on these platforms will have to wait until 2025 or possibly 2026 before they can enjoy the hit Viking survival game. However, the advantage is that they would get the full Valheim experience, including all updates and content.

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2024-08-20 19:06