Valheim has just debuted on the Xbox Game Pass a few days ago, and it seems that its exclusivity in Microsoft consoles won’t last forever. Recently, the senior developer behind the title didn't rule out an eventual Valheim PlayStation launch, and now we know about how long the game's Xbox exclusivity is required to last.
Originally launched for PC back in 2021, Valheim is a sandbox survival game based on Norse culture. Despite being in Early Access, the game was a huge hit, selling over five million copies and becoming one of the major releases of the year. Part of the appeal is that the title mixed difficult survival mechanics, several interesting and varied biomes, and multiplayer features that allowed people to play with friends while the world was facing the height of the pandemic.
Now, soon after Valheim’s launch on Xbox in early access, it's been revealed that the game is only required to be Xbox exclusive for six months. According to Push Square, who originally spotted this information, the small print of the Game Pass newsletter affirms that Valheim will only be an Xbox exclusive for six months, which would free it of any contractual obligations around September 2023.
At first, it seemed that it was unlikely that Valheim would reach PS5 players, as Smårs claimed previously on a podcast that the Iron Gate team was only focusing on Xbox and PC at this point of the development. However, that could only mean that a port won’t be here soon, not that it will never be available. While this is not an actual confirmation that the title would reach the PlayStation fanbase, it makes sense to develop it for other platforms. Valheim is a major release, and offering the game on as many consoles as possible is a sound financial decision.
The potential for the game to come to different platforms is not the only news for Valheim fans in 2023. In January, the developers revealed that they would add a new biome called Ashlands, the "land of the dead." This new area, which would greatly contrast with most of the game’s current areas due its dark nature, will be located in the deep south of the map, and will bring several new enemies. During the announcement, it was also revealed that new quests and features would be implemented, such as customizing the main character’s hairstyle. At the moment, there’s no official release date for the Ashlands update, but it’s expected sometime during the second half of 2023.
Valheim is available now in early access for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Push Square