Publisher Coffee Stain Publishing and developer Iron Gate today announced that Viking open-world survival game Valheim will enter Steam Early Access in early February.
Valheim lets players loose in a “vast procedurally-generated purgatory,” tasking them with pushing back the enemies of Odin, crafting new shiny gear, building castles and mead halls and – as Vikings are bound to do – sail the seas in search of new lands.
During your journey, you’ll come across “lush forests, snow-topped mountain ranges and mystical meadows,” which you can explore on your own or alongside up to nine other players. The game’s lo-fi art style fits the premise of freshly slain Viking warriors starting anew in a strange land beset by enemies.
While having an axe at your side definitely helps increase your cool factor, you’ll also get plenty of chances to use it. Mastery of Valheim’s dodging and blocking mechanics is vital if you plan on keeping your death count to a minimum, and a variety of different weapons give you the tools needed to silence enemies ranging from simple skeletons to “primordial bosses of myth and legend.”
“Valheim is really tough. You will die, a lot. Your friends will die, a lot. But we hope we’ve managed to strike that balance between being needlessly brutal, and offering a rewarding and challenging experience,” said Iron Gate Studio CEO Richard Svensson. “The world we’ve created is huge and varied, and there’s room for so much more. We’re happy to welcome new players to our community and work together during Early Access.”
Valheim’s “flexible house and base building system” lets you break away from combat and construct a home for yourself and your friends. Dedicated servers are also part of the package, in case you’re worried about everything you do suddenly disappearing. Even the fiercest Viking warrior needs a moment of respite, after all.
You’ll be able to set foot in Valheim’s world as soon as February 2, when the game launches in Steam Early Access. Currently, the plan is to keep it there for at least a year, but it’s possible for it to spend more time in development “depending on player feedback and the amount of content we choose to put into the final game.”
You can check out the game’s release trailer just below and listen to the soothing sounds of Amon Amarth. Coffee Stain Publishing is also gearing up for the release of Deep Rock Galactic’s Update 33, which also drops in early February.
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