Even though Valheim is stoéé in early access, it is already getting its own board game. Valheim: The Board Game launched on Gamefound at the start of this? month and reached its �00,000 target in just 53 minutes. It is currently 4??40% funded, having amassed more than �80,000 in funding at the time of writing.

Valheim launched in early access for Steam and Linux on February 2, 2021, and on Xbox One and Series X/S on March 14, 2023. It sold a million copies in its first week on Steam. Iron Gate Studio said they wanted to develop the game with ??the help of? players and expected to release multiple updates within its first year of release.

However, by June 2021, the publisher had removed the original roadmap and delayed the game’s first updates. It is very unlikely fans will see a full-access release this year, and we may have to wait until well into 2025 for a hard launch. However, even in its current state, Valheim continues to prove popular.

The game’s most recent update, Ashlands, was lau?nched in May 2024. The new area, at the Southern edge of the map, brought new enemies and even harsher conditions. According to the original roadmap, Ashlands should be the penultimate?? biome to be released before the game gets its long-awaited full release.

With players having already waited three years for full access, it wouldn’t be surprising if interest in the game had started to wane. However, the recent Gamefound project launch would suggest otherwise. Having launched at the beginning of October, it took less than an hour to reach its �00,000 target. Valheim: The Board Game looks highly likely to surpass the � million target i??n the coming days.

The board game has been designed by Ole Steiness and it will be published by Mood Publishing. The group previously worked together on the award-winning co-op board game Deep Rock Galactic so they have good board game design pedigree. Of Valheim: The Board Game they said they ha??ve worked tireless?ly to recreate the feeling of exploration that is found in the video game.

The game can be played by up to four players or solo. Players can create their characters before exploring, gathering and managing resources, crafting equipment and building homes, and attempting to vanquish the monsters of Valheim.

Exploration will see players gradually uncover the 20 game tiles and boss arenas. Houses, which include cardboard components, are stored on playe?r homestead boards, and there are more than enough minis and other components to suggest the game will have a strong table prese??nce.

Mood Publishing has made the decision not to include stretch goals. However, as well as a standard edition, which can be backed for �5, there is a deluxe edition, costing �15, and a collectors edition for �55. Add-ons and extra merch include a big wooden spoon, wooden beer coasters, and a metal dice keyring. Extras ?like the dic??e tray, dice set, and dice tower offer cosmetic upgrades. An all-in package, including the collector’s edition and all add-ons, costs �20.

The Gamefound project gives a likely delivery date of October 2025, which means backers will have about a year to wait before they can explore Valheim. Hopefully, by the time the board game is released, Valheim on PC and consoles will also re?ach th?e 1.0 milestone.

The post V?alheim: The Board Game reaches Gamefound target in under an hour appeared first on Destructoid.

Oh, look. It's been a picosecond since the last Steam sales event. No doubt many of you took advantage of the last one �the Endless Replayability Fest. Well, don??'t put your mon?ey away just yet, as we're already onto the next one.

Beginning yesterda?y, the Steam Open World Survival Crafting Fest (and breathe) offers discounts on a series of well-known and slightly less well-known games from, well, Open World Survival Crafting games. You've got until Monday, June 3 at 10 a.m. PT to choose from what I would say is a pretty good list of titles.

Take a quick look on the sales page to see for yourself. Want 30% off Sons of the Forest? Of course you do. How about 33% off Project Zomboid? An odd number, but sure! Or maybe you want to get Stranded Deep, Valheim, or Subnautica for 50% off each. Even Palworld is there, at 10% off the regular asking price.

Summer lovin'

These events seem to come around more often these days. However, we're not quite at the big Steam Summer Sale just yet. That begins in a few weeks. You can keep an eye on the SteamDB countdown if you really want to see exactly? when it's scheduled to begin.

Crafting and survival games feel like they shouldn't be as popula??r as the?y are. But as we can see here, there are still so many offerings, largely from more independent studios. A lot of them are pretty decent as well, in my experience.

There are definitely more than a few in the sale that I'm keen to try out; Sons of the Forest, Project Zomboid, maybe even Enshrouded. Can I afford all these games? Check ??b?ack with me later.

The post Sons of the Forest and Palworld are part of Steam’s Open World Survival Crafting Fest appeared first on Destructoid.

Valheim took the gaming world by storm when it was released in Steam Early Access back ??in 2021, and slowly but certainly, the developer Iron Gate Studio has been building it up to its inevitable 1.0 release. That didn't stop people from making some really great mods, though.

So, if you jumped back into Valheim's Ashlands update but want to spice things up a tad bit more, you're at just the right place. We've assembled a shortlist of community mods that are essentially must-haves if enjoy the idea of modding Valheim: from huge quality-of-life improvements to all-new features you likely never saw coming, there's ??a whole heaping spoonful of goodness to be found here, and all you need to do is to scroll on ahead.

The best mods for Valheim in 2024

As Valheim doesn't have an official modding system in place, unlike games such as Fallout 4, the vast majority of the game's mods rely on third-party tools and external modding kits. This means, in practice, that it can be somewhat challenging to get some of these mods up and running in your copy of the game. Even more so, if you keep a dedicated server running at all times. Be sure to carefully read each mod's own specific installation procedure before attempting to complete the proce?ss, as that reduces the odds of something going the way of the dodo along the way.

#10: Hip Lantern

Why not kick things off with a delightful little quality-of-life upgrade? Enter the Hip Lantern mod: a simple and fairly obvious-in-hindsight addition that lets your Valheim avatar equip a belt lantern to i??lluminate their immediate surroundings. Every aspect of the lantern itself is configurable, too, from its crafting recipe to the color of its light, allowing you to make it incredibly useful or just really neat to look at, depending on what you want.

#9: First Person View

This one's not particularly useful, but it sure as heck can be totally transformative if that's what you're after. The First Person View mod for Valheim does precisely what it says on the tin: allows you to zoom in all the way into an FPS perspective that's quite similar to what you get in other genre examples, such as Sons of the Forest. ?Another BepInEx mod, FPV, is tweakable through and through, and you should have no trouble finding the setting sweet spot with a bit o?f elbow grease.

#8: Plant Easily

Plant Easily is a delightfully simple and simply delightful mod in that it allows you to plant evenly spaced crops. This is either entirely irrelevant to you, or exceedingly important. If it's the latter, then Plant Easily is a must-have no matter what. This mod integrates?? very well with a few other mods on this list, too, so even if you're not keen on it right off the bat, we recommend giving it a second thought after you've caught up with the r?est of our shortlist.

#7: Clock

As simple as it gets, this one. Clock by Aedenthorn is a fully configurable in-game widget that tells the time in your Valheim world. That's it: that's all it does. However, the value of knowing the time in a world as dangerous at nighttime as Valheim is immense, and you're bound to find need for this mod sooner or ??later. So, why wouldn't you get it into your game sooner, then?

#6: TorchesEternal

This one borders on being a slight cheat, but it's a huge QoL improvement so we've let it slide: TorchesEternal by BillWerth2 automatically keeps your fireplaces and torches topped up with wood and resin, respectively, to keep them burning - you've guessed it - eternally. It's not a game-breaking cheat, though, as it simply does aw??ay with some of the minutiae of base maintenance, so most players are going to find it a hoot in the long run.

#5: Craft Build Smelt Cook Fuel Pull From Containers

The long-winded title of this mod tells you basically all you need to know about it: instead of having to manually pull items from containers to do stuff with them, this mod lets you use them directly from their containers. The usefulness of this feature cannot be overstated. Better yet, it comes with a dedicated BepInEx confi?gurator that allows you to tweak its behaviour until it feels just right for your use case. What more could you possibly ask for?

#4: MassFarming

Not overly fond of clicking 568 times just to collect two sticks and a shrub's worth of grass? Fret not! The MassFarming mod is here to help. It's a delightfully simple mod, too: by holding the designated hotkey (Left Shift/Left Bumper by default), your Valheim avatar will pick up any and all pick??-uppable items within a given radius. Further, when planting crops, the hotkey will allow you to simultaneously plop down multiple crops in one go. The default designated size of the planting grid is 5x5, but this can be changed via the integrated BepInEx menu.

#3: Plant Everything

Continuing with the farming vibe, Advize's Plant Everything mod is an extremely useful tool that sensibly expands upon the base game's farming systems in every possible way. Its function is in the title, of course: with this mod, you can plant virtually any of Valheim's flora wherever you see fit, allowing you to cultivate berry bushes, mushrooms, trees, and heaps more: whether for decorative or utilitarian purposes. Combine with Plant Easily and MassFarming for an optimum Valheim farming experience!

#2: Equipment and Quick Slots

Inventory space comes at a premium in Valheim, and the odds are good that you've been annoyed, time and again, with how the game handles its armor. The Equipment and Quick Slots mod is a foil to this issue, as it gives you dedicated slots for all five armor pieces and up to three bonus quick access slots. This sounds simple to the point of being unnecessary, but in practice, it's almost transformative in how you explore and deal with threats in Valheim. To that end, it's a must-have.

#1: BetterUI (ForeverMaintained)

Choosing the "best" mod for a given game is always tricky business, but it wasn't that big of a deal this time around. Basically, very few of Valheim's mods are quite as ubiquitous as BetterUI in how useful and transformative they are in moment-to-moment gameplay. Of course, BetterUI doesn't change how the game plays: it's just far more informative, useful, and pretty to look at than the base Valheim UI. ??This is one of those mods you'll find the game hard to play without in the end. Note that you'll want to grab the "ForeverMaintain" version of BetterUI via t?he ThunderStore, specifically (just use the link featured above), as the Nexus version is woefully out of date, having been abandoned a while back.

The post 10 Best Valheim mods to use in 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

Surviving in Valheim can get pretty harrowing as ?you progress through the game. If you’re struggling and need some relief, con??sole commands can provide a way to tweak your experience. Here’s how to activate and use them.

How to enable the console in Valheim

Steam

For the Steam version, just follow these steps.

• Right-click the game in your Steam library and select properties.
• In the textbox under “Launch Optionsâ€?input -console.
• Launch the game.
• Press F5 during gameplay to open the console.

PC Game Pass

Itâ€?™s a bit more complicated to enable the console on the PC Game Pass version.

• Navigate to the game's installation folder. By default, it can be found at C:\XboxGames\Valheim\Content.
• Right-click on Valheim.exe and select “Create Shortcut.â€?/li>

• Right-click the shortcut and select properties.
• In the textbox beside “Targetâ€?add -console to the end (after a space).
• Click Apply (or just OK) and exit the window.
• Use the shortcut to launch the game (you can copy and paste the shortcut somewhere accessible).
• Press F5 during gameplay to open the console.

Xbox

Getting to the console is much easier on Xbox.

• Press RB+LB+RT+LT+menu (the three lines) and the console will open.

How to use the console in Valheim

The console in Valheim can be used for an assortment of things. There’s a massive list of commands that you can do, but not all of them are going to be immediately useful. You can simply type / in the console and it will p?op up a list of commands to s?croll through.

Most likely, you’re going to wan?t to stick t??o the cheats.

Valheim Cheats

In order to enable cheats?? in Valheim, ther??e’s one additional step: you need to type devcommands into the console. Also, note that you can only use these cheats in singleplayer. Most commands can’t be used on multiplayer servers.

Admin commands

If you are set as the admin of a server, you can als?o use these commands to manage play?ers.

The post Valheim console commands and how to use them appeared first on Destructoid.

Just over 3 years since it was originally released into Early Access, Valheim has finally received a pretty hearty content update in the form of Ashlands. Officially Patch 0.218.9, Ashlands introduces an all-new fiery biome with a slew of new weapons, armor sets, creatures, buildables, and more. Here are the full Valheim Patch Notes for the Ashlands update t?hat released on April 22.

Valheim Ashlands new content

For players who have completed all the existing content Valheim has to offer, the Ashlands update brings a bunch of new content specifically around the new Ashlands biome for players to enjoy. While there are also some bug fixes and game optimization improvements in this patch, the focus is on adding new content. Here's all the new content in the Valheim Ashlands update:

• New Biome - Ashlands
• 30+ New weapons
• New bombs and ammunitions
• 3 New armour sets
• New capes
• 10+ New creatures
• 70+ New buildable items
• New crafting station upgrades
• 30+ New crafting materials
• 15+ New food items and potions
• New locations
• New music
• New events
• New mechanics
• Fixed Mead materials
• Standardized texts throughout the game

How to access the Valheim Ashlands update

Technically the Valheim Ashlands update isn't on the live branch, but rather accessible through the beta branch. This means you can play Valheim Ashlands on both Steam? and Windows/Game Pass for PC versions. Here is how to access the Ashlands update on each platform:

How to play Valheim Ashlands on Steam

• Right-click Valheim in your Steam Library and choose Properties
• Click Betas on the left
• In the Private Betas box, insert this code: yesimadebackups
• Click Check Code then choose the Ashlands update from the Beta Participation dropdown
• Steam will now download the Ashlands update, after which you can launch the game and access Ashlands

How to play Valheim Ashlands on Game Pass for PC

• Download and launch the Xbox Insider Hub app
• Login to your Xbox Game Pass account
• Go to the Previews section on Xbox Insider Hub
• Look for Valheim Public Test and then click Join
• Launch the WIndows Store and install the Valheim Public Test
• Once downloaded, you can now launch Valheim and access the Ashlands update

The post Valheim Patch Notes for Ashlands update appeared first on Destructoid.

The desolate Ashlands undergoes a dramatic transformation in the new Valheim update, introducing fresh perils across the terrain. Even seasoned explorers will encounter unique points of interest that have been revamped for the latest version. If you're eager to dive into the unknown, here's a glimpse of what's in store with the Valheim Ashlands update and how to play it. 

How to play Valheim Ashlands update

While the Valheim Ashlands update is not yet part of the base game, players have a unique chance to get a sneak peek by participating in the Public Test version. As per the Valheim official page, here'??s how you can get i??n on the action:

1. Open Steam
2. Go to your Steam library
3. Right-click on Valheim and select 'Properties'
4. Select 'Beta'
5. Type in 'yesimadebackups'

If you have a Microsoft or PC Game Pass, you can still join the Valheim Ashlands Public Test through the Xbox Insider Hub a?pp. Simply navigate ??to 'Previews' and select 'Valheim Public Test' to join. You must complete the registration process to download the required Beta patch.

Since both versions are a part of the Public Test, you may encounter bugs or other problems while Valheim Ashlands is in its Beta s?tage. More patches will likely a??rrive before its Live version to improve it for the final rendition. 

What's new in the Valheim Ashlands update?

Get ready for an exhilarating adventure in the Valheim Ashlands update, packed with a plethora of new features. From powerful weapons to formidable crea??tures and innovative crafting tools, there's something for every player. Without giving away any spoiler?s, here's what to expect:

• 10+ New creatures
• 30+ New weapons
• New bombs and ammunitions
• 70+ New buildable items
• 5 New crafting station upgrades
• 30+ New crafting materials
• 3 New armour sets
• 2 New capes
• 15+ New food items and potions
• New locations
• New music
• New events
• New mechanics

The biggest stars of the show are the new creatures and weapon builds, which will bring on some challenging feats. Some of the latest features, including armor, enemies, and locations, were shown in the Valheim: Ashlands Gameplay Trailer:

Iron Gate suggests starting a new game if you've pre??viously explored the Ashlands before the update. This is due to a terrain change that can significantly impact ??your previous world. For example, houses built in the Ashland base game version may no longer be accessible as the ocean floors rise and the terrain lowers. 

The developers also recommend backing up any files and defeating the Queen in the Mistlands. These suggestions ensure a better experience for the Valheim Ashlands update, whether you are jus?t starting out or are a veteran player. Nevertheless, beginners should familiarize themselves with the game's world since Ashlands is regarded as one of the most challenging biomes, e?specially with the new update. 

If you don't mind seeing spoilers, you can check out the official patch notes for the Valheim Ashlands update:

Valheim Ashlands patch notes

Mechanics:
* Beware the skies! Cinders rain down from above in the Ashlands, causing damage to those who are unprotected
* Wooden build pieces can now catch fire in the Ashlands �and the fire spreads!
* A new world modifier that allows fire to spread outside of the Ashlands as well (part of the immersive preset)
* Deadly lava takes up large parts of the landscape; traverse it with your very own platforms
* Lay claim to Charred Fortresses with two new Siege Machines
* New plantable Ashvines will grow on the walls of your base
* Combine your Flametal weapons with gems (Bloodstone, Iolite & Jade) in order to upgrade them to magical weapons (giving them blood, storm and nature based effects respectively)
* The waters in and around the Ashland?s are boiling hot, and only the sturdie??st of ships can sail them

Creatures:
* Enemy: Fallen Valkyrie
* Enemy: Charred Warrior
* Enemy: Charred Archer
* Enemy: Charred Warlock
* Enemy: Charred Twitcher
* Enemy Turret: Skugg
* Enemy: Morgen
* Enemy: Bonemaw Serpent
* Enemy/creature: Asksvin (tameable & rideable)
* Creature: Asksvin Calf
* Enemy: Volture
* Enemy: Lava Blob
* NPC/Enemy: Redbeard Dvergr
* Boss: Fader
* Miniboss: Lord Reto
* Spawner: Monument of Torment
* Spawner: Effigy of Malice

Crafting:
* Material: Majestic Carapace (previously Queen Drop)
* Material: Fader Relic (placeholder item)
* Material: Asksvin Hide
* Material: Asksvin Bladder
* Material: Asksvin Tail
* Material: Morgen Heart
* Material: Morgen Sinew
* Material: Celestial Feather
* Material: Bonemaw Scale
* Material: Bonemaw Meat
* Material: Bonemaw Tooth
* Material: Volture Meat
* Material: Volture Egg
* Material: Charred Skull
* Material: Charred Bone
* Material: Pot Shard
* Material: Bell Shard
* Material: Dyrnwyn Fragments x3
* Material: Bloodstone
* Material: Jade
* Material: Iolite
* Material: Flametal Ore (previous Flametal is now obsolete)
* Material/craftable: Flametal (previous Flametal is now obsolete)
* Material: Sulfur
* Material: Ashwood
* Material: Grausten
* Material: Charcoal Resin
* Material: Proustite Powder
* Material: Asksvin Neck
* Material: Asksvin Skull
* Material: Asksvin Ribcage
* Material: Asksvin Pelvis
* Material: Charred Cogwheel
* Material: Molten Core
* Material/craftable: Ceramic Plate
* Materia/craftable: Shield Core
* Plantable: Ashvine Seeds
* Artisan Table extension: Artisan Press
* Galdr Table extension: Feathery Wreath
* Cauldron extension: Rolling Pins and Cutting Boards
* Black Forge extension: Metal Cutter
* Black Forge extension: Gem Cutter
* Craftable: Bell
* Resource location: Lavaiathans
* Misc: Asksvin Egg

Craftable Items:
* Weapon: Dyrnwyn (sword)
* Weapon: Slayer (greatsword)
* Weapon: Brutal Slayer (greatsword)
* Weapon: Scourging Slayer (greatsword)
* Weapon: Primal Slayer (greatsword)
* Weapon: Nidhögg (sword)
* Weapon: Nidhögg the Bleeding (sword)
* Weapon: Nidhögg the Thundering (sword)
* Weapon: Nidhögg the Primal (sword)
* Weapon: Flametal Mace
* Weapon: Bloodgeon (mace)
* Weapon: Storm Star (mace)
* Weapon: Klossen (mace)
* Weapon: Berserkir Axes
* Weapon: Bleeding Berserkir Axes
* Weapon: Thundering Berserkir Axes
* Weapon: Primal Berserkir Axes
* Weapon: Ash Fang (bow)
* Weapon: Blood Fang (bow)
* Weapon: Storm Fang (bow)
* Weapon: Root Fang (bow)
* Weapon: Ripper (crossbow)
* Weapon: Wound Ripper (crossbow)
* Weapon: Storm Ripper (crossbow)
* Weapon: Root Ripper (crossbow)
* Weapon: Splitnir (spear)
* Weapon: Splitnir the Bleeding (spear)
* Weapon: Splitnir the Storming (spear)
* Weapon: Splitnir the Primal (spear)
* Shield: Flametal Shield (with multiple styles!)
* Shield: Flametal Tower Shield (with multiple styles!)
* Weapon: Trollstav (blood magic)
* Weapon: Staff of the Wild (elemental magic)
* Weapon: Dundr (elemental magic)
* Weapon: Staff of Fracturing (elemental magic)
* Armour Set: Flametal Breastplate, Flametal Greaves, Flametal Helmet
* Armour Set: Robes of Embla, Trousers of Embla, Hood of Embla
* Armour Set: Breastplate of Ask, Trousers of Ask, Hood of Ask
* Cape: Asksvin Cloak
* Cape: Ashen Cape
* Misc: Asksvin Saddle
* Bomb: Basalt Bomb
* Bomb: Smoke Bomb
* Ammunition: Grausten Payload
* Ammunition: Explosive Payload
* Ammunition: Charred Arrow
* Ammunition: Charred Bolt
* Ammunition: Flametal Missile

Build pieces & furniture:
* Building Pieces: 25 Ashwood Pieces (Ashwood Wall, Ashwood Half Wall, Ashwood Quarter Wall, Ashwood Arched Wall, Ashwood Decorative Wall, Ashwood Decorative Window, Ashwood Divider, Ashwood Floor 2x2, Ashwood Floor 1x1, Ashwood Decorative Floor, Ashwood Arch, Ashwood Beam 1m, Ashwood Beam 2m, Ashwood Pole 1m, Ashwood Pole 2m, Ashwood Beam 26°, Ashwood Roof Cross 26°, Ashwood Beam 45°, Ashwood Roof Cross 45°, Ashwood Wall 26°, Ashwood Wall 26° Inverted, Ashwood Wall 45°, Ashwood Wall 45° Inverted, Ashwood Stair, Ashwood Door)
* Building Pieces: 26 Grausten Pieces (Grausten Steep Stairs, Grausten Stairs, Grausten Floor 1x1, Grausten Floor 2x2, Grausten Floor 4x4, Grausten Small Pillar, Grausten Medium Pillar, Grausten Tapered Pillar, Grausten Tapered Pillar Inverted, Grausten Small Beam, Grausten Medium Beam, Grausten Small Arch, Grausten Medium Arch, Grausten Wall Arch, Grausten Wall Arch Inverted, Grausten Wall 1x2, Grausten Wall 2x2, Grausten Wall 4x2, Grausten Window 2x2, Grausten Window 4x2, Grausten Roof, Grausten Roof Corner, Grausten Arched Roof (2), Grausten Arched Roof, Grausten Arched Roof Corner (2))
* Building Piece: Flametal Gate
* Defence: Ashwood Stakewall
* Stack: Ashwood Stack
* Stack: Grausten Pile
* Stack: Pile of Skulls
* Stack: Bone Stack
* Furniture: Ashwood Bed
* Furniture: Bone Throne
* Furniture: Lava Lantern
* Furniture: Asksvin Rug
* Furniture: Straw
* Furniture: Small Green Pot
* Furniture: Medium Green Pot
* Furniture: Large Green Pot
* Furniture: Ashwood Bench
* Furniture: Asksvin Skeleton
* Siege Machine: Catapult
* Siege Machine: Battering Ram
* Ship: Drakkar
* Misc: Shield Generator
* Misc: Portal �Stone

Food & Potions:
* Food: Cooked Volture Meat
* Food: Cooked Bonemaw Meat
* Food: Cooked Asksvin Tail
* Food: Fiddlehead
* Food: Fiery Svinstew
* Food: Marinated Greens
* Food: Mashed Meat
* Food: Piquant Pie (cooked/uncooked)
* Food: Roasted Crust Pie (cooked/uncooked)
* Food: Scorching Medley
* Food: Sizzling Berry Broth
* Food: Smoke Puff
* Food: Sparkling Shroomshake
* Food: Spicy Marmalade
* Food: Vineberry Cluster
* Mead: Lingering Healing Mead
* Mead: Lingering Eitr Mead

Misc:
* Location: Ruins (multiple)
* Location: Redbeard Dvergr Outposts
* Location: Putrid Hole
* Location: Charred Fortress
* Event: “The undead army marches�br />* Event: “The dead have been summoned�br />* Lore: New stones
* Lore: New dreams
* Lore: New Munin dialogue
* New music
* New forsaken power
* Terrain changes for Ashlands (Ashlands is now cut? o??ff from other biomes, only accessible by sea)

Fixes & Improvements:

* Fixed Major Healing Mead material
* Fixed Minor Eitr Mead Material
* Standardised texts throughout the game
* Updated names for old Flametal items
* The po??pup for unlocking new things is displayed longer

The Valheim Ashlands patch notes give you a better i?dea of what to anticipate before diving into the latest features. They also provide an update on general fixes and improvements ?for those who have experienced problems in the base game.

The post Valheim Ashlands update: how to play and what’s new appeared first on Destructoid.

It's still officially due out by the end of the year

Valheim, which exploded at launch, is still going strong; and the game is about to host its Mistlands update before 2022 closes out. Thanks to a new blog post we have a better idea of what it's?? going to entail, and it seems like a lot of changes are on the way.

Boasting the typical quality of life features and fixe??s, we're also gett??ing:

• Nine new creatures + a boss
• 20+ crafting materials
• 15 new food items
• More craftable items and furniture
• A "new type of dungeon"
• New lore stones, dreams, and music

A fishing update is also planned as part of the update, as well as more emotes, hairstyles, and beard s??tyles. There's a full spoiler reveal option on the aforementioned blog post at the very bottom: if you want to get into the nitty gritty as an active player. You can also try all this out yourself...now!

Here's how to try out the Valheim Mistlands update now

• Go to Steam, right-click the game, and hit properties
• Under the beta section, enter "yesimadebackups" (without the quotes) and click the option that appears

That's it! You can try it out in public test form, and there's more official instructions here if you're running into issues.

Here's another very i?mportant note about the upcoming content from a test perspective:

"An important thing to ?note is that the Mistlands biome will only generate in areas you have not yet discovered. Therefore, if you have explored a lot of your world, you might be better off starting a new one in order to actually be able to travel to the Mistlands. As per usual, mods will also m??ost likely cause the game not to launch, as they are only compatible with the Live version of the game. If you have mods, you will either need to remove them or wait for the mod to be updated before you can play."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZOuBjvETR8

The post We? just got a ton of info on the big Valheim Mistlands update appeared first on Destructoid.

It's the first to win the big award at both ceremonies

The 22nd Game Developers Choice Awards and 24th annual Independent Games Festival Awards were held last night in San Francisco. Many different games were honored, but Inscryption mad??e history by taking both big awards of the night.

Daniel Mullins Games' Inscryption won Game of the Year at the 2022 GDC Awards and the Grand Prize at the IGF Awards. It's the first game to ever do so. The narrati?ve deckbuilding game also won for Excellence in Design, Audio, and Narrative at the IGF? Awards.

Other big winners include Unpacking, Valheim, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, each of which took home two GDC Awards apiece. Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Steven Spohn was recognized with the Ambassador Award for his work i?n advocating for and improving accessibility in games.

//twitter.com/Official??_GDC/status/1506825929699430401

Here's the full list of winners, for both the GDC and IGF Awards.

2022 Game Developers Choice Award winners:

• Best Debut: Valheim (Iron Gate Studio)
• Best Visual Art: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Best Audio: Unpacking (Witch Beam / Humble Games)
• Best Narrative: Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine Productions / Xbox Game Studios)
• Social Impact Award: Boyfriend Dungeon (Kitfox Games)
• Innovation Award: Unpacking (Witch Beam / Humble Games)
• Best Technology: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
• Best Design: It Takes Two (Hazelight Studios / Electronic Arts)
• Audience Award: Valheim (Iron Gate Studio / Coffee Stain Publishing)
• Game of the Year: Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games / Devolver Digital)
• Ambassador Award: Steven Spohn
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Yuji Horii

2022 Independent Games Festival Award winners:

• Best Student Game: Live Adventure (Live Adventure Team)
• Excellence in Design: Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games)
• Excellence in Visual Art: Papetura (Petums)
• Excellence in Audio: Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games)
• Nuovo Award: Memory Card (Lily Zone)
• Excellence in Narrative: Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games)
• Audience Award: Mini Motorways (Dinosaur Polo Club)
• Seumas McNally Grand Prize: Inscryption (Daniel Mullins Games)

The post Inscryption had a big night at this year’s GDC and IGF Awards appeared first on Destructoid.

Also Bloodborne and Dyson Sphere Program

Valheim came out at the start of February and has been taking the s?urvival community, and beyond, by storm. But right now it's squarely housed on PC: som?ething developer Iron Gate may want to rectify at some point. Enter Panic Button to save the day?

Speaking to Nintendo Life in the context of bringing Apex Legends to Switch, they mused on wanting to take up the task. The famed studio that has handled many successful Switch ports like Doom, Doom Eternal, Wolfenstein, and Subnautica, expressed interest in a Valheim on Switch. After being asked if they could bring "any game" to Switch without limitation?s, one of the developers raised their hands.

Head of Production Dan Hernberg explains: "I'm not sure if this is my 'any game pick' but, right now I’m playing way too much Valheim and I would love to port that to Switch." But Technical Director Andy Boggs and Respawn's Chad Grenier also chimed in, saying they'd love to see Bloodborne and Dyson Sphere Program on Switch respectively.

At this poi??nt, in Panic Button I trust. If there's a game that exists and it's remotely feasible to bring it to Switch, I'd give them a call.

Panic Button A??nd Respawn On The Challenge Of Bringing Apex Legends On Swi??tch [Nintendo Life]

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Those valkyries must be getting pretty tired

One of gaming's most recent success stories is that of open-world crafting adventure Valheim. Despite existing within an undeniably overcrowded market, Iron Gate Studios' viking themed sandbox title has won over a huge conglomerate of fans, all of whom have journeyed to Valheim to carve out?? a home and habitat for themselves, borne against th??e backdrop of Nordic lore.

The Swedish developer has announced that over five million players have logged into the title since it released on Steam Early Access a mere month ago. This community, enough to fill many a longboat, have reportedly been active in Valheim for a combin?ed 15,000 years, have watched over 35 mill??ion hours of in-game footage on Twitch, and have solidified the title as the 39th "Best Reviewed" game in Steam history.

The fact Valheim has been such a success is further validated by the fact Iron Gate Studios consists of only five employees, who eventually found publishing for their passion project via Coffee Stain - renown for its support of all things indie. Like many crafting games, Valheim starts each player out with very little in the way of tools and resources, before tasking them with building a home?? and sustainable (af??ter)life for themselves within its paradise of slain warriors.

"We watch with pride and excitement, and struggle to find the right words to express our gratitude to you, the community," said Iron Gate of Valheim's immediate success. "Exciting new milestones lie ahead, and we for one cannot wait to show you more of the game as we journey through our 2021 Roadmap.?.. May Frey bless you with a plentiful harvest, and may Heimdall watch over your settlement."

"Oh, and if you see an oversized mosquito, run."

The post Over five million player??s have visited the viking world of Valheim appeared first on Destructoid.

How many Vikings does it take to clean up a realm anyways?

When I first started up Valheim and began chopping down trees and picking up rocks, my immediate re??action was, "Ugh, another one of these, huh?"

That attitude quickly changed once I invite??d a few friends along, built a simple enough base to call home, and began exploring t?he tenth realm.

Next thing you know, we'd battled our first boss, explored burial chambers and troll caves, and began hunting said trolls for their skin. The hooks were in deep by this point. Time seemingly slipped away from me altogether, and right when I thought I was ready to take a break, another group of friends started their own server and wanted me to t??ag along. Before I realized it, I'd clocked in over 11 hours into Valheim on my first day.

So, in today's Impulse episode, your local video dudes (Justin Moore and myself) break down and showcase our experiences within Valheim after spending more than 50 hours with it so far. From the visuals and building?? mechanics to why we ??think the progression is so addictive, this episode covers that and so much more.

The post Valheim has a very bright future ahead of it appeared first on Destructoid.

Ride of the Valkyries

Iron Gate Studio's new title Valheim is most assuredly "having a moment." The Nordic crafting adventure - which launched as a Steam Early Access title on February 2 - has rocketed out of the starting gate, having sold over two million c??opies in its first two weeks of r?elease and reaching a peak concurrent player rate of over 390,000 wannabe vikings.

The Swedish developer is as surprised as anyone by Valheim's immediate success. "We didn't really anticipate that," candidly stated CEO Richard Svensson to RPS. "Our goal was pretty much to cover our development cost so we could continue to exist as a studio and continue working on Valheim. I guess our future is safe for a while now."

Valheim was developed by a small team of around five people, eventually finding publishing through indie supporters Coffee Stain.? It follows in the footsteps of traditional crafting games, as players start from scratch and create a habitat for themselves - building a home, foraging for resources, battling enemies - all set against the backdrop of ??a slain warrior's afterlife.

One would think that Valheim occupies an already overcrowded market, but it seems that players have been drawn to the Nordic adventure, which gives Iron Gate a solid base with which to expand and build their handcrafted universe. If you want to check it out for yourself, then Valheim is available now on PC via Steam Early Access,?? ??priced at around $20.

The post Valheim passes two million sales in two weeks appeared first on Destructoid.

It's catching on and I've only heard good things

Valheim has struck a chord with Steam players who are always looking for the next great survival game to play alone and with friends. After seeing the Viking survival game on the top-sellers list all week and thinking "Hey, I gotta try that," it's official: Valheim sol?d over a million copies during its launch week.

He??re's the Steam Early Ac??cess launch trailer to try and bring you up to speed in a hurry:

If you ?were caught off guard by the old-meets-new aesthetic, Iron Gate says it was "inspired by the early days of 3D graphic??s, like the style seen in PS1 titles and old DOS-era 3D games (before hardware acceleration and texture filtering was a thing)." I'm still getting used to it if I'm being honest.

As someone who hasn't played Valheim yet but wants to – potentially even while it's still coalescing in Early Access ??– I like the idea of setting off with my rinky-dink boat in a procedurally-generated purgatory, hunting down bosses I have no business facing so ill-equipped, and sulking in a sad little hut.

A few make-or-break gameplay details worth pointing out: you can play Valheim alone and carry your character progression over when grouping up (with a max?? of nine other players on a server), you don't have to worry about PvP or starvation (though food will boost your health/stamina), and the basic flow involves killing a biome's boss to get the items or skills you'll need to explore more of the world.

"Our inboxes are filled to the brims with fantastic feedback and suggestions and we are overjoyed to see how engaged our community is in Valheim's development," Iron Gate said in response to the strong first-week sales. "We are currently hard at work addressing issues some of our players have reported to maximize the game? exp??erience for more Vikings!"

Assuming the lightning in a bottle doesn't escape, the 2021 roadmap could only be the beginni??????????????????????????ng. Righ??t now, "feature-wise, the game is about 75% complete, and content-wise it is about 50% complete."

The post Valheim is a survival sensation on Steam with a milli??on sales o??ne week into Early Access appeared first on Destructoid.