Valheim
Do you need a new world? Can you use your old character? Can you go straight to the Deep North? And what is the best way to play it with friends? Let's go through it!
When Does the Valheim Deep North Release?
The Deep North will arrive as part of Valheim 1.0 on September 9, 2026. If you already own Valheim, you won't need to purchase the game again. Your existing copy will simply update to the new version.
There also won't be a Public Test Branch for the 1.0 release. Iron Gate wants everyone to experience the full release at the same time.
Do You Need to Start a New Valheim World?
The short answer is no. Your current Valheim worlds and characters will still be available after the 1.0 update. You can load an old save and keep playing where you left off. There is one important catch, though.
New biome generation works properly in areas that haven't already been explored. So if you have already travelled through a large part of your map, you may not get the full benefit of new content in areas you've already discovered.
Because of this, Iron Gate recommends starting a completely new playthrough for the best 1.0 experience.
Want to visit the Deep North straight away?
You can. However, the developers still recommend starting from the beginning if you want to experience the game as intended.
So there are really two good choices:
- Keep your old world if you want to continue your existing adventure and reach the Deep North as quickly as possible.
- Start a new world if you want to experience the complete journey again, from your first shelter all the way to the final biome.
What Should You Do Before Valheim 1.0?
If you plan on starting a new adventure, it can be useful to brush up on the basics of Valheim before 1.0 arrives. You'll want to be comfortable with:
- Gathering and managing resources
- Building a safe base
- Crafting better equipment
- Farming and cooking
- Exploring new biomes
- Fighting bosses
- Sailing between different areas
- Preparing food and equipment before dangerous trips
The Deep North is the final biome in that journey, so going there is not really about rushing north as quickly as possible. It's about being ready for what you find when you get there.
What Is Actually Coming With the Deep North?
For the 1.0 launch, Iron Gate has confirmed:
- A new Deep North biome
- New enemies
- New weapons
- New bases and building content
- Additional content across the game
- Improvements and optimisation
- Full crossplay between supported platforms
Iron Gate has not released a complete official list of every enemy, weapon, resource or location coming to the Deep North.
Playing the Deep North With Friends
Valheim 1.0 will have full crossplay across its supported platforms.That means PC, Xbox, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 players can play together. This makes the Deep North a good excuse to bring an old server back to life, or start a completely new Viking world with your friends.
Should You Use a Dedicated Server?
If you're playing Valheim with a group, a dedicated server can make things much easier. Instead of depending on one person to host the game every time everyone wants to play, you can have a server running for your group. That means your friends can jump back into the same world, work on the base, gather resources or explore even when the original host isn't online.
- Iron Gate provides an official guide for setting up a dedicated Valheim server, so you can also run one yourself if you have the time and hardware to manage it.
- For players who don't want to deal with server setup and maintenance, renting a Valheim server. It’s the simpler option, and you can get it for just €1 through DatHost for the first month.You can choose your server settings, invite your friends and get straight into the game without worrying about keeping your own machine online.
