Valheim celebrates five years in early access with anniversary update and Steam Deck improvements

Five years after Valheim breathed new life into the survival genre, Iron Gate Studios released a celebratory update numbered 0.221.10. The anniversary patch brings players plenty of welcome additions, including a festive hat and a new weapon type – early axes. These dual-wielding implements expand tactical options in combat. The list of available resources also grew with a new consumable – frosted sweetbread, which helps Vikings recover strength during dangerous expeditions.

The technical side of the update focuses on major optimizations and an engine upgrade. Developers paid special attention to Steam Deck owners: after tuning performance presets, the game now maintains a steady 60 fps. The handheld consumes less power in portable mode, and the application now launches at the console's native resolution by default, significantly improving visual clarity.

The game added a convenient radial menu for emotes, allowing faster interaction with other players. The arsenal of social actions expanded with positive animations like "vibe" or "love you", emphasizing the festive atmosphere. The build also includes new character hairstyles and decorative garlands, letting players adorn their settlements for the anniversary.

To mark the occasion, Iron Gate temporarily reduced the game's Steam price by 50%, attracting new audiences to the harsh world of the tenth Norse realm. The team is currently working on the major "Ashlands" update, which will be the final one before version 1.0 launches.

Since its release, Valheim has proven that smart balance between survival challenge and creative building can hold millions' interest for years. Developers noted this is just another stage in the project's development before implementing even more substantial content.