Valheimplayers have been starving for an update to the virally popular open-world survival/sandbox game. SinceValheimlaunched in February earlier this year, developer Iron Gate AB has been overwhelmed by the game’s success. That’s coincided with a scaling up ofValheim’s development team, as well as its plans for content updates. NowValheimplayers' patience has paid off. The Hearth & Home Update forValheimhas officially arrived and is available to download now.
The Hearth & Home Update isValheim’s first major content update and while its name may imply a focused target for new content, it actually paints a very broad swathe. Yes, Hearth & Home introduces a large amount of new furniture and craftable items for building, while reworking systems like food and cooking. But it also touches onrebalancing every weapon inValheim, introduces pet taming, reworksValheim’s blocking and shield systems, and has teased a dark secret left for players to discover.
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In a surprisingly short list of patch notes, Iron Gate details some of the new content introduced toValheimin the Hearth & Home Update. To start, 10 new food items have been added, though Iron Gate curiously notes that there are actually 12. Seeds for Birch and Oak trees, as well as onions, have been introduced. New weapons include the Crystal battleaxe, Silver knife, and da butcher knife, as well as the Bone tower shield and Iron buckler.
Regarding new furniture and building materials, there’s a new Darkwood style of building pieces for shingle roofs, beams, and decorations. Assorted furniture that’s been added includes a stone throne, as well as viking hot tub for players to relax in together. There’s also a new Crystal tier of walls to build for added protection. Key new crafting structures to build include a Cartography Table for sharing map data, an Oven for bread and pies, theObliterator which destroys items, and an Iron cooking station necessary for cooking meat.
There’s notably some content, and perhaps a lot of content, that hasn’t been included inValheim’s patch notes for the Hearth & Home Update. Iron Gate has spoken on the topic before. It has said it wants players to discover new content on their own. It’s unclear how much lies in wait for players with the new update, but it’s certain to be exciting. The end ofValheim’s new teaser trailershould give a hint.
WhileValheimplayers are certain to be busy crafting and expanding their homes for months going forward, it’s also time to ask that all-important question: what comes next?Valheimremains in Early Access on Steam, meaning Iron Gate still has plans for more features and content before the game officially launches. A previously-released roadmap hinted at what Iron Gate is calling theCult of the Wolf Updatenext. Stay tuned for updates on that.
Valheimis available now in Early Access on PC.
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