Valheim Early Access: Worlds, Updates & Support

Valheim entered Early Access in February 2021, and if you are wondering what happens to your world and save data as the game updates, the short answer is: your worlds and characters remain compatible and continue to work through the Early Access period and into the full release. This article explains how updates affect your saves, what support you can expect, and how to protect your progress.

Background: Valheim’s Early Access Model

Valheim, developed by Iron Gate Studio, launched in Steam Early Access on February 2, 2021. The game was released in an unfinished state, with the developers planning to add more biomes, bosses, and mechanics over time. Early Access means the game is playable but not feature-complete, and the developers use player feedback to shape future updates. The full 1.0 release has not yet happened as of 2024, but the game remains actively developed.

During Early Access, the developers release major content updates (like Hearth & Home, Mistlands, and Ashlands) and smaller hotfixes. Each update typically adds new items, enemies, and building pieces, and sometimes changes existing mechanics. The key question for players is whether these updates will break or erase their existing worlds.

How Updates Affect Your World and Character Saves

Your world and character saves are stored locally on your computer (or on a dedicated server if you host one). When a new update is installed, the game reads the existing save files and applies the new content. In most cases, your world will continue to work, and you can keep playing with the same character and buildings. However, there are some important caveats:

• New biomes – If an update adds a new biome (like Ashlands), that biome will generate only in areas of the world you have not yet explored. Already-explored areas will not have the new content, so you may need to travel to new lands to find it.
• World generation changes – If the update alters terrain generation algorithms, the game may not retroactively change existing terrain. This can lead to visual glitches or missing content in old areas.
• Mod compatibility – If you use mods, they may break after an update. The game itself will still load, but modded items or features may disappear or cause errors.
• Save corruption – Rarely, an update can corrupt a save file, especially if you have a very old world or use mods. This is why backups are recommended.

The developers have stated that they intend to keep saves compatible through Early Access and into the full release. However, they also recommend backing up your world and character files before major updates, just in case.

How to Choose: Backing Up Your World and Character

To protect your progress, you should regularly back up your save files. The game stores them in a specific folder on your computer. Here’s how to find and back them up:

1. Press Windows + R, type %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim and press Enter.
2. Inside this folder, you will see characters and worlds subfolders. Copy these folders to a safe location (like an external drive or cloud storage).
3. Before a major update, close the game and make a fresh backup.
4. To restore a backup, replace the files in the same folders with your backup copies.

If you run a dedicated server, the world files are on the server machine, so back up the server’s worlds folder instead.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common misconception is that updates will delete your world. This is not true – the game is designed to preserve saves. However, there are real issues that can arise:

• Missing new content in explored areas – If you want to experience the new biome, you may need to sail to unexplored parts of the map. This is by design, not a bug.
• Mods breaking – Many popular mods need to be updated after a game patch. If a mod is not updated, it may cause crashes or missing items. You can disable mods by removing them from the BepInEx folder.
• Performance issues – After a major update, some players report lower FPS or stuttering. This is often due to the game recompiling shaders or loading new assets. Restarting the game usually fixes it.
• Save file size – As you explore more, your world file grows. Very large worlds can become slow to load, but this is not related to updates.

Another misconception is that Early Access means the game will be deleted or become unplayable after 1.0. That is not the case – the game will remain playable, and your saves will transfer.

Support and Development Roadmap

Iron Gate Studio has been transparent about their roadmap. They have released several major updates, each adding a new biome and boss. The current roadmap includes the Deep North biome and a final 1.0 release. The developers have also stated they plan to continue supporting the game after 1.0 with smaller updates and bug fixes.

Support during Early Access includes:

• Regular patch notes and community updates on Steam and Discord
• Bug fix hotfixes between major content updates
• Beta branches on Steam for testing upcoming patches
• An official bug tracker and suggestion forum

If you encounter a bug, you can report it through the Steam forums or the official Discord. The developers are active in the community and often respond to feedback.

Comparisons with Other Early Access Games

Valheim’s approach to save compatibility is similar to other successful Early Access games like Minecraft (pre-1.0) and Subnautica. These games also kept worlds playable through updates, though they sometimes required a new world to experience all new content. In contrast, some games like Rust wipe servers on major updates, but Valheim does not do that – your single-player and dedicated server worlds persist.

One difference is that Valheim’s world generation is mostly static once created. If you want to see the new Ashlands biome, you must explore new areas. This is a deliberate design choice to preserve player builds.

Costs and Future Pricing

Valheim is a one-time purchase – there are no subscription fees or microtransactions. The price has remained the same since Early Access launch, and the developers have said they do not plan to raise the price after 1.0, though this is not guaranteed. All content updates are free, so you do not need to pay extra for new biomes or items.

If you are considering buying the game, note that the Early Access version is fully playable and offers hundreds of hours of content. The full release will likely add more, but you will not miss out on anything by buying now.

Safety and Security of Your Saves

Your save files are stored locally, so they are safe from server shutdowns. However, local files can be lost due to hard drive failures, so backups are essential. If you play on a dedicated server, the server owner is responsible for backups. The game does not have a built-in cloud save for worlds (though Steam Cloud can back up character files, it is not reliable for large world files).

To be safe, follow the backup instructions above. You can also use mods like BetterNetworking or Backup World to automate backups, but these are third-party and may not be updated after patches.

Alternatives: What If You Want a Fresh Start?

Some players prefer to start a new world after a major update to experience the new content from scratch. This is a valid choice, and it avoids any potential issues with old worlds. You can keep your old world and create a new one – the game allows multiple worlds. If you want to start fresh, simply create a new world in the main menu. You can also delete old worlds if you no longer need them.

If you are worried about missing out on new content, you can use the World Reset mod to regenerate unexplored areas, but this is not officially supported.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my Valheim world be deleted when the game leaves Early Access?

No. The developers have stated that they intend to keep saves compatible through the full release. Your world and character will continue to work after 1.0, though you may need to explore new areas to see new content.

Do I need to start a new world after a major update like Mistlands?

No, you can continue with your existing world. However, new biomes will only appear in unexplored areas, so you may need to travel to new lands to find them. If you want to experience the new content immediately, you can start a new world.

What happens to my mods when Valheim updates?

Mods may break after an update. You should check if the mod has been updated by its creator. If not, you can disable the mod or wait for an update. The game itself will still run without mods.

How do I back up my Valheim world and character?

Navigate to %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim and copy the worlds and characters folders to a safe location. Do this before major updates.

Will Valheim get more expensive after Early Access?

The developers have not announced a price increase, but it is possible. Buying now ensures you get the game at the current price, and all future updates are free.

Can I play Valheim offline?

Yes, Valheim can be played offline in single-player mode. You do not need an internet connection to play, though you will need it to download updates.

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in t | Time played | hours | 100 | 0 | 100000
in u | Updates per year | count | 4 | 1 | 52
out w | Worlds backed up | count | t / 10 | 0