Valheim’s next major update, Ashlands, receives a gameplay preview displaying the volcanic biome and challenging content that awaits players.
The latest Valheim trailer showcased the new biome and content in the Ashlands update. The developer, Iron Gate Studio, says that the Ashlands is the second-to-last biome in Valheim and is progressively more difficult than the previous ones. Because of that, the studio recommends that rusty players practice a bit before hopping into the Ashlands or even adjust the difficulty in the World Modifiers menu.
The Ashlands update for Valheim was announced in December 2023 and aims to popularize and expand the supposedly secret biome. The Ashlands have been in Valheim since the game’s launch, but the biome is still incomplete. Players could travel to the location and face fiery Surtlings, but that’s it. The entire southern area lacked content, discouraging anyone from exploring it. But this will be remedied with the Ashlands update, which promises to add new monsters, weapons and armor, and food recipes, among other features, to expand the scope of Valheim.
A new Valheim gameplay trailer shows more about the biome and content in the Ashlands update. The setting and atmosphere of the biome are darker than others, filled with lava and flaming creatures. The enemy forces are known as Charred and protect fortresses that the Vikings of Valheim can invade and plunder using siege weapons like battering rams and catapults. Ashlands will also bring a variety of new building pieces to fortify settlements, as well as expand the cosmetic options available for construction enthusiasts in Valheim.
Valheim New Gameplay Trailer Showcases The Ashlands Biome
The developers have released official guidelines to prepare for the Ashlands update in Valheim to ensure smooth adventuring. Since the update will initially arrive in Public Testing, it’s recommended to back up the world and characters one will use on the Public Test Branching servers. The studio also recommends starting a new world if players have already extensively explored the Ashlands since the new content will only be appropriately generated in unexplored areas. Furthermore, any construction players have made in the Ashlands may be destroyed or deformed, as the biome’s terrain will be transformed with the update.
Finally, Iron Gate Studio warns that players who want to enter the Ashlands must defeat the boss of the Mistlands, the Queen. If the player already has the item dropped by the Queen, they must drop it on the ground and pick it up again to trigger new recipes. Mistlands was the biome added before the Ashlands, which implies the last one will be the icy Deep North.
The Ashlands update is already available for Public testing. Typically, a major Valheim update becomes officially available one to two months after it has gone through Public Test Branching. If the pattern holds, this means that Valheim is getting closer to leaving early access and officially launching its version 1.0.
Valheim
- Platform(s)
- Linux , PC , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- February 2, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Iron Gate AB
- Publisher(s)
- Coffee Stain Studios
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox , Survival
- How Long To Beat
- 75 Hours
- X|S Enhanced
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 1 GB (November 2023)
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- Steam User Rating
- 95%
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