Valheim: The Argument For and Against a Minecraft Approach to Post-Launch Updates

Highlights

Valheim could consider adding updates perpetually like Minecraft, but ending development eventually has merit too.
Valheim could support itself with microtransactions while expanding with creative new post-launch features.
The game lacks a proper ending, and continuous updates could prevent Iron Gate from trying out other projects.

Minecraft is one of, if not the biggest and longest-running survival sandbox games out there, so it naturally serves as a benchmark for many other younger games in the genre like Valheim. There’s a lot that Valheim could learn from Minecraft, especially regarding the latter game’s endless supply of post-launch updates, years after its initial release.

However, there are both pros and cons to turning Valheim into a game with never-ending updates. While Valheim could benefit from expanding itself beyond the game’s current roadmap for future updates, there’s more to this situation than meets the eye, and there are some concerns to be had either way should the game come to an end soon or attempt to follow in Minecraft’s footsteps with endless post-launch updates.

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Arguments For Endless Post-Launch Updates in Valheim

Valheim still has plenty of room to grow as is
Valheim could introduce a microtransactions shop to support the game’s future updates
Future updates could provide content for years to come

Valheim is already a satisfying experience, but it still has a wealth of untapped potential that future updates could address, like adding new biomes, enemies, weapons, and biome bosses in Valheim. While continuing the game’s existing format of content updates could be a natural progression for the game, ultimately, the sky is the limit for future updates for Valheim and where the game could go if it were to continue receiving updates for the foreseeable future.

It’s also worth mentioning that Valheim would likely need to rely on a new way to fund itself beyond its initial price tag if it were to receive perpetual updates going forward, assuming that future updates for Valheim remain free to all players who own the game. Consequently, this could lead to a microtransaction shop coming to the game.

On the one hand, this could give players fun ways to support the game’s future updates while also getting some in-game items in return, like transmogs for the armor and weapons in Valheim, or maybe even texture packs that completely change the game’s style. On the other hand, expanding microtransactions beyond cosmetic items could lead to some backlash depending on the impact that any premium items could have on the game’s original experience. Introducing a microtransaction store to Valheim therefore fits as both an argument for and against perpetual game updates, depending on how it affects the game.

Arguments Against Endless Post-Launch Updates in Valheim

Valheim still needs a proper ending
Iron Gate Studio might struggle to move on to its next project if it never finishes Valheim
Introducing microtransactions could cause controversy

Again, Valheim is already a robust game, but at the same time, there is currently no explicit ending. This is common for survival games like Valheim, especially considering that the game is still in early access, but this can still be frustrating despite being a normalized element of the genre. If the game were to receive endless future updates, this could very well be a persistent problem for the game.

Another important thing to note is that Valheim is Iron Gate’s debut game, and if the studio commits to endlessly releasing future updates for Valheim, this would likely delay or prevent the studio from moving on to future projects. Given the reviews for Valheim so far, expectations for the studio’s next game are naturally high already, but if the timing isn’t right, this hype could lose some momentum before the studio’s next game ever sees the light of day. Valheim might deserve a proper ending sooner rather than later so that the studio can move on to its next game.

Valheim

Valheim is a brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players set in a procedurally-generated world inspired by Norse mythology. Craft powerful weapons, construct longhouses, and slay mighty foes to prove yourself to Odin!
EXPLORE THE TENTH WORLD
Explore a world shrouded in mystery. Discover distinct environments with unique enemies to battle, resources to gather and secrets to uncover! Be a viking, sail the open seas in search of lands unknown, and fight bloodthirsty monsters.
BUILD MIGHTY HALLS
Raise viking longhouses and build bases that offer reprieve from the dangers ahead. Customise buildings, both inside and out, with a detailed building system. Progress through building tiers to upgrade, expand and defend your base.
GATHER, CRAFT AND SURVIVE
Struggle to survive as you gather materials and craft weapons, armor, tools, ships, and defenses. Decorate your hearths and sharpen your blades, grow crops and vegetables, prepare food, brew meads and potions, and progress as you defeat more difficult bosses and discover new recipes and blueprints.

Systems