Valheim Confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2 Alongside PS5 Release in 2026

Coffee Stain Publishing and Iron Gate Studio announced during the Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase earlier today that Valheim will release for Switch 2 alongside its previously announced PlayStation 5 release in 2026 .

The Viking survival game has been climbing platforms since its explosive 2021 Early Access debut on PC. Within its first week alone, Valheim shifted over 1 million copies. The game has since sold more than 12 million total .

Switch 2 Gets Full-Featured Port

The Switch 2 version will support full crossplay between platforms, touchscreen support for menus, advanced vibrations via HD Rumble 2, and gyroscope aiming . These additions position Nintendo's new console as a proper home for the survival title, something the original Switch's hardware limitations prevented.

For reference, the game also includes support for the Joy-Con 2 mouse functionality , giving players multiple control schemes to navigate Valheim's procedurally generated Norse purgatory.

Players jumping in on Switch 2 won't get a stripped-down experience either. The presentation confirmed this version will include the latest content updates, integrating biomes like Ashlands and Deep North from the start .

Arriving Alongside PlayStation 5 Launch

The Switch 2 announcement follows September 2025's confirmation that Valheim will arrive on PlayStation 5 in 2026 with full crossplay across all platforms . Both console versions should launch around the same timeframe, though neither has locked down an exact date yet.

Iron Gate tapped Swedish studio Piktiv to handle the PlayStation port, allowing the core team to stay focused on developing Deep North and the 1.0 release . This arrangement benefits everyone. Console players get proper ports whilst PC players keep getting the updates they've been waiting for.

The Road to Version 1.0

Deep North will be the final biome update that brings the game into 1.0 . Community expectations peg this milestone for sometime in 2026, potentially coordinating with the console launches.

Recent development teasers have shown the mainland of Deep North will be suspiciously peaceful, whilst the real threat lies underground in new Winding Tunnels dungeons filled with enemies like Elakings . The biome introduces seals as passive creatures and frozen landscapes that push environmental hazards to new extremes.

What started as a small indie project from a five-person team has become a survival genre staple. In 2022, the Mistlands update arrived with a new biome and quality-of-life updates players still appreciate . The Ashlands expansion followed, and now Deep North closes out the early access journey.

Iron Gate's approach has been measured. They scrapped an overambitious early roadmap, pivoted based on player feedback, and focused on stability over rushed features. Developers recently teased that 2026 is going to be a great year for Valheim , hinting at both the console launches and the version 1.0 milestone.

Why the Wait?

The original Switch couldn't handle Valheim's demands. The title hit technical walls trying to manage complex building physics and atmospheric particle effects on Nintendo's older hardware . Switch 2's improved specifications eliminate those barriers, proving the new console handles demanding systemic simulations without severe visual compromises.

Valheim combines exploration and survival in a procedurally generated world inspired by Norse mythology, supporting solo play or up to nine friends . You start with nothing. Gather resources, craft gear, build Viking architecture, and face off against mythological threats across distinct biomes. Hunger matters. Sleep matters. Every system interconnects.

The game maintains a retro-futuristic aesthetic with low-poly models and pixelated textures enhanced by modern lighting. On Steam, reviews remain "very positive" with players praising the amount of content available even before the 1.0 release .

For those tracking the survival genre's evolution, Valheim represents something different. No hyper-realistic graphics. No punishing souls-like difficulty. Just solid mechanics, cooperative play, and gradual progression that respects your time whilst delivering genuine challenge.

The Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 releases expand Valheim's reach beyond its PC and Xbox strongholds. Whether the simultaneous multi-platform push and version 1.0 launch happens remains speculation, but the pieces are moving into position for a landmark year.

Valheim is currently available on PC via Steam and Microsoft Store, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.