Valheim platforms and PC system requirements

Valheim supports Windows, Linux and macOS, plus Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. The official 1.0 FAQ does not list PS4, the original Nintendo Switch, Android or iOS.

Release dates, subscriptions and multiplayer

Valheim 1.0 and the PS5 edition released on September 9, 2026. Xbox first received the Game Preview edition on March 14, 2023; older Xbox launch articles describe that earlier release, not a future console launch. See the PlayStation listing and Xbox launch announcement.

As of September 13, 2026, the Xbox listing says cloud play requires an eligible Game Pass subscription and a game purchase. Older Game Pass launch articles may no longer reflect what your subscription includes. The PS5 listing requires PS Plus for online play; it lists one local player and up to ten online players. It lists online co-op but no built-in split-screen mode.

For invites, local-network play and crossplay, follow the multiplayer connection guide. Remote play streams an existing game session to another device. It does not add native Android/iPad support or a second local co-op player.

Controllers, Steam Deck and streaming

Use the game's current input prompts and your platform's controller settings. For Steam Deck, check Steam's compatibility report and controller layout for Valheim. Large settlements can run differently from open terrain, so adjust graphics for the places you play. This guide does not provide tested 1.0 presets or a list of supported streaming services.

On Mac, start with the native game's listed requirements below. If you use a Windows virtual machine or a streaming service instead, check that service's requirements too. Modded Apple Silicon launches have an additional BepInEx compatibility requirement.

PC requirements

These are the Steam store's published requirements, checked September 12, 2026. Treat these as hardware requirements, not frame-rate targets.

Check the installer's current space requirement before downloading. The 1.0 FAQ estimates a download of about 4.3 GiB on most platforms; download size and installed size are different, and updates need working space.

Install and start the current release

Install through your platform's official store or game library. On Steam, the standard Valheim installation is the game client. Valheim Dedicated Server is a separate library tool for hosting; you do not need it for solo play.

Finish pending updates before launching. If you previously joined a public test branch, check that you are on the release branch you intend to play. Multiplayer guests and hosts need compatible releases; connection troubleshooting explains the current platform exceptions.

Existing saves can continue in 1.0. The developer says new biome content generates in previously unexplored areas, and recommends a fresh world for the fullest experience. You can keep playing your existing save without restarting. Back up your world and character before testing another branch or making save changes.

The game crashes or does not launch

First note the operating system, the displayed game version, the exact error, and whether the problem affects one world or every launch. Those details make a useful support report.

On Steam, restart Steam, open the game's Properties → Installed Files, then choose Verify integrity of game files. Let the check finish before relaunching. This repairs installation files; it does not recover a deleted world. See Steam's verification instructions.

If the installation is modded, check the loader and each mod's release compatibility. An update can leave an old loader active even when individual plugins are disabled. For diagnosis, keep a backup and test an unmodified installation with a disposable world rather than opening a valuable mod-dependent save. Iron Gate does not provide official mod support. The mod compatibility guide explains BepInEx, Mac and VR requirements.

If the game still fails, contact Valheim support with the error, steps to reproduce it and what you have already tried.