Update: Speaking during a podcast, Valheim senior developer Jonathan Smårs hadn’t entirely ruled out the possibility of the Norse survival game coming to PS5 – and now it sounds like Xbox only has six month console exclusivity. The tidbit was confirmed in the small print of a Game Pass newsletter sent out to subscribers, opening the door for a PlayStation port down the line.
Now, it should be underlined that the game is in Early Access on Xbox, and therefore developer Iron Gate’s probably got its work cut out knocking the port into some kind of shape. But it’s good to know that once the six months have elapsed, there’ll be no contractual limitations preventing this release from coming to Sony’s system.
Original Article: Survival game Valheim has been a huge hit on PC, and given the surge in interest around Norse media spurred by God of War Ragnarok and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, it’d feel right at home on PS5. However, according to senior developer Jonathan Smårs, speaking on the Xbox Expansion Pass podcast, as spotted by IGN, the team is “currently only looking at Xbox” when it comes to consoles.
According to Smårs, publisher Coffee Stain worked with Microsoft to bring the game to Xbox Series X|S, where it’ll debut on Game Pass. This leads us to believe that, in all likelihood, there’s probably some form of timed exclusivity at play here – although Iron Gate AB isn’t an enormous studio, so perhaps it’s focusing on one platform at a time.
The developer did leave the door open, insinuating “you never know” when it comes to the possibility of a PS5 port later down the line. For now, though, you’ll have to settle with Kratos for your Viking fix – it’s a different type of game, admittedly, but it’s not exactly a bad alternative, is it?
[source youtube.com, via ign.com]
Comments 77
One less bad game, good!
It’s almost certainly a paid timed exclusive, like dozens of other AA and indie games that come out day one on Gamepass and not on PS at all for 3/6/12 months
If MS put work in to get the game made for their console, like Sony did with FFXVI, then fair enough. Even if they just paid for a bunch of the development up front for exclusivity I don’t mind that. Ultimately, if more games get made that wouldn’t otherwise then these agreements are a good thing. And most such agreements are just timed anyway.
@thefourfoldroot1 yeah they all pay for exclusivity, people act like Sony is the only one who does it.
Vallheim is a masterpiece. Shame it isn’t on PS5. I’ll keep playing it on Steam Deck.
Husband is playing this. It seems really fine. Before saying anything nasty in the comments about timed exclusivity please remember that Microsoft is at same time the underdog, a no profit organization and also a small company run by the Care Bears with no resources, so they need an edge to be competitive in the gaming space. Also remind yourself that they really don’t support times exclusivity and you might be mistaken if you think they do it all the time 🤎
Ooooooh nooooo... anyway.
What they really mean is after the Paid exclusivity is up.
@KaijuKaiser I’m not one to like survival games, but to say this game is “god awful” even after the incredible reception the game has received is ridiculous.
I love Sony and my PS5. However, I also love my Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch. The amount of negativity toward Microsoft in this comment section alone is insane to me. Just enjoy games regardless of the platform.
@Feena perfect satire, that care bears comment messed me up 😂
And I don't care all I want to hear about is a playstation showcase.
I always wanted to get this on PC just to give it a try when it's on sale.
That and to try the VR mod.
@KaijuKaiser They're hugely popular.
@BlackMayge He mentioned pc players not xbox.
Never got into the whole survival sim genre, but Song in the Smoke on VR, and of course NMS is pulling me in, I admit.
@Feena Well, we know who Grumpy Bear is, now
@Americansamurai1 I think where Sony runs afoul of things is that they do it kind of cloak and dagger with nebulous timelines as it suits them. MS exclusives, and now even Nintendo third party exclusives don't seem to be "forever" or "indefinite" they're always timed and within a year at most jump to multiplat. Sony, and particularly where their dealings with Square-Enix taint the whole pot has this bizarre secretive cloak and dagger thing going on that everything is huh-hush whispers and secrets with indefinite timelines and somethings disappear for decades and may or may not show up. If they had a straight forward policy of timed means timed, and reliably exclusives had exclusive timelines....or if they just said 100% exclusive and that's that, right at launch, I think there'd be a lot less bad blood and mistrust of how Sony does things. It boils into fanboy wars, but at the heart of it I think is a basic trust issue. People don't like being led on a leash, and even more on an invisible one the holder refuses to admit exists bu you always feel it tugging. Some of that could be Square-Enix and not Sony at all, but they have this incestuous relationship where you can't tell where one ends and the other begins sometimes.
@Doublecell It’s essentially one in the same, but you make a fair point.
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@Tasuki absolutely. Cuz clearly Valheim is as big as CoD.
@NEStalgia sorry to much don't want to read all that.
@KaijuKaiser Well, that makes you sound childish, but to each their own.
It's funny because MS pays for ports of popular pc games but by the time they are released on xbox no one gives a sh*t anymore, like that time when PUBG was going to be the next big console exclusive and then a little game mode called Fortnite was released LOL.
Right now I would rather play V Rising on console.
Some BIG fanboy energy in this comment section so far. Valheim is a masterpiece, fingers crossed they add another platform.
I always find it funny how they say they currently have no plans for a port. Many devs/publisher say that when the game is only releasing in one platform. We all know is BS, of course they have plans, they might even have a port running on the other platform already. But I guess they're obligated to say that BS.
@commentlife couldn’t agree more
@thefourfoldroot1 fair point. Asking for help in exchange for some exclusivity isn’t a bad thing especially if it helps the game and the studio more knowledge. Especially if it’s on an engine that can be easily ported to other systems.
@Americansamurai1 Even many on this very site with their PS masks on.
@BlackMayge You are on a PS centric site, like wtf did you think you were going to see?
@KaijuKaiser This site is the worst of all 3 when it comes to the echo chamber problem from what i've seen.
@NEStalgia
I don’t remember anything cloak and dagger. For example, FFXVI is at least 6 month exclusivity. This is publicly stated and isn’t uncommon. Now if SE can’t commit to releasing on PC or Xbox (the latter having few fans of the genre and a much smaller fan base) that’s not really on Sony. Everyone just likes to presume it is.
Sometimes, a Japanese dev just will decide that there is not enough of a market for a port to Xbox, especially if the game is built around another piece of hardware entirely so it might not be as easy as when building multiple versions concurrently from the start…
@pharos_haven It would be nice to talk about PlayStation; not talk childish on other companies? What happened to casual conversation? That’s what I would expect to see. Maybe some maturity?
Maybe Sony should look at the indie/small studio devs creating games on PC that are only on Steam - make them a 'deal' to buy their and/or Studio and help them develop their idea for Playstation exclusively...
Imagine if Sony had spent the money they spent on CoD, on marketing CoD etc and spent it on PUBG, Fortnite or Valorant, maybe even Finals. There is plenty of FPS games they could make 'exclusive' to Playstation Consoles and build up their Portfolio.
I am sure that Sony do the same 'Kena' for example and even Spider-Man was funded by Sony's money and those were made by '3rd party' devs at the time.
@uptownsoul while I get the sentiment I'm 100% sure CrossfireX would not have survived. If anything ps users might not like the look of Remedy Games anymore as a dev because of how absolutely abhorrent the 'game' was.
Imagine finally getting to enjoy Remedy Games on ps through the likes of Control and Alan Wake only to go down to the absolute cesspits of CrossfireX.
In fairness, @thefourfoldroot1, and to be completely objective, when it comes to Final Fantasy games, or games from Square Enix in general, it is very difficult to build a fanbase on the Xbox when they don't release their recent games on the platform. It's like saying there's no point in releasing Gears of War on the PlayStation, because no one has ever played the series on the PlayStation. You cannot build an enthusiastic fanbase on the Xbox if you keep skipping the platform in the first place...
So! Microsoft paid for the exclusivity. Doesn't matter, but don't say that Sony is the only one who pulls that trick. They even learned it from Microsoft.
You're 100% correct, @FenIsMightier...
@uptownsoul
Yep But xbox fans don't want to see that. Pretty sad actually. then whine for proof when there is no real proof for both Sony and MS. Only speculations
If you read the comments from the developers, @TommyNL, the only reason that the game is currently on the Xbox is because Microsoft approached them and expressed interest. That's not to say that Microsoft haven't obtained some sort of exclusivity deal, but then there is no mention of there being one either. Equally, it could mean that had Microsoft not approached the developers, (and presumably Sony haven't either) then there may never have existed a console version at all. Ultimately, none of us actually know the situation regarding whether there is an exclusivity deal in place, it just suits people who dislike Microsoft, or who are just so cynical that they cannot accept that the game is not coming to the PlayStation, to assume that there is one in place. I mean, it's just not possible that a small developer has decided to focus on one console at a time, is it? Nor is it possible that if, as they have said, Microsoft approached them first, that it would be the Xbox that is first in line to get a console version, is it? I love my PlayStation, but sometime the animosity towards the Xbox is frankly astonishing and often simply childish (and that isn't aimed at anyone in particular)...
“We looked at the numbers and thought hey, let’s only develop on the console that sells at a one to two ratio to the PS5.” Said the guy who definitely didn’t sign a lucrative exclusivity contract.
@uptownsoul Good point about TheGunk, that's a very unusual case, but it is a fair argument.
MS generally doesn't list exclusivity times, but it's generally 6-12 months. And 12 is actually uncommon. We'll see what happens to High on Life, but I would be stunned if it was not on PS by end of December. If it's not then you're right there's a similar thing going on.
Stalker2, that one's a good question and probably is best not really considered due to extreme circumstances. I would think that's also maybe a year, however, the dev is obviously in a REALLY weird situation. We'd have to follow up a year later, but that one really may have gone a different route, and I could see MS having long-term ownership of it and assume MS may have put a lot of cash into just keeping the devs operating (and alive) once things fell apart. And it's doubtful the devs would have any time or ability to even make another platform version even if they were allowed to and wanted to between dodging rockets and fixing patches.
@TommyNL like 70% of the people on this site
I think you'll find that S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 has 3 months exclusivity, @NEStalgia. Apparently there are some leaked documents that have revealed this...
@Fiendish-Beaver Certainly possible. That one's a strange one given circumstances but I'd believe that before I'd believe it would "pull an FF7R" type thing.
That does still leave the point bout TheGunk, and I really can't imagine what's up with that. It's not even a particularly significant game.
@Fiendish-Beaver
I get your point, but I think (my opinion) that Microsoft really did pay. And that doesn't interest me at all. I have nothing to do with Valheim. But it always surprises me that Sony is bashed from the green camp with buying deals, while Microsoft certainly does exactly the same at the time of the 360. And of course it works very simply everyone who responds to this site defends Playstation and on pure xbox they defend Xbox.
@uptownsoul High on Life is trash so who cares, I don't. Yes I'm calling it trash after playing it on xbox.
@uptownsoul Isn't CrossfireX being shutdown because it failed?
Been playing it all day and night on my Series S, its very good so its a shame its not hitting PS5.
@XenonKnight Yeah HiL was pretty meh, downloaded it through GP and well it sums up why i like GP as i'm happy i didn't waste money on it. As a shooter its ok i suppose but god the "humour" killed whatever enjoyment i could off had.
@KaijuKaiser You played it? If not you can't really judge it. The game is really popular for a reason and from what i've played its really addictive.
@WallyWest Why didn't you get the x?
@XenonKnight Because i have a PS5 and i only wanted an Xbox for the 1st party stuff or games not on PS5, for me it wasn't worth spending more on a SX when the SS fulfills all my needs.
@thefourfoldroot1 but Xbox has the best versions of the Final Fantasy 13 games, got Crisis Core: FF7 last year & has older titles in the series. It's only 11, 14, FF7 remake & the pixel remasters that are missing.
I don't get the whole argument that Xbox players don't play JRPGs. Microsoft admitted last year that more JRPGs was on the top of players wish list. There's more JRPGs being released now than ever on Xbox.
@uptownsoul Stalker 2 is three months.
@NEStalgia sure I read The Gunk was a passion project that the Dev knew would never do well as a retail title alone like Pentiment.
@cragis0001
Most Xbox gamers are in the US, and JRPGs do not chart highly. Also, Sony have been cultivating the FF (and so defacto JRPG crowd at that time) since the PS1 days, so there is a congruence of PS and JRPG fans that you don’t find on Xbox.
I bought a 360 just because of Lost Odyssey and, to a lesser extent Blue Dragon, and so I mained Xbox during the 360 generation, but the same thing hasn’t happened with MS and subsequent consoles.
Hey, @get2sammyb. I have a feeling you maybe mistaken with regards to there being any Xbox exclusivity. Having looked into this, I think the issue is actually Sony policy. Valheim is, I believe, still in Early Access. Xbox allow Early Access games on to their platform. Sony do not. If I am right in this, then it is quite possible that it is Sony's own policies that have prevented the game from being released on the PS5, and thus there may not be any need for Xbox to have entered into any for of exclusivity deal. That's not to say there isn't one. None of us know, but it's possible there isn't.
So, if I am right, then everyone fuming on here about Xbox having struck an exclusivity deal, may well be completely mistaken...
@NEStalgia @uptownsoul @FenIsMightier Hey, guys, I've tagged you in this comment because this may be of interest to you...
I know this isn't directed at me, @uptownsoul, but I happened to Google this yesterday, asking how long it was exclusive, and the response right at the top was an IGN report stating that it is a 3 month exclusivity period. I do not know how to link stuff in here...
@uptownsoul https://www.ign.com/articles/stalker-2-will-be-exclusive-to-xbox-for-three-months
@thefourfoldroot1 times are changing 👍
I think you'll find that's the only one, @uptownsoul. My understanding is that they have a policy of not having Early Access on their platform...
@uptownsoul your correct as it wasn't Microsoft who announced the three month exclusivity deal. But a Reddit user that noticed the info that Microsoft provided as evidence in the Epic Vs Apple trial.
@TommyNL it's ok I agree. I understand why they both don't disclose as people would wait for it to release on there favoured platform which beats the purpose of them buying it to be exclusive. But if a game is fully exclusive or isn't going to be available to your rivals for anything over 12 months it should be disclosed.
I just read that Valheim is 6 months exclusive.
Usually not into survival but I'm interested simply on the basis its inspired buy Old Norse and the Viking Age.
The woman in the pic looks like Aloy (you know, the PS5 exclusive protagonist.)
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And xbox acts like they dont do it lol.
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Hope sony has a showcase so we can start talking about games we actually care about.
Already played it on pc, the game is really really good, especially the music, it make you feels like in different world. My only problem with the game is it's kind of annoying there's horde attack every a couple of hours, I just want to build house and enjoy the game world.
And yet another earth shattering,reality bending event happens in the world of gaming yawn....i dont care about exclusivity and the whole throwing stuipd amount of cash at studios for 6 months of this or that is crazy when that cash could be used for improving other things. I dont count exclusive platform titles such as horizon,god of war,forza or halo in this circle to be clear but i think that 3rd party games like this should have platform parity so everybodys happy.
@Northern_munkey personally, I don't mind them at all. The developer gets "free" money and we just have to wait a few months to play the game. Not a big deal, I think.
@EVIL-C that doesn't mean much. I had a 3ds yet didn't think highly of Ninty for various reasons.
@naruball 3DS is/was a hell of a lot cheaper than a PS5. That says something. A 3DS was borderline impulse-buy. I think little of Sony nowadays (for various reasons); as a company they're insufferable and fandom hypocracy is pure toxicity, but I own it for the desirable exclusives, cause at the end of the day I'm a gamer. Fanboys suck across the board, don't GAF about any of them.
Exclusivity aside, I hated this game on console. I'm not much of one for survival/crafting games anyway, but the vibe looked good so I'd always wanted to try it and figured a bit of console couch gaming is where I would enjoy it.
After several hours of scanning the ground to decide which indeterminate blocky pixel was actually a resourse, and long frustrations with a control scheme clearly designed for a mouse and with very poor controller mappings, I uninstalled.
I should have know the moment the world's worst looking character creator launched.This looked and felt like low cost PC jank launched on a console.
I know this had many people entertained on PC, where at least the controls wouldn't fight you, but its the worst game I've played on console in years. 'Early Acess'= unfinished, no QA.
@BlackMayge you don't like winding people up ? As long as its not cruel or hateful ,its fun ,do you not have a bit of banter with your friends ,im sure you do ,same thing 😁 someone only needs to put "xbox has no games" in an xbox thread, and its world war 3 ,its also very amusing.
@Neonix I dont mind them for a bit ,I always end up hitting a wall though ,there's always a slog to find a certain material or tool, and I just can't be bothered at that point.
@Toypop yeah I played a couple of beta games on gamepass ,I've given up with them now ,I just think, I'm not getting paid for this ,so whats the point
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