Valheim 1.0 Dedicated Server Update: Deep North, Saves, Crossplay

Valheim 1.0 launched on September 9, 2026, ending early access with the Deep North biome, Iron Gate announced on Steam. For dedicated servers, the big changes are a new folder based world save format, crossplay with PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, a 1 to 10 player cap that stays the same, and mods that need updating.

What is in Valheim 1.0?

The headline is the Deep North, the final biome, with its boss Kall Fimbulbringer. The abbreviated patch notes list 40+ new weapons, 4 new armour sets, 10+ new creatures, 80+ build pieces, 20+ foods, achievements, a grappling hook, deep snow you clear with a shovel, frozen seas, and alternate versions of earlier biomes at the outer edges of the world. Bloodgold is the new top tier metal.

Release platforms, from Iron Gate's June 7 release date announcement: PC, Linux, Mac, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S as before, now joined by PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, with "full crossplay between all the platforms."

What changed for Valheim dedicated servers in 1.0?

How does the new Valheim save format work?

Since 1.0, worlds are no longer saved as a .db and .fwl pair. Iron Gate explained when it tested the system on the public test branch in May: "Worlds will no longer be saved with a .db and a .fwl file, but will instead be saved and stored in separate folders, with the .db file broken down into smaller pieces" (Steam, May 6, 2026). Only changed chunks are saved, backups get their own folders, and the game checks each save afterwards to reduce corruption.

For a server this means:

• Old worlds convert automatically. "When loading a world that is not chunked, a backup is made first."
• Upload the whole folder. Moving a 1.0 world to a server means copying its folder into worlds_local, not two files. Our guide to uploading a Valheim world to a dedicated server covers the folder format.
• Keep the conversion backup. One early problem: items on item stands and armour stands could lose their level and variant during conversion. Iron Gate fixed it in patch 1.0.12 and says the backup made on first load is the way to recover them.

Will the Deep North appear on my existing server world?

Partly. Iron Gate's 1.0 FAQ says your world "will receive new content even if it was created before the update, although biome generation will only work properly on areas that have not yet been explored." If nobody has been to the far north, it generates normally. If someone has, those zones stay as they were. We cover the options in Valheim Deep North on an existing world.

Do Valheim mods work on 1.0?

Not automatically. The FAQ is direct: "Since we don't have any official mod support, we cannot guarantee that any mods will be functional when 1.0 releases." With a new save system and a Unity engine upgrade in the same release, expect many mods to need an update. On a BepInEx server, update BepInEx and each mod to a 1.0 compatible version before starting, or remove the mod. A mod built for the old version can throw errors, crash the server or stop players joining. The full process is in how to install Valheim mods on a dedicated server.

Did admin and ban lists change in 1.0?

Player IDs did. In Hotfix 1.0.12 (September 11), Iron Gate "fixed a problem with banlist and whitelist that made them only compatible with new IDs (e.g. V_123456789) even though they should work with old IDs too (e.g. Steam_123456789)" (Steam). If a ban or whitelist entry stopped working after launch, update the server. Press F2 in game to see the ID each player has now. Our Valheim admin commands guide covers the list files.

What this means for your server

1. Update the server. The dedicated server is app ID 896660 in SteamCMD. Every player must be on the same version.
2. Back up before the first 1.0 start. The game makes its own backup on conversion, but keep your own copy too.
3. Decide on a new world. Iron Gate recommends a fresh start for the best experience, but old worlds work.
4. Turn on crossplay if you have console friends. PS5 and Switch 2 players join with the server's join code, see Valheim dedicated server crossplay.
5. Hold off on mods until each one is marked as working on 1.0.

Our Valheim servers update on every restart, have crossplay on by default on the vanilla type, and put the world folder in the file manager for uploads and backups.

FAQ

When did Valheim 1.0 come out?

Valheim 1.0 released on September 9, 2026 on PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, with crossplay between all of them.

How many players can join a Valheim 1.0 server?

Up to 10. Iron Gate's 1.0 FAQ describes it as a game for 1 to 10 players, the same as before.

Do I need a new world for the Deep North?

No, but unexplored areas are the only ones that generate the new biome properly. If your group already explored the far north, those zones will not change on their own.

Where are Valheim 1.0 world files on a server?

Each world is a folder inside worlds_local, with the world data split into chunk files and backups in separate folders.

Can PS5 and Switch 2 players join a Valheim dedicated server?

Yes, if crossplay is enabled on the server. They join with the join code the server prints in its console.