Disney Dreamlight Valley has enjoyed a successful Early Access phase since its release in August 2022. Dreamlight Valley is on track to exit Early Access sometime this year, launching as a free-to-play title. Current plans for the title appear set to elevate it to a whole other level, as Dreamlight Valley's Early 2023 Roadmap promises new characters, locations, realms, modes, and a few extra surprises.
Disney Dreamlight Valley combines elements of Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, presenting players a chance to build their own village of Disney characters. The game also features a series of story missions that task players with uncovering the Valley's dark past. By bringing more villagers to the Valley and completing their missions, players can discover more about how the world ties together. During Early Access characters and missions have been slowly, but once it goes free-to-play, Dreamlight Valley will unveil the complete history of Dreamlight Valley and allow players to work together in discovering its secrets.
Huge Updates are Coming to Disney Dreamlight Valley in 2023
Dreamlight Valley's Early 2023 Content Roadmap is packed with content, the next major update for Dreamlight Valley being the Festival of Friendship on February 16. This will bring Encanto's Mirabel and Frozen's Olaf to the Valley, alongside story missions for the Frosted Heights Biome and a new Star Path. Future updates will include Simba from the Lion King, as well as missions for the remaining biomes. However, it's the "big-picture" updates shared by developer Gameloft that give players a glimpse of just how grand the title is set to become.
Though a specific release date has not been announced, Dreamlight Valley going free-to-play will open the door to far more players given the game is available on nearly every modern platform. Up to now, fans have been paying to experience Dreamlight Valley in Early Access, with some exclusive perks as compensation, but far more is on the horizon.
The final section of the Dreamlight Valley Early 2023 Content Roadmap announces multiplayer will be added by the end of 2023. This should allow players to work together during Missions, explore each other's Valleys, and discover the mysteries of the Forgetting: a cataclysmic event that sets Dreamlight Valley's story into motion. Up until now, Early Access players have been alone, often with long waits between meaningful story updates. Dreamlight Valley's community-building will certainly expand once players are able to share their stories and items with one another.
2023 is Just The Beginning for Disney Dreamlight Valley
In its first four months, players spent 76 million hours playing Dreamlight Valley despite the title lacking content for nearly every biome and character. With its official release by the end of 2023, it may feel to many early adopters that Dreamlight Valley is reaching completion, but that could not be further from the truth.
The official release of Dreamlight Valley will offer a vastly different experience, accompanied by a free-to-play model and multiplayer features. More importantly, releasing the full version gives Gameloft the opportunity to focus on consistently providing new characters, items, and special events to Dreamlight Valley, as the basic infrastructure will be set.
Currently, the game is expected to release by the second half of 2023, with multiplayer added soon after. Dreamlight Valley plans to add characters, mission content, and items bi-monthly until then, and for many fans it is exciting to imagine what Dreamlight Valley will look like once the details of its full release are revealed. Given how successful it has been so far, players may be in for a truly magical experience once Dreamlight Valley really hits its stride.
Disney Dreamlight Valley is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
