Earlier this year, Valheim launched in Early Access through Steam. To say that its success shocked the PC gaming community would be a gross understatement. What was expected to be a slow early 2021 due to a large number of pandemic-related game delays turned into the birth of the next indie blockbuster. To drive that point home, the parent company behind Valheim's publisher, Embracer Group, has confirmed the game's latest sales numbers – and it expects an even more impressive number by the end of spring.
The current number of Valheim copies sold has crossed 6.8 million, Embracer Group confirmed Thursday morning. This is yet another leap forward from Valheim's previously reported sales numbers. 6 million copies sold was first reported in late March, showing that while sales have dramatically slowed in April and May, Valheim's "slow" period is still putting up numbers many games aspire to.
Embracer isn't content, though, and says that it has lofty aspirations for Valheim through the rest of the spring. The Embracer report says that it's expecting overall sales to cross 8 million in total by the end of June. In other words, Embracer is expecting more sales over the next month than Valheim's received in the past two. That could be a hint that something exciting may be arriving in Valheim sometime soon, whether that be a new content update or another announcement.
Two things come to mind when considering what could be next for Valheim. First, the game's Hearth and Home update doesn't have a release date. It's being pitched as Valheim's first major Early Access update, so it could drive a significant number of sales. The other possibility is that Valheim could make an appearance during E3 2021, which occurs in mid-June. If Valheim is ready to announce a console release on PlayStation or Xbox, that could also lead to a significant boost in sales.
It can't be understated how impressive Valheim's launch month was, even knowing how high its sales are speculated to climb by the end of spring. Valheim started by selling more than two million copies in two weeks. Then it sold even more, crossing five million copies sold in a single month. The game's popularity grew for four weeks straight and then maintained, staying at the top of Steam's top-sellers list for eight weeks straight.
But perhaps the craziest detail that needs to be reiterated is that Valheim is in Early Access. Developer Iron Gate AB has big plans for the game going forward, adding new biomes, bosses, an expanded crafting system, and more. 2022 is the game's target full launch. Plus, 8 million in sales is likely just the beginning of Valheim's bright future.
Valheim is currently available on PC in Early Access.
Source: Embracer