Valheim: Ashlands is now available for public testing, adding an all-new biome to the game that developer Iron Gate is calling the game’s most challenging yet. Since this is the Public Test version, expect some bugs that need to be squashed and balance changes before its release to the Live version of the game. The new Ashlands update also adds over 30 new weapons, new bombs and ammunition, three new armor sets, two new capes, over 10 new creatures, over 70 new buildable items, five new crafting station upgrades, over 30 new crafting materials, over 15 new food items and potions, new locations, new music, new events, and new mechanics.
The team has also published a preparation guide for those interested in checking out the Public Test Branch. As always, players are recommended to make backups of their worlds and characters if they want to use them on the non-PTB version of the game. Also, new content will only be generated properly in previously unexplored areas of the game, so if you have already explored parts of the Ashlands, the update won’t properly generate in those areas. It’s recommended to start a new world for the best possible experience.