Ashlands, one of the biggest expansions for the Norse-inspired survival game Valheim, has gone live. It adds the Ashlands biome, which is set to be the game’s penultimate region, along with dozens of new weapons, items, enemies and more.

In late April, Valheim developer Iron Gate released a trailer for the Ashlands expansion and launched it on the Public Test Realm for players to try out. After roughly three weeks of testing, the developers deemed the expansion ready for a full release and made it available to everyone today, May 14th. The stable build includes over 30 new weapons, over 70 new buildable items, dozens of new creatures, and crafting materials. It also expands the overall feel of the game with new music, locations, and events.

During the initial PTR release, Iron Gate described the Ashlands region as the game’s most challenging biome yet, advising players to prepare for it so they could brave the biome’s harsh hellish climate, undead enemies, sea monsters, and exceptionally difficult bosses. Given that it’s the penultimate region in the game, this seems natural and builds excitement for what the developers have planned for the end of the game. Valheim is still in Early Access and has been since 2021, and any expansions are seen as mere steps toward a full release.

As it stands, Valheim’s only final biome remains: the Deep North. With development on the Ashlands now complete, perhaps the studio will move on to this final ice-covered region. The Deep North is already in the game, albeit largely unfinished, and only the developers know what its true features, enemies, and gameplay loop will be. Still, players now have the chance to experience the near-endgame environment of the Ashlands, marking a significant milestone in the game’s three-year journey.