Valheim has a Hardcore mode in development, according to Iron Gate’s Jonathan Smårs, who revealed more on a slate of proposed new custom settings in development.
Smårs, warning that any settings presented aren’t necessarily final, shared a series of tweets on options like hardcore mode, and what it might offer to shake things up in terms of options for Valheim. He showed a short clip of settings that included a number of world modifiers and sliders that might be added. These modifiers included a wide range of settings, including ones that were geared towards a more serene experience. Those included “Easy” and “Casual” presets, alongside Hardcore, and more.
Are your ready for hardcore mode in #Valheim? ?? ..or do you prefer something more chill? Note: Actual settings are not final! @valheimgame #gamedev #indiedev #gamedevelopment pic.twitter.com/9OtOxDpkAo
— Jonathan Smårs (@jsmars) April 17, 2023
Some of the customization sliders could change things like combat difficulty–which he set to very hard–what the death penalty would be, resource rate, and raid rate. There are also additions you could choose to include or exclude, like player-based events, no build cost, no portals, passive enemies, or portal items. For an even more hardcore experience, there's also a no map option.
After some initial feedback, particularly about the death penalty slider, he demonstrated the range of options and how they’d work. For hardcore, this means you would lose all carried items and skills permanently if you die. You set this to casual, you won't drop your equipped gear, and your skills will only be slightly reduced if you die. A very easy setting would mean you'll drop all of your items and your skills will also be slightly reduced. In other words, they are working on a number of options to let all types of players strike the right balance for them.
In response to a question, Smårs elaborated:
“Thanks! Hardcore is more related to losing progress and very hard is more of a upscale of current mechanics.”
Another person offered feedback on potentially adding in a no death penalty slider and making these settings character-based instead of world-based. This too is under consideration.
Whenever the final form is ready, Valheim will get new settings on both PC and Xbox.
