23 Daily — According to gamesradar.com, the independent game "Valheim" developer Iron Gate chose to release the game through Steam Early Access due to financial and manpower constraints. Richard Svensson, CEO of Iron Gate, stated that without Early Access, "Valheim" would never have achieved its current level of success because it allowed the team to develop while interacting with the live community and rapidly expanding its reach.
Early Access Propelled "Valheim" to Massive Sales Success
"Valheim" remained in Early Access for over five years, significantly longer than the average 21-month Early Access period for most games. By its official 1.0 launch in September 2026, sales exceeded 17 million copies. Svensson pointed out that as each update expanded the scope, the production scale grew, even though the team remained relatively small. Initially, adding a biome was simple, but over time the game included far richer content, extending development time.
How Developers Overcame Resource Limitations
Svensson acknowledged that the decision to use Early Access was driven by the inability to afford full development investment upfront. Early Access provided a reasonable and viable path, helping to raise funds and offering development transparency while enabling adjustments based on player feedback. This model especially benefits small teams facing resource challenges.
Editor's take: Early Access Strategy Opens New Doors for Indie Games
Iron Gate and "Valheim" demonstrate a successful example of combining Early Access with community engagement and continuous development. For startup teams facing long-term funding constraints, Early Access is not only a fundraising approach but also a way to establish early connections with target users and iterate accordingly. Entrepreneurs can validate this approach by analyzing player feedback and iteratively improving the product.