The Valheim developers bought a real horse

Valheim patch
(Image credit: Iron Gate Studios)

The incredible success of Valheim (6.8 million sales and counting) has led to big changes for developer Iron Gate Studios. While the team is still working remotely, it's finding some swish new offices, hiring a bunch of new talent... and now it's decided to buy a pony (aka a Small Horse).

The latest development update reads: "We have in a way already received a new team member, say hello to Valheim the horse! We collaborated with our friends at Skövde ryttarförening (Sköve riding club) to get them a new horse (technically pony) for their riding school. Isn’t she a beauty? You will definitely see more of her in the future. (This does not mean that we’ll introduce horses to the game, but it does mean that Iron Gate will take field trips to the stables to meet our four legged colleague)."

Check out this pony!

Valheim the pony.

(Image credit: Iron Gate Studios)

As well as detailing some minor tweaks, such as an overhaul to harpoon mechanics, the post goes on to talk about the progress on Valheim's next major update, called Hearth and Home

"The update is starting to take shape and the past month has been very productive, with many new items and mechanics being finalized. There are of course many more things we want to make before the update is released, as we don’t want to rush it." The post adds that the studio won't set a release date until it's "in a state that we can proudly present," and promises more updates in June.

It also includes a couple of zoomed-in teaser images, so if you want a very close look at a bit of fencing, boy you're in luck.

(Image credit: Iron Gate Studios.)

While the official updates are obviously a big deal, one aspect of Valheim's ongoing success has been the rapid rise of a large and creative modding community. Whether you want to design massive ships or just take a rip on Odin's mighty magic bong, players are building incredible things on its foundation. What I'm saying is: expect a Valheim the Pony mod any day now.

Rich Stanton
Senior Editor

Rich is a games journalist with 15 years' experience, beginning his career on Edge magazine before working for a wide range of outlets, including Ars Technica, Eurogamer, GamesRadar+, Gamespot, the Guardian, IGN, the New Statesman, Polygon, and Vice. He was the editor of Kotaku UK, the UK arm of Kotaku, for three years before joining PC Gamer. He is the author of a Brief History of Video Games, a full history of the medium, which the Midwest Book Review described as "[a] must-read for serious minded game historians and curious video game connoisseurs alike."

Read more
Manor Lords promo art - knight on horseback looking at a medieval village in the distance, viewed from behind
PC Gamer's Best City Builder of 2024 has sold over 2.5 million, but here's the big news: Now it has bridges
Fields of Mistria
The hottest farming sim since Stardew Valley just got its second major update, adding lava caves and pets you unlock by having a 'pet dream'
A medieval merchant in a small village
Manor Lords, the best city builder of 2024, hits 3 million sales as players continue to fill its maps with muddy medieval towns
Valheim cheats and console commands
Valheim cheats: All codes and console commands to wield godly power
The reintroduced Pathos 3 rids whirls players around in the air like a giant fidget-spinner in Planet Coaster 2
Planet Coaster 2's latest update adds synchronised rides, customisable video billboards, and stops guests suffering from perpetual panic
A lineup of different sprites created for Dwarf Fortress' Adventure Mode.
With Adventure mode squared away, Dwarf Fortress is entering a 'new era of development' as its devs shift focus toward future features
Latest in Survival & Crafting
An April Fool's Day Palworld game concept about dating Pals
From Palworld movies to Palworld TV shows: 'Everyone under the sun pitched us every idea you can imagine,' says Pocketpair's communications director
Pacific Drive Endless Expeditions spring 2025 update trailer still - a sexy, tricked-out 1980s station wagon being blasted with magic healing electricity
Pacific Drive developers change their mind: A year after refusing to give it mid-run saves, it's getting mid-run saves
minecraft diamond level sword
Minecraft's never going free-to-play because as it stands it's 'the best deal in the world'
New shaders in Minecraft following Minecraft Live 2025
In the year of our lord 2025, Mojang is finally adding shaders to Minecraft, making reflective lighting and water effects more accessible for all
A dried ghast, a ghastling, and a friendly ghast all smiling
The latest Minecraft Live uncovered the tragic truth of the Nether's most bothersome mob, which has unlocked new levels of guilt
Three mobs in their regional forms in Minecraft Spring to Life update
Minecraft Spring to Life update: everything you need to know about the newest drop
Latest in News
A mech awakens.
Mecha Break developer is considering unlocking all mechs following open beta feedback
Lara Croft Unified Art
Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics lays off 17 employees 'to better align our current business needs and the studio's future success'
A long bendy arm stealing money from people in a subway car
'You're a very long arm. You steal things. It's a comedy game,' explains developer of comedy game where you steal things with a very long arm
The heroes are attacked by monsters
Pillars of Eternity is getting turn-based combat to mark its 10th anniversary, and that means PC Gamer editors will soon be arguing about combat mechanics again
Image of Ronaldo from Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves trailer
It doesn't really make sense that soccer star Ronaldo is now a Fatal Fury character, but if you follow the money you can see how it happened
Junah beginning a battle in Metaphor: ReFantazio.
Today's RPG fans are 'very sensitive to feeling like they wasted time' when they die, says Metaphor: ReFantazio battle planner—but Atlus still made combat hard anyway