Valheim creators explain why they aren’t expanding the team despite millions of copies sold

The game’s success hasn’t changed how Iron Gate organizes its work.

Representatives from Automaton Japan spoke with Jonathan Smars, lead engineer and game designer at Iron Gate.

The developer explained why they chose not to expand Iron Gate’s team:

“We’re often asked why we don’t hire more staff. Our team members operate like close friends, and that allows us to concentrate on creating something exceptional. I think many players value that we stick to an old‑school approach to development and our vision for the game, and we’ve managed to cultivate a very healthy relationship with our community.”

The growing number of survival games competing with Valheim doesn’t concern the team:

“I’m pleased to see other games following our lead. Moreover, I hope we can share what worked in Valheim with other developers. If creators exchange their experiences, the survival genre will advance as a whole, which will ultimately benefit us as well.”

Source: iXBT.games