The open world survival game Valheim has recently taken the gaming world by storm. The team behind the title, Iron Gate, managed to create a multiplayer experience that players have been diving into around the world. Set in a mythical world of Vikings and dangerous beasts, Valheim has a unique but modest graphics style. Those wondering if it is better to play with Vulkan enabled should read this guide for more information.
Since the title is still in early access, the overall world and style has some limits. However, fans can enjoy Vulkan API support after the dedicated server update to Valheim. Typically, players will be familiar with commonly utilized graphics APIs like DirectX. If able to access this option, gamers should try it out as it can add a noticeable difference to the title.
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A game running smoothly is always one of the most desirable aspects while playing. With Vulkan enabled, fans can expect Valheim to be a much more fluid experience. The game is not pushing the boundaries of what graphics can do, but the style is distinct. After turning on the API these visuals can see huge improvements too. Of these are ray tracing details, which are lighting techniques that have been appearing in more games recently. Vulkan can run this graphical feature, so fans may want to opt for using it over normal.
For those wondering, it is pretty easy to turn Vulkan on and off for the title. When booting from Steam, there will be a pop up menu before starting the game. From here, just select the option to enable the API before playing. There is also way to choose the mode manually by typing in a console command. Within the game's launch options, just set "-force-vulkan" and Valheim will start to use the feature. Players should try turning it on and off to see how exactly it effects the game graphically. Mileage can vary depending on the user's hardware, but overall there should be some visual boosts.
Crafting and multiplayer can be the main draw for many players when it comes to the game. But, the diverse world filled with multiple biomes is what makes exploring this title so engaging. Being able to improve the visuals by enabling Vulkan makes it worth it over the normal mode. As Iron Gate continues to follow its roadmap and build on Valheim, the visuals and locations will likely get better too.
That said, fans should keep in mind that Vulkan boosts are only as good as the hardware. With Valheim crushing sales counts, some players may find that the improvements are not worth the trade off. In any case, enabling it is simple enough so those playing the open world survival game may want to check it out.
Valheim is in early access on PC.