Iron Gate Studios' creative director, Robin Eyre, is currently navigating the complex landscape of game development, diligently advancing the highly anticipated 1.0 release of Valheim while simultaneously nurturing a new independent project, the co-op dungeon crawler Begraved. This dual commitment has sparked discussions among the gaming community, with some players expressing reservations about the allocation of his time and focus. Eyre, however, reassures fans that his engagement with Begraved is a personal endeavor, undertaken outside of his primary responsibilities at Iron Gate, and stems from an unwavering passion for creating new gaming experiences.

Valheim, a survival game that entered early access five years ago, is nearing its completion, with the final biome in development and a planned launch for PlayStation and Switch 2 in 2026. The widespread anticipation for its full release has been palpable, making the recent announcement of Eyre's side project, Begraved, a first-person co-op dungeon crawler, a point of discussion. Developed under a new independent studio, Grip Jaw, by Eyre and two other Iron Gate team members during their personal hours, Begraved has led some players to wonder if this new venture might divert attention from Valheim's much-awaited 1.0 version.

Addressing these concerns directly, Eyre explained that Begraved is a passion project, a "hobby in the evenings," and not a competitor to Valheim. He emphasized that he and his team are not owners of Iron Gate but dedicated employees who are fully committed to Valheim's development every day. Their work on Begraved is a manifestation of their deep love for game creation, allowing them an outlet to develop smaller-scale games in their spare time without compromising their dedication to Valheim's journey toward its 1.0 launch. Eyre acknowledged that convincing everyone of this commitment might be challenging, but reiterated his continuous daily involvement with Valheim.

Eyre further clarified his position, stating that he continues to enjoy working on Valheim. His desire to create additional games stems from a fundamental drive to bring more enjoyable experiences to players, regardless of their scale. He views his involvement in Begraved not as an alternative to Valheim, but as a complementary creative outlet. He lightheartedly remarked that given more time, he would even embark on a third project, underscoring his boundless enthusiasm for game development and his ability to compartmentalize and dedicate himself to multiple creative pursuits simultaneously.