Summary
An update for life simulatorDisney Dreamlight Valleyis likely coming soon, adding more Disney and Pixar characters and advancing the game’s plot of restoring Dreamlight Valley after it was damaged by the dark magic of the Forgetting. Two teasers for the update have been shown, a still image on the game’s 2024 roadmap and a six-second video shared via the officialDisney Dreamlight ValleyX account. From these brief bits of content, it is possible to identify several new elements making their way to the game in the next update.
New Armored Outfit May Indicate Plot Direction
In the six-second video teaser, a character is shown from the waist down. They are wearing anew outfit, a suit of armor in Dreamlight Valley’s signature colorsof blue, purple, silver, and gold. The armor set seems to include a pair of boots, leggings with attached greaves, a more heavily armored upper piece, and metal gauntlets. Because the top part of the character is not shown, it is unclear whether a helmet or accessories such as a shield or weapon are included.
The presence of armor seems to indicate that the plot may introduce a new villain who the protagonist must take up arms against. Recently, the villain of the first part ofDreamlight Valley’sstory, The Forgotten, was redeemed. While the paid “A Rift in Time” expansion introduces Jafar fromAladdinas a new antagonist, no new bad guy has taken over in the main plot. Potential Disney villains to take the stage include:
The Armor Could Also Mean More Levels Are Being Added
Currently, the maximum level inDisney Dreamlight Valleyis Level 40. Many players who have been playing since Day 1 reached this level a long time ago, as experience is granted by a number of tasks including planting and harvesting crops, foraging, fishing, and more. It is possible that the new armor set indicates that more levels above 40 are being added. Two previous originalDreamlight Valley-themed outfits were awarded to players upon reaching certain levels, one in general Valley colors and one inspired byThe Forgotten. The armor, which also features the Valley’s general aesthetic and color scheme, could be a reward for higher levels.
A Highly Anticipated Decorative Item Is Being Added
In addition to the armor, the teaser also provided a brief look at a new decorative item: the iconic statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse side by side. This statue, known as “Partners,” was designed in 1993 and appears in several Disney Parks around the world. Players have been eager to decorate their Valleys with this statue since the game first launched. It appears that the Walt and Mickey statue will be fairly large, and will likely be limited to outdoor placement in the Valley. It remains to be seen how it will be given to players: purchased in Scrooge McDuck’s store, given as aStar Pathreward, or sold for Moonstones in the Premium Shop.
The New Update May Solve Dreamlight Valley’s Biggest Mystery
TheDisney Dreamlight Valley2024 roadmap revealed a small amount of new information about the upcoming update, which will likely be released in late February or early March. It is confirmed thatcharacters from the Pixar filmMonsters, Inc.-Mike Wazowski and his partner James P. “Sulley” Sullivan - will be joining the game, and will be recruited by traveling to theMonsters, Inc.Realm via the Dream Castle. The addition of Mike and Sulley will likely bring with it newMonsters, Inc.themed furniture and clothing items, as well as Friendship Quests for both members of the pair.
However, the scare-loving monsters may not be the only addition toDisney Dreamlight Valleyin the next update. On the 2024 Roadmap, behind Mike is a picture of Skull Rock, a location in the Dazzle Beach biome ofDisney Dreamlight Valley.The rock cannot currently be opened, but several characters, including Merlin and The Forgotten, have mentioned feeling like someone or something is trapped inside the rock. A quest added in a previous update, “Between a Skull Rock and a Hard Place,” had players complete the first step towards opening Skull Rock by channeling the magic of all the other biomes, but the process was halted before it could be completed.
Who Could Be Inside Skull Rock?
Theories about who or what could be located inside Skull Rock have abounded since the game’s release. One popular theory is that it could be Peter Pan or Captain Hook fromPeter Pan,due to the presence of a similarly-shaped rock in Neverland. Another possibility is characters from the live-actionPirates of the Caribbeanfranchise, as pirates and skulls are closely associated. The third, although least common, suggestion is that it might be Winnie the Pooh and his friends, as during one adventure they journeyed to the “Skull” looking for Christopher Robin (as they misread the word “school” in his note.)
The reveal of the new armor and the image of Skull Rock definitely suggest that the nextDreamlight Valleyupdate will focus on advancing the main plot, not just character-related content. This will be good to see, as the previous “Pumpkin King Returns” update limited plot content to “A Rift in Time” and “Enchanted Adventure,” the update before that, was entirely limited to character content. While the official release date for the new update has not yet been announced, it definitely seems like the mystery of Skull Rock and its contents will be solved at long last.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
WHERE TO PLAY
Disney Dreamlight Valley is a hybrid between a life-sim and an adventure game rich with quests, exploration, and engaging activities featuring Disney and Pixar friends, both old and new.Once an idyllic land, Dreamlight Valley was a place where Disney and Pixar characters lived in harmony—until the Forgetting. Night Thorns grew across the land and severed the wonderful memories tied to this magical place. With nowhere else to go, the hopeless inhabitants of Dreamlight Valley retreated behind locked doors in the Dream Castle.Now it’s up to you to discover the stories of this world and bring the magic back to Dreamlight Valley.Free the Dream Castle from the insidious grip of the Forgetting, and unlock the unique Realms of well-loved Disney and Pixar characters, including great queens and kings such as Anna and Simba. Each Realm contains unique challenges with puzzles to solve in the quest to bring friendship back to the Valley.You’ll start your adventure in the Valley, but your journey will take you to infinity… and beyond! Explore what lurks in the Forest of Valor and brave the deepest caverns as you take on challenges from iconic Disney and Pixar heroes and villains. Who knows who—or what—you might discover.
