‘Towerborne’ will launch first on Steam Early Access with Xbox Game Preview in tow, ahead of a 2025 free-to-play launch

'Towerborne' will launch first on Steam Early Access with Xbox Game Preview in tow, ahead of a 2025 free-to-play launch

What you need to know

  • Towerborne is an upcoming side-scrolling online co-op beat ’em up from Stoic, known for The Banner Saga. 
  • Published by Xbox, Towerborne is (for now) slated as an Xbox Series X|S and PC exclusive. 
  • Today at Gamescom, Stoic revealed that Towerborne will launch initially in Steam Early Access on September 10, 2024. Xbox Game Preview will follow at a later date. 
  • Towerborne will launch in full some time in 2025, as a free-to-play title. 

As a long-time fan of Stoic Studios and The Banner Saga trilogy, I am beyond excited for their latest offering, Towerborne! Having sunk countless hours into side-scrolling beat ’em ups like Castle Crashers, Streets of Rage, and Golden Axe, the prospect of a modern take on this classic genre is absolutely thrilling.


Towerborne is an upcoming Xbox / PC game developed by Stoic, known for The Banner Saga. 

Towerborne draws inspiration from classic side-scrolling beat ’em ups such as Castle Crashers, Streets of Rage, and Golden Axe, but with a contemporary twist. Fundamentally, Towerborne is an online game that emphasizes loot collection, allowing players to seek out diverse weaponry, enhancements, and gear to customize their combatants uniquely.

During Gamescom 2024, we got a sneak peek at the latest trailer for Towerborne, as well as some insight into its potential release date. It could arrive earlier than anticipated, although there is a hint of uncertainty about this. In other words, it’s possible that you might get to play Towerborne sooner rather than later.

Why is Towerborne choosing Early Access?

'Towerborne' will launch first on Steam Early Access with Xbox Game Preview in tow, ahead of a 2025 free-to-play launch

Today, Stoic revealed that the game Towerborne is set to debut first on Steam Early Access on September 10th. An Xbox Game Preview release will take place at a later date.

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but highlight Trisha Stouffer’s insightful words as CEO of Stoic. She emphasized that our game development journey begins with our Founders – individuals who choose to be part of the initial process, helping us mold the complete game.

Stoic aims to replicate the achievement they had with The Banner Saga on Kickstarter by offering a Steam Early Access Founders Pack. They want dedicated gamers who have a strong interest in the game to participate and offer their valuable feedback, which will assist in shaping the final product.

According to Game Director Daniel McLaren, the Founders Pack and Early Access phase are primarily focused on refining the game before its official launch in 2025. This dual purpose allows us to identify issues early and address them promptly. Additionally, it brings together a dedicated group of players who are passionate about the game, eager to support Stoic, and excited to contribute to the evolution of Towerborne.

In their blog post on Xbox Wire, Xbox expressed their alignment with Stoic’s methodology. Kristofor Mellroth, an Executive Producer at Xbox Games Studios Publishing, stated, “We share the same ambition – to develop a game that keeps players engaged for a long time. From the outset, we knew Towerborne would follow an unusual path. By initially focusing on a specific group and gradually expanding, this strategy enables the team to consistently refine and optimize the intricate systems, aiming to make them as enjoyable as possible.”

What is Towerborne?

'Towerborne' will launch first on Steam Early Access with Xbox Game Preview in tow, ahead of a 2025 free-to-play launch

Towerborne is a side-scrolling action game that emphasizes accessibility and quick, manageable gaming sessions. Its intense combat is influenced by the hefty, impactful weaponry found in games such as Monster Hunter and From Software’s Soulsborne series, but it’s crafted for players of all abilities and time commitments. Towerborne also takes a lot from Diablo-style games like Diablo 4 with its loot systems, providing players a large platform to create their personalized playstyles.

Arnie Jorgensen from Stoic, the co-founder, emphasizes that it’s unnecessary to dedicate countless hours monthly just to match others’ pace. He encourages playing as much or as little as one desires, taking breaks to explore other games, and then returning. It’s crucial to understand that everyone experiences gaming uniquely, meaning short sessions can still be incredibly rewarding or you could play for extended periods.

In my analysis of Towerborne last year, I was instantly captivated by its compelling “one more mission” gameplay style that Stoic aims to achieve here. The missions available span from brief, responsive tasks, to challenging, laborious ones. This selection mirrors deciding between a swift 10-minute Nightmare Dungeon in Diablo IV or organizing a group of friends for extended hours of boss battles and similar activities.

Towerborne hits Steam Early Access on September 10, and goes fully free-to-play in 2025

'Towerborne' will launch first on Steam Early Access with Xbox Game Preview in tow, ahead of a 2025 free-to-play launch

One less common method Microsoft employs is the Early Access approach, but it’s clear that Steam offers highly developed systems for delivering this type of experience. In contrast, the Microsoft Store lacks such systems and has a much smaller user base compared to Steam. Given its dominant position on PC platforms, Valve’s Steam platform would be the preferred choice if the aim is to collect feedback.

The “free-to-play” feature may raise some questions. It wasn’t clarified in the blog post whether Towerborne will avoid “pay-to-win” criticism. Free games are initially more appealing, but encountering a paywall can limit access. So, how does free-to-play work in Towerborne? Will I be able to purchase powerful weapons instead of earning them? Will there be time restrictions unless I make purchases? What’s the advantage of having Xbox Game Pass if Towerborne is already free? These are some of the questions that might arise.

Regrettably, there are more queries than responses about this, but the fact stands that Towerborne is undeniably enjoyable to experience. Participating in its Steam Early Access phase will surely amplify the fun.

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2024-08-20 22:40