The Long Dark will officially release on 1 August 2017 after spending three years on Steam Early Access. Hinterland Studio have already detailed some of their update plans that will accompany the official release
Hinterland Studio celebrates the end of the Early Access period of The Long Dark and releases the title in its version 1.0 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One with a trailer and images dedicated to the mainstream campaign of this ambitious first-person survival.
The “definitive” version of The Long Dark will be available from August 1st, and will include several enhancements and additions to the Sandbox mode and all the chapters of Wintermute, the singleplayer adventure focused on the actions of an unlucky explorer called to survive among the Ices of Canada.
The Long Dark is a thoughtful, exploration-survival experience that challenges solo players to think for themselves as they explore an expansive frozen wilderness. There are no zombies — only you, the cold, and everything Mother Nature can throw at you.
Current Game Features
The Early Access version of The Long Dark features the game’s non-narrative Survival Sandbox mode. The game will leave Early Access one we launch Episode One of our Story Mode. All Season One episodes are included in the cost of Early Access.
No hand holding! The game challenges players to think for themselves by providing the information but never the answers. You have to earn the right to survive.
Permadeath! See how long you can survive, check your standing on the global Leaderboards, then head back in and push yourself to survive longer.
Monitor your Calorie count, Hunger and Thirst, Fatigue, and Body Temperature. Maintain your overall Condition if you want to survive. Let yourself weaken and any small threat may lead to your death.
Over 30 square kms of wilderness to explore (and with more regions coming!). Mystery Lake, Coastal Highway, Desolation Point, Pleasant Valley, and more, all interconnected and each with dozens of explorable locations.
Dynamic weather, wildlife, and time of day, all with an impact on how you choose to survive.
Over 100 gear items including clothing, tools like hatchets and rifles, first aid equipment, foodstuffs, light sources like lanterns and flares, and firestarting equipment.
Hunt Deer, Snare Rabbits, and watch for Crows as they can signify the presence of animal, or human, corpses that can be vital sources of Supplies. Wolves are territorial and will defend their territory, or stalk you if they catch your scent. If you let them get too close, you may find yourself in a desperate struggle to survive. Be on the lookout for Black Bears, as they roam the landscape in search of food.
Harvest Wood for fuel, maintain your Gear and Clothing, and keep your Knife, Hatchet, and Rifle in top shape as they will save your life!
Harvest Medicinal plants like Old Man’s Beard Lichen, Rose Hips, Reishi Mushrooms.
Deep First Aid system featuring many afflictions including: Sprains, Blood Loss, Infection Risk, Infection, Food Poisoning, Dysentery, and more.
Craft Snares, First Aid items, Repair your Clothing and Tools, and Harvest raw materials from the environment, as you do your best to become self-sufficient.
…and much more!
Ongoing Development
With an average of 3-4 updates per month, The Long Dark is in a state of constant improvement. We have released over 75 updates since bringing the game to Early Access. Updates typically include new gameplay, tuning, new areas, items, and visual improvements. We are constantly improving the game based on our iterative development process, with input from the community.
Please note that the Early Access price provides immediate access to the Sandbox Mode, and includes the cost of Season One episodes of the Story Mode, the first of which will be available at the game’s full launch.