I am pleased to announce that Towerborne today officially released for Steam Early Access. This marks an exciting new chapter for Stoic, building on the foundation we laid with the Banner Saga trilogy. Thanks to our partnership with Xbox, we’ve brought a new Stoic adventure to life – where player feedback will directly influence the future of the game.
In our third developer diary, we dive into some of Towerborne’s coolest features – like the flexible combat system and the trusty Umbra companions. We’re really excited to show how the game allows players to shape their own experiences, whether they’re seasoned pros or ARPG newbies, while staying true to our goal of creating a world that grows and evolves with the community.
A cooperative brawler RPG adventure
Towerborne’s gameplay is inspired by iconic side-scrolling brawlers, combining a familiar couch co-op feel with a highly customizable and modern action RPG core. You take on the role of an Ace, a hero tasked with defending humanity, and join forces with other Aces to explore a vast, ever-expanding world steeped in history. Fight monsters, collect loot, and grow stronger together as you uncover secrets and protect the last remnants of civilization.
The core of Towerborne gameplay is delightfully action-packed and consistently rewarding. In-game combat, shaped by decades of fighting game experience, balances complicated button combinations with intuitive, ready-to-play mechanics. True to the Stoic tradition, the sights and sounds of Towerborne’s ever-expanding world have been carefully crafted to bring your adventure to life – including a soundtrack by the legendary Austin Wintorywhose work on titles such as Journey, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and our own Banner Saga trilogy has set a new standard for music mastery in the industry.
Since our first concept pitch years ago, we’ve designed Towerborne to be a free-to-play game, promising players that they’ll only have to pay for cosmetic items and convenience features, if they want them, but not for power progression. We want to keep our game fair and fun – and we want to delight you with what we build to enhance your gaming experience.
At Towerborne, we’re in this for the long haul. We plan to continue developing this game with you and supporting it with regular updates, new content, new classes, new weapons, new enemies, and new storylines for years to come.
The partnership that paved the way
At Stoic, our relationship with our players is unique. Without you, we literally wouldn’t exist. From the beginning, it was players who shared our vision and invested in its implementation that paved the way for us to present the Banner Saga Trilogy to the world.
Today, Towerborne is playable in Steam Early Access. And while Towerborne is a significantly different game, it is still our connection and commitment to players that drives us. It’s in our DNA. With Towerborne, we needed a partner who could keep up with our big goal – and we found that partner in Xbox.
Working with Xbox Game Studios has been transformative, allowing us to go beyond our original vision and pave the way for Towerborne to evolve into something much bigger. Xbox not only invested in our project, but believed in our philosophy: the importance of building – not just for Players, but with them.
Early Access means a better game
We chose Steam Early Access for two main reasons: First, it provides a studio like ours with the ideal space to gather feedback and iterate quickly – a process that Xbox fully supports as it ensures the best experience for players. Second, launching with Steam helps us build a solid foundation before expanding to the larger, global audience with Xbox Game Preview.
We’ve seen the value of player-led development before, most notably with Banner Saga, where early backers helped shape the game. This time, we’re taking it a step further and making Steam Early Access a deliberate and strategic starting point. Steam allows us to build a meaningful relationship with our core, engaged players and gather feedback that ensures Towerborne’s development is guided by player experiences. This incremental approach isn’t about holding anything back – it’s about refining Towerborne so it’s as polished, fun, and content-rich as possible when we’re ready to release the full game.
Your Guide to Towerborne Steam Early Access
Purchasing a Founder’s Pack gives you early access to the game, as well as exclusive items such as cosmetics, Umbra skins, and monthly rewards. These packs offer unique customization options for your Ace and will also be available in future releases. In Early Access, players can experience the entire core of the game, including missions, combat, and exploration. You’ll experience dozens of hours of gameplay and experiment with different weapon classes and Umbra companions.
When Towerborne launches on Xbox and Windows PC via Xbox Game Preview in 2025, it will deliver a comprehensive, fully realized experience from day one.
New game, same stoic
The Banner Saga was a true passion project – a journey we created with as much passion as you. With Towerborne, we’ve put that same passion and dedication into every detail, carrying on the spirit that drives everything we do at Stoic. Steam Early Access is just the first step in an exciting adventure. We’ve created something we’re incredibly proud of, but none of it would have been possible without the support of players like you.
After years of dedication, we hand this world over to you. And it will only get bigger and better from here on out. We’re excited to see where you take us next.
Jump into Towerborne on Steam Today!
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