Tears of Metal Early Access Roadmap: Confirmed Plans Only
What Paper Cult has officially confirmed for Tears of Metal Early Access, what is actively being worked on, and what has no announced date.
Paper Cult plans roughly 4–12 months of Early Access, with new heroes, an Emblem family, equipment, Charms, companions, village content, balance work, performance improvements, and quality-of-life features. Exact delivery dates are not guaranteed.
What is confirmed
- The Steam page estimates 4–12 months in Early Access.
- The launch build already contains the complete three-act core progression loop.
- New heroes, an Emblem family, equipment, Charms, companions, and village content are planned.
- Major networking, revive, companion, balance, and performance updates shipped in August; mid-run saves remain active work.
What is already in the Early Access build
- The full progression and metaprogression loop through the end of the third act.
- Three acts with different biomes, enemies, elites, and bosses.
- Three playable heroes with their own gear, synergies, and playstyles.
- Village upgrades, Emblems, equipment, companions, events, encounters, and secrets.
- Solo play and online co-op for up to four players.
Confirmed categories of planned content
| Category | Officially planned | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| Playable content | New playable heroes | Not announced |
| Buildcraft | New Emblem family, equipment, and Charms | Not announced |
| Army and settlement | New companions and additional village content | Not announced |
| Systems | Balance, performance, and quality-of-life improvements | Ongoing |
| Session continuity | Mid-run saves | Still actively worked on; no date stated |
| Online play | Networking and desync optimization | Major August update shipped; follow-up fixes ongoing |
Why 4–12 months is not a release date
The Steam Early Access questionnaire gives an estimate, not a contractual launch window. The developer also says community feedback will shape the schedule and scope. A responsible roadmap therefore tracks categories and shipped patches without inventing quarterly dates.
When a feature moves from 'planned' to 'released,' the patch notes—not the original roadmap paragraph—become the controlling source.
Near-term priorities after launch
The August 13 update shipped major networking optimization, HP-based revives, more crash and performance fixes, and the new companion Aodh. The August 14 patch followed with multiplayer state-desync fixes. Mid-run saving remains explicitly in progress.
These shipped changes show why the patch tracker controls feature status. A roadmap label should change only when the developer publishes a release note, not when a community request becomes popular.
How we label roadmap claims
- Released: present in an official live patch or store description.
- In progress: explicitly described by Paper Cult as active work.
- Planned: named for Early Access without a date.
- Unconfirmed: community request, teaser interpretation, or third-party claim without a current official commitment.
How this guide was verified
We use official store listings and developer announcements for changing facts. Strategy recommendations are labeled as editorial guidance.
- Official Steam store page ↗Release status, game structure, co-op count, content scope, and PC requirements.
- Official Early Access launch post ↗Three-act launch scope, three playable heroes, full progression loop, and planned additions.
- Official August 14 patch notes — v0.14.58630 ↗Latest reviewed build, multiplayer bug fixes, and the current crossplay warning.
- Official August 13 update — v0.12.58540 ↗Networking optimization, HP-based revives, Aodh, performance work, and Steam Deck stability fixes.
- Official Steam announcements and patch notes ↗Current build notes, multiplayer priorities, unlock fixes, and crossplay notices.