Why Early Access?

“I plan to launch my game in Early Access, where I will actively work with the community to shape its development. By gathering feedback, listening to player suggestions, and responding to their needs, I aim to refine the gameplay, add new features, and polish the overall experience. This collaborative approach will ensure that the final release is not only more complete but also closely aligned with what players truly want.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“This game will be in development for approximately three years or more. I am planning to have substantial monthly updates introducing new features meanwhile polishing the things that need it in order to keep the game playable.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“For the full release, we are planning to introduce a wide range of new features to greatly expand the gameplay experience. These include a detailed tech tree to unlock new technologies, challenging enemy raids to test player defenses and a variety of vehicles for transportation, and many more building types to enhance creativity and strategy. Our goal is to deliver a richer, deeper, and more dynamic world for players to immerse themselves in.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The current Early Access version of Hardship includes a fully playable single-player experience with core gameplay systems already implemented. These include:

Basic survival mechanics such as hunger, thirst, fatigue, and environmental effects (e.g. weather and temperature).

Resource gathering systems for collecting wood, stone, food, and other materials.

Crafting and construction, allowing players to build shelters, tools, and functional town structures.

Town-building elements including zoning, infrastructure placement, and citizen management.

Day/night cycle and dynamic weather that impact player strategy and survival conditions.

User interface systems, including inventory, stat tracking, crafting menus, and save/load functionality.

All of the features listed in the “About This Game” section are currently available and implemented in this version. Further development will continue to expand on this foundation, but players can already enjoy a complete sandbox survival loop.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“The price is expected to increase as the game becomes more polished and additional content is added following the Early Access period.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“We plan to post regular updates on Steam, often accompanied by detailed patch notes to inform players about new features, improvements, and bug fixes. We also intend to monitor the Steam forums and our official Discord server to engage with the community, gather feedback, and answer questions as best we can.”