Why Early Access?

“Redwood Trails is being developed by a single developer, built from the ground up to deliver an authentic wildlife experience focused on survival, ecosystem balance, and realism. Early Access allows for community feedback while refining the game’s core systems — predator-prey interactions, territory control, and herd behavior — before expanding into multiplayer and broader ecosystem features.

By releasing in Early Access, players can directly help shape how animals behave, how the ecosystem reacts to player actions, and how balance evolves over time. The goal is to ensure Redwood Trails feels natural, immersive, and rewarding from the very beginning.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Redwood Trails is expected to remain in Early Access for at least two years or longer. Development is primarily handled by a single developer, which allows for careful iteration and community-driven updates. The goal is to fully refine gameplay systems, animal behaviors, and environmental interactions before transitioning into a complete multiplayer experience.

Staying in Early Access ensures the project has enough time to grow naturally while maintaining quality and performance.”

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

“The full version of Redwood Trails is planned to expand on the foundation established during Early Access. The goal is to evolve the game into a richer and more reactive ecosystem with deeper animal AI, improved world interactivity, and optional multiplayer functionality once core systems are stable.

Players can expect continued additions such as refined hunting and evasion mechanics, improved herd and pack behaviors, dynamic environmental events, and expanded map regions. The focus will remain on realism, balance, and maintaining an immersive natural world where every action has weight and consequence.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The Early Access version of Redwood Trails will feature the core gameplay loop centered around survival, exploration, and ecosystem balance. Players can choose to play as either a Mountain Lion or a Black-Tailed Deer, each with their own behaviors, movement, and interaction systems.

Core mechanics such as hunting, herding, territory control, and environmental effects are included in this stage. Weather cycles directly influence resources like food and water, and both predator and prey AI are functional for single-player testing.

While the world is smaller in scale for stability and performance, it provides a strong foundation for feedback and future expansion. Visual polish, animations, and additional systems will continue to improve throughout development.”

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

“Redwood Trails is planned to remain free to play throughout Early Access and after its full release. The intent is to make the experience accessible to everyone while gathering feedback and growing a supportive community around the project.

Future updates and features will continue to be available without additional cost, with no pay-to-win mechanics or premium advantages planned.”

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

“The community will play a key role in shaping Redwood Trails. Players will be included in testing periods to provide feedback on gameplay balance, animal behaviors, and ecosystem interactions. This project isn’t being developed behind closed doors — progress, challenges, and updates will be shared openly so players can follow along and contribute ideas throughout development.

Community feedback will directly influence improvements, bug fixes, and new features. The goal is to make Redwood Trails a collaborative experience built with transparency and passion from both the developer and the players.”