Why Early Access?

“Vanaden is entering Early Access to allow players to experience the foundational systems while we continue to develop and expand the game based on community feedback.

The current Early Access build represents the early stage of our vision. While it features first-person exploration, stealth, and survival, the experience is incomplete. We still have major content additions and core systems to implement. The current build is intended to establish the atmosphere, but it does not yet represent the full game or all intended features.

Early Access is not being used as a form of crowdfunding. Development will continue regardless of sales performance. Instead, Early Access allows us to gather player feedback to guide the creation of new content and features, rather than just polishing what already exists.

Our goal with Early Access is to collaborate with the community to build out the remaining content and systems, while being transparent about the current state of development.

Players should purchase Vanaden based on what is available today, with the understanding that the game is currently under active construction and will receive significant new gameplay updates over time.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We expect Vanaden to remain in Early Access for approximately 9 to 12 months.
This timeframe allows us to iterate on feedback, refine core systems such as enemy AI, pacing, and difficulty, and expand content while maintaining a stable and playable experience throughout Early Access.

The exact duration may vary depending on development progress and player feedback, and we will transition to full release once the game reaches a level of polish and completeness that meets our quality standards.”

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

“We plan for the full version of Vanaden to expand upon the Early Access experience through additional content, refinements, and overall polish.

Planned improvements include expanding the labyrinth with new areas, environmental variations, and optional objectives, as well as further refining enemy AI behavior, stealth mechanics, and difficulty balance based on player feedback.

We also plan to improve pacing, progression, and puzzle design, and to enhance visual, audio, and performance optimization across a wider range of hardware configurations.

The full release is intended to represent a more complete, cohesive, and polished version of the current experience, while preserving the core gameplay and atmosphere established during Early Access.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The Early Access version of Vanaden is a fully playable build that delivers the core intended experience of the game.

Players can explore the cursed labyrinth, encounter and avoid hostile enemies using stealth-based mechanics, interact with environmental hiding spots, activate altars to unlock new paths, and progress through objectives while solving puzzles. The current version includes complete core systems such as movement, enemy AI, sound-based detection, exploration, and progression.

While the game is playable from start to finish in its current form, ongoing development during Early Access will focus on expanding content, refining balance and pacing, improving AI behavior, and polishing visuals, audio, and performance.

Players should expect occasional updates and adjustments as feedback is incorporated, but the Early Access version already represents the foundation of the final game experience.”

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

“We plan for the Early Access price of Vanaden to reflect the current scope and content available at the time of purchase.

We do not plan to change the price during or after Early Access. Our goal is to ensure that players receive fair value regardless of when they choose to support the game.

We are committed to offering the same price to all players as the game evolves from Early Access to full release.”

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

“We plan to actively involve the community throughout Early Access by listening to player feedback and using it to guide ongoing development.

Players will be encouraged to share feedback, bug reports, and suggestions through the Steam Community Hub, discussion forums, and update comments. We will monitor feedback closely and prioritize adjustments related to balance, difficulty, pacing, AI behavior, and overall player experience.

Major updates and changes will be communicated through Steam announcements and patch notes to keep players informed about the game’s progress and development direction.

Community feedback will play an important role in shaping refinements and improvements as Vanaden continues to evolve during Early Access.”