Why Early Access?

“The core world, digging, and movement systems are solid and genuinely
fun to explore. The automation and combat systems we envision for the
full game are still being built. Early Access lets us develop those
systems with real player feedback — so when they arrive, they feel
right. We've published on Steam before and we know the difference
between a game that needs more time and a game that needs more players.
Rift Digger needs both, in that order.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We're aiming for roughly 6 to 9 months, though this may change
depending on the scope of feedback and features we add during
development. We plan to update every 4 to 6 weeks.”

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

“We plan to expand significantly on every system currently in the game.
Our current thinking includes adding subordinate robot types that can
automate digging, collecting, and construction — freeing the player to
focus on strategy. We're also planning production chains where raw
resources are processed into components and weapons across multiple
facility types, and a rift combat system where captured portals must
be defended against escalating threats.

We're also hoping to add a full research tree, a challenge and scenario
system, a complete campaign with a clear win condition, and combat effects. The scope and specifics of these
plans may evolve based on player feedback during Early Access — that's
exactly why we're releasing this way. What ships at 1.0 will be shaped
by what players tell us matters most.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The isometric world (300×300 tiles across multiple biomes), the digging
mechanic, resource drops, and the main robot's movement and pathfinding
are working and playable. Rifts appear on the map with ambient effects.
The game is currently best described as an exploration sandbox —
the automation, bot, and combat systems are under active development
and will arrive in upcoming updates.”

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

“We plan to raise the price when the game leaves Early Access. Buying
during Early Access locks in the lower price and includes all future
updates through launch and beyond.”

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

“Community feedback is the reason I'm releasing in Early Access rather than waiting for a full launch. Here's how I'll use it:
I'll post a Steam Community update after every significant update — typically every 4 to 6 weeks. Each post will describe what changed, what I'm working on next, and what I'm unsure about. The discussion board will be the primary place for players to report bugs, request features, and vote on priorities. I'll respond to every thread in the first month.
Specifically, I want community input on: how the robot subordinate task system should feel to control, what the right difficulty curve looks like for rift combat, and which resource types and production chains are most satisfying. These are design questions I can't answer alone — I need players testing and telling me what works.
I've shipped games before and I know that players find things I never anticipated. The Early Access period is when I fix those things, not after a full launch when it's too late.”