Why Early Access?

“Architect of War is built around multiple interconnected systems: progression, relics, talents, team composition, dynamic difficulty, and a wide variety of enemies.

While a large portion of the content and core mechanics is already in place, overall balance remains a major focus. The game includes many variables (turret combinations, elemental synergies, relic choices, progression paths…), and reaching the right balance requires real player feedback across a wide range of situations.

Early Access allows me to gather feedback on:

- Overall difficulty and progression pacing
- UI clarity and system readability
- Understanding of the gameplay loop
- Grind balance and reward structure

The game is heavily focused on replayability and experimentation. There is no single solution to each situation, and strategy diversity is at the core of the experience. Involving players early is essential to improving the game.

The current version already offers a substantial amount of content, and Early Access will allow me to expand it further with new enemies, turrets, relics, and gameplay systems.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“I expect the Early Access period to last between 6 months and 1 year.

This period will be divided into several phases:

- A phase focused on bug fixing, optimization, and balancing existing content
- A phase focused on adding new content (turrets, enemies, relics, powers…)
- A final phase dedicated to additional features and overall polish

This timeline may evolve depending on player feedback and development needs.”

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

“The full version will offer a more complete and expanded experience.

I plan to include:

- More maps (around 30 compared to 16 currently)
- New environments
- Additional turrets with their upgrades and mechanics
- New enemies and variants
- New game modes and difficulty levels
- An expanded progression system with more challenges

I also plan to:

- Add controller support
- Introduce additional languages
- Improve the player combat system
- Optimize performance
- Refine UI/UX based on player feedback

Some of these features are already partially implemented and will be further developed during Early Access.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The current version is fully playable from start to finish, stable, and feature-complete in its core systems.

It currently includes:

- 2 worlds and 16 maps (plus a tutorial map)
- 3 difficulty levels per map
- 24 turrets with upgrades
- 70+ enemy types
- 116 relics
- 10 powers
- 64 items
- 700+ challenges
- Dynamically generated weekly challenges

All available maps and difficulties are playable, and all systems are functional.

The core gameplay is already solid. The existing content is substantial, and the focus during Early Access will be on balancing, expanding content, and improving the overall experience.

Some features are visible but not yet available (notably additional difficulty modes).”

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

“I plan to keep the pricing consistent during and after Early Access.

The game may be offered at a discount during certain periods. I may slightly adjust the price upon full release depending on the amount of content and improvements added, but my goal is to keep the price fair and accessible.”

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

“The community plays an important role in the development of the game.

Players will be able to share feedback, report bugs, and suggest ideas through:

- A dedicated Discord server
- Steam discussions

Direct access to these platforms is also available in-game.

I plan to:

- Release regular updates
- Adjust balance and gameplay based on feedback
- Integrate community suggestions when they improve the experience

The goal is to evolve the game alongside its players to deliver the best possible experience.”