Why Early Access?

“The core game is playable, and we want players to help shape its balance and replayability. We are using Early Access to learn which strategies are satisfying, where AI behavior needs improvement and how clearly new players understand their options.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We currently expect a few months. The length of Early Access will depend on playtesting and the work needed to make the game ready for full release. We will share progress through Steam announcements.”

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

“We plan to refine army and economy balance, improve AI behavior, onboarding and online multiplayer stability, and strengthen the variety of viable strategies. The map editor and Steam Workshop support are currently closed and will open when they are ready. The priorities may change based on player feedback. We are not committing to an expanded feature list or a guaranteed completion date.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The current build has full strategy matches against AI. You lead your countryball commander directly, fight with infantry, cavalry, archers and catapults, and besiege cities. You grow your economy with buildings, roads and technology, and use alliances, military access and resource aid in diplomacy. It includes historical maps from several eras, adjustable match rules, three AI difficulty levels, a gameplay tutorial and a countryball editor. You can play online with friends through Steam. Single-player matches and multiplayer matches you host can be saved, and a disconnected player can rejoin the same match. The interface is available in 14 languages and the game can be played with a controller.

Known limitations: online play is set up by inviting friends, with no matchmaking or ranked mode. If the host leaves, the match does not continue live and resumes from the last save. Multiplayer matches cannot be paused. The map editor and Steam Workshop are not open yet. Key bindings cannot be changed. Balance and AI are still being tuned.”

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

“We plan to increase the price when the game leaves Early Access. We will announce the change before it takes effect.”

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

“We will collect feedback through Steam Discussions and organized playtests. During Early Access we will release updates at least once a month, explain what changed and show how feedback influenced our priorities. After full release, we plan to keep updating the game at least once a month. Reports about confusing first steps, dominant strategies, AI behavior and reasons to play another match will be especially useful.”