Survival Crafting
Ongoing coverage on Survival Crafting.
Latest coverage
"Slay the Spire 2 is the obvious call" for March's biggest banger, Palworld publishing boss says, but "don't sleep" on this cute open-world survival game quietly crushing it on Steam
John Buckley, head of publishing at Pocketpair, recommends players check out the survival crafting game Blossom: The Seed of Life, which he believes is being overlooked amidst major releases like Slay the Spire 2 and Crimson Desert. While acknowledging Crimson Desert's janky controls, he praised it as a significant release for March.
V Rising Studio is Working on A New Game, “Our Most Ambitious Project Yet,” Set in the Same Universe
Stunlock Studios has announced that its next game is in development and will be set in the same universe as their survival-crafting action RPG, V Rising. This new project is described as the studio's most ambitious to date, exploring fresh ideas with a focus on greater depth, danger, and mystery. While V Rising will continue to receive balance changes and bug fixes, it will not receive further major content updates.
Survival-crafting colony sim Oceaneers washes up onto Early Access shores in April
The survival-crafting colony sim Oceaneers will launch into Early Access on April 13th. Developed by Oceaneers, the game features island hopping, raft construction, and survival mechanics in a flooded world. The developers plan to include the full story from day one and will continue to expand the game with community feedback.
The Last Caretaker Update 03: Curiosity Wakes Available Now
Channel37 has released Update 03: Curiosity Wakes for their sci-fi survival-crafting game, The Last Caretaker, now available in Early Access on Steam and the Epic Games Store. This update introduces orbital contact with a Council of Humanity, new ocean threats like Ram Sharks and ArchAngels, allied support units, and expanded Caretaker customization options.
Palworld publishing boss thinks "we're a few years away" from a AAA survival crafting game, and he was "super excited" for the one Blizzard canceled
John Buckley, head of publishing for Palworld, believes AAA companies are a few years away from attempting another survival crafting game, but expects them to increasingly borrow elements from the genre. He expressed excitement for a potential AAA survival crafting title, referencing a canceled Blizzard project.
Pocketpair comms lead says Palworld 1.0 will be ‘the survival crafting game everyone always wanted’
Pocketpair's communications lead, John Buckley, stated that Palworld's 1.0 update aims to be the definitive survival crafting experience for all players. While details remain scarce, Buckley indicated the update will surprise players and improve the overall game flow, potentially including new features and content beyond the endgame.
Persona5: The Phantom X Version 3.4 Featuring P5R’s Kasumi Yoshizawa
Persona 5: The Phantom X Version 3.4 is now available on PC and mobile, introducing the "Crossroads of Fate: Laboratory Arc Part 1" event and featuring Kasumi Yoshizawa from Persona 5 Royal. The update includes new palaces, boss battles, and collaboration rewards from other SEGA titles during the SEGA Spring Sale.
Demos and Freebies
Oceaneers is a survival-crafting colony simulation game set in a flooded world with unstable islands. Players will build a colony, craft gear, design rafts, fend off sharks, and manage survivors on PC.
HD-2D RPG The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Launching June 18
Square Enix announced that the HD-2D action RPG The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales will launch on June 18 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The game features a story spanning four ages and various gameplay mechanics including item and accessory equipping. The article also briefly mentions other upcoming game releases and updates.
Survival-Crafting Colony Sim Oceaneers Entering Steam Early Access April 13
Barrel Smash Studios' survival-crafting colony sim Oceaneers will launch on Steam Early Access on April 13. The game tasks players with managing survivors in a flooded world of unstable islands, recruiting new members and protecting them from dangers. The developer stated that the full story will be available from day one, with plans to expand the game based on community feedback.
Craft, Float & Survive When Oceaneers Launches in Early Access this April
Barrel Smash Studios announced that their survival crafting colony-sim Oceaneers will launch in Early Access on PC via Steam on April 13, 2026, for US$24.99. The game features building a colony, scavenging, crafting, and training survivors in a flooded world with unstable islands. A demo is also available on Steam.
The Last Caretaker Update 03: Curiosity Wakes Available Now
Channel37 has released Update 03: Curiosity Wakes for their sci-fi survival-crafting game, The Last Caretaker, which is available in Early Access on Steam and the Epic Games Store. This update introduces orbital contact with the Council of Humanity, new ocean threats like Ram Sharks and Laser Sharks, allied support units, and expanded Caretaker customization options.
Palworld 1.0 is Going to Shock Players With How Much Content it Adds, Says Publishing Head
Pocketpair's publishing head John Buckley stated that Palworld's 1.0 release will significantly surprise players with its extensive content additions, aiming to be the ultimate survival crafting experience. While details remain secret, the update will polish nearly every aspect of the game, with a recommendation to start fresh due to substantial changes, though existing saves will be compatible with new end-game content.
"Palworld is going to be the survival crafting game everyone always wanted" and "people will be shocked" at how big 1.0 is, says Pocketpair publishing lead
Pocketpair's publishing lead, John Buckley, stated that Palworld's upcoming 1.0 launch aims to be the "survival crafting game everyone always wanted." He hinted at significant changes and surprises for players, recommending a fresh start despite allowing existing characters to transfer.
Going Hands-On With Everwind—Wind in the Sails
Everwind, developed by Enjoy Studio S.A. and Bohemian Interactive, offers a unique take on the survival crafting genre with RPG elements and a vast ocean world dotted with islands. Senior Publishing Producer Marcin Olczak highlighted the game's focus on diverse biomes, points of interest, and engaging combat mechanics, aiming for a deep and fleshed-out experience upon its Early Access launch on March 17, 2026.
Everything announced at FGS Live From GDC 2026
FGS Live From GDC Festival of Gaming 2026 showcased numerous game announcements, including world premieres and new trailers. Titles like Slash Zero, Yerba Buena, Project Songbird, and Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core were revealed, with many slated for PC and console releases in 2026. The event also featured developer interviews and updates on existing titles.
Behold Subnautica 2's fancy fresh windows that come as part of its new procedural base building system
Subnautica 2 is introducing a significantly improved procedural base building system, moving away from fixed pieces to allow for more sculptural and expressive designs, including custom-shaped windows. Base design lead Kiel McDonald highlighted the new system's uniqueness in the survival genre, while senior engineer Carolyn Lu demonstrated its flexibility. The article also briefly mentions ongoing legal disputes between Unknown Worlds and publisher Krafton.
Jeff Kaplan reveals new game, Legend of California, on the Lex Friedman Podcast
Jeff Kaplan, former lead of Overwatch, has revealed his new game, The Legend of California, developed by his studio Kintsugi Games with assistance from Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime. The open-world action game features a cowboy aesthetic set in 1800s Gold Rush-era California and will utilize voxel-based gameplay for mining. An alpha test is planned for March, with an Early Access release to follow.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, Metal Eden, and More Coming to PS Plus Extra/Premium on March 17th
Sony announced new titles for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers arriving on March 17th, including Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, Metal Eden, and Persona 5 Royal. The update also features Astroneer, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, EA Sports Madden NFL 26, and Tekken: Dark Resurrection for Premium members.
Pocketpair Suggests 'A Decade of Continuous, Massive Updates' Is 'Probably Not On the Cards,' But Teases It 'Wouldn't Rule Out A Palworld 2.0' - IGN
Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, has indicated that a decade of continuous, massive updates is unlikely due to engine limitations and the nature of survival crafting games. Publishing head John Buckley suggested that while a 'Palworld 2.0' is not being ruled out, the focus is on expanding the current game without making it feel like a chore for players.
