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Tears of Metal Early Access Begins on July 22
Paper Cult has confirmed that Tears of Metal will launch in Early Access on July 22 for PC. The medieval hack-and-slash roguelike will also be available through Xbox Game Pass for players accessing the Microsoft Store version. An Xbox console version is planned to arrive before the end of 2026, giving the game a wider platform rollout after its PC debut.
The Early Access release follows a strong build-up for the Montreal studio. Since its reveal at Summer Game Fest in June 2024, Tears of Metal has passed 400,000 Steam wishlists, suggesting a healthy level of interest ahead of launch.
A Scottish Hack-and-Slash Roguelike Built for Co-Op
Tears of Metal sends players into a medieval campaign to reclaim their island after the Dragon Stone Meteor brings dangerous powers and an invading force to their shores.
Players lead a Scottish battalion across wide battlefields, carving through enemy hordes either solo or with friends. The game supports co-op play, with each run offering new combinations of powers, objectives, and battlefield scenarios.
At launch, the Early Access version will include three Acts, each featuring unique enemies, Elites, and Bosses. It will also include three playable Heroes, Village upgrades, Emblems, Equipment, and Companions, with more content planned throughout development.
Builds, Soldiers, and Settlement Upgrades Shape Each Run
Like many roguelikes, Tears of Metal is built around repeated attempts, evolving builds, and long-term progression. Players can combine upgrades with more than 100 artefacts to create powerful loadouts, giving each run a different rhythm depending on the hero, abilities, and supporting troops involved.
Soldiers also gain permanent skills between campaigns. That gives the battalion a longer-term identity, as players recruit, upgrade, and fight alongside troops who become more useful across future battles.
Between campaigns, players can expand their settlement to unlock shops, buy permanent upgrades, and access tougher challenges for greater rewards. Paper Cult says players will also be able to complete special objectives to discover new artefacts, playable characters, cosmetics, upgrades, and combinations.
Early Access Will Continue After Launch
Paper Cult expects Tears of Metal to remain in Early Access for roughly four to 12 months, depending on player feedback. The studio plans to use that period to add more heroes, upgrades, voice acting, balance changes, performance improvements, and additional language support.
That makes July 22 less of a final arrival and more of the start of a broader development phase. For players interested in co-op action roguelikes, the launch build already sounds substantial, but the team is clearly leaving room for community feedback to shape what comes next.
With more than 45 handcrafted environments, three Acts, and Xbox Game Pass availability from day one on PC, Tears of Metal could be well placed to find an audience when it enters Early Access next month.
