DaRmaZat Montreal-based independent studio Paper Cult has announced that its highly anticipated medieval hack-and-slash roguelike, Tears of Metal, will officially enter Early Access on July 22. The initial rollout targets PC players on both Steam and the Microsoft Store. PC Game Pass subscribers will also be able to jump into the action on day one via the Microsoft Store framework. While computer ecosystems get first dibs this summer, a dedicated console version optimized for Xbox hardware is currently slated to arrive before the end of 2026.
Featuring three unique playable Heroes to choose from, the upcoming Early Access build also includes complex progression mechanics like permanent village upgrades, custom emblems, equipment modifiers, and companion characters. Players can battle through three complete narrative Acts, each populated with distinct enemy types, elite variants, and major boss encounters.
The underlying campaign challenges you to lead a fierce Scottish battalion in an all-out effort to reconquer a war-torn island. An invading force has swept across the land following the crash of a mysterious Dragon Stone Meteor, bringing along an oppressive army powered by supernatural anomalies mined from the fallen space rock. You can wage this defensive front line campaign entirely solo or join forces with friends across more than 45 handcrafted, highly unpredictable battlefields.
Success on the front lines heavily relies on optimizing customized synergy. As you push deeper into enemy trenches, you can collect and combine powerful character upgrades with over one hundred unique artifacts to design devastating combat builds. Between your deployment runs, your structural home base can be progressively expanded to unlock specialized storefronts and secure permanent abilities for your troops, ensuring your soldiers grow increasingly durable and lethal with every attempted run.
