- The Gateworlds Playtest is now ended! Thank you all! - 12 August 2026
The Gateworlds Playtest Has Ended... Thank You!Our latest Gateworlds playtest has officially come to an end!Over the four-week test we received more than 1,000 individual pieces of feedback and gained over 3,500 new wishlists. A huge thank you to everyone who played, reported bugs, or simply told us what you liked and what wasn't working. Your feedback has already had a massive impact on the game.Throughout the playtest we pushed out a steady stream of updates based directly on what we were seeing from players. You can now relocate furniture and structures, fight while carrying backpacks, quickly duplicate buildings with the new Build More option, and reunite with Gatefarers who were accidentally left behind on another world. Plus a ton more.We also made major improvements to packing and hauling, character task priorities, saving and loading, world generation, notifications, navigation,…
- Playtest update 3/08/2026 - 3 August 2026
Thank you all for submitting all your feedback. We read every single report and they are invaluable for improving the game.Game build - \ - 28/7/26AddedCharacters abandoned can be reunited with when revisiting their world.Characters are no longer restricted from performing tasks whilst carrying a pack.ChangedFocusing a notification will also select the associated object.Children are no longer restricted from carrying a pack.Deity shrine events influence the interacting character's preferred deity and devoutness.Pack footprint removes underlying zones.Pack footprint placement is more restrictive.Leatherwork Bench texture."Approach" and "Use" task icons are no longer the same as "Move to"."Haul to stockpile" task indicator now displays as a checkmark (✓).When a group of characters is selected, allow selecting an individual without first needing to deselect the entire group.World generatio…
- The Gateworlds Playtest Has Been Extended! - 29 July 2026
The Gateworlds Playtest Has Been Extended!We've loved watching everyone explore the wonderful worlds of Gateworlds over the past few weeks, and your feedback has already been incredibly valuable.It's been especially exciting because we're still getting an increasing number of playtest sign ups and feedback reports, so..we're extending the playtest by two weeks!New playtest deadline: August 12th, 5pm (AEST)If you've already been playing, we'd love to hear about your experience. During this playtest we're especially interested in hearing your thoughts on:Does exploring through the Gates feel exciting and rewarding?Which parts of the game did you enjoy?What frustrated or confused you? Which aspects of the game do you think need more work?Your feedback will directly influence the next major update and playtest.If you haven't had a chance to jump in yet, or you have a friend that might be in…
- Playtest update 28/07/2026 - 28 July 2026
New Hot fix now live! Thank you all for submitting all your feedback. We read every single report and they are invaluable for improving the game. Game build - \ - 28/7/26Added"Build More" button on selected walls and doors. This a "Copy" / "Duplicate" function.ChangedIndoor critters (rat and spider) no longer spawn in player-owned rooms.Saving and loading interface includes auto-saves.Saving and loading interface highlights the active save file and displays it at the top of the list."Heavy rain" visual effects are now less intense, improving visibility.Characters will seek drinking water from a greater distance.Task indicator should be easier to identify.Limbless characters can no longer equip armour.Dropping equipped gear now marks it with the "Haul to stockpile" task.Stonecutter texture.FixedHunt quota input inconsistencies.Loading screen persists correctly between mid-game loads.Char…
- We hit 10k wishlists and 3k playtesters! - 24 July 2026
10,315 wishlists and 3,372 playtest participants 🤯Thank you to everyone who's supported Gateworlds so far!Every wishlist, comment, bug report, and playtest is invaluable to us and our development.We are gaining a ton of useful insights from the current playtest and it's helping a lot in deciding which big feature we cook up next. We'll have a bigger update on our next steps in the coming weeks. See you beyond the gates.The hydrarch team.
- Playtest update 20/07/2026 - 20 July 2026
New Hot fix now live! Thank you all for submitting all your feedback. We read every single report and they are invaluable for improving the game. Game build - \ - 20/7/26AddedIndicator on items that are not claimed by the player."View pack" button in the Selection panel for a character that is carrying a backpack.Compass pointing to the discovered Pinnacle if it is unclaimed.Food details in descriptive tooltips.ChangedMoved Expand/Shrink Zone buttons so that they are more obvious.Task progress bars separated into different contexts (colour, direction) based on the task.Carrying a pack will now cancel its footprint area.Selected creature shows the carcass it drops in the Selection panel.Workstation product descriptions include more detail.Skill tooltip now updates its contents live.FixedSave file loading issues.Stockpile filter panel now switches context correctly.Schedule wheel no-op ti…
- Playtest update 16/07/2026 - 16 July 2026
New hotfix is live! Build - \ - 2026-07-16AddedFaded line connecting revealed worlds to hidden worlds on the Navigation panel.Added worm critter that appears during rainy weather ChangedCharacters no longer auto-seek unclaimed structures (e.g., sleeping in an unclaimed bed).Tooltip headings are more consistent.Re-coloured dehydration and starved status effect icons.FixedSave file loading issues.Balatoc's Maw now accepts offerings properly.Unpacked rotated structures show correct texture.Task ordering is more consistent with their priorities.Backpack no longer dropped in doorways when being unpacked.
- Gateworlds playtest is now live! - 15 July 2026
The Gateworlds Playtest is Live!The wait is over! The gate is open!The Gateworlds public playtest is now live, and we can't wait to see everyone dive in.This update introduces some of our biggest new features yet, including:THE ABYSS: Venture into the dangerous Abyss world (name still TBD), a new endgame destination created specifically for this playtest. Battle your way through its sprawling dungeon and discover what awaits those brave enough to answer the call.DIVINE BOONS: The new boon system lets you earn the favour of the gods and unlock powerful blessings that shape how your colony grows and survives.PERSISTENT WORLDS: Travel between persistent worlds using the new gate navigation system. Build settlements, explore distant frontiers, and return to your previous worlds exactly as you left them. The Gateworlds are bigger than ever, with new monsters to hunt, new places to discover,…
- Gateworlds: The Call of the Abyss Playtest Update - 9 July 2026
Gateworlds: The Call of the Abyss UpdateThe gates are opening once again...Our next Gateworlds Public Playtest begins July 15, and with it comes our biggest update yet, which we're naming: Call of the Abyss...Over the past few months we've been expanding Gateworlds with new progression systems, new exploration challenges, and a fairly unfortunate limb loss system.Here's what you'll find in next week's playtest.Answer the Call of the AbyssEvery adventure needs an exciting destination or challenge to overcome. For this playtest we're introducing the Abyss world, a dangerous new realm that serves as the ultimate challenge of the playtest. Hidden deep within the Abyss world lies a sprawling dungeon filled with powerful enemies, dangerous encounters, and valuable rewards. Reaching the Abyss won't be easy, it will require a lot of world hopping, preparation, and solid set of weapons and armou…
- 🔮Gateworlds playtest from July 15 to July 29!🔮 - 12 June 2026
🔮 Public Playtest Starts July 15 🔮We're excited to announce that the next Gateworlds public playtest will begin on July 15!Since our last playtest, we've been hard at work expanding the game and tackling one of the most ambitious features we've planned so far for Gateworlds: persistent world exploration through the new gate navigation system.We're looking forward to seeing what stories you create!Explore Further Than Ever BeforeOne common piece of feedback from our previous playtest was that players wanted more agency to explore the strange frontier of the Gateworlds.In the July playtest, you'll be able to travel between multiple worlds and, for the first time, return to worlds you've previously explored.Gateworlds is all about exploration and adventure. With the new gate navigation system, you can now establish a thriving settlement in one world, venture into another in search of res…
- Thank you to all our playtesters! - 25 May 2026
A huge thank you to all our testers!!We recently had our first public playtest for Gateworlds - the fantasy colony sim about exploring floating worlds and appeasing fickle gods. We gained a lot of helpful feedback and thought we'd share some of the interesting insights!Here are some of the notable facts that stood out over the two weeks that the public playtest ran:Of the 1,473 people that signed up for the test, 67 "beat" the demo (received the final notification). This makes sense. Our game is largely an open-ended sandbox. There are a ton of different ways to play, and most people set their own goals. We were expecting very few people to actually play all the way through.Our median playtime was 25 minutes, which was exactly what we were hoping to find. The playtest version of the game had very limited content and we were mostly testing our tutorial experience. That said, one person p…
- Gateworlds steam Playtest EXTENDING until April 13. - 10 April 2026
Good news everyone! We're extending the Gateworlds steam playtest until April 13. This means there's still time to live the fantasy adventure life where you lead your villagers across floating worlds and try to survive the whims of 5 powerful gods. Kind of like if Don't starve and Rimworld had a forbidden child. So far our testers have been enjoying our nomadic base building which lets you pack up your houses and move them to a whole new world. We've also had quite a number of testers choose to sacrifice a character's arm to an eldritch god in exchange for a shiny sword. If any of these possibilities interest you, then you can access the playtest on steam right now. We would be grateful for any and all feedback. More players = more feedback = better game.See you in the Gateworlds, Hydrarch
- 🔮 Gateworlds Playtest Now Live! Running from March 27 and ends April 10!🔮 - 27 March 2026
FIRST STEAM PLAYTEST HYPE!!We’re excited to announce that Gateworlds’ first public playtest is now live and running through to April 10.This is the first time Gateworlds will be available to the public online, and we’re looking forward to getting your feedback.For those new to the game, Gateworlds is a survival colony sim set in a fantasy wilderness shaped by five fickle gods. You’ll lead a small group of villagers as they build, explore, and survive across floating worlds connected by unstable gates each world bringing new challenges, opportunities, and difficult decisions.One particular challenge you might find is the big guy in the image below:What to Expect in the PlaytestThis playtest is focused on introducing players to Gateworlds’ core systems through a more involved tutorialised experience.You’ll be able to:Manage your villagers by taking care of their needs so they don't have m…
- Join Our Gateworlds Playtest running from March 27 to April 10! - 26 February 2026
We’re very excited to announce that we’ll have a public play test starting on March 27. This will be the first time Gateworlds is fully publicly available and we’re very excited to share our progress and get your feedback. For those that are new to Gateworlds, I’ll start with an overview of why our game might interest you and then I’ll provide a brief update of some of the new features coming to this play test.🔮 Why would you want to try Gateworlds?Gateworlds is a colony sim about exploring and surviving a fantasy wilderness. Find your way in a world of floating islands, strange creatures, and fickle gods.You begin with a small band of villagers, stranded on a hostile world. You will need to lead your people as they survive, build, craft, hunt, explore, and vie for the favour of the gods. To get what you need to survive, you’ll have to journey across floating worlds connected by mystic…
- Welcome to the Gateworlds! - 21 March 2025
Hello world! Welcome to the first ever Gateworlds devlog. Since this is our very first devlog I thought It'd be best to ask and answer the fundamental question: What is Gateworlds? Gateworlds is a story-generating colony sim set in a fantasy universe of shattered worlds and magical wilderness. You'll travel across floating disc worlds via mystical gates, facing ever stranger and more dangerous threats on your journey. Our goal is to make a game that takes the deeply satisfying feelings of exploration and progression seen in survival crafting games (like Valheim, Don't Starve, and Terraria), but then pair it with the depth of management and drama that comes from simulation games (like RimWorld, Dwarf Fortress, and Kenshi). The core game loop will be in two parts: First you set out on expeditions to explore new worlds, and then you return home to maintain your settlement. To thrive on the…
