- Two weeks of Helrift: Playtest results - 18 September 2026
Our latest two-week Steam playtest has come to an end, and we want to thank everyone who took part. Your time, feedback and determination to test every corner of Helrift helped us make major progress, resolve many bugs and improve server stability.Development progressA total of 302 development tickets were raised covering reported bugs, improvements and new development work.80 bug tickets were closed153 development tickets were completedInside the worldTogether, our players:Created 583 charactersDefeated 274,750 monstersCast 230,608 spellsLanded 587,184 melee attacksTravelled 12,458 km — roughly 295 marathonsEarned 125.4 million goldSpent 72 million goldCompleted 1,462 questsInteracted with NPCs 20,695 timesThe average character reached level 27.17.Leaderboard highlightsHighest level: SDA — Level 150Most monsters defeated: Lamecki — 17,317Furthest travelled: Lamecki — 656.9 kmMost spell…
- Join our playtest - Guide and FAQ - 28 August 2026
When?Sunday 30 August - Sunday 13 SeptemberWelcome to HelriftThis open playtest is only a small section of the world and game; many systems and visuals are unfinished or unpolished. It allows us to collect feedback, identify server limits and bugs, and test combat balance.Helrift is a solo-developer project, managed around a full-time job and family commitments. We will work to resolve bugs and issues as quickly as possible, but please understand that even major or game-breaking problems may not immediately receive full attention.The game will be updated with content and bug fixes throughout the playtest. Thank you for your patience and support, we can’t wait to see you in-game!What is different to the last Playtest?We have new maps, skill progression, combat mechanics, server-wide events (Crusades) and much more!How to join On Sunday request Playtest access via the main Helrift Steam p…
- Spotlight: Playtest rewards - 16 June 2026
We are thrilled to share the official preview of an exclusive in-game cosmetic and title for everyone who joined our playtests. A permanent and unique way to show you were there at the very beginning, helping us bring Helrift to life. It is our way of thanking you for being part of our world when it wasn't quite so complete or polished.In-game TitleTitles are earned by completing achievements and reaching major milestones. Whether you're a feared warrior, renowned hunter, or dedicated craftsman, your title serves as a visible record of your accomplishments for all to see. The Wayfarer title is exclusively unlocked for playtesters.Cloak cosmeticThis rare item will tell the world you were there at the beginning. The Wayfarer Cloak skin can be applied to a standard cloak using the in-game customisation window. This is also where you can dye equipment. The very first Travellers appeared on…
- Our 2026 schedule - 15 June 2026
Hi everyone,We have been quietly working hard behind the scenes and wanted to share an update on our latest dates and planning for Helrift in 2026, including Early Access release. August 2026: Open PlaytestWe had hoped to join June Next Fest but that has not been possible. Instead we will be opening the server once again for an open playtest. This will be a public, large-scale event featuring our latest mechanical overhauls, map updates and content. We want as many of you as possible to help us test the servers and experience these changes and additions.October 2026: Steam Next FestWe are now expecting to join the October Steam Next Fest with a highly refined public demo build, aiming to showcase Helrift to new audiences and gain as many wishlists ahead of early access release. The more players we have on launch, the more alive the world will feel!Q4 2026: Early Access LaunchFollowing O…
- Update on our Early Access launch - 12 March 2026
To ensure we deliver Early Access in the best shape and to as wide an audience as possible, we have decided to move our EA launch from April.Our new timelineJune 2026: We will be participating in the Steam Next Fest with a major playable demo showcasing Crusades and new map areas.Q3 2026: We aim to launch into Early Access as soon as possible following the Next Fest.We know many of you were looking forward to starting Helrift in April, and we really want to launch the game to you all as soon as possible, but this extra time allows us to ramp up our marketing and visibility efforts so you have more players alongside you. It also means we can implement more features and ongoing stability improvements, work that can take time as a solo developer.Stay tuned for more developer briefings, media clips and perhaps even another playtest as we gear up for June!Thank you for all your support so fa…
- Playtest feedback - 19 January 2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us during the playtest. Your time, energy, and enthusiasm have been invaluable in helping shape the game and iron out bugs during this early stage.Feedback formPlease take a few minutes to complete our playtest feedback form. Every response helps, whether you played for 10 minutes or 10 hours.Your feedback has and will continue to directly influence balance changes, feature priorities, and how future playtests are structured. Thank you again for taking the time to help us improve Helrift.
- Playtest Guide - 22 December 2025
This playtest is only a small section of the world and game, not the full experience. Many systems and visuals are unfinished or unpolished. This is the opportunity for us to collect feedback, identify server limits and find more bugs.The playtest is during the festive period. Helrift is a solo-developer project, managed around a full-time job and family commitments.Vamp will work to resolve bugs and issues as quickly as possible, but please understand that even major or game-breaking problems may not immediately receive full attention.The game will be updated with content and bug fixes frequently throughout the playtest.Thank you for your patience and support, we can’t wait to see you in-game!Joining the playtestNumbers may be restricted depending on server load and map population as we stress-test capacity. If you cannot get in, please try another time. The server will be busy at laun…
- Playtest delayed by three days - 19 December 2025
We made the difficult decision to delay the Helrift playtest by 3 days, moving it to Monday 22 December starting at 8:00 PM GMT.Interest in the playtest has been higher than expected, which is fantastic, though it highlighted the need for additional server infrastructure and preparation to ensure stability at launch.Helrift is a solo-developed project, balanced around work and family commitments. Missing the announced playtest date is frustrating, but this short delay gives time to strengthen the backend and add some final polish ahead of the playtest.We are confident this will result in a better experience for everyone involved, and we can’t wait to see you in-game on Monday.The Steam event has been updated, thank you for your patience and understanding.
- Playtest 2025 - 19 December 2025
All testing will be handled through Steam, but we invite you to join our Discord to be the first to hear about game developments, engage with other playtesters and join the growing Helrift community.The closed test will take place Monday, December 22 2025 until Friday 16 January 2026Our objectiveThis is all about gathering early, meaningful feedback from the community. We’ll be focusing heavily on:- Tutorial clarity & new-player onboarding- PvP combat and balance- Server performance & stress testing- Bug reports & stability issues- Early-game PvE and PvM- General gameplay impressionsHelrift is free and anyone can register, but we may need to limit slots depending on how busy the playtest servers are.What to expectAn FAQ page is available.Additional details and known bugs will be shared closer to the playtest date.Register nowBe one of the first to step onto Wayfarers' Rest, register now…
- 1000 Wishlists - 15 December 2025
Thank you!To reach 1000+ wishlists before we reach testing phase is really something we didn't expect for a solo development project.We are enormously grateful to everyone supporting, following and sharing Helrift. This is only the beginning, there is still so much more to come!Our fastest communications are on Discord where you can see the latest news and media posts.
- Developer Update #2 - 25 November 2025
Recently we have focused on item balance and armour progression to enable enjoyable PvP. There has also been major work to core and social systems.Armour tiers and combat balanceWe have expanded armour tiers across all classes. This gives players more noticeable progression and helps balance combat.Warrior upgradesDark Knight armour. Heavy, imposing, and built to withstand blow after blow. Archer upgradesNew archer gear. Sharper looks, stronger stats, and perfect for the ranged assassin, with the added bonus that under-armour is dyeable. Arrow trails have also been added.Mage upgradesMages have new robe tiers, optional hooded variants and natural magic resistance and absorption baked into the armour.CoatingsWe have introduced coatings which are crafted using alchemy. These consumables can be applied to weapons including arrows, applying extra damage and a visual change to the item.Damag…
- Meet the Dev - 12 November 2025
Introducing James aka Vamp, the solo developer for Helrift. With testing phase approaching and early access on the horizon, it's time to meet the mind behind this project.What is your role?I wear many hats. Developer, Architect, InfoSec, Artist to name a few! Where does your passion for game development come from?As a gamer myself, I spent a long time being an ideas guy. I always wanted to make games, and I built the skills to put it into action over the course of my career. Now is the time for me to have a good go at realising my potential, but also putting something out there that like-minded people really enjoy.Why Helrift?I was heavily involved in the Helbreath community in my teens, building multiple successful servers and rebuilding it entirely in C# XNA. There was something exciting about a fast-paced PvP isometric game that got me hooked.When I went in to my career, I stopped wo…
- Helrift 2026 Roadmap - 31 October 2025
This outlines major content and quality-of-life improvements giving the travellers of Helrift more to do, explore, fight and achieve.The roadmap outlines four key areas of development and each will be accompanied by detailed patch notes, polls, and testing. Below we share some detail on what is coming and our overall direction for Helrift. Thank you for being part of our journey so far.Early AccessOur priority is to release Helrift into early access so you, the players, can shape and enjoy the world. This is planned once development on The Crusade is complete.The Crusade; Intense PvP WarfareA legendary large-scale, faction-driven PvP conflict that defines the war between Aresden and Elvine. At fixed times, both sides rally their forces to invade enemy towns and gain Enemy Kills (EK’s).Victory grants faction-wide buffs, exclusive titles, and access to powerful resources, but only one Tow…
- Developer Update #1 - 23 October 2025
We are moving closer to a closed public test! Right now, we are focused on internal testing, identifying and fixing bugs, refining systems, populating maps and ensuring everything runs smoothly before opening the doors for wider testing.Internal TestingDuring a 3-hour playtest from character creation to visiting the Dockmaster to travel to Aresden or Elvine, we identified 12 bugs and 26 feedback items. All issues are being addressed to make the game as reliable as possible, allowing for wider testing to focus on PvP and balancing. Bugs need squashing!We also added Bronze Armour to strengthen early-game balance and progression. It bridges the gap between starting gear and tougher encounters on Traveller's Island, giving new players a smoother, more rewarding path through their first quests and encounters.Making Helrift Faster and More Reliable After a few 3:00am finishes Vamp has built a…
