Towerborne: Navigating Early Access to a Thriving Launch Experience

Towerborne made its debut at last summer’s Xbox Games Showcase, but we’ve been waiting for more news ever since. If you’re still unsure about the game, don’t worry – it’s finally arriving in early access on PC today, with a full release expected on Xbox and Game Pass next year.

The game’s early access strategy is a deliberate choice, similar to the approach taken by Baldur’s Gate 3, Hades, and others. It’s an ambitious move, especially given that Diablo 4 is one of the most direct inspirations for Towerborne.

So, what’s Towerborne all about? It’s an ARPG and beat ’em up hybrid from Stoic Studios, the team behind the Banner Saga series. Imagine a game that’s equal parts Diablo and a cartoonish, side-scrolling brawler – that’s Towerborne in a nutshell.

Outside of the main hub, the world is divided into hexagonal tiles, each representing a different encounter, boss battle, or collectible item. These tiles are labelled with a danger level, ranging from one to four (though this could increase at release), allowing players to balance difficulty and reward.

Once you’re in the action, the game shifts to a side-scrolling 2.5D beat ’em up, playable solo or with up to four players in co-op (with couch co-op on the way next year and crossplay planned). It’s old-school fun, with beasts to smack, dodges to execute, and jumps to make. The camera holds you in place until all enemies are defeated, and then it’s on to the next fight. Light and heavy attacks, special abilities, and magical companions (Umbras) are all at your disposal.

The game’s inspiration from Diablo is clear, especially with the addition of classes and loot systems. Towerborne will feature four classes at launch, each with its own unique weapon type. More classes will be added later, and you’ll be able to customise your gear with various stats, abilities, and aspects. These aspects can be enhanced and swapped around, making for a game that’s all about experimentation and fine-tuning.

Towerborne’s conventional loop is familiar, but it’s the potential for depth and complexity that really sets it apart. And that’s where early access comes in – Stoic wants to build a community around the game, gather feedback, and fine-tune the balance accordingly. No set release date has been announced, but the studio will decide when the game is ready based on player reactions.

It’s interesting to note that early access is only available on PC, with a game preview on Xbox consoles coming next year. This is a deliberate choice, as the studio believes that Game Pass would bring too many players to the game at once, making it difficult to gather meaningful feedback.

Early access certainly worked out well for Baldur’s Gate 3 and Hades, among others. It’s refreshing to see a studio so open to feedback and community involvement. However, there are some caveats – for example, all progress will be wiped when the game officially launches, and players can purchase one of two founder’s packs for early access, priced at £21.99 or £39.99.

The studio is being transparent about pricing, stating that founders play a critical role in shaping the game’s evolution and allowing them to directly influence its development. It’s clear that Stoic is committed to building a strong community around Towerborne.

But will players want to invest time and money into an experience that will ultimately be wiped? The studio claims it has a special relationship with its players and is committed to involving them in the game’s development.

“As we have done in the past, we are focused on playing with, and listening to, you, the player,” reads the website. “In addition to our Discord, where we hang out and engage with you, there will also be special surveys, posts, and other information that we put out to Founders on a regular basis. We’re committed to being active in these spaces and engaging with you.”

“Look, of course, we can’t take every note or turn every suggestion into reality, but figuring out the best ideas means we have the space to do it together. How you feel and what you want will drive how we update and improve the game. This is a long-term, living game and we want to establish our communication with you early!”

Towerborne has the basis for an enjoyable experience and a decent chunk of that will be available during early access. But, even with transparent communication, is Stoic asking too much of players?