Košice, Slovakia – November 11, 2026 – Hellforged, an extraction bullet hell game developed by MoonPyre Studio and published by RPG publisher Grindstone (known for Giant Slayer: Dark Tide), will launch into Early Access on Steam on January 18, 2027.
The release date was officially announced tonight at the Golden Joystick Awards ceremony, accompanied by a new trailer showcasing the changes made since the last demo.
Hellforged is an extraction bullet hell game centered around loot collection. Each run takes players deep into demon-infested ruins to battle hordes of enemies and collect gear with gameplay-altering affixes. The deeper you explore, the richer the loot, but the higher the risk of losing it all.
Extract in time to keep all your loot; if you fall in battle, Everythinggj you've earned will be lost. Between runs, players can develop their heroes and progress further, ultimately aiming to destroy Blackpyre.
According to GameDiscoverCo, the game's first public demo released this August ranked 7th among unreleased Steam games in terms of concurrent players. To date, the game has surpassed 150,000 wishlists on Steam.
Demo players also submitted extensive feedback via Discord and Steam, leading to a series of experience optimizations that will be included in the Early Access release.
Lukas Tomondy, founder of MoonPyre Studio, stated:
"This demo taught us more than months of internal testing. Players identified all the rough edges within just a few days and provided detailed feedback via Discord. Many improvements in the Early Access version came directly from these interactions, and this is how we plan to continue developing Hellforged—by listening to our players and refining the game together before its full release."
What's New in the Early Access Version?
The Early Access version will feature four heroes, each with distinct class characteristics:
● Solen: Paladin
● Mortenzia: Dark Elf Mage
● Ilarion: Arok Hunter, a character previously available during the Steam Next Fest.
● New Melee Hero: Orc Slayer
Furthermore, each hero now has their own unique combination of skill slot categories, making gameplay differences between heroes more distinct.
Players will embark on an adventure across three maps:
● Underground Catacombs: The map featured in the demo.
● Cursed Wasteland: A new map featuring three different variants.
● Thornwood Valley: A new map featuring two to three different variants.
Deeper Loot System
The loot system will be further expanded.
After completing the omens associated with unique gear, players will receive the corresponding unique equipment.
Gear with socket slots can be embedded with gems for additional stat bonuses; Orbs can reroll affix values on equipment; and Scrolls can upgrade skill levels at the Armory.
New Difficulty and Progression Systems
The new "Hellforged" difficulty will introduce more punishing challenges, offering fresh trials for players seeking a harder adventure.
The achievement system is also getting an upgrade. Completing achievements now grants points that can be used to unlock titles, cosmetic skins, and showcase slots. Players can also choose which achievements appear next to their profile on the leaderboards.
Additionally, players can find books scattered throughout the game world to gradually fill the Archives Library. These books not only tell a complete story but also provide extra XP rewards.
Early Access is just the beginning of the game's journey, not the end. The development team will continue to release new content and updates as they work towards the full release.
Before Early Access officially begins on January 18, 2027, players can add Hellforged to their Steam wishlist and join the official Discord community to get the latest news, communicate directly with the development team, and participate in community playtests.
Product Information
|
Item |
Information |
|
Game Title |
Hellforged |
|
Developer |
MoonPyre Studio |
|
Publisher |
Grindstone |
|
Game Genre |
Extraction Bullet Hell Survival Game |
|
Platform |
PC (Steam) |
|
Early Access Release Date |
January 18, 2027 |
About MoonPyre Studio
MoonPyre Studio is an independent game development team dedicated to creating atmospheric, fluidly controlled action games that deliver a great experience from the very first minute.
The studio believes that even small teams can create thoughtful, polished games. Quality isn't determined by team size, but by the care invested in development and the thousands of detailed decisions made around combat, movement, and progression systems.
About Grindstone
Grindstone is an RPG game publisher based in Slovakia with extensive experience in game development.
Founded in 2017 as a spin-off from the Slovak game development studio Games Farm, the company aims to help developers create games with both creative value and commercial potential that can succeed in the global market.