Reapers, return to the world of death!
Wolcen Studio announced today that its new title, "Gods, Death & Reapers," will launch in Early Access on Steam in February 2027, while the next round of testing will take place from September 24 to 28.
"Gods, Death & Reapers" is a Grim Reaper-themed extraction ARPG similar to Diablo. In a world where myths come true and the gods are dead, players act as "Reapers," agents of death, fighting in cooperative PvE and PvPvE modes to seize valuable loot and challenge the balance of the fractured realms.
Greeting Video:
As a game blending ARPG combat, gear building, and extraction gameplay, Wolcen Studio has been committed to involving the community throughout the development process. Wolcen Studio stated that as it moves towards Early Access, the game will continue to hold multiple rounds of testing, allowing players to directly experience the latest development progress and participate in shaping the game. To date, "Gods, Death & Reapers" has garnered nearly 200,000 wishlists on Steam.
Latest Development Roadmap
The Closed Alpha 6 test for "Gods, Death & Reapers" will begin on September 24, 2026. This round of testing will add several highly anticipated new features based on previous versions, including squad co-op multiplayer, new summoning weapons, the permanent item mechanic, the third map Asgard, and 2v2 and 3v3 PvP arenas.
CA6 Update Infographic
1. Permanent Item Mechanic Enters Testing for the First Time
In previous tests, characters would lose their carried items upon death, which was one of the most discussed mechanics in the community. CA6 will test the permanent item mechanic for the first time: items will no longer disappear directly upon character death.
This change will reshape how players acquire gear, plan their progression, and manage risk. The team hopes to observe its actual impact on the core gameplay loop during this test and continue to adjust based on player feedback.
2. Become the Master of the Pack: New Summoning Weapon, the Two-Handed Axe, Arrives
CA6 will introduce a new summoning weapon, the Two-Handed Axe. Players can equip corresponding runes to summon wolves, crows, or porcupines to fight alongside them; if no rune is equipped, the default companion, Will-o'-the-Wisp, will be summoned. Only one companion can be summoned at a time, and each companion has its own passive effects and active skills.
• Werewolf: Provides damage and life steal bonuses, and can leap to a target area, dealing damage and immobilizing enemies.
• Crow: Expands vision range and can dive to attack a target area, dealing damage and blinding hit enemies.
• Porcupine: Absorbs some damage for the player and can charge in a straight line, dealing damage and knocking back enemies.
• Will-o'-the-Wisp: Increases movement speed and periodically attacks nearby enemies.
The Two-Handed Axe balances ease of use with strategic depth. Players need to choose the appropriate companion based on the battle situation and judge the timing for releasing active skills, thereby forming different combat styles.
3. Journey to the Homeland of the Norse Gods: Asgard
This test will also unlock GDR's third map, Asgard. Once the holy land of the Norse gods, it now remains only with dilapidated halls, scarred monuments, and various factions continuously battling for control of this realm following the fall of the gods.
The new faction, the Chosen, will also appear in Asgard. The Chosen are composed of Einherjar warriors selected by Odin. They were once the greatest warriors of Midgard, brought to Valhalla after death to become Odin's elite guards. Now, although the god they served is dead, they still guard Asgard with near-fanatical devotion, attempting to bring Odin back at any cost.
4. Squad Co-op, Multiplayer Arenas, and Training Areas
The long-awaited squad multiplayer co-op feature will launch in CA6. Players can team up with friends to explore the afterlife, fighting against enemies and other Reapers together. To ensure fairness, squad matchmaking will only match teams against other teams.
With the addition of the squad co-op system, CA6 will also open 2v2 and 3v3 arenas. Players can team up with allies to face other teams, testing their coordination and build strength.
Additionally, a training ground will be added to the Sanctuary. Players can test weapons, skills, and combo combinations here, or take a brief rest after intense battles. CA6 will also bring further optimizations and expansions to loot distribution, combat experience, and quest lines.
How to Participate in the Test
Players who have not yet registered can apply to participate via Steam Playtest or the Wolcen Studio Playtest Program. Players can search for [Gods, Death & Reapers] on Steam to go to the game's store page and click [Request Access] to unlock CA6 test eligibility.
Players who have already submitted applications do not need to register again. The team will gradually send out more invitations as the test approaches. Players who participated in previous CA tests will retain access and do not need to take any additional steps.
About Wolcen Studio
Headquartered in Nice, France, Wolcen Studio is a European game developer bringing together over 150 professionals from around the world, dedicated to creating groundbreaking gaming experiences. The studio's representative work is the 2020 action RPG "Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem." It is now continuing this legacy with "Gods, Death & Reapers": a dark fantasy extraction action RPG that combines deep ARPG progression with high-risk, community-driven gameplay.