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Early Access Roadmap
May 24, 2026 at 06:19 PM
Added phase timeline, build markers, and EA launch commitments
This article tracks the development roadmap for Rooted leading up to its Early Access release. Headlight Studio has run an extended community alpha and is rolling out features in numbered phases.
Date | Milestone | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
September 2023 | Alpha Phase 1 | First closed alpha; foundational systems available to community testers. |
October 25, 2024 | Patch v0.0.2.111 | Farming and wood farming introduced; garden furniture set added. |
January 17, 2025 | Alpha Phase 2 | Open world expanded past 30 square kilometers with multiple points of interest, building, crafting, infection, and weather systems. |
May 2025 | Phase 3 features announced | Starting zone with lore, communication tower redesign, hunting, fishing, gardening rebalance, early firearms for hunting, character animation overhaul. |
October 28, 2025 | Patch v0.0.2.319 | Mutable character customization system arrived alongside female character models. |
October 30, 2025 | Patch v0.0.2.320 | Performance and stability pass with CPU optimization, Mutable integration, GAS implementation, engine upgrade from UE 5.4 to UE 5.6. |
December 5, 2025 | Patch v0.0.2.362 | Interior collision fix for the Mansion. |
December 6, 2025 | Patch v0.0.2.355 (Weapons Update) | M4A1 and Glock firearms playable; training range added near the Mansion. |
January 22, 2026 | Wildlife Update | Deer added as the first huntable wildlife species. |
Early Access 2027 | Early Access launch (target) | Headlight Studio's stated target window for the Early Access release on PC. |
Each phase has emphasized a different layer of the survival loop. Phase 1 established the foundations of exploration and crafting. Phase 2 broadened the world and introduced systemic features such as building, infection, and weather. Phase 3 has focused on bringing food management forward through hunting and fishing, gardening, and the early firearms needed to support hunting.
Open-water boat fishing, listed as planned alongside trap-based fishing.
Dedicated PvP servers with a competitive version of the map, announced as coming soon.
Console release on PlayStation, planned to follow the PC Early Access launch.
Additional pre-war and crafted weapons to expand the three weapon categories.
Headlight Studio has stated that some delays have been driven by a deliberate choice to remain independent rather than take on an external publisher. This is part of the studio's stated approach of running all production in-house, including environment art, gameplay programming, design, audio, and publishing.
Phase | Window | Headlines |
|---|---|---|
Closed Alpha 1 | Q4 2023 onward | First playable backer builds: survival, base building, exploration. |
Closed Alpha 2 | Late 2024 / early 2025 | 30+ sq km world, building, drones, infection, weather, new POIs. |
Closed Alpha 3 | 2025-2026 | Starting Zone lore, Communication Tower redesign, hunting/fishing/gardening, firearms, drone companion expansion, severe weather, UI rework. |
Production Phase | Q1 2026 | Transition from pre-production to full production; team expansion and faster cadence. |
Early Access | 2027 | Steam + Epic Games Store; mandatory crossplay. |
Version 1.0 | TBA | Full release with complete story, all biomes, and polished gameplay. |
Build | Date | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
v0.0.2.319 | Oct 2025 | Unreal Engine 5.6 migration; Mutable system; female character; GAS adoption. |
v0.0.2.355 | Dec 2025 | Firearms introduced (M4A1, Glock); training range near Mansion. |
v0.0.2.362 | Dec 2025 | Hotfix: hip-fire offset, distant terrain loading, ammo spawners. |
Wildlife update | Jan 22, 2026 | Deer added as first wildlife species. |
Steam + Epic Games Store launch in 2027.
Mandatory crossplay between storefronts.
Eight launch languages: English, French, German, Simplified Chinese, Danish, Italian, Spanish, Dutch.
Modding support with Steam Workshop blueprint sharing.
PvP planned for post-Early-Access on dedicated servers.
Console release (PlayStation referenced) planned after the full PC release.
Specific weapon roster beyond the M4A1 and Glock, the final list of wildlife species, named storm types in severe weather, and the Version 1.0 release window are all still TBA. Updates will land here as the studio confirms them through the Phase 3 cadence.
