Early Access Launches on August 11 | Devlog #25 - Holtsdorf Forest

With the echoes of battle fading behind him, Richard plunges into the shadowy depths of Holtsdorf Forest, the final wild frontier before the occupied city of Talstein looms ahead.

At first, the forest whispers of peace. Yet beneath its ancient canopy, scars of war run deep, with ruthless slave hunters ruling over desperate survivors.

To a blacksmith, Holtsdorf is a treasure trove brimming with rare materials, master artisans, and opportunities found nowhere else in the game, but let's start with good news...

Early Access Launches on August 11!

Let's start with the news you've been waiting for: Sword & Shield Simulator launches in Early Access on August 11!

And this is a big, playable game from day one. Early Access includes three regions, Danburg, Bloodlands, and Grainmill, with many interiors and exteriors to explore, over 140 story missions, plus side quests and collectibles. At the heart of it all is the crafting: you forge swords part by part in the sword designer using the furnace, forge, grinding wheel, and chisel, and craft shields through an NPC production system.

Around the anvil you'll find mining, hunting, tree chopping, lockpicking, contracts, trading, a skill system, fast-travel shrines, siege tower and cart repair, and smaller distractions like the cups mini-game.

And if your dealings take a shadier turn, there's an underground thieves' guild waiting for you, along with a prison cell if the guards catch you at it.

Sword Shield Simulator

During Early Access, we'll balance the crafting economy and progression based on your feedback, and unlock the remaining content in the right order. The biggest piece still to come is Talstein, the largest region in the game, bringing around 98 more story missions, a dozen new locations, a buildable siege machine, a boss fight, and the bastion final battle. We expect Early Access to last around three to six months.

Add Sword & Shield Simulator to your wishlist so you don't miss the launch!

The Sawmill

The heart of Holtsdorf's timber industry is managed by Indrek, the local sawmill master.

Here, logs become planks in a hands-on woodworking minigame. Yet all is not well: the sawmill stands silent after slave hunters abducted Indrek's daughter.

Only by helping Indrek can you hope to restore the heartbeat of Holtsdorf’s timber trade.

The Occupied Farm

On the northern side of the forest lies a farm captured by slave hunters.

Within its fortified fences, merchant goods, livestock, and innocent captives, among them Indrek’s missing daughter, await a daring rescue.

This perilous stronghold demands careful planning and nerves of steel before you even consider entry.

The Watermill

The local miller, Hannas, has been ordered to deliver enormous amounts of flour to Talstein.

Refusing to aid the occupiers, he secretly smuggles flour to the starving people of Danburg, risking his life to fuel the resistance.

The Li Family Camp

Tucked away beneath the leafy canopy lies one of the forest’s most intriguing secrets.

Li Wang, Mei, and their family traveled from the Song Dynasty along the Silk Road in search of new trading opportunities.

They enlist Richard’s help to recover priceless porcelain stolen by bandits, offering rare quests and coveted treasures to those who answer their call.

The Herbalist's Hut

Deep in the woods, an elderly Herbalist clings to survival as her precious supplies dwindle.

Gather poppies, sage, yarrow, and deadly nightshade to unlock potent alchemical recipes, including a sleeping powder that turns stealth and lockpicking into child’s play.

Hunters & Craftsmen

Not all craftsmen are bound to the anvil.

The Trapper and the Tanner can transform materials gathered during hunting into valuable resources and equipment.

Embark on hunting challenges, stalk deer or wolves through tangled undergrowth, and return with hides ready to be transformed into prized crafting materials.

Other places

Holtsdorf favors the bold who wander off the beaten path.

Ancient ruins, crumbling watchtowers, and secret chests lie scattered through the forest, waiting for a curious soul to uncover them.

Pack a few lockpicks; you might stumble upon rare crafting components or long-lost treasures behind a stubborn old lock.

Holtsdorf Forest is more than a resource-gathering area.

It's a place where every path tells a story, every craftsman has someone to protect, and every decision brings Richard one step closer to Talstein... and the truth about his father.

Early Access Is Almost Here

After months of development, countless improvements, and your valuable feedback during the playtests, we're finally approaching the next major milestone.

We're excited to announce that we're planning to launch Sword & Shield Simulator in Early Access during the second weekend of August.

There's still work ahead of us, but we're looking forward to opening the forge doors and continuing to develop the game together with our community.

We'll share the exact release date very soon. Stay tuned!

Remember to add Sword and Shield simulator to your wishlist!