Hellforged, the upcoming extraction bullet-hell game from developer MoonPyre Studio and publisher Grindstone, will launch in Steam Early Access on January 18, 2027.
The release date was announced on Wednesday during the 2026 Golden Joystick Awards, alongside a new trailer highlighting changes made since the game’s first public demo. It was also made known that Hellforged has surpassed 150,000 wishlists on Steam ahead of its Early Access launch.
A twist on a popular format
Hellforged combines bullet-hell combat with extraction mechanics, sending players into demon-infested ruins to fight enemies and collect increasingly valuable loot. Players can push deeper into each run for better rewards, but they’ll need to extract before dying if they want to keep what they’ve collected.
Between runs, players can develop their heroes and work toward breaking the Blackpyre. The game originally released a public demo in August, which ranked seventh among the top Steam demos for unreleased games by concurrent players, according to GameDiscoverCo data.
What’s New in Hellforged’s Early Access Launch?
MoonPyre Studio says feedback from the demo over the summer has helped shape several quality-of-life improvements coming with Early Access. The launch will also introduce new heroes, maps, equipment systems, and additional challenges.
Players will have four heroes to choose from, each built around a different class. That includes Thoren the Paladin, Mortenzia the Dark Elf Mage, Yllarion the Arrok Hunter, and the new melee-focused Orc Slayer. Each hero will also have a unique combination of ability slot categories to help distinguish their playstyles.
Runs will take place across three maps: the returning Undercrypt, the new Forsaken Reach, which features three variants, and Thornvale, which will have two to three variants.
Loot progression is also getting expanded. Various items can be earned by completing Omens, while socketed gear can use gems for additional bonuses. Players will also be able to reroll equipment affixes with orbs and rank up abilities using scrolls in the Arsenal.
Other additions include the new Hellforged difficulty, which introduces additional Torments for players looking for a tougher challenge. Achievements will also award points that can be used to unlock titles, skins, and showcase slots. Meanwhile, books discovered throughout the world will fill out the Archive, providing complete stories and bonus experience.
MoonPyre Studio founder Lukas Tomondy said the first demo provided valuable feedback that helped the team identify areas for improvement.
“The demo taught us more than months of internal testing,” Tomondy said. “Players found every rough edge within days and told us about it on Discord, often in great detail.”
The studio says Early Access is only the beginning, with additional content and updates planned before the full release. Hellforged launches in Steam Early Access on January 18, 2027. Players can wishlist the game on Steam ahead of release.
What do you think of Hellforged, and are you going to check it out when it launches in Early Access in January? Leave your thoughts down in the comments, and join the official Insider Gaming Discord server.
In other news, read about id Software confirming its next game is in development. Also, don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter
Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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