Towerborne Launch Imminent! Banner Saga Makers' New RPG Unveiled!

Good news for fans of beautifully animated, deeply strategic games! Stoic, the studio practically synonymous with gorgeous visuals and impactful choices thanks to their *Banner Saga* trilogy, is finally ready to unleash the 1.0 version of their action RPG, *Towerborne*. Mark your calendars, folks, because the full release is coming next month.

Towerborne Launch Imminent! Banner Saga Makers' Ne...

This announcement, dropped during yesterday's New Game+ Showcase, puts an end to *Towerborne*'s time in Early Access – a journey that started on Steam back in September 2024 and then continued on Xbox Game Preview in April 2025. Now, I've been keeping an eye on this one for a while, and it's safe to say it's a bit of a departure for Stoic. Instead of turn-based tactical combat, we're talking side-scrolling, beat 'em up action RPG. Think *Castle Crashers* meets a Tolkien-esque fantasy world, and you're getting close.

Players step into the role of an Ace, an immortal warrior burdened with the heavy task of safeguarding the land from a nasty corruption. As Ace, you'll also be trying to piece together the mystery of a city on the verge of collapse. The core gameplay revolves around combo-focused melee combat, and the best part is the sheer amount of customization. The gear you equip directly impacts your playstyle, offering a surprising amount of depth for what appears to be a straightforward action game.

Now, here’s a detail I think is pretty cool. *Towerborne* originally launched in Early Access as a free-to-play, always-online title. But Stoic listened to player feedback (and probably saw the writing on the wall) and completely revamped the monetization model. The final version will be a traditional paid game, offering the option of offline play alongside online co-op. Even better, they've ditched the paid cosmetic items. Instead, players will unlock cosmetics through gameplay, with even more goodies being added in the 1.0 release. That's a win for the players, in my book. More games should do this, honestly.

So, what can we expect from the 1.0 update? A fully fleshed-out main storyline, two brand new boss fights, even more gear and abilities to tinker with, and a reworked difficulty system that now includes a "Brutal" setting for those who like a real challenge. Plus, the world map has been updated, and the game will feature new music from Austin Wintory – a name you should recognize if you appreciated the *Banner Saga* soundtracks as much as I did. Seriously, that man's a musical genius.

The official launch date is February 26th, and *Towerborne* will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC simultaneously. The Standard Edition will set you back $24.99, while the Deluxe Edition, which includes some cosmetic sets, crafting materials, and other digital goodies, will be priced at $29.99. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how this one shapes up, especially considering Stoic's track record. Let's hope they can bring the same level of polish and narrative depth to *Towerborne* that made the *Banner Saga* such a memorable experience.