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May 20, 2026

The release of the cooperative roguelite shooter Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core in Steam Early Access will take place tonight

Daniel Harper
By Daniel Harper Senior Video Game News Writer
Last updated: May 20, 2026

Ghost Ship Games studio is about to push Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core into early access on PC — only a few hrs remain before the Valve release. It's a standalone spin-off of the space-dwarves game you know, but the pace and goals have been rearranged: think roguelite action with survival pressure rather than slow, methodical mining.

Plot and Atmosphere

A strange event called the "Greyout" severs all contact with Hoxxes IV, where the valuable mineral expenite used to be pulled from the rock. The corporation sends in elite dwarves — Retrievers — to drop back into lost facilities and try to wrest them into corporate control. This isn't leisure mining: it's quick decisions, scarce resources, and escape plans on the fly. New foes, labeled Core Spawn, behave unlike the regular bugs from earlier entries — they swarm, move fast, and punish poor positioning. Expect tight corridors, sudden alarms, and moments where team cohesion (or its lack) decides whether you claw out alive.

Key Gameplay Features

  • Roguelite structure: Expeditions start with a barebones kit. No prebuilt loadouts — gear, perks, and upgrades are found and combined during the descent using collected expenite. Procedural caves plus fully destructible scenery make runs feel different each time.
  • Mission timer: The clock matters. If you overstay, the mission slips into a "Critical State" — endless Core Spawn waves followed by enormous Reaper Worms that turn escape into a long shot.
  • Fully destructible environment: Walls can be blown or drilled away; you can carve new routes. Levels are non-linear, so you can flank, dig out, or retreat as situations demand.
  • Co-op for up to four players: The game leans into teamwork and class synergy — solo is possible but harsher. Good comms and role play (e.g., who covers which flank) make a big difference.

Development Plans

Early access is planned to last 18–24 mo. During that stretch the devs intend to add new biomes, weapons, enemy types, and bosses, and to grow the meta-progression that ties runs together. The full story and the Greyout mystery will be revealed over time through major updates. At launch the game will include Russian. Check exact launch time, system reqs, and add the project to your wishlist.