Expeditions: Samurai Enters Early Access on Steam This Summer
The game reframes a well-known historical figure-William Adams, the first European samurai-as a player character who arrives before him, making player agency the central driver of a familiar historical period.
Reporting from 3 sources: 4Gamer.net, GAME Watch (Impress), Game Spark.
THQ Nordic Japan announced on June 9, 2026, that the turn-based RPG Expeditions: Samurai will launch in early access on Steam this summer. Developed by Campfire Cabal, the studio behind Expeditions: Rome, the game is the latest entry in the Expeditions series. It is set in Japan's Sengoku period, specifically the year 1600, where players arrive aboard a Dutch frigate before the historical navigator William Adams. The player leads a crew of privateers through the final chapter of a civil war, with choices that alter the story and Japan's future. The game features eight companions, each with unique backgrounds and quests, and relationships that can develop into friendship, rivalry, or romance. Combat is turn-based with simultaneous actions, stealth, and a mix of pirate and Japanese weapons. For the first time in the series, Expeditions: Samurai supports drop-in/drop-out cooperative play. The full version is planned to offer about 60 hours of content. During early access, the developers plan to add the title of Hatamoto and village management features. Steam wishlist registration is open now.
Expeditions: Samurai is the fourth main entry in the Expeditions series, following Expeditions: Rome, Expeditions: Viking, and Expeditions: Conquistador. The series is known for blending historical settings with player-driven narrative choices. Campfire Cabal, a Danish studio, previously developed Expeditions: Rome, which launched in 2022. The game's setting in 1600 Japan places players at the Battle of Sekigahara, a decisive conflict that ended the Sengoku period. The eight companions include characters with distinct roles, though the sources do not name them individually. The cooperative mode allows two players to explore together, with the ability to compete for control of key dialogue decisions or perform coordinated stealth takedowns. The early access version will not include the full 60-hour campaign; the developers have not specified how much content will be available at launch. The announcement trailer, released alongside the news, shows the player character using stealth tactics and engaging in turn-based combat with firearms and melee weapons. Expeditions: Samurai is currently planned only for PC via Steam; no console versions have been announced.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.