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Expeditions: Samurai Early Access Set for August 7

The early access release marks the first Expeditions game developed by Campfire Cabal, a studio formed by the series' original creative lead after the previous developer pivoted to blockchain, and the first time the series has used an early access model.

Key Facts

  • Expeditions: Samurai will begin early access on Steam on August 7, 2026.
  • The game is set in Japan around 1600 at the end of the Sengoku period.
  • The protagonist is a fictional Westerner who traveled from England to Japan.
  • The full release is planned for the first quarter of 2027.
  • Expeditions: Rome, the previous series entry, holds an 86% positive rating from approximately 5,000 Steam reviews.

Reporting from 4 sources: 4Gamer.net, GAME Watch (Impress), Automaton, Game Spark.

Expeditions: Samurai Early Access Set for August 7

THQ Nordic and developer Campfire Cabal announced that the historical RPG Expeditions: Samurai will begin early access on Steam on August 7, 2026. The game is set in Japan around 1600, at the end of the Sengoku period, and features a fictional Western protagonist who travels from England to survive the turmoil. A companion trailer released alongside the announcement introduces eight characters, including a thief, a sword master, a female warrior, and a cleric. The full version is planned for release in the first quarter of 2027, with additional features such as village management, crafting, and expanded character customization. The early access version includes combat, exploration, stealth, and a portion of the story. The price is expected to increase for the full release. The game supports two-player co-op, where a second player joins as the protagonist's twin sibling. This is the first Expeditions game developed by Campfire Cabal, a studio founded by former Logic Artists co-founder Jonas Waever after the original developer shifted focus toward blockchain. The series' previous entry, Expeditions: Rome, received an 86% positive rating on Steam. The early access build does not currently support Japanese display.

The companion trailer shows eight characters, combining fictional allies with historical figures such as Tokugawa Ieyasu, Kato Kiyomasa, and Acha no Tsubone. The game uses turn-based tactical combat with terrain interactions and stealth elements. Players can also make skill-based choices that affect the story.

Development of Expeditions: Samurai proceeded through a turbulent period. After Logic Artists shifted toward NFTs after Expeditions: Rome, co-founder Jonas Waever left the studio. With support from THQ Nordic, he founded Campfire Cabal in 2022. The studio faced closure in 2023 during Embracer Group's restructuring, but a small core team continued development. In 2025, the team reorganized and resumed full-scale production with former colleagues.

The early access version will lack Japanese display support at launch, though the previous game supported the language. The full release in early 2027 is expected to add the missing elements and a price increase.

Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.

Expeditions: Samurai

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