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Core Keeper
Core Keeper's free 1.3 update, Riders of the Underground, launched on September 21, 2026 across PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. Developer Pugstorm and publisher Fireshine Games have named two further updates, 1.4 Trials of the Abyss and 1.5 Beyond the Rift, for release later.
Synthesized from 8
Yomimono stories · updated
4h ago
Core Keeper's post-launch support now runs through a three-part arc called The Road to the Great Maw. Pugstorm split what was originally one project into three versions because it grew too large for a single update: 1.3 Riders of the Underground, 1.4 Trials of the Abyss, and 1.5 Beyond the Rift. The first two deepen existing systems; the third is the final chapter of the game's current arc. The plan follows the January 28 release of Void and Current.
The first part shipped on September 21, 2026 as a free update for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. Version 1.3 adds the Saddle, which turns any livestock animal into a mount that can be ridden, renamed, and told to stay, wander, or follow. It also adds the Hookshot, the Moss sub-biome with its Oreks livestock species, three pets with separate abilities (Pyokohop and Azeos Jr. among them), new weapons and armor, and adjustments to mage and summoner play. Before release, the same build was playable on the Tokyo Game Show 2026 show floor.
Fireshine Games has tied the game's Japanese results to local partners, influencers and community managers, including Neon Noroshi, rather than an exported marketing playbook. Fireshine is running its own Tokyo Game Show booth for the first time in 2026, showing Core Keeper alongside Densha Attack and Far Far West. Core Keeper also appeared in the Super Survival Summer! Steam bundle in June 2026, and was 40% off on Steam until September 8, 2026.
Key facts
- Update 1.3 release date
- September 21, 2026 (Japan time) ↗
- Update 1.3 platforms
- PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch ↗
- Update 1.3 version number
- 1.3 ↗
- Developer and publisher
- Pugstorm develops; Fireshine Games publishes ↗
- Road to the Great Maw updates
- 1.3 Riders of the Underground, 1.4 Trials of the Abyss, 1.5 Beyond the Rift ↗
- Fireshine July 2026 community update
- Recapped the Road to the Great Maw plan and stated teasers were prepared ahead of the updates ↗
- Tokyo Game Show 2026 booth
- Fireshine Games ran its own booth for the first time, showing Core Keeper, Densha Attack and Far Far West ↗
- Super Survival Summer! bundle
- 10 survival games including Core Keeper at 16,884 yen, down from 37,950 yen ↗
Timeline
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Release
- game · 2024-08-27 · 2026-10-08
- Release
- game · 2026-09-21 · 2026-09-10
- Release
- game · 2026-09-21 · Japan · 2026-10-03
- Release
- game · January 28 · 2026-08-15
- Release
- game · within 2026 · 2026-08-11
- Announced
- Steam Free Weekend from October 9 to October 13 · 2026-10-08
- Announced
- version 1.4 Trials of the Abyss · 2026-09-10
- Announced
- version 1.5 Beyond the Rift · 2026-09-10
- Announced
- three connected updates: 1.3 Underground Rider, 1.4 Trial of the Abyss, and 1.5 Beyond the Rift · 2026-09-02
- Announced
- The Road to the Great Maw major update, split into three versions: Ver.1.3 'Riders of the Underground', Ver.1.4 'Trials of the Abyss', and Ver.1.5 'Beyond the Rift' · 2026-08-15
- Announced
- roadmap 'The Path to the Great Maw' spanning three updates · 2026-08-11
- Announced
- next large-scale update 'The Path to the Great Maw' will be split across three version updates · 2026-08-11
- Noted
- showing at Fireshine Games booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026 · 2026-09-20
- Noted
- prepared several teasers ahead of the updates · 2026-09-02
- Noted
- Core Keeper is 40% off on Steam until September 8 · 2026-09-02
- Noted
- Smaller updates are planned, with the first after 1.3 · 2026-09-02
- Noted
- Core Keeper's roadmap completion · 2026-08-17
Connections
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All coverage
4h ago
Pugstorm and Fireshine Games will hold a Steam Free Weekend for the mining sandbox game Core Keeper from October 9 at 2 a.m. Japan time to October 13 at 2 a.m. Japan time. The full game, including all content added since release, will be playable at no cost during the period. That includes the latest major update, Riders of the Underground, which added animal riding, the Hookshot item, and a new Moss biome. Save data from the free period carries over to the full Steam version if a player buys it during or after the event. Core Keeper supports solo play and online co-op for up to eight players with drop-in and drop-out. The game is set in ancient caves where players mine resources, build bases, craft equipment, and fight bosses while exploring deeper. Its Steam store page price is 2,300 yen, and the full release launched on August 27, 2024 after Early Access began on March 8, 2022.
2d ago
Pugstorm released the Underground Riders update for Core Keeper on September 21, 2026. It adds the Moss sub-biome to the Forgotten Ruins, the Orex livestock animal, a Saddle that lets players ride all livestock animals, and a Hookshot as left-hand equipment for crossing gaps. Minions now exist permanently, and the update adds the King's Scepter weapon and pets including Azeos Jr. CEO Fredrik Prantare discussed it at Tokyo Game Show 2026.
4d ago
Pugstorm and publisher Fireshine Games released the free Core Keeper update Riders of the Underground on September 21, 2026 (Japan time), for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. The update is version 1.3. Its centerpiece is the Saddle, a new item that turns any livestock animal in the game into a mount. Players can ride those animals, rename them, and set their behavior to stay put, wander, or follow. A new sub-biome, Moss, spreads green growth through stone ruins and is home to Oreks, a reptilian livestock species. The Hookshot lets players cross rifts and gaps. Three pets arrive with different abilities: Pyokohop, described as coming from the sea, grants a slipperiness effect and attacks at range, while Azeos Jr., described as coming from the sky, can stun enemies. New weapons and armor are included, along with adjustments to mage and summoner playstyles.
Sep 20
At Tokyo Game Show 2026, UK publisher Fireshine Games is running its own booth for the first time, showing Core Keeper, Densha Attack and Far Far West, a co-op action game for up to four players. Head of Marketing Tina Moore says Core Keeper's Japanese success came from matching a popular genre with local partners, influencers and community managers, including Neon Noroshi. Densha Attack is preparing a hololive collaboration.
Sep 10
Core Keeper's free major update Underground Riders is set for September 21, 2026 on all platforms. It adds a Saddle item that lets players ride livestock animals and issue them commands such as waiting, roaming, or following, plus a Hookshot for crossing gaps and holes, the Moss sub-biome of green moss over stone ruins, new pets with their own abilities, weapons, accessories, and armor. The update is version 1.3; 1.4 Trials of the Abyss and 1.5 Beyond the Rift are announced for later.
Sep 2
Fireshine Games published the August 2026 community update for Core Keeper, recapping the upcoming Road to the Great Maw content plan. The studio admitted it could not hold back and prepared several teasers ahead of the updates. The plan is three connected updates: 1.3 Underground Rider, 1.4 Trial of the Abyss, and 1.5 Beyond the Rift. Smaller updates are planned, with the first after 1.3. Core Keeper is 40% off on Steam until September 8.
Aug 17
Game Spark's weekly ranking for August 7-13, 2026, places the Ghost Recon 25th Anniversary Showcase at number one. The showcase included a free update for Ghost Recon Wildlands and announced a new game. Other top articles covered Core Keeper's roadmap completion, a Dreamcast-era adventure game retrospective, and a Super Robot Wars Z column.
Aug 15
Pugstorm revealed the full plan for the Core Keeper major update 'The Road to the Great Maw', which follows the January 28 release of 'Void and Current'. The update was originally one project but grew large enough to split into three versions: Ver.1.3 'Riders of the Underground', Ver.1.4 'Trials of the Abyss', and Ver.1.5 'Beyond the Rift'. The first two deepen existing systems, and the third is the final chapter.
Aug 11
Developer Pugstorm unveiled a new roadmap for Core Keeper. The next large-scale update, 'The Path to the Great Maw,' is too large for a single update and will be split across three version updates. The first part, version 1.3 'Riders of the Underground,' is complete and in final testing, scheduled for release within 2026.
Jun 27
A new Steam bundle, 'Super Survival Summer!', offers 10 popular survival games including Palworld, ARK: Survival Ascended, and Core Keeper at a combined price of 16,884 yen, down from 37,950 yen. The bundle applies an extra 25% discount on top of individual sale prices, and the price adjusts for titles already owned.