Scrap Mechanic left early access on July 24, 2026, with version 1.0 and the Drilling Thunder update, which adds a full story mode, graphical overhaul, and new content. The game is available on PC via Steam, priced at 3,850 yen, and holds a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam.
Scrap Mechanic, the sandbox survival game from Axolot Games, ended a roughly ten-year early access period on July 24, 2026, with the release of version 1.0. The launch update, Drilling Thunder, adds a complete story mode for Survival Mode for the first time, explaining the rampage of agricultural robots and the player's escape from the planet. It also includes voiced NPCs, a new area, underground exploration, mining vehicles, dynamic lighting and weather, new building parts, enemies, weapons, costumes, and performance optimizations.
The release followed a decade of incremental updates and a famously slow development pace. The price rose from $19.99 to $29.99. After launch, the game saw a peak concurrent player count of 46,643 on Steam, according to Denfaminicogamer, while Automaton reported a peak of 37,801. The game has accumulated over 100,000 user reviews on Steam, with 92% positive, earning a 'Very Positive' rating. Players praise the high degree of crafting freedom and the wide range of vehicle parts.
Post-release reviews note bugs such as freezes, poor combat balance, and excessive grinding, with the recent review rating dropping to 87% positive. The developer has acknowledged the issues and stated they are working on fixes. The game supports Japanese UI and costs 3,850 yen. It also includes Creative Mode, MOD support with over 1,000 player-created parts, and life simulation elements like farming.
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4Gamer's Weekly Steam Square column for July 25, 2026 highlights two notable Steam releases: Conqueror's Blade: Three Kingdoms, a large-scale strategy action game set in the Three Kingdoms era, and Scrap Mechanic, a multiplayer sandbox survival game. The column also covers other releases, announcements, and sales information on Steam.
Axolot Games officially released the sandbox survival game Scrap Mechanic on PC via Steam on July 24, 2026, ending a decade-long early access period that began in 2016. The full launch was accompanied by the 'Drilling Thunder' update, which adds a complete story mode for Survival Mode for the first time, explaining the rampage of agricultural robots and the player's escape from the planet. The update also includes graphical improvements, new building parts, enemies, weapons, and costumes, along with performance optimizations. Following release, the game saw a peak concurrent player count of 46,643 on Steam, according to Denfaminicogamer, while Automaton reported a peak of 37,801. The game has accumulated over 100,000 user reviews on Steam, with 92% positive, earning a 'Very Positive' rating. Players praise the high degree of crafting freedom and the wide range of vehicle parts. However, post-release reviews note bugs such as freezes, poor combat balance, and excessive grinding, with the recent review rating dropping to 87% positive. The developer has acknowledged the issues and stated they are working on fixes. Scrap Mechanic is priced at 3,850 yen and supports Japanese UI.
On July 25, 2026, Axolot Games released the full version of the survival sandbox game Scrap Mechanic on PC via Steam, ending a roughly 10-year early access period that began in 2016. The game, published by the same company behind Raft, is a multiplayer title centered on building vehicles, machines, and bases using over 400 types of parts. Players explore an automatically generated open world in Survival Mode, cooperating to fight dangerous robots and reach the planet's core. The 1.0 update added new locations, a full story, major graphical upgrades, and a revamped survival mode. As of the time of writing, the game had received 106,259 Steam reviews with a 'Very Positive' rating, including 92% positive among 106,294 reviews according to one source. Shortly after launch, the game reached a peak concurrent player count of 35,169 on Steam, below its all-time high of 46,643 in 2020. The game supports Japanese and costs 3,850 yen. It also includes Creative Mode, MOD support with over 1,000 player-created parts, and life simulation elements like farming.
Axolot Games has announced that Scrap Mechanic will leave early access on July 24 with version 1.0, after roughly 10 years of development. The update includes the Drilling Thunder expansion, a full story campaign, voiced NPCs, a new area, and a complete visual overhaul with dynamic lighting and weather. The price will rise from $19.99 to $29.99.
Axolot Games announced that Scrap Mechanic will leave early access and launch version 1.0 on July 24. The sandbox survival game, which entered Steam early access in 2016, will add the Drilling Thunder update with full story elements, an underground exploration area, mining vehicles, and a graphical upgrade.