Witch the Showdown Early Access Set for Late 2026, Neon Joins Demo
The temporary addition of Neon, a character with no defensive abilities, signals that the developers are testing high-risk, high-reward playstyles ahead of the early access launch.
Reporting from 2 sources: 4Gamer.net, Game Spark.
Perp Games and Citales Games announced on June 2, 2026, that the early access for their PC title Witch the Showdown will begin on Steam in late 2026. The game is a single-player real-time action title that combines high-speed parry mechanics with deck building, where all encounters are boss-level fights. To mark the game's participation in the Steam Next Fest starting June 15, a new attack-focused character named Neon, voiced by Tsubame Yuzuki, is temporarily available in the demo from June 2 through June 23. Neon specializes in firearm-based offense and has no defensive or disruptive skills, requiring precise parrying. The early access version will add more playable characters, story content, and cards. A Turn-Based Mode inspired by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was added in a May update for players who prefer slower-paced strategy. The game is also planned for release on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2027.
Witch the Showdown pits players in one-on-one battles where they must parry enemy attacks at the right moment, build mana to create openings, and then use cards from their hand to strike. The game offers two modes: Duel Mode, which starts with a pre-built deck, and Tournament Mode, a roguelike variant where players select randomly dealt cards to build their deck run by run. The new character Neon is a genius girl whose mother was the tournament runner-up 20 years ago, and her gun-focused moveset demands more precise parrying than other characters because she lacks invincibility frames or crowd control. The Turn-Based Mode added in May lets players plan parries and combos without real-time pressure, broadening the game's appeal to those who find action games daunting. The early access period is expected to expand the roster, story, and card pool. A demo is available now on Steam, and the full early access launch is slated for late 2026, with console versions following in 2027.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.