Wasteland 3 Update #30 - Getting the Engine Warmed Up

According to the latest Fig update for inXile Entertainment's post-apocalyptic RPG Wasteland 3, the game is just about ready for an Alpha demo. Said demo will become available for the game's backers of the $75 and higher tiers on August 21, 2019, and focus on high-level combat in a snowy mountainous region. Everyone else will have to wait for the second, Early Access demo. Here's more on that:

For Alpha Eyes Only

The Wasteland 3 Alpha is closer than ever, and those of you who have pledged at the First Access ($75) or higher tier (or added the Alpha as an add-on) will soon be getting hands-on with the game. Come August 21 you’ll be setting foot in the frozen post-apocalyptic Colorado for the first time.

This is an early preview, so we want to get in a few disclaimers. This demo is firmly an Alpha, so every single piece of the game you’ll see and play will very much be a work in progress. While we’re going to do our best to provide a stable build, you should expect some amount of crashes, performance drops, compatibility issues, etc. to be possible. That’s part of what we’re testing and getting your feedback on. Speaking of which, stay tuned for official feedback and reporting methods.

The Alpha is combat-focused, and revolves around the last leg of your journey to deal with one of the Patriarch’s children, lovingly known as the Psychopath. At this point in the game you’re higher level, and are taking the last few steps to deal with him in the mountain town of Aspen—however you choose to do that. You’ll get to experience most of the systems related to combat, including the player vehicle. We will have some things purposely blocked off, like the Perk and Skill menus, and multiplayer, which aren’t quite ready to see just yet.

While the full game will include the deep narrative choices, colorful characters, and all of the broad RPG systems and experiences you know and love in Wasteland, our goal with the Alpha is to get early testing and feedback on combat basics and a sense of how players are tackling the game in terms of its level designs and available systems, and we’re hoping you put it through its paces.

And Everyone Else

For many of you who didn’t back at the Alpha tiers, you’ll be looking forward to Early Access, which is the second demo we’ll have before launch. Alpha and Early Access will both use the same Steam entry (the Alpha will be replaced with the Early Access demo), so Alpha users you’ll only need to redeem one key to play both, and Early Access players you’ll get your keys later on when we get closer to that point. If you’re looking to get the full game on GOG, no worries, while the Alpha and Early Access will be run on Steam, your final product choice won’t be impacted.

Of course, Alpha players can take screenshots, videos, livestream, etc. and everyone can enjoy. Player’s choice, but based on past experience, you’ll probably want to keep an eye on Twitch and Youtube. Our fans have traditionally enjoyed sharing their experiences and impressions.

Meanwhile, in Investor Land!

For those of you who invested in Wasteland 3 beyond just backing the game, be sure to check your Fig-affiliated email for news on a 132% return on your investment. For our non-investment game backers wondering what it means for you, the answer is “Not a darn thing.” Wasteland 3 is still arriving on all the promised platforms, and everyone will still be getting their backer rewards. This was just part of the acquisition by Microsoft that got squared away, and was done with full understanding that it wouldn’t impact our backer commitments for the game.

Additionally, those of you attending this year's Gamescom will also get a chance to play some Wasteland 3, and perhaps even meet inXile's boss Brian Fargo. Here's a press release with additional details:

Koch Media, Deep Silver, and inXile entertainment invite all visitors of this year’s gamescom in Cologne to play a first ever hands-on demo of the upcoming tactical RPG Wasteland 3. Created by Brian Fargo and his team at inXile, the demo invites players to the frozen wastes of Colorado to deal with one of the game’s side missions, and reach one of four potential outcomes based on their actions. All players attending the show are welcome to explore Wasteland 3 at the Deep Silver and Friends Area in Hall 9* between August 20th and 24th. Wasteland 3 will be arriving in Spring 2020 on Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass, Playstation®4, Windows, Mac, and Linux.

In addition to playing the game, all visitors have the chance to meet some amazing post-apocalyptic cosplayers and take pictures with a car fit for any kind of Wasteland threat. And who knows, Brian Fargo himself might find time to meet and greet fans enjoying the demo.

About Wasteland 3

The legendary series, which pioneered the post-apocalypse genre in video games, returns players to the role of Desert Rangers, lawmen in a post-nuclear world working to rebuild civilization from the ashes. Trading the dry, dusty heat of the American southwest for a perpetually frozen Colorado, Wasteland 3 features a number of chilling new locations where the Rangers receive an even frostier reception from the locals.

In addition to narrative choices and consequences, and the tactical turn-based combat that the series is known for, Wasteland 3 delivers brand new features, including a dynamic conversation system that highlights the weird and wild denizens of the Colorado Wasteland, an upgradable player vehicle, and the ability to play through the storyline cooperatively with a friend online.