Tears of Metal Roadmap (August 2026): What's Next

Is there an official Tears of Metal roadmap?

Yes. Paper Cult's August 21 devlog is the current official roadmap. It divides work into three broad phases, but it is not a dated release calendar.

The first phase addressed urgent networking, crash and performance problems. Paper Cult says the next patch should be a large stability push before the second phase begins. Phase two reworks player agency and progression systems; phase three gives more attention to major new content.

That distinction matters because an Early Access plan can change with player feedback. A list of planned features is evidence that Paper Cult intends to work on them; it is not evidence that a particular update will arrive on a specific day.

What content is confirmed for Early Access?

Paper Cult published a concrete list before the July 22 launch. The list defines the scope of the Early Access plan without promising an order or date for every item.

The Steam store's Early Access section also says the studio plans more gameplay content and upgrades, more voice acting, more languages, and further work on balance, performance and stability.

Except for the Plague Doctor name confirmed in the August 21 roadmap, those statements do not identify a future Hero, ability set or release patch. Those details should remain unlisted until a first-party update publishes them.

What is Paper Cult working on first?

The next announced step is a stability-focused patch. Paper Cult did not publish a version number or date for it.

After that, phase two focuses on three immediate themes:

1. Build-crafting agency. Give players more control and make Emblem, Charm and Ally build directions more distinct.
2. More meaningful Emblems. Rework families and improve synergies between Emblems, other elements and powers.
3. Less grindy metaprogression. Improve and rebalance the long-term upgrade loop so runs feel less repetitive.

Paper Cult is also considering an optional Steam Beta Branch for testing these in-progress reworks before they reach the more stable default branch. The announcement describes that branch as a proposal, not a currently available public build.

When will new Heroes and content arrive?

No individual content release date has been announced.

The August 21 roadmap moves major additions into phase three and names the Plague Doctor as an example of content coming later. That is first-party confirmation of direction, but it does not make the character playable now or attach a date or patch number.

Use this evidence ladder when you see a roadmap claim elsewhere:

1. a dated Paper Cult announcement that says content shipped is a release;
2. an official roadmap naming content without a date is a plan;
3. promotional footage or an unavailable in-game entry is a preview;
4. a community prediction is speculation.

We will keep planned content in the second category until an official update moves it into the first.

Paper Cult's August 7 teaser named Aodh, the Vigil and an HP-based co-op revive system. Both shipped in the August 13 update, alongside networking optimization. They now belong in the released column, not the future-roadmap column. Mid-campaign saving remained in active development in the August 14 status update and still has no published release date; the August 21 roadmap does not assign it a milestone.

When will Tears of Metal reach version 1.0?

Paper Cult estimates four to twelve months in Early Access, depending on feedback from players. This is a development estimate rather than a fixed version 1.0 release window.

The starting point is the July 22, 2026 Early Access launch, but simply adding four or twelve months to that date would create an unofficial deadline. The studio may change scope or timing as it works through stability, balance and new content. See our release date guide for the distinction between the live Early Access build and the undated full release.

The Steam store also says the price is planned to increase after Early Access. It does not publish the final price or the date of that increase.

What is already available now?

The roadmap should not be confused with the launch build. Paper Cult describes the current Early Access version as a complete core loop containing:

• progression and metaprogression through the end of Act 3;
• three acts with their own biomes, enemies, elites and boss fights;
• three playable Heroes;
• Village upgrades, Emblems, equipment and Companions;
• events and encounters;
• solo play and online co-op for up to four players.

Those are current-scope claims from the official launch announcement. The planned list above describes additions and improvements beyond that baseline.

Are Acts 4 and 5 confirmed?

No official source checked for this roadmap confirms an Act 4 or Act 5. The current Early Access scope runs through the end of Act 3, while Paper Cult's published future plans describe new Heroes, systems, Village content and other improvements without naming additional acts.

Searches and community discussions about “Act 4” or “Act 5” should therefore be treated as questions, not announcements. A new act becomes confirmed only when Paper Cult names it in a dated roadmap, patch note or store update.

How this roadmap page will be updated

We check three first-party locations:

• the Steam store Early Access answers for broad scope and duration;
• Paper Cult's Steam announcements for dated priorities and patches;
• the live patch version for changes that have actually shipped.

When Paper Cult adds dates or moves a phase-two change into a shipped patch, this page will preserve the earlier plan for comparison and move that item from planned to released.

Official sources

• Paper Cult's August 21 three-phase roadmap
• Tears of Metal Steam store and Early Access answers
• Early Access launch and “road ahead” announcement
• Release announcement with the planned-content list
• Paper Cult's first post-launch priority update
• Version 0.11.57863 balance update
• August 7 future-update teaser
• August 13 networking, revive and Aodh update
• Version 0.14.58630 multiplayer fixes