Sandustry Early Access Launch
What changed on August 13, 2026 — storefronts, price, platforms, and where to start playing.
Sandustry entered Early Access on August 13, 2026. Lantto Games develops; Hooded Horse publishes. The paid listing is Steam app 2764460, with the same-day GOG, Microsoft Store, and PC Game Pass storefronts already listed in official materials. This page is the wiki snapshot of launch week — not a substitute for Steam news. Cross-check dates and prices on Release Date and Platforms.
Launch snapshot
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Early Access start | 2026-08-13 |
| Storefronts | Steam, GOG, Microsoft Store, PC Game Pass |
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit, macOS 12+, Linux |
| Mode | Single-player |
| List price | $14.99 / £12 / €14.99 / ¥1,480 |
| Launch discount | 35% through 2026-08-27 (Steam showed €9.74 in EU listings) |
| Demo | Free Steam app 3490390 still teaches the shaker loop |
| EA duration (stated) | About one year, subject to design and feedback |
Avoid treating the discount as permanent. Hooded Horse noted the price might rise later in Early Access as content grows. Confirm the live storefront before you buy.
What you are buying
The Early Access build is the full playable factory described on the store page: pixel sand physics, research, conveyors, filters, pipes, drones, tools, artifacts, and the botanical Fluxite chain. Official EA copy says the current version includes the features listed on Steam — it is not a demo with a paywall on the same map. The free demo remains a separate listing for people who want the core loop without paying.
Steam extras at launch include Achievements (16 highlighted), Steam Cloud, Trading Cards, Family Sharing, and Steam Workshop. Workshop matters if you already used Fluxloader maps in the demo — see Mods and Demo vs Early Access.
Official launch messaging
Hooded Horse’s community post “Sandustry is Released!” (August 13, 2026) pointed players at the launch trailer, asked for Steam reviews, and linked a beginner Steam guide plus the official wiki. Community channels remain Discord, the Lantto social accounts, Reddit (r/SandustryGame), YouTube @sandustry, and sandustry.com. This unofficial wiki tracks mechanics; those channels track patch timing.
The launch trailer (embedded above) is the Hooded Horse Factory Game cut. The earlier release-date trailer still lives on Guides Hub as overview footage — one unique video ID per page.
How this differs from “wishlist season”
Before August 13 the wiki treated EA as a future date. That is no longer true. Practical consequences:
- Buy or subscribe, do not wait for a mystery 1.0 date. 1.0 is explicitly later.
- Saves from the demo are not guaranteed to be the same path as the paid Steam, GOG, or Game Pass installs. Start a dedicated EA world.
- Mods may need loader updates for the EA executable. Keep a vanilla slot (Fluxloader Install).
- Guides on gold, slag, water, and Fluxite still apply; depth, Workshop, and polish will move during EA (EA Roadmap).
First-session plan for buyers
- Confirm OS (Windows / macOS / Linux) and the spec table.
- Play How to Play and Getting Started if you skipped the demo (How to Play, Getting Started).
- Prove a diagonal Shaker line before chasing drones (How to Get Gold).
- Unlock Logistics 1, then Tools 1 + Refining 2 so slag becomes a second gold stream (Kinetic Slag Press).
- Spend first Fluxite on scanner, capacity, and hover (Fluxite Upgrades).
Price and Game Pass notes
PC Game Pass is the low-cash way to try the paid build. Progress follows Microsoft’s subscription and cloud rules, not the Steam demo folder. GOG is the DRM-free PC option. Microsoft Store is the Xbox PC ecosystem path. All four are single-player — there is no online factory.
If you already finished the demo, the paid build is still worth it for the full research tree, Workshop, achievements, and the movement/simulation work Lantto described after the demo hotfixes. If the demo bored you in hour two, EA will not suddenly become a different genre.
What we are watching next
- First balance hotfixes after launch week (follow Steam news; we will summarize on this hub).
- Workshop vs Fluxloader overlap (Custom Maps).
- Whether research costs or shaker yields shift — update Research Checklist if they do.
- Roadmap themes (world engine, deeper biomes, extra chains) on EA Roadmap.
Related pages
- Release Date and Platforms — Specs, storefront IDs, Mac/Linux notes.
- Demo vs Early Access — What the free listing still does.
- Early Access Preview — Buyer expectations, updated for live EA.
- Demo Patches — Historical demo hotfixes that still explain Ctrl-replace and Hydro Sponge rules.
Early Access is a live product, not a countdown. Use this page for launch facts; use Guides for the factory loop that actually earns gold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common Sandustry questions.
Is Sandustry in Early Access yet?
Yes. Early Access began on **August 13, 2026** on Steam, GOG, Microsoft Store, and PC Game Pass. Details on EA Launch.
How much does Sandustry cost?
List price is **$14.99 / €14.99**. A **35%** launch discount runs through **August 27, 2026**. Confirm the live storefront.
Is Sandustry on PC Game Pass?
Yes at EA start, per official announcements. Confirm the Microsoft listing on your account.
Does the free demo still exist?
Yes — Steam app **3490390**. Use it to learn shakers; the paid build is the full EA product. See Demo vs Early Access.
How long will Early Access last?
Developers stated about **one year**, with flexibility. Track EA Roadmap rather than treating that as a contract.