Tears of Metal Early Access: September Status and Patch

TL;DR: Tears of Metal, a co-op roguelite from Bloodroots developer Paper Cult, entered Early Access July 22, 2026 on Steam and PC Game Pass. The current English Steam snapshot is 89% positive across 1,612 reviews, with the recent 204-review sample at 86%. The $24.99 build supports solo and online co-op, lists 89 achievements, and advertises multiple heroes, more than 45 handcrafted environments, and more than 100 artifacts. The September 8 patch fixed major bugs but temporarily disabled crossplay on the current version.

Tears of Metal Early Access? (quick answer)

Tears of Metal entered Early Access on July 22, 2026. It is currently $24.99, 89% positive across 1,612 English Steam reviews, and still receiving fixes; the September patch temporarily paused crossplay on the current build.

Current status: September 2026

Tears of Metal is still in Early Access at $24.99. Steam lists 89 achievements, single-player and online co-op, and a planned Early Access period of roughly four to twelve months, while the official store page warns that crashes and balance issues can remain. English reviews currently stand at 89% positive across 1,612 reviews, with the recent 204-review sample at 86%. The September 8 Big Bug Fixing Pass addressed major bugs, but crossplay compatibility is temporarily disabled on the current build; the Crossplay beta branch keeps the older version. Paper Cult is also reworking build crafting, emblems, and metaprogression.

Tears of Metal Early Access: what's actually happening (quick answer)

Tears of Metal is a co-op action roguelite that entered Steam Early Access on July 22, 2026, with a same-day PC Game Pass and Microsoft Store release. It's the second game from Paper Cult, the Montreal studio behind Bloodroots, and supports solo play or online co-op.

Key takeaways

• Developer: Paper Cult, a Montreal-based indie studio. This is only their second release, after Bloodroots.
• Entered Steam Early Access July 22, 2026, with a simultaneous PC Game Pass and Microsoft Store launch. It remains in Early Access.
• Premise: lead a Scottish battalion reclaiming their island after a meteor event ("the Mother Dragon Stone") awakens invaders and new powers.
• Solo or up to 4-player online co-op, full controller support including DualSense.
• The current Steam page advertises multiple heroes, more than 45 handcrafted environments, more than 100 artifacts, village progression, and online co-op.
• Tears of Metal is currently 89% positive across 1,612 English Steam reviews, with the recent 204-review sample at 86%.

What's actually in the Early Access build

Paper Cult's own store description frames the setup plainly: a Scottish battalion fighting to take their island back after a meteor strike, the Mother Dragon Stone, cracks the ground open and lets invaders and strange new powers pour in. Combat runs through core systems the studio is calling Emblem synergies (equipment and ability combos that build on each other mid-run), permanent troop upgrades that carry between runs, and a rally mechanic for coordinating fights, particularly relevant in the up-to-4-player co-op mode.

The current build offers multiple heroes, more than 45 handcrafted environments, more than 100 artifacts, village-level progression, recruitable companions, equipment, and online co-op. Paper Cult has said more heroes, emblems, and charms are planned across the Early Access period, which is a roadmap rather than a promise with a date attached.

A co-op squad closing on an enemy formation, with the Emblem icons that drive the game's synergy system visible in the top-left HUD.

Why the Xbox Game Pass detail matters

Most Early Access launches from a small studio stay Steam-only, at least at first. Tears of Metal instead launched on PC Game Pass and the Microsoft Store alongside its Steam release. That changes the calculus for anyone deciding whether to try it: Game Pass subscribers can play without buying the $24.99 Steam version, while the current crossplay pause is an important caveat for mixed-platform groups.

What Paper Cult's track record actually tells you

Bloodroots, Paper Cult's only previous game, remains useful context: it is Very Positive on Steam at roughly 89% across 223 reviews. Tears of Metal's own reception is now the stronger signal, 89% positive across 1,612 English reviews and 86% in the recent 204-review sample. It is still early enough, and still in Early Access, for that trend to move as balance and networking work continues.

Early player reaction to the pre-launch demo leaned positive on the specific comparison points that matter for this genre: one player described it as playing like "Dynasty Warriors type gameplay mixed with Roguelite elements and team management similar to darkest dungeon," which tracks with what Paper Cult's own feature list describes (large-scale combat plus permanent progression plus a co-op layer).

Tips for anyone deciding whether to buy in during Early Access

• If you already have Xbox Game Pass for PC, there's no reason to wait: you can try it today at no additional cost before deciding whether to follow it through Early Access.
• If you're buying outright, Tears of Metal's current reception (89% of 1,612 English reviews, 86% recent) is the better signal, with Bloodroots' track record as useful context for the studio's execution quality overall.
• Co-op is a first for Paper Cult. If squad-based runs are the main draw for you, expect some Early Access rough edges specifically in that system rather than assuming it's as polished as the solo loop.
• The September 8 patch is the first major current checkpoint: it fixes substantial bugs, but temporarily disables crossplay on the current version. Check the branch/version your group is using before planning a mixed-platform session.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Tears of Metal release? Tears of Metal entered Steam Early Access on July 22, 2026, with a simultaneous PC Game Pass and Microsoft Store release. It remains in Early Access.

Is Tears of Metal on Xbox Game Pass? Yes. It launched on PC Game Pass and the Microsoft Store alongside the Steam Early Access version. The September patch temporarily disabled crossplay on the current build, so check the current branch before planning cross-platform play.

Who developed Tears of Metal? Paper Cult, a Montreal-based indie studio previously known for Bloodroots, which sits at Very Positive on Steam with roughly 89% positive across 223 reviews.

What is Tears of Metal about? Players lead a Scottish battalion fighting to reclaim their island after a meteor event awakens invaders and dangerous new powers. Combat supports solo play or up to 4-player co-op.

How much content is in the Tears of Metal Early Access build? The current Steam page lists multiple heroes, more than 45 handcrafted environments, and more than 100 artifacts, alongside village progression and co-op. Paper Cult says more heroes, emblems, and charms are planned during Early Access.

Is Tears of Metal worth buying during Early Access? The current English Steam snapshot is 89% positive across 1,612 reviews, with the recent 204-review sample at 86%. It is a promising signal, but the game remains Early Access and the September patch temporarily disabled crossplay on the current version.

Related Reading

• Ground Branch 1.0 Review: What Changed After Launch in 2026: another Early Access exit worth checking the actual review trend on before buying.
• Scarlet Deer Inn Release Date 2026: a same-window indie launch with its own art-driven pitch.
• Best Indie Co-op Games for Steam Summer Sale 2026: where a Game Pass co-op roguelite fits against other current picks.
• WATERPUNK Release: a smaller single-player roguelite that is already out of its launch window.
• Mistfall Hunter Release: another multiplayer launch where current reviews and patch notes matter.
• Archon Soul Release: a full-release dice-builder from another small studio.
• Best Indie Games Under $15: budget alternatives for readers not ready to buy into Early Access.
• Palworld Review 2026: another co-op survival game whose 1.0 support story is useful comparison.

References

• Tears of Metal on Steam
• Tears of Metal official Steam news
• Tears of Metal on Xbox Wire
• Paper Cult on X
• Tears of Metal - Release Date Teaser on YouTube