Vaultbreakers has released a free Steam demo and announced a publishing partnership between developer BetaDwarf and the returning Square Enix Collective. Announced during the Triple-i Initiative showcase, the demo offers up to seven hours of the extraction action RPG and can be played solo or with up to two friends.
The full game combines top-down brawler combat, boss encounters, and relic retrieval across PvE and PvPvE modes. The demo focuses on PvE and offers two difficulty settings.
Two Playable Heroes and a Boss-Guarded Vault
The demo introduces two Vaultbreakers: Nymera, an Elf ranger specializing in ranged combat, and Bjornir, a durable warrior who uses frozen attacks.
You’ll explore part of the first map and follow a questline toward your first Vault. Opening it requires defeating a challenging boss.
These Vaults have fallen from the Dragonvault, an ominous floating island. The Champions must retrieve legendary Artefacts from them to open a portal into the island itself.
PvPvE Alpha Playtest Begins October 15
The full version of Vaultbreakers will feature five playable heroes, and PvPvE encounters alongside its PvE options.
The three heroes absent from the demo will be available in an upcoming Alpha PvPvE Playtest on October 15, giving players another opportunity to test the roster.
Square Enix Collective Reopens for Indie Partnerships
The Vaultbreakers partnership marks the return of Square Enix Collective, the division that funds, invests in, and publishes independent developers.
Collective is accepting proposals and pitches across genres from studios of all sizes. Square Enix says its approach focuses on long-term partnerships in which developers retain creative control of their games.
The free Vaultbreakers demo is available now on Steam. Developers can find more information about publishing opportunities on the Square Enix Collective website.
