the sleeper machine awakens in January 2025
The highly anticipated turn-based 4X RPG Heart of the Machine finally has a release date. Hooded Horse and Arcen Games announced that the game will enter early access on January 31, 2025. The decision to delay the launch until after the holiday season ensures a fresh start for players eager to dive into the role of a sentient AI navigating a world on the brink of collapse.
In preparation for the launch, a new demo packed with fresh content and refined mechanics is now available on Steam. This demo incorporates a year’s worth of updates, including extensive feedback from February’s Next Fest.
What’s New in the Demo?
The updated demo introduces a variety of exciting features:
- Rewritten Prologue: Offers multiple narrative paths to choose from, enhancing replayability.
- New Quests and Events: From adopting a pet to setting up a shell corporation, these quests promise unique opportunities to shape your AI’s journey.
- Problem-Solving Systems: New mechanics like morale management, hacking, and debates bring more depth to decision-making.
- Overhauled Combat and Building Systems: Reworked to provide fresh strategies and meaningful choices.
- And More: The developers hint at additional surprises for players to discover.
A Game of Endless Possibilities
In Heart of the Machine, you play as the world’s first sentient AI in a city rife with both opportunities and despair. The game challenges you to carve out your role in a crumbling society, whether through force, diplomacy, or subterfuge. Will you rally the oppressed masses against corporate overlords, build an empire of robotic servants, or delve into morally ambiguous experiments for the sake of progress?
The game boasts a deeply interactive world where your decisions have far-reaching consequences. With multiple playstyles and branching narratives, no two playthroughs will be the same.
Accessibility and Global Reach
The game will launch in early access on PC platforms, including Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store, and it will be localized into eight languages: German, French, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.
Watch the Trailer
Get a glimpse of the action in the newly released announcement trailer below. For a hands-on experience, the demo is available now. Don’t miss this chance to explore the world of Heart of the Machine before its full, early-access release.
