In mid-September, I introduced the latest project from Lost Pilgrims Studio for their beloved sandbox RPG Vagrus – The Riven Realms. More than just hard work, it feels like another heartfelt gesture in the form of a DLC.
The expansion is titled At The Heart of Ruin and will be available very soon on PC and consoles, with the exception of Nintendo Switch, which is still pending approval.
Alongside the expansion, the studio will offer a Ruinous Supporter Pack that adds a new cosmetic outfit for every companion.
Described by the team as its most ambitious add-on to date, At the Heart of Ruin shifts the caravan’s struggle to the Mountains of Fire, where the remnants of an ancient Dwarven realm set the tone for tougher traversal, smaller parties, and harsher encounters.
The expansion adds a new, perilous region outside Imperial control, more locations and enemies than any prior DLC, and a large set of branching narrative arcs that tie back into the setting’s long-running lore.
A key gameplay addition comes with Exploration Encounters, procedurally generated challenges and opportunities that occur outside the usual story-driven segments.
At the Heart of Ruin pushes the campaign into the Mountains of Fire and the lost Dwarven realm of Dvendarr Tharr, a dense, hazard-filled region where travel shifts to mountaineering: long stretches are foot-only, comitatus size is capped while you climb, movement is slower, and survival hinges on preparation against lava rivers, ash storms, earthquakes, and sulfuric gas.
To support this, the DLC adds new gear systems, dedicated Mountaineering Equipment slots (expansion-specific) plus a global Protective Gear slot, earned through quests, faction standing, markets, and encounters.
The region folds in and around Scrapheap, spilling into northern Tahrar Barak and the Penumbral Plains, and layers on more locations and enemy types than any prior DLC, alongside a large cast of NPCs.
On the faction side, three rival scavenger groups operate as mutual nemeses with their own questlines and rewards, and you can pledge to one of two new minor factions for unique missions and boons.
The result is a tighter, more vertical slice of the Riven Realms that emphasizes route planning, loadout choices, and allegiance decisions under constant environmental pressure.
Lost Pilgrims plans to keep building on the DLC post-launch, continuing one of the major storylines with free updates after release. A new trailer highlighting the setting, travel constraints, and enemy threats accompanies the announcement.
Vagrus is available on PC via Steam, GOG, and EPIC, and recently arrived on consoles. At the Heart of Ruin’s October 22 date applies across platforms, with the exception of Nintendo, where it will follow later.
