The release date is still on track for February 23.
Sons of the Forest, the upcoming sequel to Endnight Games’ 2018 survival horror title The Forest, will enter Steam as an Early Access title, the developers announced on Friday. The developers are, however, holding themselves to the previously announced February 23 release date.
“It’s been a long journey since we first started ‘Sons of The Forest’ development and it’s grown into the biggest most complex game we have ever made,” The message from Endnight Games reads. The developer then goes on to announce the Early Access release, stating that the development team has too many additions and adjustment it would like to make to the game, ranging from adjusting the balance of the gameplay to adding in new items and mechanics. Launching the title under Early Access will allow the team to keep the game’s previously announced official release date on track while giving the developers the freedom to implement these changes.
In a Twitter update on Friday, the developer somewhat cryptically made a vague posting regarding the release date, asking readers to visit its Steam page for additional information, leading to the Early Access announcement. The announcement also touts The Forest as “a massive success,” crediting its popularity to the game’s “awesome community” and its members’ willingness to share their thoughts on the game with developers.
Originally announced at The Game Awards in December 2019, Sons of the Forest has had its fair share of delays already. A full year later, the title finally received its original official launch window, although it was a broad-ranging one, simply stating the game would be released sometime in 2021. When that didn’t pan out, a second and more specific release window of May 2022 was announced, before the development team decided the game would need a little more attention and pushed it back to the February 23 date where it currently sits.
Like its sequel, The Forest was also an Early Access title, first appearing on Steam in 2014 and not reaching its official launch until about four years later.
