The original Dwarf Fortress has existed for quite a while now, but the upcoming Steam Edition release will allow fans to experience it in a whole new way. Not only does this rerelease add a plethora of new features, but it also replaces the text-based graphics of old with all-new sprites that will seemingly make the game more approachable than before. Fortunately for fans, developer Bay 12 Games revealed a December 6 release date for the Steam version of Dwarf Fortress. Unlike the original free version, the rerelease will cost $29.99 USD at launch.
To coincide with this announcement, developers Tarn and Zach Adams along with publisher Kitfox Games posted an updated roadmap for the game’s development. The developers won’t be able to put in all of their planned features at launch, but they have at least confirmed that the base game will feature Legends mode for sure. In addition to the last few touches on elements like the creature and building graphics, the developers currently plan on finishing the Arena and Classic modes as well as the game’s Steam Workshop integration — hopefully in time for release.
Any other upcoming additions?
Soon after release, the developers will implement more updates. The game will receive new graphics for specific plants and the like, as well as any necessary adjustments to gameplay issues that might crop up. Later on, they will add the Adventure mode, which they see as the most significant feature missing from the base game. Additionally, they wish to implement Steam achievements as well as armies, sieges, and villain systems.
After the team incorporates all of these features into the Dwarf Fortress Steam release, it will likely go into a long development cycle in which it will work on map system improvements, “procedurally generated myths and magic systems,” and other elements. The developers anticipate that it will take several months to finish some of these features, so fans will be in for a long period of post-launch support indeed.
