Mercenary steel meets ancient battlefields as tactical RPG Blades For Hire officially joins the Ancient Costume Game Festival on Steam. Independent developer DoubleTap and publisher Valkyrie Initiative have also launched playtest sign-ups for eager strategists who want first access to the latest build before launch.
This isn’t just a peek behind the curtain. Think of it as sharpening your blade before the real war begins.
Playtest Sign Ups Now Live on Steam
As part of the festival celebration, players can now sign up for the upcoming Blades For Hire official playtest. Anyone interested simply needs to hit the Request Access button on the game’s Steam page.
This playtest brings more than polish. It offers new toys to swing around, fresh goals to chase, and a chance to prove your tactical wit in a ruthless battlefield.
Playtest Features
Players who join will experience:
- A refined build shaped by community feedback
- Bonus in-game content
- Two new Steam achievements
- A special unlockable equipment piece
And for the sharpest commanders, a rare chest armor and two-handed sword will be rewarded in the full release version.
How To Qualify For Exclusive Rewards
To claim the special gear, players must complete three steps:
- Add Blades For Hire to your Steam wishlist
- Follow the Valkyrie Initiative publisher page
- Earn the “Old Guard” achievement
That achievement packs a sting. To earn it, you must finish the playtest without hiring any new recruits, relying solely on your starting mercenary crew. These warriors can die, desert, or vanish if unpaid, which means every decision is a knife’s edge. Only the most calculated leaders will survive this trial.
Blades For Hire Set To Launch Q1 2026
The playtest will roll out in Q1 2026, with notifications sent to all approved participants. Until then, the developers encourage players to wishlist the game and prepare for a tactical experience that blends grit, choice, and consequence.
What Makes Blades For Hire Stand Out?
In a sea of strategy titles, Blades For Hire carves its own path. It does not trade in simple heroics. It deals in survival, loyalty, and the grey spaces where morality bends under the weight of steel and coin.
Player Choices That Shape The World
Rather than picking good or evil routes, you guide a mercenary band through hard decisions with real impact. Alliances, betrayals, and contracts change how factions view you and alter the world around you.
Every Mercenary Is A Character, Not A Unit
Your squad breathes, worries, fights, and sometimes argues. They have:
- Personal values
- Loyalty thresholds
- Expectations of payment and leadership
If you ignore their needs, they will abandon you. Some may even leave mid-campaign, turning victory into dust.
Strategy Through Command, Not Micro-Control
Battles hinge on planning instead of frantic clicks. You set tactics, formations, and priorities, then watch your warriors execute your vision. With shifting threats and environmental challenges, every fight plays like a living war story.
It is strategy that respects thinking, not grinding.
Ready your will. Count your coin. Recruit wisely. And remember: steel cuts deepest when paired with a sharp mind.
