Prepare to dive deep into a dystopian underground world where corporate secrets and alien landscapes collide. AETHUS, the highly anticipated story-driven survival-crafting game from indie developer Pawsmonaut Games, will launch fully on Steam on March 6, 2026, offering players a polished, narrative-focused experience right from day one.
Survival Crafting With a Narrative Edge
Unlike traditional survival-crafting games, AETHUS ensures that every exploration, mining expedition, and base-building session has a purpose. Players step into the boots of Maeve, a former engineer of the nefarious Astral Resource Corporation (ARC), as she investigates her recently acquired abandoned mining claim.
Accompanied by her loyal AI companion Roland, Maeve uncovers a web of corporate conspiracy buried beneath desolate alien caverns. Players must navigate treacherous subterranean jungles, lava-filled caverns, and mysterious ruins while deciding how far they’re willing to go to unearth ARC’s darkest secrets.
Key Features of AETHUS
- Deep Story-Driven Exploration – Fully voice-acted narrative with immersive lore tracing the remnants of a disastrous corporate scientific expedition.
- Mining, Crafting, and Resource Management – Gather hundreds of resources, craft tools, and refine materials in a physics-driven underground sci-fi world.
- Customizable Outposts – Build modular habitats, automate resource gathering, cultivate hydroponic crops, and personalize your base with extensive cosmetic options.
- Straight to Full Release – No Early Access grind; AETHUS launches as a complete, polished 1.0 experience.
Playable Demo at Steam Next Fest
AETHUS will be featured in Steam Next Fest starting February 23, 2026, offering a playable demo that covers the first hour of the story. All progress in the demo will seamlessly carry over to the full game on release, allowing players to continue their adventure without interruption.
About Pawsmonaut Games
Founded in 2023 in Edinburgh, UK, Pawsmonaut Games is led by AAA veteran Alex Kane (Rockstar North, Splash Damage, Build a Rocket Boy), who left the corporate world to focus on deep, compelling games free from microtransactions, battle passes, or predatory monetization. AETHUS represents the studio’s commitment to immersive gameplay, rich storytelling, and polished design.
For more information, trailers, and press assets, visit Pawsmonaut Games and follow AETHUS on social media: BlueSky and Twitter/X.
Release Date: March 6, 2026
Platform: PC (Steam)
Price: TBD
