Starni Games and publisher Palaye have unveiled a detailed developer walkthrough for STEEL CORE — their upcoming turn-based mech strategy — giving players the clearest look yet at build phases, tactical combat, and roguelite progression ahead of the game’s first closed playtest.
The 12-minute commentary video is live now on YouTube, and the Steam store page is open for wishlisting and playtest registration.
What Is STEEL CORE? — Three Acts of War
You’re a contractor for Galactic Mining Industries, dispatched to lawless worlds to defend Xenoridium mining operations. Every contract follows the same relentless rhythm:
- Build by Day — Assemble and customise your mech squad, reinforce walls, activate turrets, research upgrades, and keep the drills running. Every resource is scarce — every choice matters
- Deploy at Dusk — Position your mechs, place your defences, and plan your formation based on incoming intelligence
- Fight Through the Night — Turn-based tactical grid combat against overwhelming alien swarms. Hold the line until dawn or lose the contract — and the payday
The enemy? A relentless, evolving xenofauna that outnumbers you at every turn. The reward? Survival, payment, and deadlier tech for the next planet.
Mech Construction — Build It Your Way
No two mechs need fight alike. Every unit is assembled piece by piece:
- Chassis, arms, legs, shoulder mounts — each with distinct stats and roles
- Up to 4 weapons per mech — Gauss cannons, sniper rifles, flamethrowers, rocket launchers, and more
- Jetpacks, shields, micro-modules — tailor loadouts for flanking, defence, or raw destruction
- Visually unique — the parts you equip are exactly what appears on the battlefield
Campaign — An Escalating Galactic Tour
The roguelite campaign moves across distinct biomes — jungles, ice basins, lava lakes, acid pools — each introducing new threats, environmental hazards, and apex predators. Research progress carries forward, but every fresh contract gets harder, deadlier, and more unpredictable.
- Fibonite harvested from defeated foes powers permanent upgrades
- Resources are tight — fund another turret or upgrade your best mech?
- Lose your base and the contract fails — permadeath stakes apply to every run
Watch & Join — Playtest Registration Open Now
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Developer Walkthrough | Live now → youtube.com/watch?v=I_8dAFz-wkk |
| Steam Page | [store.steampowered.com/app/4749570](https://store.steampowered.com/app/4749570/Steel_Core/) |
| Playtest | Request access via Steam — selected applicants notified first |
| Planned Release | Q1 2027 — PC via Steam |
| Languages | English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Ukrainian |
| Requires | Windows 10+, 16 GB RAM, RTX 2060 minimum |
Ready to Enlist?
Watch the walkthrough to see the day–dusk–night cycle in action, wishlist to stay updated, and hit “Request Access” on Steam to be among the first pilots deployed when the servers go live. The swarm is coming — will you answer the call?
Find out more here: Steel Core
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