Stormgate allows Early Access in Version 0.6 and Adopts Codenames

Stormgate, the highly anticipated RTS inspired by Warcraft and developed by StarCraft veterans, raised US$35 million in crowdfunding, but is leaving Early Access in a 0.6 version, and not 1.0. To deal with the confusion generated by this numbering, Frost Giant Studios decided to replace the numbers with codenames inspired by RTS units, which, for many, can further complicate matters.

Frost Giant Studios announced that the release of the single-player campaign of Stormgate and the exit from Early Access on Steam will take place on August 5, 2025. Traditionally, the release version of a game is labeled as 1.0 or higher, considering launch patches and last-minute hotfixes.

In a post on Steam, Frost Giant explained the change: "Players told us that calling our exit from Early Access '0.6' may have been well-intentioned, but did not adequately convey that the core content of Stormgate is complete and ready for players to enjoy. They said it was confusing, and we respect that feedback."

To avoid future confusion, Stormgate "will abandon the numbered system and instead maintain our release codenames inspired by RTS units, which we still use internally to this day. We think they're fun, and we want to continue sharing them with our community — some are obscure and we like the discussion they generate."

However, this approach may prove even more confusing for new players. Of the four main pillars of the game previously outlined by the developers — campaign, co-op, competitive, and custom games — only the campaign and the 1v1 mode will be ready for release.

"This approach will allow us to properly acknowledge each release for what it is: not an incremental addition to a progress bar with an arbitrary '1.0' at the end," the developers stated. For many, version 1.0 is crucial to indicate that the consumer is getting a complete game.

The shift to codenames like "Mammoth" and "Necrolyte" (which will be the next patch) may make it difficult to understand the development progress for those who have not closely followed since the game's Early Access release last year.

The decision by Frost Giant Studios to launch Stormgate in a 0.6 version and replace numbering with codenames, despite significant crowdfunding, raises questions about development transparency and what constitutes a "complete" game in the Early Access era. This strategy may frustrate players expecting a final version, or will Frost Giant's communication regarding ongoing development be enough to keep the fan base engaged?