New maps, enemy races, modifiers strengthen noble reigns on Steam today
SEATTLE, WA – June 11, 2026 – The King is Watching, the award-nominated roguelite kingdom builder with more than 600k units sold from developer Hypnohead and publisher tinyBuild, broadens its royal domain in the brand new ‘Shifting Sands’ update, available today on PC via Steam.
Expand monarchies across mystical and sweltering deserts, where brittle sands throw enemies across space and time in the past, present, and future. At the start of each run, encounter familiar adversaries from prior regions, and conquer new bosses outlined by the prophecy, including the rebellious Monkey King or the skybound terror known as the Matriarch of Dragons. Beware of new foes known as Fennecs, a hardened race raised in the dangerous desert.
Fortify armies to survive greater obstacles by adjusting Danger Modifiers in the new Free Reign mode to earn rewards or change the tides of victory. Increase spell damage by 100%, swiftly resurrect enemy units, or receive legendary artifacts. Experiment with over 40 modifiers to unlock new King cosmetic skins, powerful spells, and additional unit types.
Keep long-lasting dynasties thriving in a reworked Endless Mode, featuring new rewards and enhancements to keep each run more challenging than the last. An expanded tutorial featuring smooth early-game progression, revised upgrades, and quicker access to maps makes the onboarding process for new monarchs much simpler.
“Taking noble kings through a sweltering desert was too good to pass up,” said Semyon Itmaniuk, Head of the Hypnohead Studio. “We look forward to seeing everyone throughout the royal court face the Fennacs, experiment with the Danger Level Modifier, and usher in a new reign of rulers.”
The King is Watching’s ‘Shifting Sands’ update is available now for free on PC via Steam. The base game is available for $14.99 USD. In-game language support includes English, Simplified Chinese, German, Russian, Spanish (EU), Japanese, Korean, French, Brazilian Portuguese, and Polish.
For more information, visit tinyBuild’s official website, follow @tinyBuild on Twitter, and join the official Discord server.
About tinyBuild
tinyBuild started as an indie game developer and morphed into a developer-publisher you can’t miss. Our dedication to creating long-term partnerships and elevating recognizable franchises has resulted in many successful collaborations with talented developers from all over the world. The company has released dozens of games, including Hello Neighbor, Graveyard Keeper, SpeedRunners, and more. Although headquartered in the Seattle Area, USA, the company has established a strong global presence with studios across the US, the Netherlands, Latvia, and throughout Eastern Europe.
About Hypnohead Studio
Hypnohead Studio is a small indie dev studio behind the Save the Reactor game, based in Serbia. The King is Watching is its second title.
