Survival depends on your ability to learn and adapt; co-op playtest starts on October 14th
Nicosia, Cyprus, October 12th, 2026 — Owlcat subsidiary META Publishing and developer Pokuch will launch Sci-fi survival game Blind Descent into early access on Steam. GOG and the Epic Games Store on December 2nd 2026. Life on Mars is not as easy as some might think and requires players to either physically adapt to their new environment or find technological ways to deal with the threats and challenges all around themselves.
Watch the release date trailer:
In Blind Descent, players have to start from scratch after crashing at a Martian excavation site during a rescue mission gone wrong. They discover a marvelous and dangerous world below the surface of the Red Planet but get infected with a mysterious alien growth threatening to mutate them. In order to survive and find out what happened to their fellow crew members and the science team they were originally supposed to rescue, players have to explore, scavenge, build, fight off alien creatures and decide what to do with their infection. Choosing symbiosis with alien organisms unlocks powerful mutations like telekinesis or wall running but threatens to undermine their humanity. Staying pure means access to new technology that might well be the key to surviving on Mars. It’s up to the players how to develop their character.
Key features of Blind Descent:
• Survival: Keep the infection at bay, treat body-part injuries, rest when and where you can, scan everything and decide if you want to embrace symbiosis or stay pure
• Exploration: Traverse the Martian cavern with the grappling hook or mutation powers, uncover the story by finding recordings, logs, radio calls and updating the in-game codex and solve environmental puzzles
• Crafting: Modular crafting instead of following fixed recipes, build and upgrade your own modular weapons, tools, shelter, medicine and more
• Combat: Every weapon type plays different and every enemy type requires different strategies
• Coop: Easy to join online co-op for up to four players with crossplay between Steam, GOG and EGS, shared quests, shared world, separate inventory and mutations
Before the Early Access launch, there will be another playtest, this time testing co-op. It will be available starting October 14th.
About META Publishing
META Publishing is a growing publishing label owned by Owlcat Games, specializing in gameplay-first titles with co-op multiplayer features. The label has a solid portfolio, including games like Biped, Spirit of the Island, Train Valley 2, and more. New upcoming titles from META Publishing are Blind Descent, and Nested Lands.
About Pokuch
Pokuch is a young game development studio based in Turkey, working on its first title: Blind Descent. The studio’s goal is to create games with unique concepts, a strong artistic direction, and engaging gameplay.
