Permafrost Release Date, Platforms and Early Access
Updated:
Quick answer: Permafrost released into Early Access on October 9, 2026, on PC (Steam), Windows only. No PS5 or Xbox version has been announced. The developers plan at least 12 months of Early Access.
Release timeline
- October 2–6, 2026: public playtest on Steam (time-limited sessions — the widely discussed "one/two-hour preview" window).
- October 9, 2026: Early Access launch. Two GPU stability hotfixes shipped the same day (RTX 20/30 and RTX 40/50 series).
- October 10, 2026: crash fixes and co-op improvements.
- October 11, 2026: quest fixes and working Steam invites. Details on the updates page.
Platforms
- PC / Windows: available now on Steam. The game requires 64-bit Windows 10 — see system requirements.
- PS5 / Xbox: nothing announced. A console store placeholder has been spotted, but there is no date; treat any "Permafrost PS5 release date" claim with suspicion.
- macOS/Linux: no native versions. Players report Apple Silicon Macs can run it through Crossover — unofficial and unsupported.
Early Access plans
Per the developers' EA FAQ:
- Duration: at least 12 months, with no fixed 1.0 date.
- Planned additions: new biomes, quests, NPCs, enemies, equipment and vehicles, plus quality-of-life and optimization work.
- Price: the current price is "very likely" to rise during Early Access — buying earlier is cheaper. See price and where to buy.
- Feedback: the official Discord is the primary community hub.
Languages
Interface and subtitles: English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Simplified Chinese and Russian. Only English has full voice audio.
Playtest history
The pre-launch public playtest ran October 2–6, 2026 with a hard time limit per player (roughly one hour). It is closed now; the Early Access release is the current build, and playtest impressions from before October 9 may not match it.
Related: Price & where to buy · System requirements · Gameplay overview
Related guides
- Permafrost Price and Where to Buy (Is It Free?)Not free: $24.99 on Steam with a 20% launch discount as of Oct 13, 2026. Buy on Steam or authorized stores; the Official Companion is a $7.99 DLC.
- Permafrost System Requirements: Can Your PC Run It?Official minimum and recommended specs, what they mean in practice, and honest notes for laptops and Apple Silicon Macs.
- Permafrost Gameplay: What You Actually DoA grounded look at the loop: survive the cold, loot ruins, craft up the tool tiers, rebuild shelters, follow the story — solo or in 4-player co-op.