Chained Beasts release date, launch times, platforms, and pricing

The official Chained Beasts release date is October 15, 2026. Developer and publisher Featherweight Games confirmed the launch date across PC and consoles, locking in a simultaneous worldwide rollout after an extended development cycle and multiple public playtests. The arena doors unlock at 10:00 AM PDT / 5:00 PM UTC.

While early coverage in July 2026 previously cited a September 10 target, official community updates confirmed October 15, 2026, as the final, definitive launch day.

Chained Beasts release overview

Launch platforms and Game Pass availability

Chained Beasts is arriving day one across multiple major gaming platforms:

• PC: Available via Steam for Windows 10 and macOS (Apple M1 / Intel i7-6920HQ supported).
• PlayStation: PlayStation 5.
• Xbox: Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
• Nintendo: Nintendo Switch.
• Game Pass: Included from day one on Xbox Game Pass for console and PC Game Pass for Windows.

Multiplayer accommodates up to four players in chaotic arena combat. Featherweight Games confirmed cross-platform multiplayer across systems, allowing friend groups on different hardware to play together online. For in-person sessions, shared-screen and split-screen couch co-op is supported, with the developer noting that at least one gamepad controller is required for local same-screen play.

Launch price and promotional discount

According to the developer's official price reveal announcement, Chained Beasts will carry a standard base retail price of $19.99 USD.

To mark the launch, Featherweight Games is offering a 35% discount for the first two weeks following release, bringing the entry price down to $12.99 USD on Steam. Regional pricing adjustments will also roll out across supported international storefront currencies on launch day.

What is included in the 1.0 full release

The demo offered players a preview of the Carthage arena, but the full 1.0 release expands every system significantly:

Three narrative arena acts

The full campaign tasks gladiators with surviving nine grueling battles distributed across three distinct regional chapters:

• Act 1: Carthage: The scorching sands featured in the demo, concluding with a showdown against a rhino-mounted arena champion.
• Act 2: Germania: A frozen northern arena filled with environmental spike traps, wall-pinning mechanics, and the hammer-wielding boss Goliath, known for unpredictable ground slams.
• Act 3: Rome: The heart of the empire and the climax of the campaign, where gladiators confront the ultimate arena leader, Praefectus, alongside his elite Praetorian Guard.

Playable beasts and progression

The full game features eight playable animal gladiator archetypes, including the Lion, Lioness, Eagle, Bear, Wolf, Rhino, Ibex, and Monkey. Variants such as the Bone Collector Wolf alter initial modifiers, granting bonus currency upon collecting dismembered limbs in battle.

Afflictions, skills, and the Surgeon

Combat in Chained Beasts emphasizes high-risk recovery mechanics:

• Debuff Potions: Between combat rounds, healing elixirs inflict permanent afflictions with escalating severity. Negative traits include paranoia (hallucinating fake enemies or items), bloody eye or blurred vision, involuntary attacks, dropped weapons (butter fingers), shortened dodge rolls, or missing toes that trigger random tripping.
• Gym Training: Players can perform reps between matches to fill an XP meter and earn new perks, but pushing the pain meter to capacity inflicts an overexertion injury.
• The Surgeon: Positioned between acts, the Surgeon allows gladiators to manage accumulated wounds, purge crippling debuffs, or purchase specialized physical augmentations like Kung Fu punch crits.
• Build Customization: Over 70 unique skills, more than 70 afflictions, and 40+ equippable items and weapons (including flails, clubs, shields, spears, axes, and bows) will be available in the item pools.

Ten difficulty tiers

While the updated demo capped progression at early difficulty settings such as Pleb and Legionnaire, the full 1.0 release includes ten escalating difficulty levels. Higher difficulties, including Tribune, Centurion, and Hades, introduce elevated enemy health, reduced starting gladiator health pools, harsher crowd hostility (such as spectators hurling pots and rocks into the pit), and stacking debuffs.

PC and Mac system requirements

Featherweight Games published the official system hardware specifications on the Steam store page.

Windows minimum requirements

• Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit required)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-5257U, AMD Ryzen 3 1200, or equivalent
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050, AMD Radeon RX 460, or equivalent
• Controller Support: Gamepad recommended; at least one controller is mandatory for same-screen local co-op

macOS minimum requirements

• Operating System: macOS 11 (64-bit required)
• Processor: Apple M1 or Intel Core i7-6920HQ
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: Apple M1 integrated graphics or AMD Radeon Pro 450
• Controller Support: At least one controller is mandatory for same-screen local co-op

Frequently asked questions

Will the free Steam demo remain playable after launch?

No. Featherweight Games confirmed in their official community announcements that the standalone Carthage demo will be removed and taken offline when the full game launches on October 15, 2026.

Can Chained Beasts be played completely solo?

Yes. While designed around 1–4 player co-op mechanics, Chained Beasts supports single-player. When playing solo, players are either tethered to heavy obstacles, such as an iron ball or stone pillar, or fight untethered depending on the round's arena modifier.

Does Chained Beasts support crossplay between console and PC?

Yes. Official Steam feature tags and developer announcements confirm that online cross-platform multiplayer is supported across Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.

What time does Chained Beasts unlock?

The game unlocks simultaneously on October 15, 2026, at 10:00 AM PDT (Pacific Daylight Time), which corresponds to 5:00 PM UTC.