Vaultbreakers Demo Launches On Steam Under Square Enix Collective
Square Enix's newly reorganized Collective label is taking on a Danish studio it already invested in during 2025, so the publishing contract extends an existing financial relationship rather than starting one.
Key Facts
- Square Enix began distributing the VAULTBREAKERS demo on Steam on October 9, 2026.
- The demo lets players choose between two characters, Nymera and Bjornir, and supports co-op for up to three players.
- VAULTBREAKERS is developed by BetaDwarf, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, and published under Square Enix Collective.
- An alpha playtest for VAULTBREAKERS is scheduled on Steam from October 16 to 23, with PvPvE mode and additional characters planned for it.
- The full version of VAULTBREAKERS is planned to include a PvPvE mode and five heroes, with release date and price undecided.
Reporting from 4 sources: 4Gamer.net, GAME Watch (Impress), Automaton, Game Spark.
Square Enix began distributing a demo for VAULTBREAKERS, the top-down extraction action RPG developed by Copenhagen studio BetaDwarf, on Steam on October 9, 2026. The demo lets players pick one of two characters, the elven ranger Nymera or the ice-focused warrior Bjornir, and explore the early-game map either solo or in co-op for up to three players. Expeditions send players into a corrupted field to collect ancient relics; anything not carried back to the Safe Haven base is lost. BetaDwarf announced the shadow drop and the publishing deal during the Triple-i Initiative Showcase broadcast. The full version is planned to add a PvPvE mode and five heroes, with the three characters absent from the demo scheduled for an alpha playtest on Steam from October 16 to 23. A release date and price are undecided.
BetaDwarf developed the game as the team behind Forced and Minion Masters. Square Enix announced an investment in the Copenhagen studio in 2025, and the publishing contract extends that relationship rather than starting one.
The alpha playtest and full release are also set to add the PvPvE mode and three more heroes, bringing the roster to five. The base, called Safe Haven or Haven, starts as rubble and grows into a fortress as players recruit NPCs and upgrade facilities to unlock new abilities, resources, and items.
- Enemies: the Chosen of Maldrakor, a faction of advanced AI or player-controlled shapeshifters that players can attack, avoid, or team up with.
- Combat: every enemy attack is punishing but avoidable, and pages say outmaneuvering opponents matters as much as brute force.
- PvP: design lead calls it "merely a spice," with optional player encounters meant to create tension rather than deathmatch play.
- PvE: the demo offers two difficulty levels to choose from.
- Setting: contaminated areas, secret caves, and ancient rituals feature in the corrupted world.
BetaDwarf CEO and game director Steffen Kabbelgaard said Square Enix "has always put players first and created some of the most beloved games," adding the partnership lets the studio "raise our goals to places we couldn't reach on our own." CTO Kenneth Harder said co-op "is a pretty good thing outside of games too."
The demo follows multiple closed playtests and is the first time the public can play the game. The alpha playtest is scheduled for October 16 to 23 on Steam, with some parts not yet supported in Japanese.
Written with AI by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited. See our editorial policy.
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Sources
- 4Gamer.net 見下ろし型脱出系アクションRPG「VAULTBREAKERS」，体験版をSteamで本日配信。2人のキャラから1人を選び，序盤マップを探索
- GAME Watch (Impress) 脱出アクションRPG「ヴォルトブレイカーズ」がSteamにて体験版の配信開始
- Automaton PvPvE脱出アクションRPG『Vaultbreakers』無料デモ版が配信開始。最大3人協力プレイ対応・モンスターはびこる広大地域探索が、一足お先に遊べる
- Game Spark 最大3人の見下ろし視点・脱出ARPG『Vaultbreakers』Steam体験版いきなり配信！スクエニがパブリッシャーに―PvPはあくまでもスパイスなPvPvE【Triple-i Initiative Showcase】