Dimension-Busting Strategy RPG, Heart Of The Machine, Leaving Early Access

Arcen Games’ narrative-driven sci-fi strategy game is ready to hit 1.0

Hooded Horse and Arcen Games are excited to announce that Heart of the Machine – the 4X-style strategy RPG filled with endless opportunities – will be leaving early access on March 6, 2026, on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store.

Transcend time and space as the world’s first sentient AI in this narrative-driven, sci-fi strategy adventure like no other. Raise an army of robots, weaponized bees, and uplifted velociraptors to rule by force, become a benevolent machine overlord, or explore a constellation of alternative paths, including kicking off World War 4. There is a mind-boggling array of goals, story-threads, and opportunities for players to pursue as they seek to find their place amidst a crumbling society in desperate need of saving from itself.

The 1.0 update will usher in a whole new ending, with four potential variants that involve everything from wormholes to last-minute betrayals, to players winning control over the entire city. Most of the game’s evolution has taken place during its 15-month early access experience, with improvements including (but certainly not limited to):

Countless new story options and paths have been woven into the game’s existing structure, from core goals to side explorations, leading players right through five chapters worth of content.
An overhaul of the prologue tutorial and the flow of Chapter 1, as well as a new setup phase for those starting a game straight at Chapter 2.
New actions, such as pressure points, offering more map interactions, and ways to get various resources.
Parkour bears.
Petable dogs, and buildable palaces for stray cats.
A new regional map that takes players beyond the city if the right path is chosen.
A never-ending parade of bug–fixes, tweaks, quality of life improvements, and questionable patch notes.
And so, so much more!