Hinterland Studio is returning to The Long Dark with BLACKFROST: The Long Dark II, which will arrive in Steam Early Access in 2026. The team sees The Long Dark II in the service for “at least a year and up to two years” before its full launch.
One of the original pioneers of the Early Access model, The Long Dark was honed over 10 years of open development. Experience the Quiet Apocalypse as survivors in the northern industrial city of Harmont and its vast environs. A year has passed since the Aurora first appeared in the sky, rendering all technology inert, with survivors just starting to emerge to face their new reality in its aftermath. Surrounded by a majestic, rugged wilderness, encounter the remnants of an isolated society still coming to terms with how the world has just been forever changed.
Survive as a lone wanderer in this frozen wasteland of city, town, forest, and farm, or huddle together as a group of survivors in whatever shelter you can make for yourselves. As solo players, decide how much you’ll learn to live with NPC survivor communities struggling to find their way in this harsh world. As co-op players, lean on each other and combine your skills and efforts to eke out another day of existence in the hostile environment. Alone or together, choose your own path to survival.
Survival is as much about what’s in your head as what’s in your pack. With BLACKFROST: The Long Dark II, your success is no longer just about your physical Condition. BLACKFROST features a new Will to Live system that adds elements of psychological survival to the mix, introducing Resilience and its sub-stats to the well-established mechanics. Manage your doubts and fears, and find comfort in the small things if you want to survive.