Core Keeper News

Hold on to your pickaxes, Explorers, because we’ve got some exciting announcements. First up, the one you’ve all been waiting for…



We’re thrilled to announce that the Early Access version of Core Keeper will be available to play on Steam in less than four weeks from now. It’s been an amazing journey for us as a development team, and getting to know you all on Twitter, TikTok, and the official Core Keeper Discord has been an absolute delight. Your feedback has been instrumental, and we can’t wait for you to see the culmination of what we’ve been working on.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

We’ve added a whole host of new features since you last saw the game in Open Alpha, so there’s plenty to explore and uncover. We’ve also implemented bug fixes and quality of life improvements that’ll ensure a much smoother gameplay experience. Bringing a game to Early Access is a wonderful opportunity for both the players and the developers – while you’re enjoying unlimited access to Core Keeper, your feedback and bug reports are going to help us do some serious fine tuning ahead of the full launch.

While you don’t have very long to wait for Early Access, we understand that even the shortest amount of time can feel like an eternity when you’re looking forward to something…which is why we think you’ll like our second announcement!

[h2]Can’t wait? Play Our Steam Demo![/h2]

We can’t thank our awesome community enough for all their support, and we wanted to give you one final Core Keeper preview ahead of the Early Access launch. That’s why, from today – and included as part of Steam Next Fest later this month – players can experience the world of Core Keeper and start their adventure for free in a new Core Keeper Steam demo that’s available to play right now! Simply head on over to the Core Keeper store page and download it for a chance to explore the underground once more.

The Core Keeper Steam Demo will be available until the 28th of February – making it playable until roughly a week before the Early Access launch date. While the demo won’t have anywhere near as many features as the Early Access version of the game, you will spot lots of things you didn’t get to experience in the Open Alpha. Oh, and did we mention that any progress made within the demo can also be carried over to the Early Access release on March 8th, allowing you to continue your adventure directly from where you left off?

We can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the demo and the Early Access launch date, and our community managers will be on hand in the Discord to answer your questions. This is just the start of Core Keeper's journey, and your enthusiasm and feedback has already given us plenty of ideas for how we would like to expand the game throughout the Early Access period. Until then, please show us your support by wishlisting the game on Steam!

We’ve got two exciting new features to tell you about, Explorers. We’ve been working on Backgrounds and Talents for a little while now, and we’re thrilled to be able to share them with you today. Of course, if you’re a part of our official Discord community, you’ll recognise these features from the preview screenshots we shared in the #dev-updates channel yesterday. There’s still plenty to learn, however, so let’s jump right in!

[h2]Backgrounds[/h2]

Backgrounds are a brand-new addition to our character-creation menu that gives players the opportunity to choose from a handful of different perks to start the game with. From extra items in your inventory to bonuses in skills, each Background is designed to give you an edge when it comes to a certain in-game feature. Of course, you’ll still have plenty of opportunities to hone your expertise in other areas and become a Jack of all trades, but it never hurts to get a head start in one.

We know players really enjoy playing the game with their friends, and we wanted to incorporate a feature that worked extra well when playing together as a team, so we added Backgrounds as a way for players to feel like they can fill a role in within their group and bring something to the party at the start of the journey.



Right now, there are six unique Backgrounds to choose from, and we can’t wait to see how you use them in multiplayer. Will you lead the expedition as an Explorer, or watch your teammates’ backs as a Fighter? Perhaps you’ll grow all sorts of crops as a Gardener then hand them over to the Chef to turn into delicious meals! Read on for details on each of our current Backgrounds.

Explorer:
An experienced traveller who always brings a few torches. Perfect for those who want to start looking around the underground right away. With +3 to the Running skill, some Food Rations, and a Small Lantern to light the way, who knows what you’ll uncover on your adventures?

Miner:
A veteran miner, knowledgeable about breaking down walls effectively. With a couple of Food Rations to keep you going, you’ll be finding ore and other valuables twice as fast thanks to a +3 bonus to the Mining skill and your trusty Copper Pickaxe.

Fighter:
A fighter with great self-defence, and the power to defend their allies. Start the game ready to throw hands with a Copper Sword and +3 in the Melee skill. Not to mention +3 Food Rations to fuel your rage. Monsters, beware!

Chef:
A culinary expert, preparing food for anyone in need. Make your way into your teammates’ hearts (through their stomachs) or keep all the delicious snacks for yourself with +3 to the Cooking Skill, 8 Mushrooms, and a Cooking Pot in your inventory.

Gardener:
A seasoned gardener with green fingers, ready to turn some soil. With your Copper Hoe, Watering Can, and a +3 bonus to the Gardening Skill, all you’ll need is a handful of seeds to start your very own farm.

Fisherman:
A patient fisherman with a fishing rod at hand and an eye on the lure. You’ll never be short on food with a Wood Fishing Rod and +3 to the Fishing skill, but we thought we’d throw in an extra 3 Food Rations to get you started.

[h2]Talents[/h2]

We’ve had skills in Core Keeper for some time now, and we’re sure you’ve been curious as to how the points you were earning in each area would be used in game. Well, we’re pleased to report that these points can now be spent to progress along Skill Trees and unlock Talents!

At the moment, you can gain points in the Mining, Running, Melee Combat, Vitality, Crafting, Ranged Combat, Gardening, Fishing, and Cooking skills. Each Skill Tree currently has eight Talents with five levels to progress in. You must reach level five in a Talent on your current branch before you can move on to the next branch of the tree. Using points to improve your rankings will unlock exciting bonuses, buffs, and benefits within each Talent, making you a force to be reckoned with.



We’re not going to take you through each individual Talent, as we think it’ll be much more fun for you to experience them all first-hand. However, we will tell you that it’s worth exploring lots of different skills, as levelling up a seemingly innocuous skill can unlock a Talent with the potential to help you later in the game. For example, levelling up in Fishing might just unlock a Talent that could give you an edge in combat!

Skill Trees were never in the plan for Early Access, but this was something the community expressed a lot of interest in, so we were keen to add them. Incorporating this new feature into the game so that it would be ready when we hit Early Access presented a bit of a challenge in terms of design and functionality, especially when coupled with everything else we had planned.

The idea was to keep Skill Trees small and simple, with maybe only 3 Talents for each skill. Of course, after we started the design process, we knew we needed more to really add value and the sense of progression we wanted. So, after many extra weekends and evenings of work, we ended up with 72 individual Talents instead. Perhaps we got a little carried away!

We hope you’ll love these new features as much as we do and that they will give you a lot more freedom of choice when it comes to carving out a path for your characters in game. We’d love to hear your thoughts on Backgrounds and Talents, so let us know what you think in the comments or in the #game-discussion channel over on our Discord.

Picture this, you’re a budding Explorer who has discovered an ancient relic in a strange underground world. At first, the landscape seems to primarily be made of dirt, but as you travel further afield, you uncover unique biomes with their own flora, fauna, minerals, mysteries, and more. You’re unsure of how to escape, but you feel as though this relic, The Core, might hold the key. You just need to survive long enough to uncover its secrets.

It’s time to build a base, but which biome is best? Come with us as we take you on a guided tour of the underground and explore the pros and cons of base building in each biome.

[h2]The Dirt Biome[/h2]

All Explorers start out in the Dirt Biome, and this is where The Core is located. It’s filled with a handful of key resources that you’ll need to get started in the underground, such as wood, copper ore, and (you guessed it) dirt! The mineral-rich soil makes for ideal growing conditions for the humble Glow Tulip, the tasty Heart Berry, and the fiery Bomb Pepper, all of which will help you massively on your adventures.



You’re likely to run into some lower-level enemies from time to time in the Dirt Biome – from the passive Orange Slime to the more aggressive Red Slime – but they’re nothing a copper sword and the right timing can’t handle. There is one resident you need to keep an eye out for in the Dirt Biome, though, and that’s Glurch the Abominous Mass. He’s a giant Slime or, to be more accurate, a mass of Slimes, and he can be a little territorial.

Don’t worry, you’ll feel the earth trembling before you see Glurch, and if you give him his space, he won’t bother you. Overall, the Dirt Biome is a pretty decent starting zone for your very first base, but you may find yourself seeking greener, more resource-filled pastures in the future.

Safety: 4/5 – Relatively safe, so long as you don’t bother Glurch.
Resources: 3/5 – Lots of useful starting materials here.
Vibes: 3/5 – Fairly chill.

[h2]The Larva Biome[/h2]

What can we say about the Larva Biome? It’s an entomologist’s dream, but if you’re afraid of insects, then you might want to avoid setting up shop here. All Explorers will likely have to spend a little time in the Larva Biome, though, especially if they want to upgrade their copper armour and weapons into something a little more durable. You’ll find tin ore in this biome, along with some other key resources that’ll make crafting and base building nice and simple. One such resource is the Grub Kapok, a seed that grows into a plant that produces fibre!

In terms of scenery, the Larva Biome has a very “organic'' feel to it, so watch where you step. You’ll find chrysalis groundcover that feels very strange to walk on, and you’ll need to be on the lookout for pools of acid slime that’ll melt the soles of your shoes! It might not be the most picturesque biome, but it certainly has a weird-and-wonderful charm about it.



The Larva Biome is not for the faint of heart, though, and moving in here will present unique challenges. As the name suggests, there are several varieties of Larva living here, and none of them are very friendly. The Red Larva are particularly vicious, and the Exploding Larva are a nasty surprise. There are ways to fool the Larva into leaving you alone if you know how to craft the Larva suit, but you’ll have to remember to put it on every time you leave the house! All in all, if you’re a fan of a relaxing afternoon walk, we suggest building your base in a slightly less volatile environment.

Safety: 2/5 – Everything wants to kill you, and rumour has it that something big and terrifying lurks within the depths of this biome.
Resources: 3/5 – Stronger materials here if you’re brave enough to collect them.
Vibes: ?/5 – You’ll either love it or hate it.

[h2]The Stone Biome[/h2]

The Stone Biome is one for you history buffs. Here, you’ll find the remnants of an ancient civilisation, and you might even find a few historical pieces of furniture that you can “borrow” for your base if you want to. An abundance of stone makes for stronger building materials, and there’s plenty of iron ore to go around for weapons and armour upgrades. Farming may be challenging here, but there is one crop unique to the Stone Biome that you’ll find useful for bolstering your defences: the hardy Carrock! This tough root vegetable thrives in stone and won’t grow anywhere else.

We recommend putting a lot of effort into building a sturdy base if you do decide to move into the Stone Biome, as you may run into some less-than-friendly neighbours. Remember that ancient civilisation we mentioned? Well, some of its descendants haven’t quite moved out yet, and boy do they not like strangers. You’re sure to run into a Caveling or two here, and there are three distinct types you’ll need to watch out for.



The standard Caveling is small and sprightly. You’ll spot their red eyes glowing as they mine in the darkness. It’s best not to disturb these hard-working creatures, or to go anywhere near them in fact, as they will attack you with their mining picks on sight. They’re often flanked by Caveling Shaman – skilled magic users with melee and ranged attacks that will leave you scorched, singed, and feeling a little unwelcome to say the least.

Finally, you’ll want to look out for the Caveling Brute. This big boy is large, in charge, and ready to crush you with his club. He’s a little slower than your average Caveling, though. If you can defeat him, you might be able to harvest the wood from his club, which is very useful in an area where wood is scarce.

Safety: 2/5 – Crawling with Cavelings, and you might run into a giant worm known as Ghorm the Destroyer circling the perimeter of this biome.
Resources: 4/5 – Artefacts for a-plunderin’, along with a new crop and new ore!
Vibes: 3/5 – There’s a certain brutalist ambience here.

[h2]The Nature Biome[/h2]

This one’s for all you Cottagecore enthusiasts out there. The Nature biome is a picturesque landscape of lush grass and vibrant plant life. How can such flora survive in the underground, you ask? It looks as though these plants have adapted to growing in slightly darker conditions and are able to thrive on the little sunlight that they do get from the various sky lights that are dotted around the Nature Biome.

This is one of the brighter areas of the underground, and it’ll probably be the one that reminds you most of the outside world. If you’ve got a green thumb, we’d certainly suggest building a home and, indeed, a farm here in the Nature Biome, as it is full of useful resources and plenty of fresh water for your watering can. You’ll be able to craft some of the toughest armour in the game (as of right now) from the scarlet ore veins running through this biome, though you’ll need some decent tools to mine it in the first place.



If you do decide to move in here, you won’t be the only farmer making use of the fertile soil and ample water supply. Keep an eye out for Caveling Farmers – they may look innocent in their straw hats, but they don’t like the competition and will attack you on sight. It’s also worth noting that not all of the plant life in the Nature Biome is friendly. Look out for Trapper plants that will hold you in place and make you easy pickings for nearby enemies.

Speaking of nearby enemies, you can never be too sure of what’s hiding in plain sight in this biome. Caveling Hunters are tricky little blights that spend their time in ghillie suits disguised as bushes just waiting for unsuspecting Explorers to wander into their paths. Then, BAM, they open fire with their muskets. There’s plenty of danger within the Nature Biome, but we guess that’s the price you pay for those spectacular views.

Safety: 3/5 – Unfriendly neighbours, and we advise you to keep your eyes on the skies for other…surprises.
Resources: 3/5 – Plenty of plant life and valuable ore!
Vibes: 5/5 – Best views in the entire underground.

[h2]The Mould Dungeon[/h2]

Deep within the Nature Biome lies a much more sinister biome known as The Mould Dungeon. Not much is known about this pocket of the underground other than the fact that it is infested with toxic spores that’ll seriously slow you down and make you a prime target for this Biome’s inhabitants: the Infected Cavelings.

These zombie-like creatures have spent too long inhaling noxious fumes and have mutated into a murderous horde as a result. Be extra careful when exploring here, as once the horde descends upon you, you may find yourself unable to escape. If you can find some way to counter the effects of the spores and maintain your movement speed, you might just be able to take on the Infected Cavelings and get some fairly valuable loot in the process.



If you can survive in this terrifying place, you can find some useful jewellery, an edible fungus unique to the Mould Dungeon, and an intriguing new weapon. We can only recommend you make a home for yourself within this biome if you like a good challenge. It is a difficult landscape to navigate, let alone live in full time!

Safety: 2/5 – Beware the horde and mould-throwing tentacles lurking in the darkness!
Resources: 4/5 – Lots of loot, but at what cost?
Vibes: 1/5 – Genuinely terrifying.

There you have it, Explorers: a comprehensive guide to the biomes you’ve seen in Core Keeper so far. Will you play it safe in the Dirt Biome or travel through the more dangerous areas of the underground to get to the gorgeous Nature Biome? Let us know where you’d build your base in the comments or join the discussion over on the official Core Keeper Discord!

Are you ready? Because things are about to get hardcore here in the underground. We know you’ve been keen for more Core Keeper action since the Open Alpha, and boy do we have an action packed two-weeks lined up for you! Introducing…Core Rivals!

[h2]Watch Your Favourite Streamers Compete[/h2]

From the 20th of January to the 3rd of February, we’re giving your favourite streamers access to the Open Alpha build of Core Keeper to participate in two exciting challenges designed to test their gaming skills and bag them some awesome prizes for their communities. They’ll be teaming up and going head-to-head, sharing all the action on their respective channels for your viewing pleasure.
Do you have a favourite streamer you’d like to see play Core Keeper?

Join our Discord and let us know, or tag @CoreKeeperGame when you’re Tweeting your favourite streamer, and we’ll see if they want to be involved.

[h2]Week One: Battle of the Bases![/h2]

First up, is a test of creativity. The challengers can choose to team up in groups of 2-8 or go it alone and claim all the glory for themselves in the Battle of the Bases. We’re giving them 1 week to build the single-best base they can possibly create from scratch. After which, we’re handing the judging reins over to you the viewers and inviting you to vote for your favourites by joining our Discord and voting in the dedicated Core Rivals channel! We encourage you to judge the entrants on aesthetics, functionality, and uniqueness when casting your votes.

[h2]Week Two: Underground Hunt![/h2]

Next up, we’re sending the challengers on a scavenger hunt. This is a solo mission where individual team members must race to be the first to find five unique items within Core Keeper and place them on pedestals. Because each map in Core Keeper is procedurally generated – meaning no two maps are the same – participants will have to scour their worlds looking for the items, and some may be easier to find than others!

[h2]What do the Winners Get?[/h2]

We’ll be announcing first, second, and third-place winners for both competitions. Each winner will receive a handful of Core Keeper keys to use in community giveaways when the game hits Early Access this year. The individual or team that wins first place in the Battle of the Bases will also become part of Core Keeper history and have a part of their base featured within the game itself. A detailed breakdown of the prizes can be found below.

[h3]Prize Breakdown for Both Competitions:[/h3]

1st place = 5x giveaway keys per player & base featured in Core Keeper (Battle of the Bases only)
2nd place = 3x giveaway keys per player
3rd place = 2x giveaway keys per player

We hope you’re looking forward to watching your favourite streamers battle it out in our Core Rivals challenges! Make sure you’re a part of the official Core Keeper Discord server to follow the challenges and cast your votes.

Happy new year, Explorers. We hope you’re all settling into 2022 nicely; we know we are! As many of you already know, Core Keeper is coming to Early Access soon (official date to be announced), and we’re working hard on implementing feedback from the Open Alpha and refining existing features and mechanics.

We love hearing from our wonderful community, and we heard you asking for fishing time and time again – a mechanic we announced in October 2021. Since making the announcement, we’ve kept quiet about fishing while we developed this feature, but we’re pleased to report that we’re ready to dive in and show you how fishing looks in Core Keeper right now.



You’ll spot the wooden fishing rod in the image above, but that’s just one of many different types of fishing rod you’ll be able to find in Core Keeper. We had many ideas for the best mechanics for fishing, but what we decided was to keep it simple but still give players a certain level of challenge. With that in mind, all players need to do is approach a body of water and cast their lure (right click on PC) to start fishing.

From here, you’ll need to keep an eye on your lure, as it will wobble when you’ve got a bite. Once a fish is hooked, right click again to start reeling it in – this will open the fishing mini game! The fish icon will turn red when it is struggling against your rod, and you’ll need to stop reeling it in to give it some slack or else the line will break, and the fish will escape. Wait until the icon is orange again to reel it in. Oh, and make sure the fish doesn’t reach the end of the mini-game meter, otherwise it’ll get away.



It’s not just fish that you can pull up from the deep, though. You’ll find all sorts lurking under the water from kelp to valuables. Different biomes come with their own fish and other surprises, so it’s worth keeping a rod or two in your inventory in case you happen across a body of water. Just remember that you might need a better rod and a little more talent to fish in certain biomes. You’ll be able to use various fish in the cooking pot too! Try combining fish with other ingredients for all sorts of tasty treats. Sushi rolls, anyone?

Fishing will be available in the Early Access version of Core Keeper, so it won’t be too long until you get to experience the mechanic first-hand. We’ll leave it to you to discover the different rods, fish, and surprises that await. Don’t worry, though, we’ll be sharing screenshots, GIFs, and snippets of info about fishing over on our Discord between now and Early Access. Join our community, here!