Above the Snow News

[h2]Above The Snow is partnering with legendary mountaineer Ed Viesturs to bring our alpine world to life.[/h2][p] This collaboration is all about atmosphere and authenticity. We're excited for Ed's real-world mountain expertise to shape the tone of our world, while we keep the focus on a cozy, story-driven management experience. Want to hear Ed talk about his experiences and philosophy in his own words? Our partners at Wandering Wizard sat down with Ed for a full interview, coming soon to our YouTube channel. Be sure to follow at the link below so you don't miss it! For now, enjoy a quick preview while you wait.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h2]Getting to Know Ed[/h2][p]If you haven't heard of Ed before, here's a quick introduction:[/p][p]Ed Viesturs is widely regarded as one of America's foremost high-altitude climbers. Many people first encountered him through the 1996 IMAX Everest documentary or in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air, where his calm, deliberate approach to climbing stood out.[/p][p][/p][p]Ed Viesturs near South Col of Everest at 26,000 ft, 2009
[/p][p]Ed originally planned to become a veterinarian and even earned his degree before his love of climbing took over. He then dedicated himself to a project he called Endeavor 8000. The goal: climb all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen. After 18 years, he completed that goal on May 12, 2005, on Annapurna, one of the world's most challenging and dangerous peaks. He remains the only American, and one of only a handful of climbers in history, to have achieved this incredible feat, and was recognized as National Geographic's 2005 Adventurer of the Year.
[/p][p]Ed Viesturs at the summit of Broad peak, 2003

Along the way, Ed received the historic Lowell Thomas Award from the Explorer's Club for outstanding achievement in mountaineering, joining a distinguished group that includes Sir Edmund Hillary. His bestselling autobiography, No Shortcuts to the Top, dives into his expeditions and his approach to risk, preparation, and decision-making in the mountains.[/p][p]These days, Ed lives in Ketchum, Idaho, with his wife Paula and their four children, and continues to travel, guide, and seek out new adventures.
[/p][h2]Why We're So Excited About This Partnership[/h2][p]What drew us to Ed isn't just his record, it's his philosophy. His motto has always been that climbing has to be a round trip. He is known for his willingness to turn back when conditions aren't right, and for treating every climb as a conversation with the mountain rather than a conquest. As he puts it, "The mountain decides whether you climb or not. The art of mountaineering is knowing when to go, when to stay, and when to retreat." That thoughtful, respectful outlook is exactly the spirit we want echoing through Above The Snow, and we're genuinely delighted to be partnering with him.
[/p][p][/p][h2]Help Us Grow Our Little Resort[/h2][p]If you’d like to support Above The Snow and stay up to date with future news:[/p]

• [p]Join our Gleam giveaway for a chance to win some awesome goodies and help spread the word: HERE[/p]
• [p]Follow Above The Desk's YouTube channel to catch Ed’s full Interview[/p]
• [p]Wishlist Above The Snow on Steam
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[p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]Thank you for being here and for helping us build a working mountain retreat we hope you’ll love spending time in.

The Above The Desk Team[/p]

[h3]We’re excited to announce the release date! Above the Snow will officially launch on April 23, 2026![/h3][p][/p][p]Step into the cozy life of the shelter crew and build your dream Alpine resort in this narrative tycoon adventure. Rescue alpinists, manage your resort, uncover rich character stories, and carve new trails in the snowy peaks. Grab your map, pour a warm cup of tea, and get ready to face the harshest winter of the 1960s![/p][p][/p][p]
Save the date, your Alpine adventure begins April 23, 2026![/p][p]
Check out the release date announcement trailer here: [/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[p]One of the most important elements we wanted to include in the game from the very first drafts was a compelling story and a cast of distinctive characters. Considering the cozy nature of the game, we drew strong inspiration from family adventure films. Our mountain hut is built on people’s stories and atmosphere, and the script became the foundation for designing many of the game’s mechanics and concepts. That’s why Story Mode is such a major part of our game — it allows players to experience a narrative campaign and get to know the hut’s crew better.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Francis[/h3][p]One of the first characters we created was Francis, who in many ways became the template for the tone and writing style of the rest of the cast. After getting entangled in a series of problems, Francis receives one last chance from his employer — a job at a mountain hut. What is meant to be only a temporary stop quickly turns out to be something far more demanding. New responsibilities, harsh weather, and the people he meets there put him to the test more than anything he has faced before. Francis is a classic “fish out of water” character who, much like the player, must learn from scratch how the hut operates and how its structure works. By following his story, we learn alongside him.[/p][p]Another key moment in development was adding Brutus to the team — a dog who quickly became our beloved mascot. As the project gradually took shape as a cozy narrative tycoon, inspired by family films, we felt the need for an animal companion who would help bind the team together. That’s how Brutus came to life, and we can’t imagine the story of Above the Snow without him.[/p][h3]A Crew That Wasn’t Meant to Be a Team[/h3][p]The winter Francis encounters at the hut turns out to be exceptionally demanding. A growing number of guests means higher income, but also greater responsibility. Every organizational decision affects the atmosphere. Every oversight can damage the hut’s reputation.[/p][p]As the story unfolds, you’ll get to know the core crew responsible for keeping the hut running, as well as a range of unpredictable collaborators. They are a group of very different personalities united by one goal: to keep the hut alive and build an outstanding reputation in the Alpine region. When writing their characters, we wanted their flaws and difficult choices to become an essential force driving the narrative forward. The “found family” theme was especially important to us and served as a key pillar in constructing the entire script.[/p][h3]Shelter from More Than Just the Cold[/h3][p]As you progress through the chapters, you’ll witness the team transform from a random group of individuals into a close-knit crew. Our story is an intimate, personal tale about how places are shaped by people — how reputation is built not only through good organization, but also through empathy — and how a last chance can sometimes become the beginning of something much bigger.[/p][p]Above the Snow is a story about bonds, decisions, and consequences. About pressure and support. About how something that truly works can grow out of a seemingly accidental group of people. Over time, the hut stops being just a workplace. It becomes a safe space — for the crew and for everyone who crosses its threshold.[/p][p]Above the Snow is not a story about perfect people. It’s about people who are tired, ambitious, lost, and determined. About those who make mistakes, yet still try to do something right. About characters we ourselves identified with while writing the script.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]You can expect more very soon! We continue to rely on your feedback from the demo version. Your comments mean a great deal to us, and we’re working to implement as many improvements and adjustments inspired by your suggestions as possible.[/p][p]We can’t wait to share more updates with you![/p][p]— The Above the Desk Team[/p][p]
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[p]Today Steam Next Fest begins, and for this occasion we have prepared the Above the Snow demo![/p][p]After a long period of work and testing, we are proud to share the demo version with you. Every comment will be valuable to us, both regarding what you like and what you don’t. If you encounter any bugs (knock on wood), please report them on our Discord – [/p][p]https://discord.com/invite/AvURXquAzt[/p][p][/p][p]Your impressions and suggestions truly help us develop the game and shape it during the final stage of work right before release.[/p][p]Thank you for your support and we invite you to play the demo on Steam![/p]

[h2]Above The Snow is officially joining Steam Next Fest![/h2][p]
You’ll be able to try our first public demo soon. We’ve been excited to share this moment, and Steam Next Fest is a great chance for you to jump in early and see what we’ve been working on. Having won Best PC City-Building Game at the NYX Game Awards: Season 2 2025, Above The Snow has also been nominated for Best Narrative Indie Game at Taipei Game Show 2026 and Best Polish Indie Game at Poznań Game Arena 2025 - Steam Next Fest is your chance to see why for yourself by getting hands-on with the demo.



Above The Snow is a cozy narrative tycoon where you and a small shelter crew run a resort for daring alpinists in the snowy mountains. From a top‑down view, you’ll manage the lodge, direct your crew, and keep everyone warm and safe through the harsh winter of the 1960s. Furnish and expand the resort, welcome and rescue alpinists, and plan trails that match your guests’ skills as they head out into the wilderness.
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We’re genuinely thrilled to bring Above The Snow into Steam Next Fest and invite you to experience this blend of story‑driven management and alpine winter mountaineering for yourself. During the event, you’ll be able to dive into the demo, get to know the crew, experiment with running your own mountain resort, and see how you handle the storms, guests, and busy days on the trails. We can’t wait to hear what you think - so wish list Above The Snow on Steam, join our Discord HERE to share feedback or report any bugs, and get ready to join the shelter crew when Steam Next Fest begins!


We’ll also be launching a giveaway alongside this announcement, so be sure to check out the details here: LINK.
[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]Thank you all,
The Above The Desk Team[/p]