Blades For Hire News

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Greetings, everyone!
We’re excited to announce the official launch of the Blades For Hire Playtest!

[h3]Playtest period:[/h3]
March 9 – March 23

[h2]About the Playtest:[/h2]
The Playtest version is an improved version of the demo released earlier, now featuring all the changes and improvements we made based on your feedback.
On top of that, completing this version will let you earn unique equipment for your mercenaries when the game launches.

We’ve mentioned the participation reward several times before. You can find all the details in our previous announcement.
To keep it brief, there are three required conditions to receive the reward:

- Add the game to your wishlist.
- Follow the publisher page on Steam.
- Earn the Steam achievement "Old Guard".

The Playtest version is available in the following languages: English, Russian, French, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Turkish.

[h3]Who will get access?[/h3]
Everyone who signed up has already been granted access. New Playtest sign-up requests will also continue to be approved during the Playtest period, though a bit more slowly.
So if you haven’t signed up yet, you can still do it right now, and once your request is approved, you’ll receive a notification.

To sign up, click the button on the game’s store page.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3180000/Blades_For_Hire/



[h2]Leave feedback[/h2]
You can leave feedback using:
- The Google Form built into the game.
- Or via the Steam Community.
- You can also join our Discord community.

Good luck to everyone!
We hope you overcome the challenge and enjoy the game.

Greetings, mercenaries!



[h2]Blades For Hire enters a new phase - Playtest begins March 9![/h2]
Everyone who has requested access will be able to jump into a special Playtest version of the game.

[h2]How long will the Playtest last?[/h2]
The Playtest runs from March 9 at 11:00 AM PT to March 23 at 11:00 AM PT.
That means you’ll have exactly two weeks to participate. After that, the exclusive reward will no longer be obtainable.

[h2]Why participate?[/h2]
The Playtest is your chance to earn an exclusive in-game reward by unlocking a special Steam achievement.
It’s simple - complete the Playtest, unlock the Steam achievement, and once the full game launches, you’ll receive a unique armor set and a two-handed sword.

[h3]🏆EXCLUSIVE REWARD:[/h3]



Conditions to receive the reward:
- Add the game to your wishlist.
- Follow the publisher page on Steam.
- During the Playtest, earn the Steam achievement "Old Guard".

To unlock the "Old Guard" achievement, you must complete the Playtest without hiring any new recruits.
You may only use the mercenaries available at the start. Since they can die, flee, or leave if not paid on time, this will be a true challenge.

The best approach is to first complete the Playtest normally, then replay it as a challenge run.
A single run takes no more than one hour.

See you on the battlefield!

We’re excited to announce that Blades For Hire is taking part in the Choose Wisely Festival 2025 — a themed Steam festival dedicated to games where every decision shapes the story and its outcomes.

Choose Wisely Festival 2025 brings together projects built around branching narratives, meaningful choices, and strong story-driven gameplay. During the event, you’ll be able to discover hundreds of titles, catch new announcements, watch the showcase, and try out demos.

Player choice is a core pillar of Blades For Hire, but today we’d like to focus on the combat system, as its indirect-control nature has sparked some discussions.

[h2]Combat System[/h2]
There’s been a lot of debate about how combat works, so we’d like to offer some clarification — to explain why the system was designed the way it is.

Turn-based tactics have explored countless approaches already, and we didn’t want to simply repeat them. Instead, we found it much more interesting to experiment with indirect control.

Players naturally crave more agency, and we fully understand that. This is why we wanted to combine character progression with increased tactical influence on the battlefield — which led us to the skill system.

As mercenaries level up, they gain new skills that expand your influence: prioritizing low-health targets, stunning dangerous enemies, protecting the backline for long-term play, or rushing down opponents aggressively. These are all viable tactical options available to the player.



That’s why comparing combat to a pure auto-battler is only half-correct. If you ignore skills entirely, then regardless of gear quality, characters will rely on basic attacks — which won’t be enough in tougher encounters. Using skills becomes a necessity if you want to win.



The more actively you use the available skills — and the more skills your mercenaries unlock — the more powerful your squad becomes. This sense of growing control and battlefield mastery is exactly what our team wants players to feel. With progression, even a ragtag group can turn into a formidable force.

We also hope this system will reveal its flexibility through the random distribution of skills and classes. Each character’s skill pool is selected based on their background. If someone used to be an assassin, their skill set will reflect that — preferred position, weapon types, and combat style included.

So we encourage players to make full use of every tool available. Even without directly selecting which target a character attacks, you can meaningfully steer the flow of battle.

[h2]Playtest[/h2]
We talked about the playtest in more detail in one of our previous announcements.
For now, here’s a reminder of what you need to do to earn the reward:

Requirements:
- Add the game to your wishlist.
- Follow the publisher page on Steam.
- Earn the Steam achievement "Old Guard" during the playtest.

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[h2]Publisher Highlights[/h2]
As part of the Choose Wisely Festival, we invite you to discover even more games where choices truly matter.

If you’re interested in stories of revolution, take a look at Decadent Heir. A narrative-driven adventure where every decision will echo through time as you navigate the turbulent fate of a decaying empire. Playtest sign-ups are open.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3261140/Decadent_Heir/

If you’d like to test yourself as a judge of a revolutionary tribunal — where every verdict can change the fate of a city and the revolution itself — then We. The Revolution is the perfect choice. Pass sentences, navigate political intrigue, and shape the future of the revolution.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/736850/We_The_Revolution/

The Mildew Children is a dark 2D adventure mixed with visual novel elements. It tells a grim tale of a village inhabited only by children who cling to ancient, primal traditions — a surreal and unsettling journey of mystery and fate.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2420350/The_Mildew_Children/

Immerse yourself in the atmospheric world of Mondealy. Step into the shoes of Michael — an ordinary young man who discovers hidden paths beneath his hometown, leading to the mysterious underground kingdom of Dargatt. Explore a charming story-rich adventure full of secrets and wonder.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1620520/Mondealy/

Greetings!

Blades For Hire is proudly participating in The Medieval Festival.
As part of this event, we’d like to share an update on our progress.

[h2]Demo Version[/h2]
It has been some time since we launched our demo.

Thank you to everyone who shared feedback, added the game to their wishlist, or simply spent time with the demo! This insight has been invaluable — it helps us understand how we can make the game even better.

As we move towards the Playtest phase, we’d like to highlight a few key takeaways.
We are now fully focused on preparing the Playtest build, which is why the demo is no longer available. A lot has already changed in the version you’ll soon be able to experience.

[h3]Here’s a look at how the demo went — and what changes are on the way:[/h3]

• 64 hours — that’s the longest recorded playtime in the demo! We recommend turning off your PC before going to bed. :)
  
• The average completion time was 50 minutes, which aligns perfectly with our target. We were also delighted to see how many players spent far more time with it!
  
• We received plenty of feedback on the loyalty system. Some players found it unclear, so we’ll make its mechanics more transparent and expand its explanation in the tutorial.
  
• Some UI elements caused confusion — these are being reworked.
  
• Mages sparked a lot of debate — which isn’t surprising given the importance of mana and sorcery in this world. Some players struggled with equipping mages, some with mana supply, some with spellcasting. Opinions ranged from “too strong” to “useless.” We’ll let you decide who’s right — but the tutorial will now include clearer instructions.
  
• Funny soft locks — and other bugs — reported by players are being fixed. Thank you for reporting them!
  
• Combat also caused difficulties, particularly tactical usage. To help players remember to switch tactics throughout battles — combining effects and increasing their chances — we’re enhancing the tutorial. UI readability has also been improved.
  
• Not everyone reached Ben’s ending, even if they enjoyed the story. This was often because failure in the final mission felt intentional. It isn’t! The final mission is harder and requires preparation — but the ending is there.
  
• Ben’s storyline will not continue in the full release. It is a standalone narrative set in the same province and connected to the main plot — but we appreciate your interest!
  

Thank you again for your support, feedback, and enthusiasm! It reassures us we’re on the right path — and reminds us how much more we can achieve.
Please continue sharing criticism, suggestions, and spreading the word about the game!

You can leave feedback in our dedicated Steam thread, or join our publisher’s Discord community where we’re always happy to answer questions.

[h2]Playtest[/h2]
Currently, 850 players have signed up — which is awesome!
We’d love to reach at least 1,000 participants before the Playtest begins in early 2026. Everyone who signs up will gain access.

Remember — participating will earn you special in-game equipment as a reward.

We covered the Playtest in more detail in a previous announcement.
Here’s a reminder of what you need to do to claim your reward:

Reward Requirements:
- Add the game to your wishlist.
- Follow the publisher page on Steam.
- Earn the Steam achievement "Old Guard" during the Playtest.

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Greetings!
Blades For Hire is participating in the Turn-Based Carnival, which runs from November 27 to December 3.
During this festival, many turn-based combat games are discounted, livestreams are running, and you can discover something new.

[h2]PLAYTESTS[/h2]

We invite you to sign up for the Blades For Hire playtest. To join, simply click the “Request Access” button on the game’s Steam page. Participants will be able to earn a reward.
The playtests are planned to launch in the first quarter of 2026. You can learn more about the playtests in the previous announcement.
Be sure to add the game to your wishlist - it helps a lot.

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[h2]Information from the Publisher[/h2]
Discover even more turn-based combat projects. We invite you to take a look at two more great games:

Dive into a turn-based strategy with RPG elements inspired by Heroes of Might and Magic. Stones Keeper II: Chaos Lord features a castle-management system in which your castle essentially acts as your “hero.” Playtests begin in early 2026, and participants will receive a unique reward.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2779310/Stones_Keeper_II_Chaos_Lord/

Test yourself in a hardcore RPG with a nonlinear story and survival elements. Discounts are available on the game and all DLC.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/687800/Heads_Will_Roll_Reforged/