Expeditions: Samurai announced for Summer 2026 early access release on PC (Update)

THQ Nordic has announced Expeditions: Samurai for Summer 2026 release via early access on PC.

Expeditions: Samurai follows Expeditions: Rome as the newest game in the series and it will be released this summer via early access on PC. You can read my interview with Expeditions Samurai Creative Director Jonas Waever on co-op, the setting, DLC, and much more. The announcement trailer, screenshots, and more from the Steam page for Expeditions: Samurai below:

Japan, in the year 1600: warlords clash, alliances crumble, and the path to becoming Shogun is anything but tidy. Into this powder keg sails Expeditions: Samurai, a new historical RPG from Campfire Cabal and THQ Nordic, inviting players to choose their own path through history in a branching story shaped by life-or-death decisions. Campfire Cabal is a Copenhagen-based studio founded in 2022 and led by veterans behind the critically acclaimed Expeditions: Conquistador, Expeditions: Viking, and Expeditions: Rome.

In Expeditions: Samurai, the famous navigator William Adams never makes history as Japan’s first European Samurai, because this time, YOU get there first. Arriving aboard the Dutch frigate "De Albatros" as the newly elected leader of a ragtag crew of privateers, players are drawn into the final chapter of a brutal civil war where every choice can shape the fate of their crew and the future of Japan. With eight companions and eight personal stories to uncover, players can build bonds that grow into friendship, rivalry, or even romance. Every crewmate has their own story to uncover - if you manage to earn their trust.

Combat in Expeditions: Samurai is dynamic. It's fast-paced - and yet still turn-based! Blending simultaneous actions, stealth, gadgets, ambushes, and a broad mix of pirate and Japanese weaponry to an exciting tactical challenge for the players. And for the first time in series history, the adventure can also be played in drop-in/drop-out co-op - because navigating feudal Japanese politics alone is hard enough.

Expeditions: Samurai is coming to PC this Summer and will be available via Early Access.

Why Early Access?

“With Expeditions: Samurai, we are adding many new features to the beloved Expeditions formula, such as stealth, environmental interactions, dynamic character portraits, full controller support, and a co-op mode. We're itching to put something out there for the community to play while we still have time left to act on feedback and hone in on what's important to our players.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Depending on your feedback and reception of the game, we want to release the full version of Expeditions: Samurai in Q1 of 2027.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“During the Early Access phase, we will add more quests, weapons, and armor. The final release will include the complete story, where you are given rulership of your own village in Japan, as well as a few more features such as crafting and a way to customize your character builds. The full version will also be more polished and better balanced, and we're expecting to make many Quality-of-Life improvements based on player feedback.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Our goal with the Early Access version of Expeditions: Samurai has been to offer up a satisfying slice of the story that shows off almost every feature in the final game. Playing this version of Expeditions: Samurai, you will experience the full scope of combat, exploration, stealth, world map travel, and several hours of quests with full high-quality voice-over.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“Early Access is at a slightly discounted price compared to the full version, because we believe you deserve thanks for taking a chance on our game while it's still in development.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“Members of our development team will personally participate in discussions on the Steam forums and in the Expeditions Discord server, gathering feedback and taking suggestions from the fans that will help inform how we focus our efforts as we get closer to finishing our game.”