Stoneshard Devs Announced Rags To Riches Update’s Release Date!

After almost two years of development

The Largest Update Since 2020

Bringing In The Caravan System

Travel great distances with the upcoming Rags to Riches update. Ink Stains Games announced this much-awaited update for Stoneshard in their latest devlog. This update will focus on the Caravan System, giving you the ability to swiftly explore the map and set up personal camps for your exploration needs.

“This is the final devlog dedicated to the upcoming “Rags to Riches” update, the largest one in Stoneshard’s history. So today, as promised, we’re happy to announce its release date - December 16th!”

Since this is a major update, it would be best to highlight the significant changes it will bring to the game, aside from the Caravan System:

　⚫︎　Added settlement situations – unexpected events might occur in villages

　⚫︎　Dungeon rework – enhanced visuals and added modifiers

　⚫︎　Contracts rework – new conditions and mechanics for fulfilling contracts

　⚫︎　New settlement – Denbrie added as the final settlement

　⚫︎　New location type – outskirts added, serving as rest stops

　⚫︎　Economy rework – price fluctuations and in-depth trader information added

　⚫︎　Map locations reassigned

　⚫︎　Cooking – 40 recipes added for you to cook

　⚫︎　New minibosses – 7 new minibosses added

　⚫︎　And more!

If you want to know more about this major update, head to its Steam page and check out the full list of new features and improvements coming to the game. Though it took some time to release, the number of improvements and additions to Stoneshard with this update makes it worth the wait.

“As already mentioned, there’ll be no more devlogs dedicated to Rags to Riches - see you on December 16th!”

Why The Delay?

Following Stoneshard’s roadmap and the pattern of its previous major update releases, the Rags to Riches update was expected to be out by 2023. However, an unexpected event disrupted the release of the previous Forgotten Lore update and impacted Stoneshard’s future development.

Ink Stains Games announced on February 27, 2022 that “due to Russia’s attack on Ukraine we won’t be able to stick to the intended release schedule.” Most of their key team members are Ukrainian citizens, and their lives have been severely affected by this conflict.

The developers provided further details in their March 26, 2022 devlog. They explained that their Ukrainian team members, though relatively safe, were struggling with “accessing the Internet and setting up a proper workspace.” Additionally, their Russian members were relocating to other countries in order to continue the game's development.

The developers’ financial situation was also impacted, as Steam “no longer makes transactions with Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarus banks,” preventing them from receiving income from Stoneshard purchases. Although they assured players that they would continue working on the game, they asked for more time due to these urgent and pressing challenges.

Throughout 2023 and 2024, they released devlogs to keep players informed about the current development progress of Rags to Riches. After two years of sharing small updates about this major release, they finally announced its release date on October 19, 2024.

Live And Die As A Medieval Mercenary

Stoneshard is an open-world, turn-based RPG where you follow the story of a medieval mercenary. The game features detailed 2D-pixel art reminiscent of titles like Rimworld and Zero Sievert. Your original mission is to assist a mercenary named Verren in his quest to fulfill an old contract with a royal alchemist. However, the contract has expired, leaving you no choice but to take on a new one. This is where your own adventure begins as you fulfill contracts across the kingdom of Aldor.

You can choose from five characters to start your story, each with a unique backstory, attributes, and traits. If you prefer diving directly into the heat of battle, you can wield melee weapons like two-handed swords, maces, and more. Bows and crossbows provide a tactical advantage by damaging enemies from a distance—just be sure to stock up on ammunition. In addition to managing physical ailments like bleeding and disease, you must also contend with mental health conditions that can affect your performance in battle. Take the utmost caution when exploring Aldor’s dangerous dungeons!

Stoneshard is not only focused on combat; you should also be mindful of your actions, as they can affect the economy of a particular village and your reputation. For example, hoarding a specific good can increase its price globally. Villages track your deeds, and your reputation—based on whether you help or harm them—will influence how the locals treat you. Make sure to spend your gold wisely, as it will impact your future investments and purchases.

The game is available for purchase at $24.99 on Steam. Currently, the developers plan to port Stoneshard to consoles once it exits early access. Assist your patrons and uncover the history of Aldor in Stoneshard!