The highly anticipated extraction shooter *Eldegarde*, developed by industry veterans from blizzard Entertainment, has received a firm release date. Notorious Studios announced today that version 1.0 of *Eldegarde* will launch on January 21, 2026, concluding a nearly year-long Early Access period that began in February 2025 [[2]]. The game, formerly known as *Legacy: Steel & Sorcery*, aims to capitalize on the growing popularity of the extraction genre with a unique fantasy setting and the addition of a dedicated pve mode [[1]].
The release date for Eldegarde, a new extraction shooter developed by veterans of Blizzard Entertainment, has finally been revealed.
- Notorious Studios, the team behind the project, announced that Eldegarde version 1.0 will launch on January 21, 2026.
- This means the early access period will last just under a year, as the game first became available on Steam Early Access on February 12, 2025.
- Notably, the game was previously known as Legacy: Steel & Sorcery. Developers rebranded the title to Eldegarde last week.
Extraction-Based PvPvE Game From Blizzard Alumni
Eldegarde is an online extraction-based PvPvE game, drawing comparisons to popular titles like Escape from Tarkov and this year’s ARC Raiders. However, this title distinguishes itself with a fantasy setting.
In Eldegarde, players take on the role of adventurers venturing into dangerous locales – both above and below ground. The core gameplay loop revolves around acquiring loot and successfully evacuating the map before being eliminated by monsters or opposing players. Currently, the game supports multiplayer only, but version 1.0 will introduce a single-player mode.
Between expeditions, players return to a central city to purchase items and rest in taverns. The game features a class system inspired by MMORPGs. This is no surprise, as Notorious Studios is comprised of many former Blizzard employees. Chris Kaleiki, a lead designer on World of Warcraft – where he oversaw the PvP system – leads the team.
Eldegarde is currently available exclusively on PC and does not offer a localized version. The game is currently on sale for $59.99 as part of the Steam Winter Sale, a 20% discount from its standard price. This offer expires on January 5th.
The game currently holds a 70% positive rating on Steam. Player reception has declined since its early access launch, with only 62% of recent reviews (within the last 30 days) being positive. Concurrent player counts have also dropped significantly, peaking at just 82 players last weekend. The developers are hoping the title change and the release of version 1.0 will reverse this trend. The growing popularity of extraction shooters demonstrates a demand for high-stakes, persistent online experiences.
