{"rewrite":{"id":"r_a0b5b56aae2e38ed071d9098","clusterId":"c_061fbabf3351e619c49f06dd","slug":"stonewards-launches-into-steam-early-access-on-august-11","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Stonewards Launches Into Steam Early Access on August 11","summary":"Banana Tiger Studio announced on July 1 that its co-op mining defense roguelite Stonewards will enter Early Access on Steam on August 11 (August 12 in Japan). The game supports solo and up to 4-player online co-op, with Japanese display planned. The Early Access period is expected to last about a year.","whyItMatters":"The two-person indie studio behind the well-received Monster Care Simulator is now shipping a co-op tower defense roguelite that blends mining and combat, with a year-long Early Access roadmap.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eBanana Tiger Studio, the two-person indie team behind the \u0026#39;Very Positive\u0026#39; rated Monster Care Simulator on Steam, is returning with a new co-op roguelite tower defense game called Stonewards. The game launches into Early Access on PC via Steam on August 11 (August 12 in Japan).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStonewards supports solo play and up to 4-player online co-op. Players take on the role of dwarves defending a fortress from monster waves. Between attacks, they mine for iron and stone, feed materials into a furnace to earn random upgrades, and prepare equipment. When the horn sounds, they fight with axes and bows to repel hordes and defeat a boss to clear the wave. If the gate is destroyed or health runs out, players are sent back to a base where they can unlock new classes, equipment, and permanent upgrades.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Early Access period is planned to last roughly one year, during which the developer will add new features, new maps, and balance adjustments. The price is expected to increase slightly at the full release. A demo with Japanese display support is available now.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Banana Tiger Studio sets a year-long Early Access window for Stonewards. That timeline suggests the core loop is ready but the studio expects significant iteration based on player feedback.","twitterPost":"Banana Tiger Studio commits to a year of Early Access for Stonewards. The studio is betting on community feedback to shape the full release.","threadsPost":"Banana Tiger Studio's Stonewards enters Early Access on August 11 with a planned year-long development period. The studio's choice of a full year of iteration signals confidence in the core mining-defense loop but an openness to reshape systems around co-op play.","newsletterBlurb":"Banana Tiger Studio, the two-person indie team behind Monster Care Simulator, announced Stonewards will launch into Steam Early Access on August 11 (August 12 in Japan). The game is a co-op roguelite tower defense where dwarves mine resources between monster waves and fight with axes and bows. The Early Access period is planned to last about a year, with new maps and features to come.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260701-452725/\",\"title\":\"Co-op Mining Defense Roguelite Action 'Stonewards' Launches into Early Access on August 12. Mine in Your Spare Time, Strengthen Facilities, and Beat Back Oncoming Monsters\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4177,"outputTokens":686,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1782875579,"createdAt":"2026-07-01T03:06:03.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-07-01T03:09:50.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-01T03:09:50.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_061fbabf3351e619c49f06dd","canonicalTitle":"最大4人協力・鉱山防衛ローグライトアクション『Stonewards』8月12日早期アクセス配信へ。すきま時間でひたすら採掘、設備を強化し押し寄せる魔物をぶちのめす","representativeArticleId":"a_0bcd008a21180a10aa4b64a6","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Stonewards\"],\"studios\":[\"Banana Tiger Studio\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-07-01T02:34:40.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-07-01T02:34:40.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-01T03:09:50.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20260701-452725/","title":"最大4人協力・鉱山防衛ローグライトアクション『Stonewards』8月12日早期アクセス配信へ。すきま時間でひたすら採掘、設備を強化し押し寄せる魔物をぶちのめす"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Stonewards"],"studios":["Banana Tiger Studio"],"people":[],"type":"announcement","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Banana Tiger Studio announced on July 1 that Stonewards will enter Steam Early Access on August 11 (August 12 in Japan).","Stonewards supports solo play and up to 4-player online co-op, with Japanese display support planned.","The Early Access period is expected to last about one year, with new features, maps, and balance adjustments planned.","A demo with Japanese display support is available now.","The game is a co-op mining defense roguelite where players defend a fortress as dwarves, mining resources and fighting monster waves."]}