We're here to tell you everything we know about Witchfire including its release date, platforms, difficulty, and if there will be co-op or multiplayer in the next game from The Astronauts.
What is Witchfire?
Witchfire is an upcoming roguelite first-person shooter from The Astronauts, the same developers that created The Vanishing of Ethan Carter. The game was first announced at The Game Awards 2017 and has been in development for over 5 years.
As one might expect, the game has changed in some places throughout the course of its development. We're closer than ever to its release date, though, and that means that we have some more concrete answers to some of the big questions about the game.
Witchfire Platforms - What Platforms is Witchfire Releasing On?
No platforms have been confirmed for Witchfire just yet. The game is made in Unreal Engine 4, so it's possible that it could come to PC or most modern consoles, but nothing has been explicitly confirmed.
The platforms were most recently listed as "TBD" in a January 2022 blog post from the developers.
Is Witchfire Coming to PC?
Yes, Witchfire is coming to PC. It will launch first in Early Access on the Epic Games Store September 20, 2023.
Is Witchfire an Epic Games Store Exclusive?
Yes, the Early Access version of Witchfire will be exclusive to the Epic Games Store according to a June 2022 blog post. You can add Witchfire to your wishlist on the Epic Games Store right now. It is unclear if the game will launch on Steam or other PC storefronts at a later date.
Will there be a Witchfire Steam Release?
A Witchfire Steam release has not yet been announced.
Is Witchfire Coming to Consoles?
A Witchfire console release has not yet been announced for any platform.
That said, the game is being developed in Unreal Engine 4. In technical terms, that means that it could come to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch if the developer chooses to release it on any of those platforms.
Furthermore, The Astronauts' previous game The Vanishing of Ethan Carter has been released on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, so this developer certainly knows what it's doing when it comes to console releases.
What is the Witchfire Release Date?
Witchfire Releases on September 20, 2023 for PC on the Epic Games Store.
When is the Witchfire PC Release Date?
The Witchfire PC release date will be September 20, 2023. The Early Access version will be an Epic Games Store exclusive -- you can add Witchfire to your wishlist on the Epic Games Store right now.
When is the Witchfire PS5 Release Date?
A PS5 release date has not yet been announced.
When is the Witchfire PS4 Release Date?
A PS4 release date has not yet been announced.
When is the Witchfire Xbox Series X|S Release Date?
An Xbox Series X|S release date has not yet been announced.
When is the Witchfire Xbox One Release Date?
An Xbox One release date has not yet been announced.
When is the Witchfire Nintendo Switch Release Date?
A Nintendo Switch release date has not yet been announced.
Is Witchfire Multiplayer?
No, there is no Witchfire multiplayer -- at least, not at launch.
As explained in the January 2022 blog post, this game will most likely not get co-op. The developers explain that it would be similar to playing Dark Souls in co-op multiplayer -- something that would fundamentally change the difficulty (and the overall experience).
Is Witchfire Co-Op?
No, Witchfire is not co-op.
However, the developers have had discussions about co-op internally and it's possible that this feature could be added later. It's also possible that a modder could figure out how to make a mod after the game launches.
Will There Be a Witchfire Beta?
A Witchfire beta has not yet been announced. However, developer The Astronauts has explained in a January 2022 blog post that the game will launch on PC in Early Access first.
Will Witchfire Be Early Access?
Yes, Witchfire will be Early Access at first. The game will launch on PC first as an Epic Games Store exclusive on September 20, 2023.
Will There Be a Witchfire Alpha?
It's unlikely that there will be a Witchfire Alpha according to an explanation in the January 2022 blog post.
"Despite releasing in EA first, it’s still a big challenge for a team like ours," said The Astronauts Creative Director and Co-Owner Adrian Chmielarz in the January 2022 blog post. "Gone are the days of EA’s past. Players no longer tolerate bugs, and they expect many, many joyous hours of play. We need to make sure we deliver on both fronts."
How Many Weapons Are There in Witchfire?
The final number of Witchfire weapons has not yet been decided. However, the January 2022 blog post has confirmed that there will be at least 5 weapons total, many of which we've seen in various gameplay clips during development.
Are There Randomized Weapons in Witchfire?
No, there are no randomized weapons in the game. This feature was originally planned during development, but it was dropped due to gameplay balance issues.
"Actually, you might be pleased to hear we dropped the randomized perks on weapons," The Astronauts Creative Director and Co-Owner Adrian Chmielarz in the January 2022 blog post. "Balancing the RNG against the preset is a tough act. You want enough RNG for replayability, but also enough of the preset for mastery. And we felt that random perks on weapons, on top of other things we already have, was just too much."
Can You Upgrade Your Weapons in Witchfire?
Yes, you can upgrade your weapons. Unfortunately, how you upgrade your weapons is a bit of a mystery.
"Weapons will be upgradeable, and that process will require some dedication and skill. And there are some new mechanics connected to weapons that we’re not ready to talk about yet.
Can You Center Your Crosshair?
Yes. you can center your crosshair. Whether or not you can center your crosshair has been a point of debate due to an offset crosshair seen in some early footage of the game.
In fact, whether or not you can center your crosshair has become a meme within the game's community, so much so that the developers explicitly addressed it several times -- most notably in a July 2020 blog post.
"[This is an old question.] but this is an example of why we’re hesitant of frequent updates that show the true behind the scenes, raw and dirty game development," Adrian Chmielarz said in the July 2020 blog post. "I mean, we’ve said it already that you will be able to choose between the Centered and Lowered crosshair position. We’ve said it in our blog posts and on Twitter not once, not twice, but at least every quarter."
"However, of course it’s hard to blame someone who joins us on this journey late that they see something they find suspicious and they’re concerned," he continued. "Hell, we’re glad they care! And we like to be kept in check! But constant reminders that 'this is work in progress' and 'yes, there will be an option for this in the menu' is a Sisyphean effort, and we’d rather be just making the game. There will still be a lot of time for players’ feedback later on, when we reveal what the core gameplay loop of Witchfire is."
Does Witchfire Have an Easy Mode?
No, there will be no Witchfire Easy Mode. This is a fast, challenging game.
"There’s only one difficulty level, Git Gud," explained The Astronauts Creative Director and Co-Owner Adrian Chmielarz in the January 2022 blog post. "Well, it’s not really called that, but you get the idea.
Although there will be no easy mode, Chmielarz mentioned that there may be a mode to actually make the game more difficult if players are looking for an increased challenge.
"We might have something to make the lives of the hardcore even more miserable but top level, the game offers just one universal difficulty mode."
Can You Customize Your Witchfire Character?
No, you cannot customize your Witchfire character's appearance or clothing. However, the January 2022 blog post mentions that both weapons and spells can be upgraded in some fashion.
"If you mean the purely visual customization, like what’s your eye color or mouth size then no," The Astronauts Creative Director and Co-Owner Adrian Chmielarz said in a December 2020 blog post. "We don’t have the resources to do that but also it’s a first person shooter and such a feature sounds like an overkill. You spend 99.99% of the playtime seeing only your hands and a gun."
"Also, our preyer has a certain distinctive look. He’s not a random guy, so to speak," he added. "I will reveal the details when we’re ready to talk more about the story."
Is Witchfire A Looter Shooter?
No, Witchfire is not a looter shooter. While you do shoot guns and you can loot items, you should not expect randomized loot as you see in games like Borderlands.
"First, all right, so look, whatever your opinion on looter shooters is, it’s kind of a myth that there’s soooo many of them," The Astronauts Creative Director and Co-Owner Adrian Chmielarz said in response to a question in an April 2021 blog post. "You got Destiny 2, Outriders, Borderlands 3 and surely a couple of more, but it’s not exactly like there’s an avalanche of high quality looter shooters bleeding your wallet dry."
"Second, Witchfire is not a looter shooter. There’s loot. There’s shooting. But it’s not a looter shooter."
Disclosure: Epic Games Store works with TechRaptor for affiliate partnership, and TechRaptor earns a small commission off purchases made from some links in this article. You can support TechRaptor by using creator code TechRaptor on the Epic Games Store.
Have a tip, or want to point out something we missed? Leave a Comment or e-mail us at tips@techraptor.net
One of my earliest memories is playing Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System. I've had a controller in my hand since I was 4 and I… More about Robert N
