Put on your warmest gear and get ready to hike to your local games retailer; a retail version of The Long Dark is now available.
The Long Dark, the dastardly survival game that skated to the top of our best winter video games list, has been available in some form or another for several years now. First, came the obligatory Steam Early Access release, a must for survival games to tweak their mechanics (and build a dedicated following). Console versions followed, including some time on Xbox Game Preview, Microsoft’s equivalent of Early Access.
In 2017, The Long Dark finally trudged out of the deep snow of Early Access and into a full release, and with it, came the first two episodes of its story mode. The game had previously only been playable in sandbox and challenge formats, but the addition of a singleplayer campaign wove new dimensions into a familiar landscape.
And now, perhaps something of a reward for years of hard work from Raph van Lierop and the team at Hinterland Games, there’s a retail version of The Long Dark on shelves worldwide.
Published by Skybound (Robert Kirkman’s production company) the retail version of The Long Dark features all of the stuff in the digital edition – including access to subsequent story episodes, when they release – plus a code to download the game’s original soundtrack. The boxed edition also includes a limited edition field journal, described as follows in the press release:
Used by an unnamed survivor on Great Bear Island, this naturalist’s Field Journal includes a map of the Island, as well as plenty of room to log your day’s activities – the perfect companion for any survivor of the Quiet Apocalypse!
The retail version of The Long Dark hit shelves (and online retail) in North America on September 4th, 2018. Now, on September 7th, it’s available worldwide; well, in selected countries and from selected retailers, in any case.