When we originally covered Mycopunk, the game's release date was unclear, but the developer recently announced that it would get a July 10 launch, and that launch is now upon us as Pigeons at Play and Devolver Digital prepare for the chaotic new shooter's early access launch on Steam.
Pricing has not yet been revealed ahead of launch, but the game's publisher recently took to the social media platform X with a barb at Borderlands 4 and Randy Pitchford, hinting that Mycopunk would cost around or less than $20. Back in the days when Borderlands 4 was still expected to cost $80, the publisher noted:
“You're gonna be able to buy Mycopunk for you and three of your friends for the price of one copy of Borderlands 4.”
This claim was later updated to "4.6 copies of it for the price of one Borderlands," putting pricing right around $15.
Mycopunk launch, gameplay, and demo hype
Mycopunk made a splash earlier this year with a free demo during Steam Next Fest that attracted more than 120,000 players, and according to the early access launch announcement, the early build of the full game will pack a host of features for both multiplayer and single-player. Pigeons at Play says that "we feel there’s enough content in Mycopunk for a full 1.0 release," but that it wants to launch in early access to address the game's balance with the help of community feedback. It also promises not to "kill your favorite build or weapon interaction," going on to imply that there will be plenty of "broken" weapons or builds in Mycopunk, and that the development team simply wants to make sure everything is tuned well. It also plans to use the early access period and the frequent updates ahead of the 1.0 launch to build the game's "constantly evolving" narrative, with each update supposedly being tied to the story in some form or fashion.
Mycopunk puts players in the shoes of quirky robotic rejects working as wage slaves for corporate overlords as part of the New Atlas Hazard Crew to clean up a deadly fungal infection threatening the galaxy. The chaotic shooter will take you to all corners of New Atlas on special assignments in an effort to snuff out the ever evolving fungal threat, and you will learn more about your mysterious foe, the world you are fighting over, and the company that sent you there to do battle. The early access updates that come after the launch will introduce new weapons and gear, as well as upgrades to existing equipment — all in the name of snuffing out the fungal infection on New Atlas. Mycopunk features four-player co-op gameplay, but it can also be played single-player for those who don't have friends.
So far, the feedback from the game's Next Fest demo is quite positive, with feedback on Reddit praising the game for its replayability, meaningful weapon upgrades and customisation, and build diversity. The stylised graphics and quirky NPCs also get a lot of love, with both contributing to the gritty punk aesthetic and the personality of the game.
Mycopunk is not yet rated for the Valve Steam Deck or SteamOS, but the developer has confirmed on Reddit that there was a lot of positive feedback from the Steam Deck community during the demo period, and there seems to be no intention of taking it away. The replayability and lightweight system requirements make it a good candidate for something like the Lenovo Legion GO S (curr. $589.99 on Amazon) running SteamOS.