Update | Cryptic Epic Games Store's free game leak hints at online co-op open-world survival title for Dec 21

Update: The leaker has clarified that the giveaway might be the original TerraTech - not TerraTech Worlds. The change is speculated to be due to the nature of TerraTech Worlds, which is still in Early Access and may face rating or logistical issues with an Epic Games giveaway, so players should keep an eye out for either title on the giveaway date.

Since Epic Games Store has a history of including clues for their free game giveaways with their holiday packaging thumbnails, many gamers were expecting that to be the case this year as well. However, Epic resorted to posting simple festive thumbnails this time around - minus the clues that made so many people look forward to the upcoming games. Hence, resorting to leaks was the next most exciting thing for gamers. Fortunately, after accurately reporting on the past few leaks where Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, Vampire Survivors and Astrea: Six Sided Oracles were officially revealed as the first three free games, we may have a successful hit on the fourth one - courtesy of the same reliable leaker as before. 

The latest leak points to TerraTech Worlds as the fourth free game, set to be available on December 21, 2024, as part of Epic Games Store’s ongoing Holiday Sale giveaway. Now, while the leaker hasn't explicitly confirmed if it's TerraTech Worlds, they posted a set of emojis (see screenshot below) alongside the abbreviation T.W. - which leads us to believe TerraTech Worlds to be the most likely answer.  This open-world PvE survival game, developed by Payload Studios, expands on its predecessor TerraTech by bringing a more immersive experience. Players take on the role of a Prospector who is tasked with exploring alien planets (which explains the planet/earth emoji, not to mention 'Terra' translates to Earth), gathering resources, and crafting vehicles and bases (as implied by the car and tool emojis) to survive. Furthermore, multiple car emojis in the clue could also point towards the online co-op gameplay TerraTech Worlds features.

The gameplay revolves around a modular building system that allows players to design and customize vehicles and structures to suit their play style. With the addition of online co-op for up to four players, TerraTech Worlds also brings teamwork into the mix. While still in early access, the game has received decent feedback for its expansive open-world design, creative freedom, and progression systems. 

The system requirements for TerraTech Worlds are relatively accessible for a game of its scale. Players will need at least Windows 10, a 4-core CPU at 3.4GHz, 16 GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB) or AMD Radeon RX 580 (8GB) to enjoy a smooth experience. If the leak is confirmed, players will be able to claim TerraTech Worlds for 24 hours on the Epic Games Store. To secure the game, follow the same process as earlier - log into your Epic account, visit the Epic Games Store's Holiday Sale page, and click "Get" to add it to your library for good.

Please note that while TerraTech Worlds isn't available on the Epic Games Store yet, the game might launch on the aforementioned store the same day it's given away. While uncommon, this is not the first time something like this will happen - on August 13, 2020, Total War Saga: Troy was released exclusively on EGS and was available for free to claim for the first 24 hours. This precedent suggests that TerraTech Worlds could potentially debut on the Epic Games Store as a free title on December 21, 2024.

With Epic Games Store’s Holiday Sale continuing to deliver new titles, leaks like this help players know what to look forward to next. It doesn't matter if you're a fan of solely creative building mechanics, open-world survival games, or co-op adventures, TerraTech Worlds seems to have it all, and has a high chance of being another solid addition to this year’s free game lineup.