Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core Release Date

Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core is a roguelite spinoff from developer Ghost Ship Games, based on the studio’s hit space dwarf-fueled co-op shooter. DRG’s excellent foundation took time to build, its spinoff will follow a similar trajectory before launch, raising questions about its release date.

Rogue Core relies on Deep Rock Galactic’s existing world and gameplay mechanics but puts a different spin on them. Rather than dwarven miners, we play the role of reclaimers aiming to uncover what happened to valuable dig sites that suddenly went dark. Here is everything we know about Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core, including its release date, gameplay, and more.

Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core Release Date

Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core was announced while the title was in a very early stage of development. Like the game it’s based on, it will undergo open development before entering early access.

Developer Ghost Ship Games plans to host a closed alpha test for the spinoff in Q1 2025. If everything goes according to plan, Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core’s early access release is set for Q3 2025.

From there, the developer estimates that the title will spend 18 to 24 months in early access, receiving more content and addressing fan feedback.

Naturally, these plans can change, especially once players begin getting their hands on the game. It’s a good thing DRG will still receive content to keep us busy.

Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core Story

Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core’s story centers around discovering a new, incredibly valuable mineral called Expenite within the planet of Hoxxes IV.

Predictably, space mining company Deep Rock Galactic spares no thought before setting up covert mining operations to harvest the mineral.

Its mining sites are, located deeper inside the planet than the company has ever delved. Soon enough, they suddenly go dark.

That’s where we step in, donning the suits and boots of elite dwarven Reclaimers tasked with bringing the dig sites back online.

While we’re at it, we’ll also unravel the mystery of The Greyout, and make sure whatever led to the dig sites going offline never does so again.

Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core Gameplay

At the start of Rogue Core’s missions, we select our loadout, choosing our Phase Suit, active ability, and weapons.

We then board a drop pod that takes us to the edge of a lost dig site. Once we cross the Greyout Barrier surrounding it, the only way to return is by completing or failing the mission, which involves multiple procedurally-generated stages.

As we progress through these stages, caches of DRG equipment and weapons help us survive. We’ll also do some Expenite harvesting ourselves.

Depositing the mineral into our accompanying Processor Drone yields “a wide range of powerful temporary upgrades.”

The deeper we go, the more our power grows, but so does the danger.

Between missions, Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core has us hanging back on - the RV-09 Ramrod, a ship that allows us to research and permanently unlock new weapons, Phase Suits, and suit mods.

Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core supports between 1 and 4 players but is built with co-op in mind. Most importantly, despite us playing as reclaimers the “Rock and Stone” shouts aren’t going anywhere.