FIELD NOTE 01

Current Steam status

The official store showed a planned Aug 25 release and the explicit message that the game was not yet available. The page offered wishlisting and the demo rather than a full-game purchase.

The machine-readable AppDetails request timed out during the development-start check. Source failure was recorded and did not override the storefront's clear pre-release signal.

Official Sludgineers key art.
Official Sludgineers press-kit media · documented in the site manifest

FIELD NOTE 02

How the release gate works

PRE_RELEASE is used while Steam reports coming soon or unavailable. LIVE requires the app to be unlocked and an official availability or purchase signal. Missing or conflicting evidence becomes UNKNOWN.

The gate runs at development start, content freeze, immediately before deployment and immediately after deployment.

  • PRE_RELEASE: Wishlist on Steam and Play the Demo
  • LIVE: Full Release · Live and Get on Steam
  • UNKNOWN: neutral status; never promoted automatically

FIELD NOTE 03

What changes after unlock

Release wording updates centrally first. Then current upgrade, refinery, resource, area, quest, achievement and issue evidence can deepen existing guides.

Reserved routes are promoted one at a time only when current evidence and real utility reach the 8/10 gate.

EVIDENCE LOG

Sources