PC
Steam and Epic Games Store, plus the Microsoft Store with Xbox Play Anywhere. Free demo on Steam right now.
PlayStation 5
Digital and physical editions. Pre-orders run about 10% off (PS Plus members stack a little more).
Xbox Series X|S
Series X|S optimized, spatial sound, keyboard & mouse support, cloud saves — and Play Anywhere covers the PC copy.
The date comes straight from Nacon's launch announcement, and the run-up has been unusually public: the game headlined Steam Next Fest in June 2026, and its free demo is still live on Steam — not a weekend teaser, but roughly the opening hours of the full expedition loop, patched twice since the fest. If you want the launch-day head start, the demo guide covers what carries over and what ACE Team is changing for release.
What changes at launch
ACE Team has confirmed three launch-window changes worth knowing before you judge the demo: the Weapon Upgrade Anvil (token-based upgrades, now shipped in the launch update), a weapon blocking system (still in development), and the removal of the mandatory end-of-mission timer (now shipped — you can stay on the mainland as long as you survive). See the patch notes for the full launch changelog. Numbers across this wiki — weapon prices, enemy HP, contract rewards — are demo-measured and get re-verified on day one.
Physical edition: August 6
One late change to plan around: Nacon announced the boxed (disc) editions slipped to August 6, 2026 due to logistics issues. The digital release on all platforms is unaffected — July 15 stands. If you pre-ordered physical for the swords pack voucher, the two-week early adopters window still covers you.
No other platforms — for now
There is no announced Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 or last-gen (PS4/Xbox One) version, and no Game Pass announcement. The PC release targets DirectX 12 with an NVIDIA technology partnership; the minimum spec is a GTX 1660 SUPER class card and 16 GB of RAM.
Platform-by-platform: PS5 · Xbox Series X|S · Game Pass status · Switch · Steam Deck · system requirements · crossplay & co-op.
Release questions
What time does The Mound release on July 15?
1:00 AM Pacific / 4:00 AM Eastern on July 15 — a single global unlock, which works out to 9:00 AM in the UK and 10:00 AM central Europe.
Can I preload The Mound?
On Steam, no — pre-orders never opened there, so there's nothing to preload; you buy and download at the 1:00 AM PT unlock (Steam lists 23 GB of required space). On PS5/Xbox, pre-orders exist and consoles typically allow preload shortly before launch — no official preload timing has been announced.
Was there a beta?
Yes — a closed beta ran June 5–8 alongside pre-order opening, followed by the public Steam Next Fest demo that's still available now.
Is there a pre-order bonus?
Yes — the Lost Explorers' Swords Pack (two sword cosmetics), which Nacon extended to ALL buyers in the first two weeks after launch (manual claim from the store page). Consoles also run roughly 10% pre-order discounts: $26.99 standard, $35.99 Deluxe.
When does the physical edition come out?
August 6, 2026 — the boxed editions slipped three weeks for logistics reasons (Nacon's announcement). The digital release stays July 15 on all platforms.
Is The Mound coming to Game Pass?
There has been no Game Pass announcement. It released as a paid title on all three platforms.
Can I play The Mound right now?
Yes — the full game is out (launched July 15) at $23.99 with the 20% launch discount. Steam opened at a Mixed rating; our launch verdict breaks down what's great and what needs patches.