From Press Release:
BORDEAUX, France – July 2, 2026 – Northgard Battlegrounds, the city-building auto-battler set in the Viking world of Northgard, which sold more than 5 million units, will launch an Open Beta from Thursday, July 9 to Wednesday, July 15 as a part of Steam Tacticon. Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor developer Funday Games joins forces with publisher Shiro Unlimited — the creators of the original Northgard — to create a fresh twist on waging war.
Check out the never-before-seen gameplay presentation here.
Rise from the ruins of Ragnarök in a unique blend of Northgard’s strategic settlement-building and tactical auto-battler combat. Choose from iconic Viking clans, each offering distinct traits, abilities, and playstyles, then establish a thriving settlement, gather vital resources, and assemble a powerful warband capable of crushing rival clans.
Every decision shapes the outcome of battle. Carefully manage resources, strategically position buildings to unlock powerful synergies, then watch your warriors clash in dynamic automated battles. Earn Krowns after every victory to expand your settlement, recruit new villagers, and strengthen your economy. Spend Lore to earn the favor of the Norse Gods, unlocking game-changing blessings that can dramatically alter each run.
Test your strategies against battle-hardened opponents in competitive asynchronous PvP battles that combine accessibility with meaningful strategic depth. Experiment with new builds, adapt your tactics with every run, and lead your clan to victory in a highly replayable experience where no two runs unfold the same way.
“Exploring the auto-battler genre has allowed us and Funday Games to create an experience that both preserves and expands upon Northgard’s strategic depth and core gameplay,“ said Nicolas Cannasse, co-founder of Shiro Games. “Join the frey and claim the favor of the Gods next week during Tacticon.”
Northgard Battlegrounds launches an Open Beta on Steam from Thursday, July 9 to Wednesday, July 15. The game will launch on PC in Early Access via Steam in 2026. For more information, wishlist the game on Steam, visit the official Subreddit, and follow on X, Bluesky, Facebook, and Discord.
About Shiro Unlimited
Shiro Unlimited is the publishing label of Shiro Games, built on over 12 years of experience developing and publishing successful indie titles. Shiro Unlimited curates and supports projects aligned with the studio’s creative vision, while empowering developers to focus on what matters most: making the best games possible.
For more information on Shiro Unlimited, please visit the official website.
About Funday Games
Funday Games was founded in 2011 in Aarhus, Denmark, and today employs more than 50 talents.
Best known for developing Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, which has surpassed more than 3 million players since launching in 2024, the studio specializes in creating spin-off games based on evergreen indie IPs across all platforms.
Simultaneously, Funday Games also creates and publishes its own original IPs.
