Burton-on-Trent, UK - 25 October 2024. Listen up, partner! It’s time to start a whole new wholesome adventure in the pixel-art prairie paradise of Cattle Country! Publisher Playtonic Friends and developer Castle Pixel are thrilled to release the first PC Open Beta demo via Steam and give budding digital ranchers the opportunity to play the anticipated cozy Wild West life-sim AND leave valuable feedback to help shape the game into a true Western classic!
Head over to the Cattle Country Steam page and download the Open Beta demo now! Also, here’s a friendly reminder that Cattle Country is still in early development, and this Beta will not represent the final scope or performance of the final product!
What can you expect from the Beta?
This Open Beta builds upon the Closed Beta that took place in August and features a hearty slice of what new settlers can expect from the full Cattle Country experience. We will be showing off some exciting new additions based on the community/Closed Beta feedback including prairie pets, expansions to the in-game mining features and tool upgrades as well as more exciting additions we will reveal in the Open Beta!
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At the start, you will be able to create your character, manage a pre-built ranch, interact with local characters, and explore some of the early features!
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Start by customising your character, your pronouns, naming your ranch, and meeting Mayor Archibald who will welcome you to the town. To save a little time, the Mayor has set up a small, simple ranch to get you started! Here, you can engage in an optional tutorial to get a lay of the land or jump straight in!
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Mayor Archibald will then stay near your ranch, ready to whisk you away to the Town Square or the Mines if you want to fast travel. However, if you would prefer to explore on foot, signposts will be dotted about to help you on your way!
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You'll also be able to interact with and befriend a small handful of the lively characters planned for the full game, who will have a variety of quests for you to potentially help with!
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These lovely folk are known as the Welcoming Committee, with Carl, the bank teller, Sassy, the outdoor expert, John the blacksmith, and Carrie, who owns the saloon (which, rumours have it, might be haunted!!) all ready to guide you on your adventure!
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Ready to get your hands dirty? Then it's time to dig deep and explore the mines, try out your fishing skills, craft items, decorate your homestead and more!
This Open Beta is a chance to provide your feedback on your Cattle Country experience. You'll receive a feedback form, and be able to discuss your thoughts via our Steam Community!
Check out the new Open Beta gameplay trailer here
Watch the previously released short gameplay showcase trailer here
In case you missed it, check out the original announcement trailer here
About Cattle Country
Here is a taste of some of the wild adventures awaiting you as you become part of this small community of settlers, and part of a story that’s as old as these hills. Welcome to Cattle Country.
Ranchin' and Handcraftin’ - Making your home on the range is a modern departure. From sunup to sundown, you'll be rollin' up your sleeves and gettin' your hands dirty working the land and raising your cattle. Building and crafting as you go to make your own little slice of heaven under the blue skies of Cattle Country.
Swappin' stories and settlin' in with your neighbours - Get to know the townsfolk, hear their stories, help them out. The people here are a hardy bunch - you’ve got be to survive here. But they have hearts as warm as a hearth in the wintertime if you make the effort to stoke the flames.
Beware of Bandits - Not everyone in Cattle Country is the warm and fuzzy type, so watch out for nefarious plots and shady characters. Protect your homestead and your community.
Rodeos to Romance - Making friends is a must in the Wilderness, relying on each other through thick and thin. But maybe you've got a yearnin' for more? With 18 romanceable characters, take a chance and grab love by the reigns.
Buried Treasure - Did yer hear? There's treasure in the mines, for those who are brave enough to look for it. From precious metals and minerals to bandit stashes. Grab your pickaxe and venture out into the thrill of prospecting.
Trackin' game in the wild - From bunnies to bovine, there's many a critter waiting in the woodlands for a keen adventurer. Hunting to eat or venturing out just to see all of nature’s wonders, it’s your call.
Cattle Country is developed by Castle Pixel and published by Playtonic Friends and will be released on PC via Steam. Budding buckaroos can download the Cattle Country PC Open Beta and add to their Steam Wishlist now.
Follow Cattle Country’s development journey on the Playtonic Friends on social media channels Facebook / YouTube / Instagram / Website / Discord / X / TikTok
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About Playtonic Friends
The studio that brought you Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Playtonic launched their publishing arm, Playtonic Friends to be a helping hand to indie developers around the world. Established in February 2021 Playtonic Friends has helped bring incredible titles such as B.P.M, Demon Turf, Blossom Tales 2 and Lil Gator Game to wider audiences.
About Castle Pixel
Castle Pixel are a small creative indie dev team based in the US and Canada. They are devoted to making big new adventures inspired by the classics they grew up with! Get ready for a new experience from the team that brought you Blossom Tales and Rex Rocket.