By Ethan Wilson | Sep 03, 2026
Legends of Starkadia comes from developer Doom Turtle, a studio best known for its action rogue-lite title Ember Knights, which was originally released back in 2023. Both of the studio's games have earned strong reception on Steam, which makes it somewhat surprising that its newest release is currently being offered as a free download.
Free Access Ends as the Game Shifts to Paid
According to an announcement posted directly on Steam, Doom Turtle confirmed that Legends of Starkadia will officially transition to a paid model on September 14, 2026, after which the game will cost $1.99 to purchase. The developer explained that this change comes as the studio plans to pause further development on the game, and the shift to a paid model is being used partly as a way to gauge whether there's enough continued interest to justify expanding it further down the line.
Doom Turtle has described the current version of Legends of Starkadia as effectively "Chapter 1" of the turn-based RPG, suggesting the story and gameplay systems are meant to be viewed as an opening chapter rather than a fully finished experience. For players interested in checking it out, claiming the game before the September 14 deadline ensures free, permanent access regardless of what happens with future development or pricing changes.
