Core Keeper’s three major updates will build toward the Maw
Riders of the Underground is planned for later in 2026, while Trials of the Depths and Beyond the Breach remain undated.
Core Keeper is heading toward its next major chapter. The developers announced the Road to the Maw, a connected plan covering three major content updates that will gradually lead players toward whatever lies beyond Breaker’s Reach.
The team explained the plan in a new Steam announcement. The three updates were originally intended to arrive as one large release, but splitting the project should let players experience parts of it sooner instead of waiting for the entire package.
Update 1.3 brings new ways to travel underground
The first major stop is 1.3 – Riders of the Underground, which is planned for later in 2026. Travel and transportation will be at the center of the update, with the developers hinting at features that should make moving through the underground much more interesting. Their only tease was a playful “giddy up,” so players may have to wait a little longer before the full details arrive.
Transportation will not be the only addition. Update 1.3 will also bring a new sub-biome, weapons, more enemy variety, new pets, progression rebalancing, and a new legendary item. The mage and summoner playstyles are also due for improvements based on community feedback.
The roadmap marks a smaller 1.3.1 content update for late 2026. The team did not provide details about its contents, but it confirmed that minor updates will sit alongside the larger Road to the Maw releases.
Trials of the Depths will test experienced players
1.4 – Trials of the Depths will focus on challenge, depth, and mastery. The update is designed for players who have already pushed through Core Keeper’s existing content and want tougher tests waiting below the surface.
No release timing has been announced for 1.4, and the roadmap currently lists its accompanying 1.4.1 minor update as TBD. The developers did, however, make it clear that this chapter is aimed at players looking for a harder experience.
Beyond the Breach will reveal what comes next
The final major update is 1.5 – Beyond the Breach. It will add a new biome and reveal what lies beyond Breaker’s Reach, the mystery that the first two Road to the Maw updates will build toward.
The team describes 1.5 as the point where players will cross into something that has been sealed away. Its release date is also listed as TBD, so the next major destination is clear even though the timetable is not.
Core Keeper’s future will depend on player feedback
For now, the developers are focused on these three updates and have no concrete plans to announce beyond them. They also promised continued work on bug fixes, stability, and the overall smoothness of the game, so the roadmap will not be the only ongoing work behind the scenes.
The team is also continuing work on a Steam Workshop beta intended to improve mod support and the modding experience. More minor content updates are planned as well, beginning after 1.3, which means there should be plenty happening between the larger releases.
Core Keeper’s next stretch now has a clear direction: better movement in 1.3, harsher challenges in 1.4, and a new biome waiting beyond the breach in 1.5. Share your thoughts on the Road to the Maw in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, Telegram.
