Road to Vostok Targets Late December for Build 3 With Quests and Underground Shelters

Road to Vostok’s next major update is targeting the end of December 2026, with trader quests, a new map and dangerous underground shelters planned for Build 3. There is a potential catch for existing characters, though. Developer Antti Leinonen says changes to save files will probably require a full reset, although that decision is still to be confirmed. In July, Leinonen outlined Build 3’s focus on lore and progression, including trader questlines beginning with Generalist.

Build 3 follows the September launch of Build 2 and its Nomad faction. Leinonen now considers that build complete in its core goals after subsequent patches added content missing at launch. In his latest development update, he said he wants more testing and polish time for Build 3, along with better coordination of contractor work.

Trader quests and Graveyard

Build 3’s quest system will connect traders to the game’s lore and progression. Unlike the existing item-focused tasks, quests are planned as more action-based missions across multiple maps and factions. Each quest will have several objectives that can be completed in any order, with finished quests opening branches in a quest tree shown in the interface.

Players will start with Generalist. Leinonen expects around 4 or 5 trader questlines, with Doctor, Gunsmith, Driver and the new trader Grandma also in the plans. Hunter probably won’t receive quests in this build because his future questline is tied to wildlife.

Grandma will be found on Graveyard, a new Area 05 map centered on an abandoned elderly home. The map will also have a new shelter, though its details remain unannounced.

Questing will remain optional. Leinonen says players can continue treating Road to Vostok as a survival sandbox without entering Vostok’s permadeath zone. He also expects some quests to be difficult and is considering how to handle their risks in modes such as Ironman, where permadeath is always active.

One-time underground challenges

Build 3 will introduce Civil Defense Shelters as the game’s first dungeon-style challenges. Each is planned as a one-time underground instance with a high number of AI opponents. The objective is to clear the shelter and reconnect it to an emergency broadcast system.

The update is also planned to bring back the UI character preview and add a few weapons from the pool being made for Build 4.

Save slots and the longer road ahead

Multiple save slots are planned for Build 4 or Build 5, although that feature will also require a reset. Leinonen wants to introduce it alongside a build that already needs one rather than wipe saves solely for the extra slots.

Build 4’s weapon overhaul remains in development, with 11 of a target of roughly 50 custom weapons made, plus modified versions. Each weapon is planned to receive its own malfunction animations. Leinonen has not named a release window for that build because its schedule depends heavily on contractor timelines.

Further ahead, Leinonen plans a major change to the game world after in-game day 50 as part of his vision for the finished game. It won’t arrive in Build 3. Wildlife is planned for Build 5, with animals tied to crafting, trader quests and environmental events.

How do you feel about the planned quest structure and one-time shelter challenges? Follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, Telegram for more on Build 3 and its progression system.

Road to Vostok

Developed by Road to Vostok

Road to Vostok is a hardcore single-player survival game set in a post-apocalyptic border zone between Finland and Russia. Survive, loot, plan and prepare your way across the Border Zone and enter the Vostok.

• Genre Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Tactical, Adventure
• Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows)
• Perspective First person
• Modes Single player
• Release April 7, 2026
• Publisher Road to Vostok

Steam Explore Road to Vostok Official Site