Great news for fans of Don’t Starve, as a new mobile installment in the series titled Don’t Starve: Newhome, is in development. Such an announcement is long overdue since the game first released for PC in 2013. It has since had several major content updates, including making the jump from single player to multiplayer with Don’t Starve Together.

The game has been positively received with its new content over the years, making the jump to mobile in 2015 with Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition for both Apple and Android devices, with all content up to the Shipwrecked DLC. This mobile adaptation was well received, though it saw major modifications made to its control scheme to accommodate the switch between PC and touchscreen.

This new mobile-only installment looks fascinating for several reasons. First, the game should feel complete, but different relative to its PC predecessor as it will be made with only touchscreen controls in mind. Second, developer Klei has no part in the development of this new game. That will instead by handled entirely by Shengqu Games, with Tencent publishing. There will also be multiplayer offered with the goal of building permanent living structures and working to maintain personal progression. Finally, there will be a new, unique story, totally separate from the previous games and DLCs.

Likely, Newhome will launch as a free-to-play game with additional content and characters available for purchase through the in-game store. More than anything, we hope this structure only sells access to the game, and not to any pay-to-win or pay-to-advance mechanics, though the possibility for that exists considering that building is a key part of the first game. By adding building time requirements, and then selling ways to speed that up, the developers would be sure to destroy something that could potentially be amazing, so we hope that is not at all the case.

Fans of the first game can apply to beta test the early builds, and anyone in the US or Canada can click here to sign up, with testing expected to begin in July. Not only will players have the opportunity to try the game out before release, they will also be rewarded with in-game items that will carry over to the game at launch.

Source: Don’t Starve: Newhome

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