Since the first tagged build, anyone with an account has been able to download Lantern Hollow for free and pull every update straight from the game. That was always meant to be a limited run, and we now have a date for the end of it.
On Monday 21 September 2026 the free alpha closes. From that day, Lantern Hollow is a paid alpha.
What changes on the 21st
- The download page locks for accounts that haven't bought the game.
- The game's built-in update check stops offering new builds to those accounts.
- The build you already have keeps working, but it stays on that version. New creatures, fixes and features only arrive if you own the game.
What doesn't change
- If you already own the game, nothing. Every alpha and beta build stays yours, along with a Steam key at launch.
- Your alpha key keeps working exactly as it does today.
- Bug reports, ideas and votes on the tracker stay open to everyone with an account.
Buy before the door closes
Alpha access is £4.99, and that price is locked for good the moment you buy. It rises to £7.99 when beta begins and £14.99 at launch, so the earlier you buy, the less you pay.
Thank you to everyone who has kept the fire lit through the free alpha. The bugs you sent in and the ideas you argued for shaped every build so far. Keep them coming.