Ground Branch release date: V1.0 launched July 16, 2026 after 8 years of Early Access. Full EA timeline, platforms, price, and the 2026–2027 update roadmap.
Ground Branch Release Date: V1.0, the 8-Year Early Access Timeline & What's Next
Ground Branch officially released on July 16, 2026, when V1.0 ended roughly eight years of Steam Early Access (which began August 14, 2018). It's the single most significant date in the game's history — the point where the tactical realism FPS from BlackFoot Studios and MicroProse stopped being "V1036" and became version 1.0. This guide gives you the exact release date and launch details, the full timeline from the 2007 announcement to the 1.0 milestone, the platforms and price, and what the developers have committed to for 2026–2027.
Here's what you'll learn:
- The exact V1.0 release date, launch window and first-week discount
- The complete Early Access timeline: 2018 launch, key V103x milestones, and the road to 1.0
- The origin story: the 2007 announcement and the failed 2012 Kickstarter
- Platforms and price — Windows-only, $29.99, no microtransactions
- The official 2026–2027 roadmap: three campaign chapters, the Multiplayer Update and the Mod Kit
Official resources: Steam store page · Official press release — "GROUND BRANCH Exits Early Access on July 16, 2026" · Intel Report #032 — roadmap · Official FAQ · IGN game page · Rock Paper Shotgun coverage
Ground Branch 1.0 Release Date: July 16, 2026
Ground Branch V1.0 launched on Thursday, July 16, 2026 on Steam — the date confirmed across the Steam store page, the official press release, and the developers' own announcement. The date was set publicly about two weeks earlier, on June 30, 2026, when BlackFoot Studios and MicroProse announced the release window in a dev blog and an official press release titled "GROUND BRANCH Exits Early Access on July 16, 2026."
A note on dates you might see elsewhere: some outlets reported the release as July 17 because of time zones — Steam's release time (usually late afternoon Pacific) lands on the 17th for players in East Asia and Oceania. The official date is July 16 (Steam store, SteamDB and the press release all agree).
What the launch build included, straight from the official V1.0 release notes (Build Update #064):
- Operations campaign Prologue — two voiced missions (01. Onyx Flame and 02. Gilded Arrow) in Northwest Pakistan
- Extraction mode — hostage rescue with captor morale; the hostage is executed if it bottoms out
- Enemy AI rework — AI aim at visible body parts, take cover when wounded, and lose morale when allies die
- Armor system — plate carriers and soft armor with real plate-coverage logic
- Door interaction & breaching system — locked doors, ballistic entry, breaching charges (a CQB game-changer)
- Maps — new Outpost and Border, ground-up remakes of Airbase and Hospital, overhaul of Creek
- New weapons (including the M500, AK-74, RPK), motion-capture locomotion, selectable moon phases
Per the official MicroProse press release: "Version 1.0 doesn't close the book — it opens the next chapter."
The launch ran with a one-week 20% discount off the $29.99 price, and three hotfixes followed within two weeks (Builds #065–#067), fixing the install size (from ~100 GB down to ~39.4 GB), a DX12 crash, and VOIP issues — the full list is in our Ground Branch updates guide.
If you see "July 17, 2026" listed anywhere, it's the time-zone version of the same release — Steam's unlock time lands on the 17th for players in Korea, Japan and Australia. Steam's official release date is July 16.
The Early Access Timeline: 2018 to 2026
The eight-year Early Access run is the reason "Ground Branch release date" has been a question for so long. The milestones, in order:
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| August 14, 2018 | Steam Early Access launch (the V1036-era builds begin with Build Update #001) |
| ~2019–2020 | The Farm training base replaces the original Training area (V1031) |
| 2021 | MicroProse becomes publisher (May 2021); a 15% Steam promo marks the deal |
| 2023–2024 | V1033 overhaul (graphics, audio, weapons, CQB training grounds); V1034 adds DLSS, DX11/DX12 and the first Operations demo |
| 2024 | MicroProse acquires the IP; official Mod Kit announced (September 2024) |
| 2025–2026 | V1035 adds friendly AI; V1035.2 refinements; Intel Reports #028–#032 document the road to 1.0 |
| July 16, 2026 | V1.0 — Early Access ends, the "V1036" label is retired |
The version numbering is worth knowing: for most of Early Access the game used internal build numbers (V1031, V1033, V1034, V1035, V1035.2), and the final EA state was labeled V1036 — which the developers explicitly said V1.0 replaces: "V1.0 officially replaces the 'V1036' label," per Intel Report #032.
EA ran from August 14, 2018 to July 16, 2026 — 7 years and 11 months, almost exactly eight years. Counted from the original 2007 announcement, the project is nearly two decades old, which is why its history is a story of its own.
Before Early Access: The 2007–2018 Origin Story
Ground Branch's development history goes back well before Steam. The game was announced in 2007 by BlackFoot Studios, the independent studio founded by John Sonedecker — a lead artist on the original Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon at Red Storm Entertainment. Rock Paper Shotgun's own reporting notes the project "has been in development in one form or another since 2007."
The pivotal early moment was a Kickstarter campaign in 2012 that sought $425,000 for a UE3-based tactical shooter. The campaign fell short — reaching roughly a quarter of its goal — and the project was effectively shelved, with Sonedecker and co-founder Kris Redbeard (Graham) continuing to work on it as a side project. That failure is what RPS calls the project's near-death moment: "a failed Kickstarter led to the end of Ground Branch 2012. However, the concept remained." The community it built during that campaign is what kept the game alive through the quiet years, and it's why the 2018 Early Access launch had an audience waiting.
Platforms & Price at Release
- Platform: Windows only (Steam). The Steam API lists macOS and Linux as unsupported, and the official FAQ states the team "cannot commit to anything beyond Windows PC" for now. There is no console version announced.
- Price: $29.99, with a one-week 20% launch discount. No microtransactions, no loot boxes — every weapon and attachment is available from the start.
- DRM: The Steam install can be launched DRM-free via the shipping executable, though network play requires Steam (per PCGamingWiki).
- Performance expectations: The V1.0 requirements rose substantially over Early Access — minimum i5-9400F / 16 GB RAM / GTX 1060, recommended i5-12600K / 32 GB / RTX 4070, 40 GB storage (community installs measured ~100 GB before Hotfix #065 cut it to ~39.4 GB). Check the system requirements guide before you buy.
If you're deciding whether the game is worth picking up at 1.0, our review & price guide breaks down the 84%-positive review standing and the launch-window criticisms honestly.
What Comes After 1.0: The 2026–2027 Roadmap
V1.0 was explicitly positioned as the foundation, not the finish line. The official roadmap (from Intel Report #032):
- V1.1.0 – V1.1.2: three campaign chapters. Each chapter adds a new hotspot and 3–4 missions, plus Ready Room improvements. Friendly AI teammates arrive in Chapter 1 (V1.1.0) — at 1.0 launch, the Prologue is solo (Lone Wolf) or human co-op only.
- V1.2.0: the Multiplayer Update. New game modes, new gear, map improvements and further systems enhancements. The Mod Kit is frozen until this release, then updated alongside it.
- Mod Kit. Full mod support arrives after the Multiplayer Update, unlocking custom modes and missions — the mods guide covers the current Workshop and UE4 modding state.
As of mid-August 2026, three post-launch hotfixes (#065–#067) are live, and the next big update is V1.1.0 — the first campaign chapter with friendly AI. For a running changelog and patch-by-patch detail, see the updates guide; for the co-op and server side of the game, the multiplayer guide has player counts and hosting details.
The 20% launch discount is gone, but nothing about the game is time-limited — there are no seasons, battle passes or FOMO content, and every weapon is unlocked from the start. If you're on the fence, the Steam version has a two-hour refund window to test whether the deliberate pacing is for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Ground Branch 1.0 release?
July 16, 2026, on Steam — the date confirmed by the Steam store page, SteamDB and the official press release. Players in East Asia/Oceania see the unlock as July 17 due to time zones.
When did Ground Branch leave Early Access?
It left Early Access with V1.0 on July 16, 2026. The Early Access phase ran from August 14, 2018, and the final Early Access build was labeled V1036.
How long was Ground Branch in Early Access?
Almost exactly eight years — from August 14, 2018 to July 16, 2026 (7 years and 11 months). Counted from the original 2007 announcement, the project is nearly 19 years old.
Is Ground Branch on console?
No. Ground Branch is Windows PC only, via Steam. No console, macOS or Linux version is announced; the official FAQ says the team can't commit beyond Windows for now.
What is the next Ground Branch update?
V1.1.0, the first campaign chapter with friendly AI, is next on the official roadmap (after the three V1.0 hotfixes #065–#067). It's the first of three chapters (V1.1.0–V1.1.2), followed by the V1.2.0 Multiplayer Update and the Mod Kit.
Was Ground Branch delayed?
Repeatedly, in a sense — it spent eight years in Early Access and its 2012 Kickstarter failed before the game even reached Steam. But the V1.0 date announced on June 30, 2026 was met exactly: July 16, 2026.
Related Guides
- Ground Branch Wiki: Complete Game Overview, Modes & 1.0
- Ground Branch Updates — V1.0, Hotfixes & 2026 Roadmap
- Ground Branch Review, Price & Is It Worth It (2026)
- Ground Branch System Requirements: Minimum & Recommended PC Specs
- Ground Branch Missions & Modes: Operations, PvE and PvP
- Ground Branch Multiplayer Guide: Co-op, PvP & Dedicated Servers
Last updated: August 14, 2026.
More GROUND BRANCH Guides
Ground Branch loadout guide: the loadout system, armor plates vs soft armor, encumbrance and weight, plus the best loadouts for every mission type in V1.0.
Ground Branch missions and modes: the Operations campaign Prologue, PvE quick missions, PvP modes, training areas, every map, and server mission setup.
Ground Branch has official mod support: Steam Workshop, the UE4 Mod Kit SDK, and hundreds of mods — weapons, missions, game modes. Install steps + top mods.
Ground Branch multiplayer guide: co-op and PvP modes, 16-player servers, the Ready Room, VOIP, server browser, hosting and dedicated servers with ports.
How GROUND BRANCH multiplayer works: 16-player servers, 8-player co-op, server browser (no matchmaking), joining friends, ping, and crossplay.
Ground Branch realism mechanics: no minimap, no HUD ammo, muzzle-origin ballistics, zeroing, limb damage, first aid, weapon positions and arm strength.
Honest GROUND BRANCH review after V1.0: all-time Steam rating Very Positive (~84%), recent reviews Mostly Negative. Pros, cons, price, verdict.
GROUND BRANCH squad tactics for co-op and PvP: fireteam roles, movement formations, sectors of fire (AOR), comms discipline and contact drills that win rounds.