Guarding the Strait is released. Patch #8 / Version 1.0 (1705) adds the first free Skirmish mission in the new post-launch content phase. It is no longer just an October 1 target.
What is available now?
Save & Resume shipped in Patch #6. Guarding the Strait shipped in Patch #8: identify ships in the Strait of Gibraltar, distinguish hostile vessels from friendlies, and engage the hostiles before they pass through.
The current official release remains single-player. See the latest version for the announced build and fixes.
When is the next Skirmish mission?
The Patch #8 announcement says the next free mission is planned by the end of October 2026. No mission name or exact date is given. That is the developer's target; it is not another released mission.
What comes after the free Skirmish missions?
The October 1 roadmap announcement gives this order:
| Phase | Status on October 4, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Additional free Skirmish missions | Under way; Guarding the Strait is released |
| Free additional content | Planned after the Skirmish phase |
| Paid expansion | Planned after the free additional content |
| Free multiplayer | Planned after the paid expansion |
The later phases have no announced release windows. A phase on the roadmap does not make its features playable today.
Will multiplayer use one shared Nest?
For Heavy Turret Simulator, the developer FAQ describes each player commanding their own Nest on the same map. Planned modes include coordinating fire against shared targets and competing against other players.
A separate standalone co-op game would put several operators aboard one shared platform. The FAQ's late-2027 or early-2028 planning window belongs to that separate game, not the multiplayer update for Heavy Turret Simulator. See multiplayer status for the distinction.
What about consoles, VR and mobile?
The newer October 1 announcement says the team wants to bring IRON NEST to consoles, VR, and mobile, with discussions and preparations taking place. It explicitly withholds dates and release windows until plans are secured.
Use that newer statement when considering a purchase. Older FAQ wording about console ports arriving a few months after PC does not provide a current release window.
Sources
- Patch #8: New Skirmish Mission and Bug Fixes
- New Missions Are Coming to IRON NEST
- Developer FAQ
- Official Steam store
Checked October 4, 2026. Steam displays the two announcements as October 1; their feed timestamps fall on October 2 in China.