Guide
Permafrost Beginner Guide – Survive Your First Frozen Nights
New to Permafrost (永冻纪元)? This beginner guide covers the core loop, launch prep, first-hour routes, shelter networks and the dog companion.
Read guideWhat this guide covers
This is an unofficial guide hub for Permafrost, the 2026 ice-age survival game from SpaceRocket Games, published by Toplitz Productions (known in Chinese as 永冻纪元). It is not about the 2020 game-jam project of the same name or same-named items in other games. Every guide below focuses on the Early Access release that launched on October 9, 2026.
Guide
Permafrost Co-op Guide: 1-4 Player Sessions Explained
Permafrost co-op explained: solo or up to 4 players, session setup, team roles, and what is still UNVERIFIED about Early Access multiplayer.
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Permafrost Crafting Guide: Gear Priority for Early Access
Crafting priorities for Permafrost Early Access: why cold-weather gear comes first, how the gather-craft loop works, and what is still UNVERIFIED.
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Permafrost Dog Companion Guide: Warnings and Hauling
How to use your Permafrost dog: early danger warnings, finding resources, carrying gear, and human-dog tactics for Early Access.
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How to Stay Warm in Permafrost – Cold Survival Guide
Cold is the core threat in Permafrost (永冻纪元). Learn the temperature system, gear priorities, shelter network tactics and a pre-expedition checklist.
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Permafrost Resource Map: Day-One Scouting Guide
Day-one scouting strategy for Permafrost's frozen city ruins. Covers the confirmed resource loop, dog-assisted gathering, and what stays unverified until launch.
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Permafrost Shelter Building Guide – Build Your Network
Shelter networks are the core loop in Permafrost (永冻纪元). Learn placement strategy, upgrade priorities and how shelters keep you alive.
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Permafrost Mode Guide – Story vs Survival vs Custom
Story, Survival and Custom modes explained with a side-by-side comparison table and beginner recommendations, based on 30 hours of hands-on coverage.
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Permafrost Tips: A Launch-Day Survival Primer
Nine launch-day tips for Permafrost built only on confirmed facts. Playtest lessons, mode advice, co-op notes, and the official launch discount explained.
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Permafrost Troubleshooting: EA Launch-Day Fixes
Honest launch-day troubleshooting for Permafrost. Real file-verification steps for Steam, GOG, and Epic, generic PC fixes, and clearly marked unknowns.
Read guideFast facts
- Release: October 9, 2026. Steam Early Access unlocks at 12:00 UTC (20:00 CST). GOG and Epic Games Store are planned for the same day; their launch-day live status is UNVERIFIED as of October 9, 2026.
- Setting: 2035. A shattered moon has locked the planet in an eternal winter. You play Rook, an engineer searching for a missing friend named Icarus.
- Modes: Story, Survival and Custom. Story blends exploration and building with a narrative thread. Survival makes resources scarcer and conditions harsher. Custom lets you tune the experience.
- Co-op: Play solo or with up to 4 players.
- Companion: A dog travels with you. It can smell danger early, help locate resources and carry items.
- Early Access: Planned for at least 12 months. The developers say the price will likely rise before the 1.0 release.
- Launch offer: 17.5% launch discount reported from the official September Steam announcement, with 500,000+ wishlists ahead of release.
Frequently asked questions
When does Permafrost unlock?
Permafrost enters Early Access on October 9, 2026 at 12:00 UTC, which is 20:00 in Beijing time. The same date applies to Steam; GOG and the Epic Games Store are planned for the same day, with launch-day live status UNVERIFIED as of October 9, 2026.
How much does Permafrost cost?
The exact Early Access price has not been officially published as of October 9, 2026. A 17.5% launch discount was announced in September, and the developers have said the price will likely increase before the full 1.0 release.
Which mode should I start with?
Story mode is the guided entry point, with a tutorial structure around exploration and building. Survival mode is harsher and less forgiving. Custom mode lets you adjust the settings yourself. Our mode comparison guide breaks down the differences.
Is Permafrost single-player or multiplayer?
Both. You can play solo or team up with up to 4 players in co-op. See the co-op guide for how to set up a session.
What does the dog do?
Your dog companion can warn you of danger early through its sense of smell, help you find resources and carry items for you. Details are in the dog companion guide.
Permafrost launched into Early Access today. Exact numbers such as recipe costs, temperature thresholds and full map details are not published yet. Guides on this site mark unconfirmed details as UNVERIFIED and will be updated as hands-on data becomes available.
Sources
- Steam store page Early Access FAQ (official): release timing, EA duration, price outlook
- Official September 2026 Steam community announcement via gamebrief.net: 500,000+ wishlists, 17.5% launch discount
- SteamDB: unlock time 2026-10-09 12:00 UTC, Chinese localized name 永冻纪元 - Permafrost
- fixgamingchannel.com hands-on review (~30 hours): three modes (Story, Survival, Custom)
- "How It Started" story trailer (2026-09-28) via gamestic.nl / gamingshogun.com: Rook, Icarus, dog companion, 1–4 player co-op