Let’s start with a bit of bureaucracy before we dive into the good stuff.
😅 The Bureaucratic Maze
Despite our best efforts, the endless loops of paperwork, signatures, and government portals have delayed the Feasibility Grant. Unfortunately, we missed the current window, but we’re not giving up. We’re already preparing everything for the next grant window, determined to cross every “t” and dot every “i” so nothing stands in our way next time.
And what does this mean for the games?
Absolutely nothing changes in our publishing roadmap. We’re still on track to have everything ready by Q4 2026 for Kickstarter, art complete, files print-ready, and our promise intact: no endless waiting for backers.
This shift in focus only made our vision sharper.
Instead of splitting our energy between two major projects, we’re now channelling all our creative and development power into Steam Cities, while Equestrian continues quietly evolving in the background, getting ready for its own moment to shine later on.
🎉 Gaelcon 37 Highlights
We had an absolute blast at Gaelcon 37 in Dublin! The tables were packed, the laughter was loud, and the feedback was incredible. Every playtest brought new insights and fresh energy — proof that our community truly feels these games the way we hoped they would.
⚙ Steam Cities Updates
The gears keep turning stronger than ever:
- 🔩 All focus increased on Steam Cities development
- 🎲 Reached the 70 playtests milestone
- ⚖ Rebalanced city costs and upgrade paths
- 🔧 Improved resource management and economy flow
- 📜 Refined rules and tightened gameplay for smoother strategy and interaction
🐎 Equestrian Updates
Even with the spotlight on Steam Cities, Equestrian continues to gallop forward in the background:
- 🐴 Surpassed the 50 playtests milestone
- ⏳ Reduced development focus for now, but design improvements continue quietly
- 📚 Early publishing groundwork is underway — and to hear about it first, make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter!
💌 Stay Connected — and Get the Goodies
We’re working hard on creating two new ways for people who believe in these games to support us:
1️⃣ Patrons – supporters who want to help the company grow and bring these worlds to life.
2️⃣ Strategic Allies & Investors – partners who believe in the long-term vision and want to help us scale faster.
Both groups will enjoy exclusive Founder benefits in upcoming Kickstarter campaigns — and yes, early supporters will get some special goodies when Steam Cities launches.
So if you love surprises (and shiny rewards), make sure your name and email are on our newsletter list!
🏪 Two Stores, More Options
To make it easier (and cheaper) for our supporters around the world, we’ve decided to split our online store into two.
Because postage costs vary wildly between regions, some merchandise may not be available in one store but can be found in the other, sometimes even at a better total price depending on your location.
So before you check out, take a quick look at both stores and see which one gives you the best deal on shipping. It’s our way of keeping things fair, transparent, and as accessible as possible for our growing global community.
💡 Submit Your Game Idea
We’re opening the gates for creators, designers, and dreamers!
If you have a board game idea that fits the Seven Castles spirit — clever mechanics, strong theme, and a touch of magic — we want to hear from you.
You can now submit your game concept directly to our team for review. Whether it’s a rough idea, a prototype, or a polished design, we’d love to see it.
Together, we can help more ideas become playable worlds.
⚔ A Sneak Peek: Steam Cities Duel
We might have an early surprise coming soon… Steam Cities Duel — a fierce faceoff where two steampunk cities go head-to-head in a knockout battle of gears, cannons, and strategy. Expect chaos, smoke, and spectacle — more news soon!
❤️ Final Words
Even when bureaucracy slows the paperwork, the dream never stops turning. We’re pushing forward, refining every detail, and preparing to make our first Kickstarter campaign something truly special.
Thank you for playing, testing, supporting, and believing. The cities are rising — and this is just the beginning.
— The Seven Castles Games Team
🌐 sevencastles.games
🛍 Support us in our online store!
🎮 Join our community on Discord for playtests, updates, and more.
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