Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core free on Steam until 16 November

Free trial weekend on Steam

The offer runs alongside a 50% discount that cuts the regular price to roughly $15. SteamDB data indicates the game has not been sold at a lower price before.

The trial gives players who have not yet tried the Early Access shooter a chance to judge the changes made since its rocky launch in May 2026. Notebookcheck notes that deal prices can change and may be limited in time or stock.

How the game plays

Rogue Core sends teams of up to four dwarves, or solo players, into dark mines to fight aliens, gather equipment and escape alive. The caves are procedurally generated, meaning each run lays out new tunnels, and players descend one level at a time.

There are five classes to pick from, each with its own role. The Guardian shields the team, while the Slicer cuts through enemies with an energy blade. Compared with the main Deep Rock Galactic game, the spin-off leans more towards combat and fast-paced action.

A timer runs on every level, so teams must weigh whether a detour for extra loot is worth the risk of running out of time.

Why the launch was rocky

The game entered Early Access, a paid preview phase where players can buy and play a title while it is still in development, in May 2026. Early feedback was mixed. Notebookcheck reports that many players found the constant time pressure stressful and felt it left little room for exploration.

Shared upgrade choices also drew criticism, because pausing to pick upgrades together broke the flow of a mission, and the options on offer were not always appealing.

Improvements since launch

Ghost Ship Games has responded with several changes. Timers and difficulty can now be adjusted, ammunition is more plentiful, and players can reroll upgrades they do not want.

The reception has improved as a result. Only 61 percent of the roughly 15,000 total Steam reviews are positive, but the most recent batch of about 350 reviews reaches at least 71 percent, according to Notebookcheck.

What it means for players

The free weekend is a low-risk way to see whether the fixes address the launch complaints. Anyone who enjoys it can buy the game at the discounted price of around $15 while the offer lasts.

As with any limited promotion, the discount and trial window may end without notice, so interested players should check the Steam page for current terms.