Play the Demo for Dawn of Defense During Steam Next Fest Right Now Until Oct 26th!

Developer 6side Studio and publisher Rekoup have announced that RTS × Tower Defense roguelite Dawn of Defense will launch on Steam on November 17, 2026.

Ahead of release, players can experience a significantly expanded demo during Steam Next Fest, October 19–26, alongside a new trailer showcasing how battles grow beyond the defensive line.

In Dawn of Defense, defending is only half the battle. Players build towers and hold back relentless enemy waves while commanding warriors in real time, expanding their economy, capturing territory and assaulting enemy strongholds across the battlefield.

THE WAR JUST GOT BIGGER

The new Steam Next Fest demo significantly expands the scale of Dawn of Defense, introducing a much larger map with three enemy fortresses and a new objective that challenges players to build their economy and defenses, raise an army and push toward the first fortress.

Waiting there is the new Troll Rider boss, alongside new enemies, units and progression systems designed to open up more strategic options between and within each run.

The expanded demo introduces:

• A much larger battlefield featuring three enemy fortresses and a new objective to conquer the first
• Between-run progression, allowing players to unlock additional towers and upgrades for future attempts
• New threats including the Troll Rider boss, Banner Carriers and Elite enemies
• A new recruitable Hog-riding Pikeman, alongside expanded Runestone effects and greater build variety

DEFEND. EXPAND. STRIKE BACK.

• Every run forces players to balance defense with aggression.
• Build towers and rally troops to withstand increasingly dangerous waves, while venturing beyond the safety of your stronghold to capture territory and attack the Empire.
• Every island reclaimed expands your war economy, opening access to Wood, Stone, Iron and Food that can be invested into stronger defenses, a larger army or the next offensive.
• Ancient Runestones introduce powerful effects and upgrades that reshape each run, while progression between attempts unlocks new strategic options for the battles ahead.

PLAY DURING STEAM NEXT FEST

The expanded Dawn of Defense demo will be playable during Steam Next Fest from October 19–26, 2026.

Dawn of Defense launches on Steam on November 17, 2026.

Wishlist the game now on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2781660/Dawn_of_Defense/

About 6side Studio

6side Studio is a three-person independent game development team based in Germany. Dawn of Defense is the studio’s debut title.

About Rekoup

Rekoup is a Stockholm-based, studio-first publisher of premium PC and console games, helping independent studios fund, launch and grow their games under their own name. 

Article by: Susan N.