Get Heart of the Machine at 35% Off
Hooded Horse and Arcen Games have announced Update 18 for Heart of the Machine, the unique strategy RPG that continues to evolve at a rapid pace. With 17 major updates rolled out over the past five months, this latest update introduces “Pressure Points”. It is a brand-new system that adds more depth and flexibility to the game’s strategic layers.
Pressure Points are optional actions players can take to influence the world around them. These can assist long-term goals or provide short-term advantages, all without disrupting the main storyline. This update includes fourteen Pressure Points, with more planned for the future. Some are repeatable, while others are triggered by specific in-game situations. They’ll be available from Chapter 1 and open up alternate ways to solve early-game challenges.
Possible outcomes include disrupting black market activity, altering legal decisions, breeding bee queens or giant spiders, redirecting supply chains, or taking advantage of financial glitches within criminal syndicates.
Looking ahead, the next update will add a horror-themed side story, followed by a new Tier 2 goal by the end of June. Updates will also continue work on the fan-favorite “Uplifting Raptors” side quest. Previous patches have brought narrative improvements, an overhauled prologue, timeline options, and various quality-of-life upgrades.
Heart of the Machine remains in Early Access on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store, priced at $29.99 / £24.99 / €29.99 / ¥3,980. A 35% discount, the game’s lowest price yet, runs through July 10.