Take a Closer Look at 1666: Amsterdam
Panache Digital Games has released a new 30-minute documentary titled The Road to Early Access, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the development of 1666: Amsterdam and the long journey leading to its Early Access launch on August 25, 2026.
The documentary follows Creative Director Patrice Désilets, from his early days at Ubisoft to the founding of Panache Digital Games and the team’s efforts to bring the ambitious project to life. Featuring developer interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, it explores the challenges, key decisions, and people who helped shape the game over the years. The documentary is presented in French, with English subtitles available.
The film also revisits the studio’s earlier work on Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey before returning to the development of 1666: Amsterdam and explaining how the project found its way back into production. Viewers get a closer look at the team’s experiences during lockdown, intense development sprints, and preparations for the game’s public reveal.
The documentary also highlights some of the team’s biggest moments in 2026, including a trip to Amsterdam, appearances at Summer Game Fest and Gamescom, and the final preparations for Early Access. Along the way, developers discuss their ambitions for the game, the concerns they faced before launch, and what they hope to accomplish next.
For those interested in the creative process behind game development, The Road to Early Access offers a more personal look at the people and persistence behind the project.
Meanwhile, 1666: Amsterdam is already available in Early Access on PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store. Players can now experience the game for themselves and see how this long-running project continues to evolve.