- A new extraction of volcanic disaster survival and rescue presented by the developers of ‘Invincible’
- Participating in the Steam PvE Survival Craft Festival… Playtest runs until September 7.
Starward Industries, a developer based in Krakow, Poland, has released a new trailer for its upcoming disaster extraction survival game ‘Into the Fire’ and started a new round of the Steam playtest.
This playtest is being conducted as part of the Steam ‘PvE Survival Craft Festival’. Until September 7, players can dive directly into the disaster zone devastated by a volcanic disaster to experience the game and leave feedback.
Starward Industries is the studio that developed the critically acclaimed story-driven sci-fi adventure ‘The Invincible’. ‘Into the Fire’ is currently being developed for PC (Steam) and is scheduled for a full release via Steam Early Access.
Save as many lives as possible, not the greatest trophy.
‘Into the Fire’ was first revealed under the working title ‘Dante’s Ring’. Set in ‘Dante’s Archipelago’, which was destroyed by an unidentified volcanic disaster, it combines the tension and unpredictability characteristic of the extraction genre with survival, base development, crafting, exploration, and rescue missions.
The core objective of the game is not to compete with other players for the best loot, but to save as many lives as possible.
Players must deploy to the disaster zone, search for survivors and animals, secure necessary resources, and return to the camp before the disaster blocks the escape route. Every life saved impacts the settlement’s development and future.
This latest playtest includes an animal rescue system, new gadgets and weapons, and lore-based quests that allow you to learn the island’s history and secrets.
The ever-changing volcanic events also heighten the tension of the gameplay. When deployed on time-limited rescue missions, lava flows, ash storms, and pyroclastic flows alter movement paths, hazards, and new opportunities with every expedition. Amidst unpredictable disasters, players must make choices between exploration and rescue, and survival and escape.
The equipment is also unique. You can extinguish fires and break through disaster zones using retro rescue gear such as fire extinguisher shotguns, fire extinguisher pistols, pressure bombs, fire hoses, and earthquake detection tools. Meanwhile, throughout the volcanic island, unidentified entities born of fire stand in the player’s way.
A disaster narrative of a volcanic island where science and myth intertwine
‘Into the Fire’ depicts a mysterious world where island legends, anomalies, and supernatural beings are intertwined amidst the threat of an active volcano that could erupt at any moment.
The released trailer reveals ever-changing flames, fire spirits, and an environment that transforms organically in response to the intensifying catastrophe. In particular, the variable environment of the volcanic island, which can change at any moment, is expected to serve as a key factor threatening the player’s survival in itself.
Starward Industries received critical acclaim for its previous work, *Invincible*, for its novel-like narrative, impressive visuals, and atmospheric world. Given its strengths in bold themes and unique art direction, it appears the company is focusing on capturing both the oppressive pressure of disaster and narrative depth in *Into the Fire*.
Krakow Studio, home to veterans of ‘The Witcher 3’ and ‘Dying Light’
Starward Industries is an indie game development studio based in Krakow, Poland. The team consists of developers with experience developing various AAA games, including ‘The Witcher 3’, ‘Dying Light’, and ‘Layers of Fear 2’.
The studio focuses on creating atmospheric game experiences based on bold themes and unique art direction, and has demonstrated this direction to the world through its debut title, ‘Invincible’.
Michał Obłoj, Marketing and Business Development Manager at Starward Industries, stated that this playtest will be an opportunity to more broadly showcase the systems that differentiate ‘Into the Fire’ and to develop them together with the players.
He explained that in this test, they expanded the rescue experience to include animals, added new gadgets and weapons, and introduced quests that reveal the island’s story. He added that he hopes every expedition feels like a dangerous yet meaningful experience, emphasizing that what matters is not what you bring back, but who you can save.
Amidst intense anticipation, there are also mixed voices regarding expectations for the genre.
‘Into the Fire’ has been receiving continuous attention from overseas media and communities since its first playtest in April 2026.
The gaming media outlet Fix Gaming Channel evaluated that the volcano survival theme makes the entire island feel like another enemy. They noted that fire, volcanic ash, lava, destroyed pathways, bizarre anomalies, and rescue operations all pressure the player at once, creating a unique identity that differentiates it from other extraction games.
The media outlet even remarked that it was a shame the industry as a whole wasn’t talking more passionately about this title. Several international media outlets, including RPGamer and TheSixthAxis, also gave significant coverage to the new trailer and playtest news.
However, player expectations regarding the genre are somewhat mixed. According to the Steam community forum, among users who expected a story-driven epic adventure after seeing the initial trailer, voices are expressing disappointment that the game has become more of an escape shooter after the actual playtest.
In addition, some users added that it felt like a somewhat typical base-management survival game. It appears that the gap between the narrative atmosphere of ‘Into the Fire’ and the genre direction of the actual gameplay is leading to differences in reactions based on players’ expectations.
‘Into the Fire’ is a title in which Starward Industries, having proven its storytelling capabilities with ‘Invincible’, takes on the new genre of extraction survival. Its biggest differentiating factor is that, instead of securing more loot than other players, the goal is to rescue as many lives as possible amidst a volcanic disaster.
As the game is being refined together with the community through several public playtests, attention is focused on how the player feedback collected during this test, which runs until September 7, will shape the direction of the upcoming Early Access version.
Information regarding ‘Into the Fire’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Starward Industries (Krakow, Poland) |
| Publisher | Starward Industries (Self-publishing) |
| Genre | Extraction Survival, Disaster Rescue, Base Building |
| platform | PC (Steam) |
| Release date | Undetermined (Scheduled for Early Access, Targeted for 2026) |
| Previous work | The Invincible — A story-driven sci-fi adventure, critically acclaimed |
| etc | Participation in the Steam PvE Survival Craft Festival and the open playtest run until September 7. |
| Reactions/Evaluations | Amid favorable reviews from media outlets such as Fix Gaming Channel, there are mixed reactions to the direction of certain genres. |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
