Sunset Summit from brothers Joe Fender and Andrew Fender has launched on Steam — the co-op climbing game this coverage previewed in detail back in July, when we examined the pogo-stick-and-canned-goods equipment absurdism, the checkpoint design that defines the game’s entire risk tone, and the specific arc from DEVOUR‘s 7 million-copy horror success through Joe Fender’s 2023 burnout to PEAK‘s success restoring his confidence to finish the project.
The shipped game delivers 16 climbing courses across 4 floating islands — up from the single “Elder Crag” demo map this coverage covered in the preview — with the full equipment roster (pickaxes, ropes, item-delivery drones, pogo sticks, umbrellas) intact. Checkpoints remain frequent and forgiving by design, letting failed climbs restart quickly rather than punishing mistakes with lost progress. Up to 8-player online co-op, proximity voice chat, walkie-talkie functionality, and offline solo play are all confirmed at launch.
Joe Fender’s own framing at launch: “I combined the things I love most — co-op games, climbing, and giant structures — into one game. I hope a lot of people enjoy it.”
Early Steam community response and international press coverage both specifically credit the friend-group co-op experience and the varied climbing equipment as the game’s standout qualities — consistent with what the July preview identified as the design’s central bet: that PEAK-style checkpoint-supported climbing, rather than punishing precision platforming, is what makes climbing games work as shared social experiences rather than solo tests of patience.
Sunset Summit is available now on Steam at $4.99, currently 38% off for launch. Publishing is handled by Future Friends Games (CloverPit and others).
For the full design analysis — the equipment absurdism philosophy, the PEAK-versus-Getting Over It checkpoint design distinction, and Future Friends Games’ curatorial fit — see our July preview coverage.
Information regarding the ‘Sunset Summit’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Joe Fender, Andrew Fender |
| Publisher | Future Friends Games |
| Genre | Cooperative Climbing / Adventure |
| Release platform | PC (Steam) |
| Maximum number of people | Online co-op for up to 8 players (offline solo play supported) |
| Developers’ previous work | DEVOUR (Cumulative sales of 7 million copies) |
| Steam Review (Demo) | Positive (83%, 48 cases) / Last 30 days mostly positive (76%, 25 cases) |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
| Demo Page | Shortcut |
