Pathologic 3 Launches January 2026 – Demo Available During Steam Next Fest

Pathologic 3, the latest entry in Ice-Pick Lodge’s hauntingly philosophical survival series, has finally received a firm release date: January 9, 2026. Publisher HyperTrain Digital confirmed that this date is absolutely locked in – not a placeholder, not a ‘we’ll see’ – but the real deal.

The developers even made a point of stressing on the game’s Steam page that the release date is ‘nailed down, screwed in, wrapped in commitments, and it isn’t moving.’

Fans don’t have to wait until next year to step into the disease-ridden, morally complex world of Pathologic, though. A free playable demo is already available as part of October’s Steam Next Fest, which began today and runs through October 20, 2025. The demo offers a glimpse into the story’s unsettling atmosphere, following Daniil Dankovsky – a doctor arriving in the enigmatic City-on-Gorkhon to investigate rumors of an immortal man. It’s a slow, unnerving introduction that encapsulates the eerie tone fans of the series love: bleak, philosophical, and slightly surreal.

Alongside the demo’s launch, Ice-Pick Lodge released a new trailer that aims to capture the game’s many facets – from the suffocating atmosphere and moral dilemmas to the surreal visuals and psychological tension that define the Pathologic experience. The trailer gives players a sense of just how intricate the world will be, blending mystery, survival, and emotional storytelling in the developer’s trademark style.

Originally announced in October 2024 with a tentative 2025 release window, Pathologic 3 narrowly misses that target by just nine days – a small delay that seems more symbolic than problematic. For fans who’ve followed Ice-Pick Lodge’s history of deeply thematic storytelling, that extra wait feels almost poetic. During the festival, other notable demos like Ash and Steel and the Lovecraft-inspired Beneath will also be available, making this one of the most exciting Steam Next Fest lineups in recent memory.

Whether you’re a returning fan or curious newcomer, Pathologic 3’s demo promises a taste of something haunting, thought-provoking, and unlike anything else on the market – a rare kind of game that lingers in your mind long after you stop playing.