Dragonkin Studios has announced Monastery: Ora et Labora will enter Early Access for PC on Steam and Epic Games Store on 24 September 2026, with a new trailer highlighting its medieval management gameplay and creative building systems
Dragonkin Studios has officially confirmed that Monastery: Ora et Labora will launch in Early Access for PC on 24 September 2026. The management simulation, which places players in charge of a medieval monastery, will be available via Steam and the Epic Games Store. This Early Access release marks a significant step in the game's development, with the studio aiming to refine and expand the experience based on player feedback over time.
Early Access Details
Monastery: Ora et Labora will be accessible to Windows PC players through both Steam and Epic Games Store from its Early Access launch date. Players interested in following the game's progress can wishlist it on their preferred platform to receive notifications when it becomes available. The studio has not yet announced any plans for console versions or a full release date beyond Early Access.
To coincide with the announcement, Dragonkin Studios has published a new trailer offering a closer look at the game's core systems. The footage highlights monastery construction, resource management, and the daily routines of monastic life, including prayer, brewing, and manuscript illumination. The trailer also touches on the challenges players will face, such as unpredictable weather and external threats, all within a customisable and expandable monastery environment.
Gameplay and Community Involvement
Monastery: Ora et Labora is designed as a management and base-building game, with players taking on the role of an abbot responsible for guiding a community of monks. The gameplay centres on balancing spiritual duties with practical needs, requiring players to oversee resource production, respond to events, and make decisions that affect the wellbeing and growth of their monastic community. The Early Access phase is intended to allow the development team to gather feedback and iterate on features, with future updates planned to address player suggestions and expand content.
The game is positioned for fans of management simulations who enjoy building and sustaining small, self-sufficient communities. Its creative building mechanics and focus on medieval monastic life set it apart from more conventional city builders. For those interested in similar genre blends, the recent announcement of Songs of Glimmerwick, which combines adventure and life simulation elements, may also be of interest-details can be found in our coverage of Songs of Glimmerwick's PC release plans.
Studio Background and Development Context
Dragonkin Studios, founded in 2015 in Siracusa, Italy, has experience across PC, mobile, AR, and VR projects. The studio has grown through both original titles and collaborations, and joined the Quickload acceleration programme in 2021 to expand its industry reach. Monastery: Ora et Labora represents the team's latest effort to deliver a distinctive management experience, with the Early Access model chosen to facilitate ongoing development in partnership with the player community.
At launch, the Early Access version will focus on the core management and building systems, with additional features and content planned for future updates. The studio has not yet detailed the full scope of post-launch support or the timeline for a complete release, but has emphasised its commitment to community-driven development throughout the Early Access period.
Early Access is a release model in which a game becomes available to the public before its final version is complete. Players can purchase and play the game while it is still in active development, often providing feedback that shapes future updates. This approach allows developers to test systems, balance gameplay, and address issues with the help of a live player base. However, Early Access titles may lack certain features, contain bugs, or undergo significant changes before reaching their finished state. Players considering Early Access releases should be aware that the experience may evolve over time and is not necessarily representative of the final product.
