Pretty Potato Games has confirmed that Nokai will feature in Steam PvE Survival Crafting Fest from 31 August to 7 September, with a significantly expanded demo introducing new content and gameplay improvements for PC players
Pretty Potato Games has officially announced that Nokai, its open world ocean survival co-op adventure, will participate in Steam PvE Survival Crafting Fest, running from 31 August to 7 September 2026. The event coincides with a substantial update to Nokai's playable demo, which is now available on Steam for PC users. This update introduces new content and gameplay refinements, aiming to give players a more representative experience of the game's evolving systems during the festival period.
Expanded Demo and Gameplay Features
The updated Nokai demo offers players the opportunity to explore a larger portion of the game's oceanic world, with support for up to five-player online co-op. Rather than focusing on permanent base building, Nokai's design centres on journeying north through a hostile sea, establishing temporary camps, and maintaining a ship that serves as the group's mobile hub. Players can expect to gather resources, craft equipment, upgrade their vessel, and encounter a variety of creatures and environmental hazards as they progress.
Drawing inspiration from classic adventure titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Nokai blends survival mechanics with a sense of ongoing discovery and progression. The demo's new content is intended to showcase this approach, allowing players to experience the game's core loop of exploration, resource management, and cooperative problem-solving. Temporary camps act as staging points, enabling recovery and preparation before setting out again, rather than encouraging players to settle in one location.
Development Status and Platform Plans
Nokai has been in active development since 2021, supported by a Rannís innovation grant in Iceland. The current demo is available exclusively for PC via Steam, with console versions planned for a later stage. Pretty Potato Games, founded by Hrafnkell "Keli" Þrastarson and Erla "Mokka" Óskarsdóttir, has positioned Nokai as a co-op adventure focused on exploration, progression, and "juicy" gameplay systems. The studio has not yet confirmed a full release date or detailed the extent of planned console support, but the ongoing demo updates suggest continued development momentum.
During the festival, players can wishlist Nokai on Steam and access the expanded demo free of charge. The event provides a window for feedback and further iteration, a model increasingly common among indie survival and crafting games. For context, other titles in the genre have used similar festival appearances to gather player impressions and refine their core mechanics, as seen with games like 4 Penny Coffins, which was recently featured at gamescom with a new demo mode (see our coverage of 4 Penny Coffins at gamescom).
What Remains Unconfirmed
While the updated demo expands on Nokai's core systems, several details remain unannounced. There is currently no confirmed release date for the full game, and specifics regarding console platforms, performance targets, and post-launch support have not been disclosed. The extent to which the demo reflects the final content volume, technical performance, and progression systems is also subject to change as development continues. Players interested in the game's direction are encouraged to provide feedback during the festival period, but should be aware that features and mechanics may evolve before launch.
Playable demos are a common tool for indie developers to gather feedback and test core systems ahead of release. Unlike full review builds, demos typically represent a work-in-progress snapshot, with features, performance, and content subject to change. Participation in events like Steam PvE Survival Crafting Fest allows studios to reach a wider audience, but players should approach demo content as indicative rather than definitive of the final game experience.
