SLUG: rooted-phase-3-update-starting-zone-communication-tower
SUMMARY: Headlight Studio details Rooted Phase 3, including a lore-focused starting zone, the Communication Tower, survival gameplay, and early firearms.
The next major update for Rooted kicks off Phase 3 of the Alpha, and Headlight Studio shared what’s coming on May 19, 2025.
Phase 3 introduces a new Starting Zone, which the team calls the true beginning of the player experience they originally envisioned. This area introduces the lore and immerses you psychologically into the post-apocalyptic setting. It’s also where you’ll make your first discoveries with gameplay elements like hunting, fishing, weapon handling, and combat. The studio shared blockout screenshots but held back on spoiling the full story and setting.
The Communication Tower, present since the very first Alpha build, finally works as originally imagined. Described as majestic yet ravaged, it bears witness to past battles and the time when humanity lost itself to the fear of death. It’ll become a landmark in the world.
Survival gameplay gets a serious expansion. Hunting, fishing, gardening, and related systems give the survival experience real shape. Food management becomes crucial and diverse, influencing where you decide to set up your base. New tools arrive, and remnants of past civilization become useful in everyday survival. The game takes place around the year 2100.
Firearms arrive earlier than planned. Originally scheduled for Phase 4, they now appear in a lighter form tied to hunting. These first firearms help you survive encounters with animals that want to eat you — or help you hunt them for substantial meals.
Headlight Studio also addressed character animations, an area players frequently criticized. They’re making adjustments to enhance the experience and are now using Mutable, a technology for character customization.
The studio says it’s moving forward toward its original mission of remaining fully independent.
