After Arc Raiders, the next extraction shooter goes full steampunk!
The small family of extraction shooters is about to welcome a new member—and this one is anything but ordinary. With SAND : Raiders of Sophie, the genre leaves behind neon lights and concrete jungles to embrace a sun-scorched steampunk alternate history. It’s a bold gamble, a strong creative identity… and now, an officially confirmed release date.
The success of Arc Raiders—winner of the Best Multiplayer Game award at the Game Awards last December—proved one thing: extraction shooters have firmly secured their place in the modern multiplayer landscape. But it also highlighted a certain uniformity in their settings, often dominated by functional, military-flavored science fiction. In contrast, SAND : Raiders of Sophie charts a very different course, leaning into a clearly defined steampunk-inspired universe and a radically different desert setting, as if to remind us that the genre can still surprise by changing both its scenery and its tone.
Image credit: tinyBuildGAMES
A desert world shaped by an imperial alternate history
Welcome to the planet Sophie, once a colonial jewel and now a sand-blasted hellscape following an unexplained ecological disaster. In this alternate version of 1910, humanity has conquered space thanks to new energy sources, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire rules among the stars. But when Sophie collapses, only the most desperate dare to return.
The game draws from a rarely explored aesthetic: imperial steampunk design inspired by Central Europe, where opulent remnants and metallic wreckage rise from the dunes. The characters, drawn from the Empire’s marginalized classes, have little left to lose. Their goal? Loot, survive, and reclaim what History denied them.
Tramplers: mobile fortresses at the heart of the experience
The core gameplay of SAND : Raiders of Sophie revolves around the Tramplers, imposing machines that are far more than simple vehicles. Originally designed in the 1870s to transport construction materials across Sophie, these hybrid machines can travel both on land and on water thanks to their articulated legs. These mechanical giants serve as:
- A mobile operations base for exploring Sophie’s vast desert expanses
- A secure storage hub to safeguard your hard-earned loot
- A combat platform equipped with heavy artillery to face rival crews
- A customizable refuge that you can decorate and upgrade to your liking
Trampler customization is set to be a cornerstone of the experience. Players will be able to enhance their machine’s power, armor, and weaponry, while also personalizing its interior design. In the tradition of the Galician workers who once piloted them, these machines are seen as an extension of their owner, adorned with talismans and personal ornaments.
An extraction shooter that reimagines the formula
While SAND : Raiders of Sophie borrows certain ideas from established titles in the genre, it ultimately forges its own identity. The game delivers a PvPvE FPS experience in which each crew must not only manage its Trampler—monitoring engine pressure, fuel consumption, and system maintenance—but also defend its territory against other players and environmental threats.
Exploration will take you through:
- Desert islands that were once submerged beneath a sea that has long since vanished
- Abandoned cities where a handful of survivors still roam, ready to defend what little they have left
- Archaeological sites filled with treasures and remnants of the Empire
Combat comes in two distinct forms: heavy artillery duels between rival Tramplers, or close-quarters assaults where players leave their machines behind to engage in more tactical firefights with small arms.
A trailer that confirms both ambition and release date
The final step before the big leap: the release of an official trailer confirming the launch window. The video—available to watch below—reveals new footage of exploration, combat, and hostile encounters, while confirming a crucial detail: the game is set to launch in March 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
With its bold blend of Austro-Hungarian steampunk and extraction shooter mechanics, SAND : Raiders of Sophie could breathe new life into a genre that was beginning to feel repetitive. The real question now is whether tinyBuild can live up to its ambitious promises when players finally take the controls of their Tramplers in the coming months.
PC, PlayStation 5, Steampunk games, Xbox Series X|S
