Survival Climber ‘Cairn’ Delayed to 2026 – Demo Gets Ghost Climbers Update in October
The indie climbing game Cairn has been delayed until 2026, which might disappoint fans who were eager to play.
But there’s also some good news: this October, the Steam demo will get a new ghost climbers feature. With it, players can race against their own past runs or compare with others, making the wait a little easier to handle.
Delay Details
The Game Bakers have announced that their survival climbing game Cairn will no longer release in 2025. Instead, the launch has been pushed back to early 2026. In their official statement, the studio explained that the game is already “content complete,” but the team needs more time for optimization, debugging, and polish.
Creative director Emeric Thoa added that after five years of development, it made no sense to rush the project: “We want to be proud of the game we launch.”
Ghost Climbers Coming
To soften the disappointment of the Cairn delay, the developers also revealed a major update for the Cairn demo Steam. Starting October 13, players will be able to climb alongside real-time ghost climbers. This feature highlights the importance of verticality in games, allowing fans to discover new routes, improve their skills by studying others, or even race against community members and speedrunners. It’s a way to keep the excitement alive while waiting for the full release.
Critics Praise Cairn
Cairn first caught attention at Summer Game Fest 2024, where its realistic climbing mechanics and striking art style impressed both critics and players.
PC Gamer described it as “something genuinely special,” with one previewer even calling it “the best climbing game I’ve ever played.” Other hands-on impressions praised how every wall, including the towering challenges of Mount Tenzen, feels like a puzzle or even a boss fight, making each ascent tense and rewarding.
Part of a Growing Trend
The delay comes at a time when niche survival sims are gaining popularity. Games like Peak have shown that players are eager for experiences built around a single, refined mechanic. As a mountain climbing sim, Cairn fits perfectly into this trend, focusing entirely on the challenge and beauty of climbing. By polishing the game further, The Game Bakers are positioning it not just as another indie release, but as a standout title in the genre.
Community Reaction
Some fans are understandably let down by the delay, but overall the community has reacted with support. Most agree that an optimization delay is far better than rushing the game out unfinished, especially for a project that promises such a unique experience. Thanks to the Cairn ghost climbers update keeping players busy in the meantime, the extra wait could end up being the smartest move for Cairn’s long-term success.
Conclusion
Summing up, The Game Bakers Cairn delay may feel like a tough climb for fans, but the journey is far from over. With the ghost climbers update arriving this October, players will have a fresh way to test their skills and stay engaged. And if the early praise is any sign, the extra time could help turn Cairn into not just a good indie survival game, but one of the most memorable climbing adventures ever made.