Ex Sanguis from Othercide Creators Arrives on Steam Early Access May 21

Lightbulb Crew is thrilled to announce that Ex Sanguis, their blood- and strategy-rich game, will release on Steam in Early Access on May 21st! So what’s Ex Sanguis all about? You’re here to lead elite warriors, called Stillae, to save a dying world from the forces of stasis. And how do you do that? Through many blood-filled turn-based battles, of course!

While engaging in turn-based combat, you’ll be able to strategically trigger a chain of events across the battlefield to turn the tide. Use Timeline Effects that can hasten, delay, or swap time positions to impact the turn order in a way that favors you and disadvantages foes.

As with any XCOM-style game, you can also use your surroundings to your advantage: explode objects, ignite enemies, or block the enemies’ path. Use spatial effects like knock-backs, forced facings, flanking bonuses, and damage-over-time to gain the edge!

The 30-second trailer hits fast with gameplay snippets, ending on a release window, now set for May 21, 2026.

Ex Sanguis adapts a pleasing roguelite loop into the turn-based combat. Defeat the challenging enemies to gain bonus ‘Corrupted Blood’ you can use to get access to epic bosses earlier, or to spend in the Map Events to gain upgrades for customizing your deadly squad. The further away you venture toward the outer rim of the map, the harder the standard Missions become.

As you play, the cycle never repeats. With each return, each playthrough, you carve new strength from failure and victory alike, unlocking forgotten powers and braving ever darker depths, where your greatest enemies await.

Developer Lightbulb crew plans for a six-month stay in Early Access:

“We’ll take the time needed to deliver a polished and complete experience. As such, the timeline may adjust based on player feedback and development progress. We plan to expand the game with additional content, improved balance, new features, and overall polish. We’re also exploring the possibility of new game modes. Our aim is to build on the core mechanics and continue refining the game’s performance and quality.”