- Demo v1.2 Update: Expanded Hotbar, Loot Changes & More - 12 September 2026
Hi everyone,Excited to share another set of updates with you. Most of these are improvements and bug fixes with a few new features. This will be the last major update to the demo so I can return to working on the full game. More to come on that! For now, here is what's new in the demo:QoLAdded information boards next to Camp Shops that display hours of operations.Controls and HotbarExpanded the hotbar to 20 assignable slots, split between two sets of ten.Press Tab on keyboard or R1/RB on controller to switch between sets.Fixed several menu and movement input issues, including issues on Steam Deck.Menus and DialogueImproved several menu layouts and item tooltips.Fixed doubled quotation marks in dialogue.Improved dialogue sound behavior.Fixed visual issues when accepting or rejecting quests.Fixed the player becoming invisible when skipping the introduction.Fixed an issue preventing Nora’s…
- Demo v1.1 Update: Combat, Loot, Crafting, and QoL Improvements - 7 September 2026
Thanks to everyone who has been playing the demo and sharing feedback. This update focuses on making combat, scavenging, crafting, building, and everyday play smoother while preserving existing progress.Combat ImprovementsRegular and fast zombies now give a clearer warning before lunging.Lunges target where the player was when the warning began, making them easier to dodge.Sword attacks can interrupt zombies during attack preparation and recovery, but not during lunge.Driving Cut has been replaced with Pinning Cut, which can stop ordinary zombies in place instead of knocking them farther away.Healer zombies are now more effective at supporting nearby allies.Exploding zombies are no longer knocked backward by bullets.Hostile survivors now have more varied appearances when possible.Better Scavenging & LootLoot has been improved across several locations.Hospitals now have dedicated medical…
- The Ashfield Hollow Demo Is Out Now! - 31 August 2026
The Ashfield Hollow demo is now available to play on Steam as part of the Steam PvE Survival Crafting Fest!The demo offers around 10 hours of content, giving you a substantial look at life in Camp Ashfield as you fight infected and hostile survivors, gather resources, farm, fish, craft, build up your home, and try to survive in the world beyond the camp.Demo FeaturesAround 10 hours of gameplayFull keyboard and mouse supportFull controller supportSteam Deck supportSave progress carries over into the full gameIf you've been waiting to explore Ashfield Hollow for yourself, now's the time.Download the demo and play today during the Steam PvE Survival Crafting Fest.And if you enjoy your time in Camp Ashfield, consider wishlisting Ashfield Hollow to follow the game as it heads toward release.
- Ashfield Hollow Demo 1.0 Changelog - 31 August 2026
Ahead of the demo’s 1.0 release, a number of streamers were given early access to Ashfield Hollow. Their feedback helped identify bugs, usability issues, and areas that could be improved before launch.The changes below were made prior to release based on that early feedback and testing.New GamesNew games now offer the option to watch or skip the introduction.The name-entry screen now uses a more appropriate selection of characters for names.Sandbox SettingsAdded an option to disable the countdown before the fishing mini-game.Added an optional food-spoilage indicator that shows when a food spoils.Enemies & SleepingHealer zombies can now support nearby zombies from a greater distance.Zombies and hostile survivors will no longer follow the player home after they pass out at the end of the day.Passing out no longer restores Health and now restores less Energy than sleeping normally.Companio…
- Ashfield Hollow Demo Drops August 31st! - 24 August 2026
Ten years after the outbreak, you're found unconscious in the ruins with no memory of who you were. Survivors bring you to Camp Ashfield, one of the few places still holding together. What happens next is up to you.The demo drops you into your first 50 days at camp, a real chunk of the full survival and life-sim experience. Explore the ruins outside camp, fight the dead and the living, gather resources, grow food, craft supplies, and start building a home worth defending.Nearly everything from the full game is here:Real-time combat against zombies and hostile survivorsLooting and resource gatheringFarming and food productionCrafting and home buildingCamp residents and relationshipsFull survival systemsCustomizable sandbox settingsOnly camp festivals, NPC heart events, and story cutscenes are held back for release.Play it your way: keyboard and mouse, controller, or Steam Deck, all fully…
- Ashfield Hollow Playtest Ends August 12 - 9 August 2026
The current Ashfield Hollow Playtest will officially end on Wednesday, August 12.Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to play, report bugs, and share feedback. The responses from this playtest have already led to a large number of improvements across survival balance, combat, controls, interactions, performance, stability, and general usability.If you are currently participating and still have feedback to submit, please send it in before the playtest ends.After August 12, access to this playtest build will be closed while I continue working through the remaining feedback and preparing the next stage of development.Thank you again for helping me improve Ashfield Hollow!
- Playtest Update: Survival Warnings, Better Gunplay & Smarter Zombies - 4 August 2026
Another Ashfield Hollow Playtest update is now live, with more improvements based on continued testing and player feedback.Survival and Daily ActivitiesWarning icons now appear when Health, Stamina, Energy, Nutrition, Hydration, or Rest becomes dangerously low. Infection warnings appear when infection becomes high, with gentle flashing when a condition reaches a critical level.Sleeping now restores 25% of each surviving party member’s maximum health.Partially used Watering Cans can now be fully refilled from natural water, Small Water Barrels, and Large Water Barrels.Dogs can only be petted once per day. The relationship and happiness benefits are awarded only for the first pet.Only one generated quest offer will now appear each day, regardless of whether the player accepts or rejects it.Combat and GunplayZombie lunges now stop at walls, buildings, and other blocked areas.Gunshots more…
- Playtest Updates: Onboarding, Combat, Quality of Life Changes and more! - 2 August 2026
Thank you to everyone participating in the Ashfield Hollow Playtest. The first two updates are now live, addressing feedback and bug reports from the earliest playtest submissions.Survival and OnboardingNutrition and Hydration now decline based on elapsed in-game time rather than frame rate. During Days 1–7, players can claim one free Radish Salad and one clean Water Canteen refill per day from the Mansion Kitchen.Sleeping now restores 15% of the player's maximum health.Combat and Enemy ProgressionStandard zombie attacks now have clearer windups, lunges, and opportunities to evade. Zombie melee damage has been reduced by 50%, attacks require physical contact, and Spitter attacks can be interrupted during their windup.Spitters and burning zombies now appear later, while forest zombie populations increase more gradually during the opening days.Controls and Gameplay ImprovementsController…
- Ashfield Hollow Playtest is now Open! - 31 July 2026
This is your opportunity to experience the game early, explore Camp Ashfield, scavenge the world beyond its walls, manage vital supplies, build relationships with survivors, and face the decisions that will determine whether the community endures.Ashfield Hollow is still in development, and this playtest will help us identify bugs, improve balance, refine progression, and strengthen the overall experience before launch.We are especially interested in feedback on:Bugs or broken eventsConfusing objectives or mechanicsProgression and resource balanceCombat and explorationDialogue, characters, and story eventsAnything that feels frustrating, unclear, or unfinishedTo participate, visit the Ashfield Hollow Steam page and request access to the playtest.You can leave direct feedback here: https://form.jotform.com/262115130477046.You can also join the official Ashfield Hollow Discord to share fe…
- Development Update: Alpha Playtests, New Demo, and More - 15 June 2026
Hi everyone!It's been a while since my last update so I wanted to take some time to share with everyone how things have been going and what you can expect in the very near future.Development is moving full steam ahead, and I'm excited to say that many of the core systems planned for the 1.0 release are now implemented or nearing completion. This includes major gameplay features such as hostile survivor encounters, loot and scavenging systems, farming, animal raising, crafting, progression systems, quests, and much more.With many of the foundational mechanics nearly in place, the next phase of development will focus heavily on world building and content creation. This means designing locations, expanding NPC dialogue, creating cutscenes, implementing storylines, and bringing the world of Ashfield Hollow to life.Alpha Playtests Opening SoonI'm preparing for the first round of alpha playte…
- Demo Update: Straight Into Survival - 29 November 2025
Hi everyone,Just wanted to share a quick demo update with you all! The new version now starts with a short scene in the city where you fight to escape as zombies break into a house. It gives you a clearer feel for the danger outside the camp and lets you experience what happened before waking up in the infirmary. Once that moment plays out, the demo continues as it always has, but now with a stronger and more engaging introduction to the world of Ashfield Hollow.Happy surviving!
- Ashfield Hollow Joins Clemmy’s BEST INDIE GAMES Winter Showcase - 25 November 2025
Hi everyone,I'm excited to share that Ashfield Hollow has been selected to be part of Clemmy’s Best Indie Games Winter Showcase on December 2nd.Clemmy’s showcases are a big yearly highlight for indie fans, and being included means the game will be introduced to a lot of new players who enjoy discovering upcoming titles. It’s a great moment for visibility, and I appreciate everyone who has supported the project so far.Once the showcase goes live, I’d love to hear your reactions. Every wishlist and bit of feedback genuinely helps the game move forward, especially as we get closer to announcing a release date!
- Brand New Demo for Scream Fest - 27 October 2025
Excited to bring you a major update for the demo that includes gameplay fixes, survival balance tweaks, and new content to make the demo feel more complete and guided.Demo ExpansionDemo Length: The demo now spans 10 in-game days (up from 3), giving you more time to explore survival, farming, and camp life.Manual Quests: Added several new manual quests to make the early game more guided before full freedom kicks in.Gameplay Fixes & ImprovementsHealing Items: Bandages and First Aid Kits now correctly restore HP.Hotbar Labels: Each hotbar slot is now numbered instead of all being labeled “RB.”Boiling Water: You can now boil water in the kitchen oven — no more waiting for clear skies.Crop Growth: Fixed an issue where crops would reset instead of maturing. They now grow normally.Infirmary Recovery: Being sent to the infirmary now restores nutrition, thirst, and infection levels as well as HP…
- Ashfield Hollow is a Featured Title in the No Time to Loot Festival! - 22 September 2025
I'm excited for Ashfield Hollow to be selected as one of few featured titles in the No Time to Loot Steam Festival. The event showcases games built around loot-driven progression and is hosted by Human Qube, in collaboration with Sidekick Publishing (the publishing arm of INSTINCT3).If you’re new to Ashfield Hollow, the demo is available and gives a good sense of the game’s core loop: exploration, risk, and progression across multiple runs.The festival is a great chance to discover other games with similar design goals, so I recommend checking out the full lineup!My sincere hanks to everyone who has already played, streamed, or shared feedback so far. Onward and upwards!
- Ashfield Hollow Demo Out Now! - 16 September 2025
The wait is finally over!After months of work, I’m thrilled to announce that the demo for Ashfield Hollow is now live.Ashfield Hollow is a 2D post-apocalyptic life sim where you’ll:Fight zombies in real-time combatScavenge supplies and craft survival gearFarm and manage scarce resourcesMeet survivors, build relationships, and grow your communityThe demo lets you explore the early days of Camp Ashfield and its surrounding forest and city, just a small slice of the survival and life-sim systems that will continue to expand in the full release.I’d love to hear your thoughts: what’s fun, what needs tuning, and what you’d like to see more of. Your feedback is a huge part of shaping this project.👉 Try the demo and wishlist Ashfield Hollow on Steam here:
- A First Look at Ashfield Hollow: New Trailer and Demo Launch - 2 September 2025
Hi everyone,After months of development, I’m excited to share that the demo of Ashfield Hollow will launch on September 15th!Ashfield Hollow is a 2D post-apocalyptic life sim where you can:Fight zombies in real-time combatScavenge supplies and craft gearFarm and manage resourcesMeet survivors and form relationshipsThe demo covers the early stages of Camp Ashfield and the surrounding forest and city, giving a taste of the survival and life-sim systems that will expand in the full game.I’d love your feedback: what works, what feels fun, and what could be improved. Your thoughts will help shape the game as we move toward full release.You can wishlist the game on Steam here: Thank you for checking it out!
