Steam Demo for The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Extended as Wishlists Hit 600k

Steam Next Fest Demo Remains Live

In a surprise turn of events, the playable demo for The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu has remained live on Steam following the conclusion of Steam Next Fest. Typically, Next Fest demos are taken offline immediately after the event ends, but developers ACE Team appear to have left the servers running to accommodate a surge in player interest.

According to community tracking and player reports from regions like Australia, active server counts actually doubled immediately after the official festival deadline. Over 200,000 players are estimated to have jumped into the demo so far. It is still possible to download and play the co-op trial directly via the game's Steam store page.

Wishlist Tier 2 Reached: Launch Discount Secured

Alongside the extended demo play, the game has crossed another major marketing milestone. The community has officially surpassed 600,000 Steam wishlists, unlocking Milestone Tier 2.

The developers previously announced that hitting certain wishlist milestones would directly lower the entry price at launch. While the exact discount percentage has not been officially confirmed by the studio, this milestone guarantees a price cut when the game launches on July 15, 2026. For details on how the pricing tier works, read our breakdown on the release date and platforms page. You can also read more about participating in the tests in our wishlist guide.

ACE Team Brings Weird Fiction to Peru

For fans of cosmic horror, the involvement of Chilean developer ACE Team is a highly promising sign. Known for their surreal world-building in The Eternal Cylinder, the studio is bringing their signature weirdness to H.P. Lovecraft’s mythos.

The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu adapts the classic original Lovecraft novella, which originally detailed the subterranean worlds of K'n-yan, Yoth, and N'kai. However, the game shifts the setting about 200 years earlier and moves the starting expedition to the dense jungles of Peru. Players must navigate these ruins while managing their sanity mechanics and defending themselves against terrifying, subterranean monstrous creatures.

With less than three weeks left until the official launch, the extended demo offers a final chance to test your gear and coordinate with your squad.