Gaijin Entertainment is ending Active Matter's year-long exclusivity on its own Gaijin Store: the multiverse shooter officially launches on Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 on September 15, 2026.
Anyone who's been running raids in the Gaijin Store since the Early Version dropped in September 2025 won't have to start from scratch, since editions and save progress carry over to the new platform for free.

A Year Locked to Its Own Launcher

Active Matter has technically been playable since September 9, 2025, just not anywhere near Steam. The only way in was the Gaijin Store, Gaijin Entertainment's own launcher (the studio behind War Thunder, Crossout, and Enlisted), and only after buying one of four editions: Standard, Advanced, Premium, or Elite Squad, each bundling a different starting loadout and in-game currency.

Even in that early state, the game already offered full PvE, PvP, and PvPvE raids across Dalniy Island (an abandoned Soviet industrial complex) and quarantine zones in Central Africa, playable solo or in three-player squads. Xbox owners even got a taste through a limited demo on console, though a proper console release never materialized until now.

The Early Version wasn't exactly smooth sailing. GameStar's German-language early access review in January 2026 flagged serious balance issues and poor enemy readability: an anti-camper spawn mechanic regularly drops monsters right behind players with no clear warning they've been spotted. Monetization drew criticism too, with pricier editions granting a real edge in currency and access to PvE raids.

What Actually Changes on September 15

That store exclusivity ends on September 15, 2026, when Active Matter officially arrives on Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. The Standard Edition is priced at $29.99 (or 29.99 EUR), with details on other editions promised closer to launch.

Existing Gaijin Store owners don't need to buy again. Whatever edition they already own transfers to Steam for free, and progress can be linked between the two platforms. In theory, PC players could keep playing through the Gaijin Store launcher and still benefit from the Steam release without losing anything.

New Content Lands Right Before the Big Jump

A sizable update is dropping just ahead of launch: a decaying city somewhere in North America as a new raid location, plus four new pieces of gear. The MAC-11 brings the fastest fire rate of any SMG in the game at up to 1,200 rounds per minute, while the RSh-12 counters with brutal five-shot revolver stopping power in 12.7x55mm, at the cost of a lengthy reload. Rounding it out are the DP-12, a dual-barrel pump-action shotgun that holds up to fourteen shells, and a thermal imaging drone for spotting enemies from above.

Game Director Andrey Zhbannikov frames the Steam launch as an invitation for everyone who hasn't followed the years of development and polish up close. Gaijin says regular post-launch updates will keep expanding the multiverse with new zones, anomalies, and monsters.

Wipe or No Wipe? The Question Nobody's Answered Yet

One thing the official announcement doesn't address: whether server progress gets wiped for the Steam launch. Several players in the Steam discussions are already asking for exactly that, arguing that Early Version buyers would otherwise walk in with a real loot and gear advantage over anyone starting fresh on September 15. The progress-linking language at least suggests existing saves won't just get deleted outright, but there's no official word yet on a broader economy wipe.

Honestly, this isn't a new problem for extraction shooters coming out of early access. Plenty of titles in the genre have caused frustration on both sides by wiping too late or too early.

When does Active Matter launch on Steam?
September 15, 2026, alongside the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 versions.

How much does Active Matter cost on Steam?
The Standard Edition is priced at $29.99 (29.99 EUR), with pricing for other editions still to be confirmed by Gaijin Entertainment before launch.

Will I lose my progress from the Gaijin Store version?
No, according to the announcement your purchased edition transfers to Steam for free and progress can be linked between platforms. Whether there's also a broader economy wipe at launch is still unconfirmed.

After a year as a niche title locked to its own launcher, Active Matter is about to find out if the concept holds up on a much bigger stage. The Steam launch is less a fresh start than a stress test, one where the game needs to prove the balance and spawn issues from the Early Version actually got fixed by September.

Source: Steam Announcement