Long Dark early releases
I have been a huge fan of the game The Long Dark. I bought a copy during early release (something I almost never do). It was only $5.99 or something at the time and I loved the game already for what it was.
Fast forward a few years (too many years IMHO – their development started in 2013, and here we are in 2020). The game has expanded and been re-worked numerous times – but that sense of wandering a beautiful but deadly frozen wilderness alone with only your wits to save you is very appealing. Cap that off with some really, really music by great composers famous for a number of large game titles music, and you’ve got a solid little sandbox game.
Unfortunately, I can’t say as I’ve liked all the changes over time, and still get really nostalgic for the old versions of the game. Well, I must not have been alone because other folks have asked the same. Now Hinterland studios has released Steam codes to go back to those early releases – called the Long Dark Time Capsule.
You can enter the following codes to get the various pre-release versions in steam:
| Release | Date | Branch name | Code | Notes: |
| v.119 | 09/22/2014 | z_tbd | 688jsRNQe6NkE3GV | Early Access |
| v.236 | 05/21/2015 | z_silenthunter | Myr9JbqSXm7qJxWP | 3 regions: mystery lake, coastal highway, pleasant valley |
| v.258 | 07/31/2015 | z_deepforest | 6BXgaAPncUz4umsA | |
| v.271 | 09/17/2015 | z_desolationpoint | 9uJcchMtNvpkKUUB | Desolation point |
| v.302 | 12/15/2015 | z_timberwolfmountain | L9mmQmZc48tEveTX | Timberwolf mountain |
| v.339 | 04/20/2016 | z_tirelessmenace | cFvvcA3bk7eZsLTe | |
| v.349 | 06/24/2016 | z_pentitentscholar | xgUqeYAhD5jhjsZX | |
| v.365 | 09/22/2016 | z_vigilanttrespass | q3EmEnt7wCc495TG | |
| v.393 | 19.12.2016 | z_resoluteoutfitter | TVnhrrydqtT8ta88 | Forlorn Muskeg |
| v.426 | 07.06.2017 | z_faithfulcartographer | hE72eT9KP5WtBCn4 | |
| v1.15 | 01.08.2017 | z_1.0launch | zEkBaxsFU6wu2rsa | Wintermute 1.0 launch |
| v1.30 | 07.12.2017 | z_ruggedsentinel | m3k5U5BzgGSECQ9d | Moose |
| v1.37 | 14.06.2018 | z_vigilantflame | d2Zvdbgare46aRps | Hushed River Valley |
| v1.47 | 17.12.2018 | z_wintermuteredux | 9LWcV267hKpHjg6w | Significant re-write of Ep1+2 |
| v.1.56 | 06.05.2019 | z_steadfastranger | cSY4ueT7TUDT62Xc | Revolver |
| v1.60 | 22.10.2019 | z_episode3 | BdZkXXpH6hqsbyZd |
https://www.thelongdark.com/time-capsule/
Instructions:
- Launch Steam
- Go to your Library
- Right click on The Long Dark in your Steam library and select Properties:
- Select the Betas tab.
- Input the Archive Build of your choice.
- Enter the code in the ‘Enter beta access code to unlock private betas’ box and click the Check Code button
- Select the branch from the drop down menu (z_timberwolfmountain/etc)
- This will update your installed version of the game to the branch. Once completed the branch name will appear next to the The Long Dark in your library list.
- To return to the latest release, simply go back to the Beta tab of the game and select ‘NONE’ at the beta dropdown.
