Tripwire Presents and developer Arctic Hazard have delayed NORSE: Oath of Blood. The turn-based tactics RPG will now release on PC on February 17, 2026, with versions planned for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S shifted to a spring 2026 window.
The new PC date is a two-week move from the previously announced February 3 launch. In the message shared by the teams, they framed the delay as extra time for polish and refinement before players start Gunnar’s campaign.
NORSE: Oath of Blood is set in Norway during the Viking Age and follows Gunnar, a young warrior pushed into exile after Steinarr Far Spear kills his father, Jarl Gripr, and takes his seat. The campaign revolves around rebuilding Gunnar’s foothold, forming alliances, and building a warband strong enough to settle the score.
Arctic Hazard is leaning hard on terrain play with positioning, unit synergy, terrain, elevation, flanking, and environmental hazards as core inputs in fights, with each warrior carrying a distinct skillset plus gear that can be customized and improved.
Some of those hazards have shown up in the studio’s community posts. One entry describes muddy ground that can make units slip and fall prone, forcing them to spend their next turn standing back up.
Another describes river battles where currents can push characters over, with rocks acting as cover points to brace against the flow.
The game is built around a settlement layer that feeds directly back into the warband with a village that grows from a small camp into a stronghold, where players can assign villagers to roles, manage resources, and upgrade buildings to unlock new units and equipment.
It also points to smithy and workshop upgrades as a practical power curve, since better infrastructure means access to more advanced weapons and armor.
Narratively, the pitch is choice-driven, with decisions affecting relationships and alliances while Gunnar tries to restore his father’s legacy. The studio has also promoted a tie in prequel short story called Sword Brothers written by Giles Kristian, which the official site presents as a lead in to the game’s setting and tone.
Tripwire’s broader materials for the project have highlighted Kristian’s involvement in the main script too, plus an original soundtrack credited to composer Dan Wakefield with contributions from the dark pagan neo folk band Galdorcræft.
On PC, NORSE: Oath of Blood is slated for Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store, with console versions still targeted for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The publisher has also indicated the game is unrated on PC for now, while expecting a 17 plus rating on consoles from ESRB and an 18 rating from PEGI.
