Independent Australian developer The Tea Division has announced that Vanguard Exiles, the strategic auto-battler created in collaboration with Magic: The Gathering creator Richard Garfield, will officially leave Early Access and launch Version 1.0 for PC via Steam on February 4, 2027.
After first appearing as a public demo in August 2024 and entering Early Access in March 2025, the game has spent nearly two years evolving with community feedback. The full release represents the culmination of that development process, delivering what the studio considers a complete experience while establishing a strong foundation for future expansions and updates.
Set in a dieselpunk world where magic and machinery collide, Vanguard Exiles blends the strategic depth of tabletop games with the flexibility of digital gameplay. Players take command of unique Squads led by powerful Generals, battling across dynamic battlefields that constantly evolve throughout each match. The game’s digital design allows for complex interactions and tactical possibilities that would be difficult to recreate in a traditional board game.
One of the headline additions arriving with Version 1.0 is the long-awaited Campaign Mode, giving players the chance to explore the game’s lore and experience a structured single-player adventure alongside its competitive multiplayer modes. The update also introduces progression systems, achievements, player rankings, milestones, unlockable content, and additional features designed to appeal to both newcomers and experienced competitors.
The full release also adds Spectator Mode, allowing players to watch matches, study advanced tactics, and learn new strategies from the community. According to The Tea Division, the creativity and variety of player-created strategies throughout Early Access inspired the addition of the new viewing feature.
Although Version 1.0 marks the end of Early Access, the developers stress that it is only the beginning of the game’s long-term journey. Future updates are planned to introduce new factions, units, actions, biomes, progression opportunities, and regular balance adjustments as the studio continues developing the game alongside its community.
Richard Garfield, who collaborated on the game’s design, described Vanguard Exiles as a unique blend of tabletop and digital game design that creates an engaging strategic experience filled with opportunities for experimentation and discovery. He praised the game’s depth and the variety of tactics available to players, comparing its sense of exploration to his work on Magic: The Gathering and KeyForge.
Players can purchase the current Early Access version of Vanguard Exiles on Steam ahead of the full Version 1.0 launch on February 4, 2027.