Valkyrie Initiative Announces Stones Keeper: Director’s Cut, a Major Free Update Launching September 14

 

Publisher Valkyrie Initiative and developer SK Team today announced Stones Keeper: Director’s Cut, a major free 2.0 update for Stones Keeper, launching on Steam on September 14, 2026.

Developed alongside the upcoming sequel, Stones Keeper II: Chaos Lord, the Director’s Cut is effectively a remaster of the original turn-based strategy RPG. The entire campaign is being moved to the improved engine used for the sequel, while its visuals, controls, progression, balance, and story are being extensively reworked.

Every unit will receive a full animation set, with additional animations created for unique characters from the original game. Dialogue portraits, world map objects, the castle interior, and the main menu will also be animated.

The campaign’s story text and dialogue have been rewritten from scratch, its cutscenes redrawn, and its plot revised to connect more closely with Stones Keeper II: Chaos Lord and further develop the history of the game’s world.

Key additions and improvements include:

• New tactical mechanics, including Zone of Control and Backstab;
• Unit progression expanded from 3 levels to 6;
• The number of available talents increased from 9 to 15;
• Equipment for the human faction expanded from 1 tier to 3;
• A complete overhaul of the controls;
• Rebalanced economy, resource distribution, experience rewards, and enemy units;
• New repeatable battles in Chapter 3, offering additional resources and experience;
• Three new campaign mercenaries recruited through new allies;
• New reward chests in nearly every campaign mission;
• Reworked gameplay and level design in selected missions;
• Four pivotal missions in which players can take control of Princess Elizabeth, with three available during each playthrough;
• Additional pirate ships, earlier castle upgrades, and numerous smaller changes to abilities, debuffs, and other gameplay systems.

Stones Keeper: Director’s Cut will be released as a free update for Stones Keeper on Steam on September 14, 2026.