Online: 404 gets a release date of 16 October 2026 on Steam

Its standout feature is an in-game smartphone. Players use the phone’s browser to look up crafting instructions and blueprints, while the same device also serves as a GPS, mini-map, flashlight, status screen and quest giver.

Steam News says a demo has been released and remained available until the end of June. In a later update, the developer said more than 60,000 players had tried the demo.

What happened

On the Steam page for Online: 404, Cornfield Games is listed as both developer and publisher, with a release date of 16 October 2026. The game is coming to PC via Steam and is described there as an open-world survival simulator. The available description also says players can go solo or play with friends, and can choose between following the story or freely exploring.

The core of the game revolves around a smartphone that does more than just handle communication. According to the description, players use the browser on that phone to find recipes and crafting blueprints instead of unlocking them through the usual loot, level or mission systems. The phone is also listed as a tool for navigation, status information and objectives, giving the device a central role in how the game is structured.

In the available trailer information, the phone also appears to have a battery meter. That makes energy management part of the survival loop, since players need to find resources to keep the device charged. The trailer and store description also suggest the phone can be used to see Steam friends and invite them into the world, although that detail is only mentioned as trailer information in the available context.

Background

SteamDB describes Online: 404 as an open-world survival simulator in which players can go solo or play with friends and choose between following the story or freely exploring. The Steam page also lists co-op, zombies and FPS elements as part of the game description. In external context, the game is also tagged on Steam as action, adventure, indie, massively multiplayer and simulation.

The Steam News post about the demo says the trial version launched at 20:00 CET and would remain available until the end of June. In a later update, the developer said more than 60,000 players had tried the demo and that it would stay online until the end of June. That same update also says players in the demo traveled to Leminsgale County in search of new adventures.

The available game description puts strong emphasis on the smartphone as a core mechanic. The device’s browser is used to look up crafting information, while the phone also functions as a GPS, mini-map, flashlight, status screen and quest giver. Trailer information also mentions that the phone has a battery, meaning it cannot be used indefinitely and players must keep an eye on power.

The current information also points to a pre-release phase. The release date is set for 16 October 2026, but the available sources do not confirm any platforms beyond PC via Steam. The number of players in co-op is also not mentioned in the available context, so only the presence of co-op can be confirmed, not the size of those sessions.

Sources

• Steam page for Online: 404
• SteamDB page for Online: 404
• Steam News: demo of Online: 404
• Steam News: update on more than 60,000 demo players
• Game Rant: new co-op open-world survival game on Steam with smartphone crafting