The Bornless Is Now Free to Play During Steam Next Fest

The Bornless Is Free to Play on Steam Next Fest

The Bornless, a horror extraction shooter from Cathedral Studios, is now free to play for a full week during Steam Next Fest. From June 9 to June 16, players can jump into this unique mix of shooter, strategy, and supernatural chaos. The demo is ready to download on Steam and gives a complete look at the game’s intense combat and core mechanics.

The Bornless is a first-person multiplayer shooter. It’s not just about shooting, though. It blends PvPvE combat with deep occult horror. You play as a Seeker, paired with a partner, as you explore the haunted Farmouth Island. The setting is the 1960s, filled with old diners, shrines, and crumbling ruins lit by fire.

The goal is simple: survive, perform a dark ritual, and escape. Every match features up to eight duos. Each team races to summon and defeat a demon, then turns on each other to be the last duo standing. The world feels alive with dread. Every corner might hold supplies—or a rival team with their guns ready.

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The Ritual: How Each Match Works

Matches in The Bornless are called Rituals. They play out in three main stages.

The first stage is about looting and exploring. You and your partner start in a quiet cabin. From there, you search the island for weapons, supplies, and a special resource called Incense. While you hunt for gear, you’ll run into AI cultists guarding sacred spots. Fighting them is risky but necessary. Incense is the key to starting the Ritual.

The second stage is when things get serious. Once you’ve gathered enough Incense, you find a Demon Gate. These are massive, horned structures that need three skulls to activate. You collect the skulls by using incense totems. If you survive the cultists and other players long enough, you summon the demon. Defeat it, and you earn a Sigil—an item with powerful effects.

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The third stage is where it all changes. Holding a Sigil makes you stronger, but it also makes you a target. Everyone can now see your location. You can even transform into a demon for a short time. This gives you the upper hand in fights, but other players will hunt you down. The only way to win is to escape with Sigil alive.

The Bornless isn’t just about guns and bullets. Players can use Black Magick—special powers that bring the supernatural into fights. These powers include Hellfire Grenades, Sigil Shields, and more. They open up new ways to attack or defend during battles.

The demons are a big part of the game too. Each one brings something different. Orobas is brutal and fast. Phenex brings fiery destruction with area damage. Belial twists the battlefield with blood and darkness. More demons are planned for future updates. Each one adds a fresh layer of horror to every match.

Before Steam Next Fest, The Bornless hosted a special Fractured Souls Playtest on June 7 and 8. This test added new features like quests, trading, and a mysterious merchant named Haag. Visuals were upgraded with ray tracing and Nanite for sharper detail. Players could unlock up to 10 Seekers and 3 Demons during that test. Progress from that event carries over into the public demo.

The Steam Next Fest demo is updated and separate from past playtests. If you’ve played before, make sure to grab the latest version. Search “The Bornless Demo” on Steam to install and start playing.

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You don’t have to play solo. The Bornless Discord server is active with players looking for partners. They use a system called Shepherds. If you want to find a partner, use “Call a Duo.” If you need help from an experienced player, use “Call a Shepherd.” Voice chat is available to make teamwork easier.

For questions or problems, the Discord has channels for live updates, bug reports, and feedback. The community is growing fast. Whether you’re here for horror or for strategy, this is the right time to join.

Looking for something different? Sparkball is another free demo during Steam Next Fest. It’s a 4v4 sports brawler that mixes the feel of League of Legends with the fast pace of Rocket League. Both games bring fresh, exciting energy to this week of free trials on Steam. Try both and see which one hooks you first.