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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Vanguard Exiles is a PC digital strategy autobattler and card game designed by Richard Garfield, the creator of Magic: The Gathering, and published by The Tea Division. Steam lists its Early Access release as March 10, 2025, not March 11, so that is the date to use. The game remains in Early Access, and a later full release has been reported but not confirmed by an official announcement.
Which release date is correct?
The March 11 date in the headline does not match the Steam store listing, which gives March 10, 2025 as both the release and Early Access date. The sources available for this article do not explain the one-day difference, so readers should treat March 10, 2025 as the date the store page records. The table below sets out each date claim and how far it can be trusted.
| Source | Date stated | What it says | Status of the claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam store listing (The Tea Division) | March 10, 2025 | Release and Early Access date | Developer-published store data |
| Official website (The Tea Division) | Not dated | Labels the game “Early Access out now” | Confirms Early Access status only |
| Capsule Computers report | Report dated July 18, 2026 | Says version 1.0 was announced for February 4, 2027 | Secondary reporting; no official announcement was found |
What kind of game it is
Vanguard Exiles is a digital strategy game that mixes autobattler automation with card-style decisions. The developer describes it as a new style of autobattler. Instead of only watching units fight, players choose and place cards during a match, and the way they combine those choices shapes the outcome. The official description positions this as the main difference from conventional autobattlers, which emphasise automated combat. That comparison comes from the developer’s own wording and has not been tested independently.
Squads, Units and Actions
Each player fields a Squad made of Units and Actions. Units are the fighting pieces; Actions are card-style plays. The developer highlights squad synergies, meaning combinations of Units and Actions that work better together than alone. Building an effective Squad is therefore a deck-building problem as well as a battlefield one.
#1 Best Overall
- EPIC SCI-FI CAMPAIGN: Dive into an immersive co-operative adventure with ISS Vanguard, suitable for 1-4 players, featuring a unique story by Krzysztof Piskorski.
- DIVERSE ROLES & STRATEGIES: Take control of four sections of the ISS Vanguard – Security, Recon, Science, and Engineering – each offering distinct gameplay and strategic options.
- BUILD & CUSTOMIZE: Utilize the ship book to make choices, spend resources, and build upgrades, impacting your ship's technology and crew abilities throughout the campaign.
- EXPLORE & RECRUIT: Choose from over 100 recruitable crew members, each with special abilities, for planet exploration missions to gain resources and shape your adventure.
- BRANCHING NARRATIVE: Unravel a deep sci-fi mystery with branching storylines, where your choices influence the unfolding story, available technology, and crew capabilities.
Battlefield Zones
The battlefield is divided into Zones that change during a match. Zone changes create modifiers and obstacles, so a plan that works in one state of the battlefield may need adjusting when the Zone shifts. Players are expected to respond to these changes during the match rather than settling their strategy before combat begins.
Modes at Early Access
- Head-to-head PvP against other players.
- Solo challenges, which the Steam listing describes as single-player content.
- Daily challenges.
- Multiplayer ratings.
A full single-player campaign was not part of the Early Access build described on Steam. It appears in the planned list below.
Setting and story
The game is set in a fantasy world after the Day of Ash, which the official website says pushed exiled peoples into a war-torn realm. The press kit describes the period as a fantasy post-World War I dieselpunk era in which magic and technology coexist and fuse. In the story, Generals form Vanguards drawn from different factions in order to reclaim the world. The setting is the developer’s own description, so it is best read as the intended tone of the game rather than something a reviewer has verified in play.
Rank #2
- EXPANSIVE CONTENT UPGRADE: The ISS Vanguard Lost Fleet Expansion enriches your gameplay with a wealth of exclusive content and add-ons.
- VARIETY OF MISSIONS: Immerse yourself in varied missions and challenges, each designed to add depth and excitement to your interstellar journey.
- EXCLUSIVE COMPONENTS: Enjoy unique game components not available in the base game, enhancing the diversity and replayability of your space adventures.
- SEAMLESS INTEGRATION: These new elements blend flawlessly with the ISS Vanguard base game, maintaining the game's balance while expanding the universe.
- ENDLESS ADVENTURE: Experience new layers of strategy and exploration, keeping your ISS Vanguard sessions fresh and engaging with each playthrough.
Who made it
Richard Garfield designed Vanguard Exiles. The Tea Division created, developed and publishes it. The developer statement quoted below is attributed to The Tea Division as a company, and no individual is named as its author.
Early Access: what was promised and what was in the build
The Steam listing sets out what players had at launch and what the developers planned to add. The developers estimated an Early Access period of six months to one year and said they wanted community feedback during that time. Those estimates have now passed, so the table reflects the state of the roadmap as described rather than as confirmed delivery.
| Item | Status in the Steam Early Access description | Current position |
|---|---|---|
| Factions | Three playable factions at launch | More factions planned; not confirmed as delivered |
| Biomes | Three biomes at launch | New Zones and Biomes planned; not confirmed as delivered |
| Solo and daily challenges | Available at launch | Listed as part of the Early Access build |
| Multiplayer ratings | Available at launch | Listed as part of the Early Access build |
| Single-player campaign | Planned | Reported for version 1.0 in the July 2026 secondary report; not officially confirmed |
| Squad rankings and ranked leaderboards | Planned | Competitive rankings reported for version 1.0; not officially confirmed |
| New Units and Actions | Planned | Not confirmed as delivered |
| Tournaments | Planned | Not confirmed as delivered |
| Squad ownership | Planned | Not confirmed as delivered |
The Early Access timeline
Counting from March 10, 2025, the six-month-to-one-year window ran from roughly September 2025 to March 2026. The official website still labels the game as Early Access, and the Steam Community page showed a September 2026 hotfix, which shows development activity. A developer announcement on the same page also mentioned a planned appearance at PAX Australia 2026 with a campaign-mode preview. Event dates and details should be checked on the Steam Community page before planning around them.
Rank #3
- NEW CAMPAIGN ADVENTURES: Embark on the Deadly Frontier Campaign, a thrilling expansion to the ISS Vanguard universe with new challenges and missions.
- EXPANDED GAME UNIVERSE: Explore uncharted territories and face unique hazards in a campaign that broadens the scope of your space exploration.
- STRATEGIC DEPTH: Encounter new scenarios that require strategic planning and decision-making, enhancing the complexity and enjoyment of your game.
- ADDITIONAL CONTENT: Enjoy a wealth of additional content including new equipment, enemies, and story elements, enriching your ISS Vanguard experience.
- FRESH GAMEPLAY EXPERIENCES: Designed to integrate seamlessly with the base game, this expansion offers fresh and exciting gameplay experiences for veteran ISS Vanguard players.
The reported version 1.0 date
A Capsule Computers report dated July 18, 2026 says The Tea Division announced version 1.0 for February 4, 2027, with campaign mode, progression, competitive rankings, and further faction, biome and content updates. The article has not found an official announcement confirming this date, so it should be read as the report’s account of what the developer said.
Platform and system requirements
The Steam listing is for PC. It gives Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit, as the requirement to run the game. The sources reviewed for this article do not establish a console release, so no console version should be assumed.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The developer’s reason for Early Access
The Steam listing quotes The Tea Division’s rationale for launching into Early Access:
Rank #4
- Based on the critically-acclaimed Sniper Elite video game series, with one player taking on the role of elite Allied sniper Karl Fairburne and their opponents teaming up to hunt them down.
- A tense one-versus-many hidden-movement game where bluff and deduction meets tactical combat, as every shot and movement risks revealing the sniper's location, but every step closer makes the defenders an easier target.
- Fast paced and action-packed, with an average play time of 45 minutes at any player count.
- Co-designed by award-winning designer David Thompson, designer of acclaimed war-themed titles like War Chest and the Undaunted series.
- Includes a double sided-playing board with two different maps, ten unique ink-washed miniatures and fully illustrated cards from the concept art team behind the videogame series.
“The choice to release into Early Access is centred on community, to bring together passionate players whose feedback will help the future of Vanguard Exiles.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Questions the developer has not yet answered publicly in the sources
The official FAQ lists four questions readers are likely to ask: how much the game will cost, what the future monetisation plan is, whether there will be a campaign mode, and how multiplayer works. The FAQ questions were found, but the answers were not retrievable when this article was prepared. Readers should check the FAQ and the live Steam store page directly. Price and any discounts are volatile and are not stated here.
What to check before you buy
- The current price and any discounts on the Steam store page.
- Whether the single-player campaign and rankings have been released, since the Early Access description lists them as planned.
- The Steam Community page for the latest hotfixes and event announcements.
- The official FAQ for answers on monetisation and multiplayer.
Readers who want a tactical autobattler that rewards choice in the moment, and who are comfortable with an unfinished game, will find the core Squad and Zone system already playable. Readers who are waiting for a single-player campaign should wait for an official confirmation of the version 1.0 release.
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- STANDALONE & STREAMLINED: A standalone game in the Black Orchestra series with quicker and simpler gameplay for a fast-paced, accessible experience.
- SOLO & COOPERATIVE PLAY: Work together with friends or play on your own to defeat the Gestapo and complete your mission.
- END HITLER'S REIGN OF TERROR: Focuses on the core objective of a single, high-stakes mission—assassinating Hitler with explosives.
- NEW STRATEGIC ELEMENTS: Introduces new mechanics and a more direct gameplay loop, while maintaining the core tension of the original game.
- HIGHLY REPLAYABLE: With a variety of items, allies, and locations, every mission feels fresh and challenging.
Richard Garfield’s design background is the most notable part of the game’s story, but it is not a guarantee of the game’s quality. Vanguard Exiles should be judged by its current build and by what the developer delivers from its roadmap.
The Bottom Line
Vanguard Exiles is a PC Early Access autobattler with squad building, card-style actions and changing battlefield Zones. Its launch date on Steam is March 10, 2025. The campaign, rankings and a 1.0 release are planned, but only the secondary July 2026 report places them on a February 4, 2027 date.
Quick Recap
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