patchAug 20, 2026
City States: Medieval Leaves Early Access at 1.0 with New Sandbox Mode
After a period of weekly Early Access updates, City States: Medieval has reached version 1.0 as of July 24, 2026, according to a launch announcement from developer Konstantin.
The team describes the release not as a conclusion but as a continuing development commitment, with regular post-launch updates planned.
What changed at 1.0
- Sandbox Mode added by popular demand — players can choose a nation and build freely without campaign objectives
- Expanded factions: Christian, Muslim, Pagan, and Slavic powers are now playable, each with distinct units and mechanics
- Community-driven improvements: dozens of features and quality-of-life changes accumulated over the Early Access period
- Additional nations will continue to be added on a weekly basis post-launch; players can request specific factions via the forums
The 1.0 announcement specifically credits player feedback — bug reports, suggestions, and reviews — as the primary driver of the game's development trajectory during Early Access.
For players who held off on the Early Access build, the 1.0 release offers a fuller faction roster and the flexibility of Sandbox Mode alongside whatever campaign structure was already in place.