Bitcraft Online Launches in Early Access on June 20 with Open Source Code and Collaborative Sandbox Vision
Clockwork Labs, the San Francisco-based independent game developer, has officially announced that its much-anticipated sandbox MMORPG Bitcraft Online will enter early access on June 20, 2025. Available via Steam on Windows and macOS, the game aims to reshape the genre by launching as an open-source title—empowering community-driven development and long-term collaboration.
Set within a procedurally generated, single-world environment, Bitcraft Online distinguishes itself by offering a persistent ecosystem where all players coexist on the same global map. Whether you’re building a small homestead or helping construct sprawling cities, the game invites you to leave a real mark on the virtual world. The terrain itself is fully modifiable, allowing players to reshape mountains, dig valleys, or craft regions that evolve with community growth.
In a bold move, Clockwork Labs has opted to make the entire game open-source. According to co-founder Tyler Cloutier, this decision is philosophical as much as it is technical:
“The ethos behind Bitcraft Online has always been about one core principle: collaboration. This is a massive in-game ecosystem, where we encourage players to work together to build towns, cities, or even empires. So to truly empower our community, it was important to ensure that the game would be open-source… not only the toolset to play within our world, but to participate in building it.”
This open development philosophy invites modders, developers, and curious creatives to directly contribute to the project. It also aligns with the game’s internal mechanics—community-centric, player-shaped, and interaction-first.
Bitcraft Online offers multiple valid playstyles—players can choose to be a crafter, explorer, merchant, hunter, or hybrid of roles. With a player-driven economy, strategic trading and cooperation are vital for survival and prosperity. Whether you prefer farming, fishing, architecture, or combat, Bitcraft allows you to tailor your experience with tangible impact.
System Requirements
Despite its ambitious design, the game is accessible with relatively modest PC specs:
-
OS: Windows 10 or later
CPU: Intel i5 3.0 GHz
RAM: 8 GB
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
Storage: 5 GB
Network: Broadband connection
-
OS: Windows 10 or later
CPU: Intel i7 3.8 GHz
RAM: 16 GB
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
Storage: 5 GB
Network: Broadband connection
With early access just weeks away, Bitcraft Online presents itself as a strong contender in the indie MMO space. Its long development roadmap ensures the studio is not rushing the product, focusing instead on sustainable evolution through community feedback and continuous iteration. According to the team, it could take several years before exiting early access, but this deliberate pace is part of its foundational philosophy.
What are your thoughts on a fully open-source MMO? Are you planning to carve out your legacy in Bitcraft Online? Tell us how you'd shape the world!
