The Relic First Guardian Sets July 31 Launch For PC And PS5

The South Korean Soulslike action RPG is coming first to PC and PlayStation 5, with Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 versions arriving later in summer.

Publisher Perp Games and developer Project Cloud Games have confirmed that The Relic: First Guardian will launch on July 31, 2026 for PC via Steam and PlayStation 5. The Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 versions are still planned for later in summer, while a physical PS5 edition will follow on September 4. As highlighted by Gematsu and RPG Site, the game takes place in Arsiltus, a once peaceful world now consumed by blight after the destruction of the great relic. Players step into the role of a First Guardian, tasked with reclaiming relic fragments and pushing back the darkness.

The Relic: First Guardian is built around fast action RPG combat with Soulslike structure. The game features over 70 boss encounters, 5 weapon types, and 12 separate skill trees, allowing players to create their own build instead of following a fixed class system.

One of the game’s most interesting design choices is how stamina works. Unlike many Soulslike games, stamina is not consumed by attacks. Instead, stamina is reserved for blocking and dodging, while offensive skills rely on cooldowns. That changes the rhythm of combat. Players can attack freely, but survival still depends on timing, defensive movement, and knowing when to avoid damage. It also gives The Relic: First Guardian a different identity from games that use one shared stamina pool for every major action.

Progression also moves away from traditional character leveling. Players grow through Relics, collectible memories that provide more than 70 passive effects. These can alter combat tempo, improve weapon strengths, reshape skills, and help define each player’s Guardian.

The official Steam page lists the game as coming soon, but system requirements are still marked as TBC. With the July 31 release date now confirmed, Perp Games and Project Cloud Games should reveal full PC requirements soon.

For now, the Steam listing confirms The Relic: First Guardian as a single player action, adventure, and RPG release with English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Korean language support.

The Relic: First Guardian is entering a crowded Soulslike market, but its stamina system gives it a clear hook.

Letting players attack without draining stamina could make combat feel more aggressive and less restrictive, while still keeping danger alive through defensive stamina management. If the cooldown system and boss design are tuned well, this could help the game stand apart from the usual Soulslike formula.

The bigger question is execution. Over 70 bosses sounds ambitious, but quantity only matters if those encounters are memorable, readable, and varied. The Relic also needs strong performance, tight hit detection, and satisfying progression to compete with bigger action RPG releases.

Still, the Asian mythology inspired setting, relic based growth system, and class free build structure give Project Cloud Games a strong foundation. July 31 will be the real test.

Does The Relic: First Guardian’s attack free stamina system sound like a smart Soulslike evolution, or do you prefer the traditional shared stamina approach?