Hello Pilots,
As of March 6th, 2025, Ferrous Digital Edition has officially launched in Early Access; it’s been a long journey—one that’s still just beginning! Development has been ongoing for about 10 months, and in that time, the main objective had been clear: to bring Lewis R.K.’s Alpha v3 rulebook for the Ferrous board game into a digital format and for sale on digital platforms. This has not always been clear, and I want to take a moment to reflect on the development thus far.
From Tabletop to Digital: The Evolution of Ferrous
One of the most exciting (and challenging) aspects of developing Ferrous Digital Edition has been staying true to the board game’s roots while also expanding its potential in a digital space. During the Alpha there was a lot of discussion about how Ferrous would evolve, how to add the 'user's touch' to their digital Battalion. However, since development began, Lewis has released the Alpha v4 rulebook, which introduces many new features and refinements to the original system we hoped to adapt. Winter largely has been characterized by the push to adapt the v4 rules faithfully. Thankfully Ferrous Digital Edition, as of Beta, now largely reflects the v4 rulebooks. Some of these additions include:
🔹Fog of War
🔹Battle Skills
🔹Quadrapedal Mechs
🔹Turning being limited to pre or post Move (rather than being a 1AP action)
🔹Custom Rules (Reload Rule, Allow Quads)
For the game we at Sasori Zero Labs want to write a definitive Roadmap of what to expect and hope to deliver this specific announcement before April. This first Roadmap will reflect what to expect for the next year. We intend for Ferrous Digital Edition to be in Early access for 1 & 1/2 years and hope to then write a second Roadmap, largely concerning Full Release and DLC next year. The game will continue to evolve, integrating new mechanics, refinements, and additional features over time. For user convenience we will be including copies of the v4 Rulebook with the game as well as instructional materials that come with the board game. You may also grab these materials here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1okZUlTibqhEK_sp1gha8RkMx2j5sJNCe
At this time there are no plans to make an adaptation of the v3 rulebook, and the v5 rulebook may come out while the game is in Early Access. Rest assured Team Ferrous will adapt any rulebook changes and make the evolution of the game a fun and easy process. Ferrous Digital Edition is meant to serve as a compliment to the board game while insuring it is even more widely accessible via global digital distribution.
What’s Next?
To keep things focused, the immediate goal(s) are to enhance the game’s visuals, to add full 3d animations to Entity actions, and add Obstacles to the game that serve as a form of cover and hurdles to navigate ingame. Our next major update will introduce:
✅ Expanded VFX & Animations – Bringing more impact to combat, movement, and user interaction.
✅ Smoother Visual Feedback – Improving responsiveness and immersion.
✅ A New Map – An all new map that features Obstacles of various sizes
✅ Randomized Quickplay AI – Quickplay will result in the Opponent using a random deck (Custom
game AI will have an optional similar feature also)
Adding Obstacles will complete our adaptation of the v4 rulebook and open the doors to make large scale urban maps similar to Ferrous' Steel Bridge Set. The VFX and Animation updates will lay the groundwork for our first Major Milestone: Mecha and Deck Customization. This system will allow players to personalize their mechs skins as well as set their weapons, offering greater depth and strategic options for players to experiment with. Lastly randomizing the deck the AI uses can further enhance player experience by spicing up the fight against the AI.
Final Thoughts
Ferrous Digital Edition is still in its early days, and everyone's feedback is invaluable in shaping the game’s future. We appreciate your patience, your support, and your enthusiasm. There’s a lot more to come, and Team Ferrous is excited to build Ferrous in public, alongside you.
See you on the battlefield,
Miles J. Litteral, Sasori Zero Labs