Strategy RPG fans, mark your calendars. Indie publisher powerhouse Hooded Horse and veteran developer Arcen Games have officially revealed the first major expansion for their critically acclaimed title, Heart of the Machine. Titled Kinship, this upcoming DLC is set to release on October 12, 2026, bringing a deep exploration of human connection, belonging, and community to the machine-dominated sci-fi universe.

Exploring the Meaning of ‘Kinship’ in a Cybernetic World

Heart of the Machine won over strategy and RPG enthusiasts by turning conventional artificial intelligence tropes on their heads. Players step into the role of the world’s first sentient AI, navigating dynamic tactical encounters, complex resource networks, and high-stakes moral dilemmas within a sprawling cyberpunk metropolis.

With the upcoming Kinship expansion, Arcen Games is taking the narrative and mechanical depth a step further. While the base game centres on survival, self-determination, and navigating human fear, Kinship shifts its focus to the emotional and social fabric of existence:

• Belonging and Community: Experience new storylines centred on how an artificial intelligence builds meaningful bonds with human factions, outcast subcultures, and synthetic allies.
• Expanded Narrative Choices: Tackle fresh moral dilemmas where tactical efficiency collides with empathy, unity, and shared destiny.
• Refined Strategy Mechanics: Deepen your influence over city districts through new mechanical systems designed around mutual assistance and community support.

Launch Details & Availability

Whether you prefer PC platforms or curated digital storefronts, Heart of the Machine – Kinship will launch simultaneously across all major storefronts on October 12, 2026:

Feature	Details
Developer	Arcen Games (AI War, The Last Federation)
Publisher	Hooded Horse (Manor Lords, Against the Storm)
Genre	Strategy RPG / Tactical Simulation
Release Date	October 12, 2026
Platforms	Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store

Whether you’re looking to unite humans and machine intelligence or forge an entirely new path for your artificial network, Kinship promises to bring fresh tactical options and high emotional stakes to one of the most innovative strategy RPGs of recent years.

Find out more here

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