The wasteland just got a lot more sociable. Independent developer LootBAG Studios and publisher 312 Interactive have unveiled a major update to the demo for their post-apocalyptic bar-management sim On the Rocks, bringing a four-player online co-op preview ahead of Steam Next Fest (19–26 October). Grab your crew, polish your glasses, and fire up the still — the demo is live right now on Steam.
What Is On the Rocks?
Set in the year 2635, where endless war has turned the world into a toxic, water-starved ruin, On the Rocks casts you as the keeper of the last watering hole worth visiting. After your convoy is wrecked by raiders, a grizzled survivor named Uncle John offers you shelter — if you restore and run his derelict family bar.
It’s a one-of-a-kind blend: survival exploration meets tavern management meets immersive sim, all wrapped in first-person. Scavenge the wasteland, purify toxic sludge into drinkable water, brew rare and valuable beverages, serve demanding customers, fortify your premises against nightly raids — and somehow keep the lights on.
“The wasteland is dark. The bar is lit. Keep both alive.” — LootBAG Studios
Co-op — Run the Bar Together
The big news is the new co-op preview — up to four survivors can now team up in a shared world, splitting the work and the fun:
| Role in the Crew | What You Can Do |
|---|---|
| Brewers & Barkeeps | Tend the bar, mix drinks, manage stock, handle customers |
| Scavengers | Venture out together to hunt resources, rare chemicals, and recipes |
| Builders & Defenders | Expand the layout, upgrade gear, reinforce barricades |
| Road Crew | Drive vehicles across the wastes to trade, explore, and fight side-by-side |
How It Works
- Create a lobby, invite friends via Steam, and ready up
- Proximity voice chat — natural conversation when you’re together behind the bar
- Walkie-talkies — stay in touch across long distances for supply runs or danger warnings
- Host-saved progress — shared story and bar growth persist through the host’s save file
- Preview status — co-op is still in active development; some features (such as random city duels) remain single-player only for now, and feedback will shape the final release
What Else Is New?
The updated demo brings more than just multiplayer:
- Faction standing and NPC relationships tracked in a revamped journal
- Named save slots supporting up to 12 separate games
- Smoother NPC crowd performance and a raft of collision, placement, and UI fixes
Full Game Features — What’s Coming
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Window | Q4 2026 |
| Modes | Single-player + online co-op (full launch) |
| Languages | English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Turkish, Portuguese, Japanese |
| PC Specs | Windows 10/11; i3-2100 / FX-6300 minimum; GTX 750 Ti; 4 GB RAM; 4 GB storage |
| Core Loop | Scavenge ? Purify ? Brew ? Serve ? Defend ? Expand |
| Themes | Alcohol preparation, in-game gambling, combat/survival violence |
Steam Next Fest — Join the Party
The updated demo is available immediately on Steam — perfect for playing solo or gathering your team before the festival kicks off next week. Whether you’re brewing in sync, fending off raiders back-to-back, or exploring the ruins together, On the Rocks promises a rare mix of warmth and wasteland grit — where friendship might just be the most valuable resource of all.
“Grab some friends and we’ll see you at the bar!”
More Info:
#OnTheRocks #LootBAGStudios #312Interactive #SteamNextFest #CoOpGaming #Simulation #PostApocalyptic #IndieDev #ManagementGame #PCGaming #Techmash
