Questions & answers
Frequently asked
Short, sourced answers to the questions everyone asks.
When does Ardem come out?
Early Access is planned for 2027 on Steam. Techtive Games deliberately names no month after two dates slipped. The full release should follow after less than two years of Early Access.
Can I play Ardem already?
Only with luck: the closed playtest runs under NDA in small waves, with spots drawn at random. You can apply on playardem.com. The public playtest for everyone is postponed.
What are Ardem's system requirements?
According to the Steam store: at least Windows 10/11 (64-bit), Intel Core i7-7700K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X, 16 GB RAM and an Nvidia RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT. Recommended: Intel i7-12700K or AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 32 GB RAM and an RTX 3070 or RX 6800 XT. Plus 50 GB of storage. Full details on the system requirements page.
Is Ardem available in German?
Yes. According to the Steam store, Ardem has full German audio, as well as English, French, Italian and Spanish. Interface and subtitles are available in more than 30 languages.
How do I sign up for the playtest?
Through the official website playardem.com, not through Steam. More than 600,000 people have already signed up. Closed test slots are handed out at random in small waves; there is currently no date for the public test.
How much will Ardem cost?
No official price yet. Early Access will cost less than 1.0 and launch with a discount. The studio plans no pre-sale or collector's edition.
Is Ardem coming to PlayStation or Xbox?
PC comes first. According to the studio, consoles are “definitely on the table” if the community stays active.
Can I play solo and offline?
Yes. There's single-player (offline too), co-op and online servers. Single-player settings are adjustable as well.
How many players per server?
Currently up to 64, with 100 as a long-term goal.
Can I run my own server?
That's the plan: server files for your own hardware are due after launch, and you'll be able to rent servers from hosts. The exact timing is open.
Will there be mods?
Yes, modding is part of the long-term vision. Techtive is working with CurseForge and plans a mod kit.
First or third person?
Both, switchable by key. Servers can enforce one view.
Is there a story or quests?
No. Ardem is pure open-world survival. The backstory around the RHAB-14 virus is told through the world itself, for example on posters.
What does “Ardem” mean?
Artificial Demography – a failed bioweapon project against overpopulation that set off the zombie plague.
Is Ardem like DayZ or SCUM?
The studio names SCUM, DayZ and Project Zomboid as inspirations. Its own focus is electricity, a permanently changeable world, free-form base building and vehicles as mobile bases.
Who makes Ardem?
Techtive Games from Oberhaching near Munich, Germany: about 20 people, all remote. The founders met in the Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim modding scene.