Temtem: Swarm officially left Early Access on April 2, 2026, and the 1.0 update is the biggest the game has seen. Crema and GGTech didn't just ship a version number bump. They added two new playable Tems, a procedurally generated arena, a full Prestige System, 29 new Techniques, and PS5 cross-play co-op for up to 3 players. Whether you're returning from Early Access or jumping in fresh, there's a lot to unpack.
Venx evolution choice screen
What's actually new in the 1.0 update?
The headline additions break down into four categories: new Tems, a new arena, a new progression layer, and a batch of new gear and systems. Each one adds something meaningfully different rather than padding the same loop.
Venx and Chromeon: the two new playable Tems
Venx is a Neutral-type Temtem with a split-evolution path that makes every run feel like a different character. Mid-run, you choose to evolve into either Vental (Mental-type) or Venmet (Melee-type). That decision shapes your entire build direction, so it's worth thinking about which Techniques and Gears you've picked up before committing.
Chromeon works completely differently. This Digital-type Temtem changes its secondary typing every time it fires off its Ultimate, cycling through 13 type-based special attacks. Testing Chromeon against dense swarms makes it clear how valuable that flexibility is: you're never locked into a bad type matchup if you can cycle to the right attack at the right moment.
info
With Chromeon, pay attention to which secondary type is currently active before using your Ultimate. Triggering it at the wrong moment wastes the type advantage you've been building toward.
What is the Evershifting Tower?
The Evershifting Tower is a procedurally generated arena built from 150 different tiles, with rotating elemental waves that change the challenge every run. No two runs share the same layout, which gives the game genuine replay value beyond just trying new Tem builds. The elemental wave rotation means you can't just autopilot the same strategy; you need to adapt to whatever the Tower throws at you.
For fans of the bullet-heaven genre who burned through the base maps quickly during Early Access, this is the mode that keeps Temtem: Swarm worth returning to. You can find more details on run variety and community strategies at the Temtem: Swarm community hub on swarm.tem.team, which tracks the latest news and build information.
info
The Evershifting Tower uses 150 distinct tiles in its procedural generation, so the layout variation is substantial rather than cosmetic.
Evershifting Tower tile layout
How does the Prestige System work?
The Prestige System is the new long-term progression layer added at 1.0. Once you fully master a Temtem's skill tree, you can reset it to gain Prestige levels. Each Prestige level unlocks powerful passive bonuses, and pushing far enough earns access to Luma and Umbra color variants, described by Crema as ultra-rare.
This is a smart design choice for a game in this genre. Survivor-likes live and die on whether there's a reason to keep running after you've seen most of the content. The Prestige System gives completionists a concrete goal beyond just clearing runs, and the Luma and Umbra variants function as visible status symbols for players who've put in the time.
warning
Resetting a skill tree to gain Prestige means starting that tree from scratch. Make sure you've actually extracted value from your current build before committing to the reset.
What new gear and systems launched with 1.0?
Beyond the Tems and Tower, the 1.0 update ships with a substantial content package:
- 29 new Techniques added to the pool
- 4 new Gears to experiment with in builds
- 6 new Glitches that add modifiers and complications to runs
- Tempedia system for tracking overall progress
- 45 Steam Achievements and 56 PlayStation Trophies for completionists
The Glitches in particular are worth noting. Adding 6 new modifiers to the run pool expands the number of chaotic combinations you can encounter, which pairs well with the Evershifting Tower's randomness.
How does cross-platform co-op work?
Temtem: Swarm supports 3-player co-op with full cross-play between PC and PS5. That means Steam and PS5 players can run together without any platform barrier. The game launched on PS5 alongside the 1.0 update, so the entire PS5 player base is new as of April 2026, which is good news for finding co-op partners early.
For co-op specifics and how to set up sessions with friends across platforms, the Co-Optimus listing for Temtem: Swarm has co-op details and community info.
A Nintendo Switch version is confirmed to be in development but has no release date yet, according to the official launch announcement.
Are there any launch bundles worth picking up?
On Steam, Temtem: Swarm launched with two genre bundles:
- Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor + Temtem: Swarm bundle
- Brotato + Temtem: Swarm bundle
Both bundles carry a 10% discount on top of the standard pricing. The 30% Steam launch discount on Temtem: Swarm itself runs until April 16, 2026, so if you're on the fence, that window is relevant.
Getting started: what should you prioritize?
With all the 1.0 content landing at once, here's where to focus first:
- Try Venx early to understand the split-evolution mechanic before committing to harder runs. The choice between Vental and Venmet fundamentally changes your build, so knowing both paths matters.
- Run the Evershifting Tower once you're comfortable with the base game loop. The rotating elemental waves punish passive strategies, so build flexibility before diving in.
- Don't rush Prestige. Fully exploring a Temtem's skill tree before resetting it means you actually know what you're giving up. Blind resets waste the progression you've built.
- Check the Tempedia regularly to track which Tems and Techniques you haven't seen yet. It's a useful guide for what to prioritize in future runs.
For more survivor-like and creature collector guides, browse the latest gaming guides on GAMES.GG to find strategies across the genre.