Hashbane Interactive’s dino-adventure game, Instinction, has gotten yet another project update in the form of some newly fresh, frequently asked questions. Amongst those questions, the team revealed exactly when supporters can expect access to the Instinction Alpha test. 

Journey Into a Prehistoric Hidden World This June

First and foremost, when does the Instinction Alpha begin? Well, according to the newly updated FAQ page, those who preordered the Supporter Edition of Instinction can expect the Alpha to go live in June 2024. There’s no exact date, but it does narrow it down more than the previous Q3 2024 window. Here’s what to expect through the Alpha stage.

• The Alpha will start in June 2024 and continue through to release, divided into 4 phases and periodic updates. Initial focus is on single player campaign mechanics and additional game modes, CO-OP/ multiplayer will be included in subsequent updates, full roadmap available soon

The NDA around it is rather strict, with discussion only permitted in the Supporter Discord channel once it goes live. 

Now, onto the story details. Previously, the studio released a short story synopsis, and though this doesn’t expand much more on it, it gives us a little more details on the campaign. 

“A grounded, prehistoric science-fiction story that features a relatable protagonist contending with grief, the obligations of family, and the challenges of the incredible world she finds herself in. What begins as a simple trip to an isolated village becomes the adventure of a lifetime as Izzy is thrust in the middle of a modern conflict in an ancient, hidden world. Deep in the Yucatan Jungle, she discovers her grandmother’s heritage: an incredible hidden civilization that lives side by side with dinosaurs, threatened by forces from without, and within…

A fully realised wide-linear world with stunning architecture and a thriving prehistoric ecology with AI that interacts autonomously within the environment.

Gameplay will feature a combination of stealth, ranged and melee combat, supernatural abilities, and environmental mechanics will translate to fresh takes on everything from dealing with waves of enemies to boss battles, there are sections where you can play as dinosaurs too.

Additionally you will find other game modes, some geared toward multiplayer combat.”

Hold Onto Your Butts, They Have Dinos, Lots of Them!

For those who have been following Instinction, you probably are well aware that it’ll feature a ton of different dinosaurs. But the question is, how many of them? Well, according to the FAQ, 29 dinosaurs will be available upon release, and they’ll come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, sexes, ages, and colors. This number doesn’t include the available mammals and ambient fauna. 

Some of these have already been showcased in several videos over the years, including dino-favorite, the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Be warned; he’s sort of a chunky boi. 

We learned from the preorder announcement that there will also be some planned DLC, which Hashbane Interactive breaks down even further.

“A future DLC is planned with an additional 25 creatures, expansion pack with new characters and locations, as well as a few new game modes and mechanics. Our focus is on the initial release and some details are in discussion and we will be taking user feedback into account as we plan the DLC’s.”

There are more questions that you can read for yourself, but a majority of those are more around the NDA, Discord channel, and some technical stuff that’ll be revealed later.

Instinction is currently targeting a Q4 2025 release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.