Fireshine Games and Pugstorm have announced Core Keeper version 1.3, titled “Riders of the Underground,” launching on Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch on September 21, 2026. The update arrives as the survival title crosses the six million player milestone.
What changed: Rideable mounts, Hookshot traversal, Moss sub-biome, three pets, and magic tree rebalances. Why it matters: Major mobility and combat-system expansion for a game already drawing millions. Who should care: Switch and Switch 2 survival players, especially Mage and Summoner build users.
Version 1.3 Feature Breakdown
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Rideable Mounts | All cattle types become rideable via the Saddle; mount UI for naming and behavior commands (stay, roam, follow) |
| Hookshot | Off-hand item for crossing pits and small chasms without bridges |
| Moss Sub-Biome | New lush sub-biome in Forgotten Ruins; introduces Orex cattle (raptor-like, critter-diet) |
| New Pets | Three pets: Hoppet (ranged, slippery effect), Azeos Jr (projectile shards, stun), and one unannounced |
| Magic Rework | Mage & Summoner talent rebalancing; new Summoner weapon type, new Mage staff weapons, improved summon spawning/persistence |
| Gear & Content | 10 new armor pieces, 15 rings, 15 necklaces, new pouches, weapons, and enemies |
| Quality of Life | Customizable cursor/crosshair, resizable paintbrush areas, go-kart handling improvements, boats/mine carts/go-karts return to inventory on death |
Analysis
The 1.3 update represents a significant mobility overhaul for Core Keeper. Rideable mounts and the Hookshot address two persistent traversal pain points — long-distance overland travel and pit navigation — that previously relied on manual bridge-building. The Mage and Summoner talent restructure signals an active balance pass on two of the game’s less refined build paths, with new weapon types giving each class fresh progression options. The Moss sub-biome’s predator-free design offers a contrast to the hostile Forgotten Ruins, while the Orex adds a visually aggressive but docile mount option.
Crossing six million players before this update lands on Switch platforms indicates a healthy player base heading into a content drop that touches traversal, combat, and base-building systems simultaneously. Players on both Switch generations should expect parity in feature delivery, though specific performance differences between Switch and Switch 2 were not detailed.
Next, players can expect the full 1.3 patch notes and any platform-specific performance details closer to the September 21 launch. A reveal of the third hidden pet is likely to surface either at launch or in a follow-up social media post from the developers.