It felt like the moment I turned 30, all my friends got really into climbing. Pretty perfect timing then that Cairn came out when it did. We scored it 91% in our review, which is high praise indeed. For all of you impatient climbers who have been awaiting the delayed DLC, I bring good news: its new release date is only one month away.
As revealed at the PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct, the first of Cairn’s free On the Trail DLC, Deep Water, will be launching October 29, 2026. This is the first of a series of free planned expansions that’ll add more to the climbing game.
Wishlist Cairn’s new DLC on Steam
Release date: October 29, 2026
Survival climbing game Cairn is getting the first of its free DLC October 29. Wishlist On the Trail: Deep Water and grab the base game for 20% off until September 26.
Included in Deep Water are three new climbing locations. There are the cliffs of Haken and Ruka, where you’ll be ascending overhangs above water. The wet stuff isn’t just pretty to look at, though, it adds a bit of a safety net. Now, you can fall in without any consequences, so don’t worry if your free solo adventure doesn’t go quite as planned.
The Lamu climbing gym is also being added, so you can test your skills in a safer environment. I know that’s not as thrilling for some of you, but others like to keep their bones in one piece.
As well as the new locations, you can also play as Marco to see how his climbing style differs from Aava’s. You can also take either of them out in a new free roam mode. This will allow you to reload saves on the mountain and practise, or try out new routes.
If you’ve not given Cairn a go yet, it’s currently 20% off on Steam until September 26, so now is a good chance to grab it before the DLC drops next month. If you’ve already got it, then you can wishlist the DLC right here.