Irregular Shapes and publisher Firesquid have officially set January 29, 2026, as the date for City Tales – Medieval Era to leave its year-long Early Access period and enter version 1.0. This milestone marks the culmination of a journey that began with a small French indie team’s vision of a grid-less, organic city builder. While the genre has become increasingly crowded, this particular title has managed to carve out a niche by focusing on a hand-painted aesthetic and a relaxing, character-driven approach to kingdom management.
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The journey of the game development in brief
The story of City Tales started in earnest in May 2025, when it first arrived on Steam as a promising but incomplete simulation. The developer, Rémi Malet, founded Irregular Shapes with the goal of breaking away from the rigid, blocky layouts that define many traditional city builders. Over the last several months, the team has used the Early Access period to refine their “District” system, which allows players to draw custom zones where citizens automatically build their homes. This organic growth gives every village a unique, lived-in feel that mirrors actual medieval settlements rather than modern urban planning.
The transition to version 1.0 is not just a label change. It brings the full narrative to its conclusion, introducing the second act of the story and adding final “Masterworks” that serve as ultimate endgame goals for veteran builders. For those who found the management side a bit too demanding, the launch also introduces a dedicated Painter Mode, allowing for pure creativity without the constraints of resource gathering or citizen influence.
What you need to know about ‘Companions’
What has truly set this game apart during its development is its focus on “Companions.” Unlike other simulators where you are a faceless god-figure, City Tales puts a face on your administration. At launch, players will have access to ten distinct characters, each with their own backstories and progression paths. These advisors don’t just offer advice, they can be assigned to oversee specific industries, training workers and improving efficiency as they level up.
The final update expands these relationships even further, adding new questlines that breathe life into the streets you’ve paved. It is a shift in focus that makes the city feel less like a machine to be optimized and more like a community to be nurtured. By the time players reach the new “Prestige” tiers for their companions, these characters often feel like the heart of the settlement.
Special offer to celebrate a true milestone
To mark the 1.0 release, Firesquid is offering a 35% launch discount on Steam, making the game significantly more accessible for newcomers who were waiting for the “complete” experience. The launch day also sees the release of the “Fluffy Companions” DLC, a cosmetic pack that adds a variety of animals to the world, from cats lounging on thatched roofs to shepherd groups guiding livestock through the town squares.
It is a savvy move that leans into the “cozy” appeal of the game, acknowledging that for many players, the joy of a city builder is in the small, interactive details rather than just the economic spreadsheets. The addition of these interactive elements, like pets that respond to cursor clicks, reinforces the game’s identity as a stress-free alternative to more hardcore survival simulators.
With the 1.0 launch, the foundation of City Tales – Medieval Era is finally solid. However, the developers have hinted that this is just the beginning of the franchise. The engine they’ve built to handle procedural building and organic district growth is flexible, and there is already speculation about where the “Tales” might go next. For now, the focus remains on the January 29 debut and ensuring the transition from Early Access is as smooth as possible for the existing community.
Check out the official game trailer below –
