As civilization prepares for an impending ice age, a twisted new project emerges, half science experiment and half live-entertainment. It's called Darwin Project and it challenges participants to survive the cold and fight to the death in a treacherous, snow-covered arena.

Darwin Project takes the battle royale genre up north to the Canadian Rockies. Set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop, an impending ice age has kick-started a twisted new reality show, in which participants must fight to the death to earn their survival. Other combatants won’t be players’ only worries though, as the harsh climate will put even the most hardened survivalists to the test.

Darwin Project offers a competitive multiplayer third-person experience with an emphasis on survival. Players must withstand extreme environmental conditions, track opponents, craft tools, set traps, and even negotiate temporary alliances to be the last one standing at sunrise.

Darwin Project is now available on Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview for $14.99 USD.

Not only does this kick off the next phase of development for Darwin Project, but this is also the first time Xbox One combatants will have a chance to take to the arena. Whether they’re fighting for their survival or casting their judgement on the battlefield as the Show Director, players on Xbox One will finally get to experience the joys of booby trapping a cabin with trip-wires, sniping an enemy into a lava pit from a nearby mountaintop, and stalking their prey through the frozen nooks and crannies of the Canadian Rockies.

In addition to releasing with all the environmental survival action players have come to expect from Darwin Project’s snow-laden take on the battle royale genre, all the new features unveiled in the last Open Beta are now a permanent part of the manhunt. In particular, Spectator Interactions on Twitch and Mixer were standouts of Darwin Project’s Betas, as they allowed stream viewers to influence the decisions of the Show Director and make an impact on the battlefield. With the game’s release on Early Access and Game Preview, fans can look forward to more engaging streams than ever before.

The team at Scavengers are also extending a big, Canadian “thank you” to the players who helped to shape the manhunt into what it is today. Everyone who participated in Darwin Project’s Alpha or Beta tests will receive complimentary entry to the Early Access version on Steam.