Ikuma: The Frozen Compass
Arctic narrative adventure for one or two players, date not announced
- PS5
- Xbox Series X|S
- PC
Release date
Date not announced
The story so far
What we know about Ikuma: The Frozen Compass
IKUMA: The Frozen Compass is a narrative adventure from Mooneye Studios, the Hamburg developer behind Lost Ember. It is set in 1864 on an uncharted Arctic island, where cabin boy Sam and his husky Ellie are stranded. The story centres on a lost expedition and Inuit legends, and the developer has cited the real Franklin expedition of 1845 as an inspiration.
Players can go through it alone, switching between Sam and Ellie, or in co-op with a friend. The official pages describe glaciers, caverns and ships buried in the ice, along with survival elements such as limited supplies and cold, and a fully voiced story about love, loss and endurance. It was announced at the Triple-I showcase in 2025 and is listed for 2026 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, but no exact release date has been published.
What to expect from Ikuma: The Frozen Compass
Based on what the developer and publisher have shown so far.
- 01
Two characters, solo or co-op
Sam and his husky Ellie have different abilities. You can switch between them alone or split them between two players.
- 02
Arctic exploration
The store pages describe glaciers, caverns and shipwrecks to explore, with limited supplies and cold as survival pressures.
- 03
Mystery inspired by real history
The plot follows a lost expedition and draws on Inuit legends, with the Franklin expedition named as an inspiration.
See it for yourself
Confirmed. Unconfirmed. Clear.
A quick way to separate official information from speculation.
Confirmed
- Developed and published by Mooneye Studios, the team behind Lost Ember.Steam (Mooneye Studios)
- Set in 1864 on an uncharted Arctic island, following cabin boy Sam and his husky Ellie.PlayStation Store
- Playable solo, switching between two characters, or cooperatively with a friend; the Steam page lists split-screen co-op.Steam (Mooneye Studios)
- Listed for PC (Steam), PS5 and Xbox Series X|S with a 2026 release and no exact date.Gematsu
- The Steam page lists nine languages, including English, German, French, Japanese and Brazilian Portuguese.Steam (Mooneye Studios)
- The game passed 300,000 Steam wishlists in March 2026.GamesMarket
Not confirmed
Exact release date
Only the year 2026 is given by the store pages. Some databases show specific dates, but none is announced by the developer.
Price
No price is listed on the Steam or PlayStation pages yet.
Demo
The Steam page states no demo is available.
Switch or other platforms
Only PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S are listed. No Switch version has been mentioned.
Rumours are labelled and linked to their source.
Timeline
The road to release, from announcement to launch.
April 2025
IKUMA: The Frozen Compass is announced for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Gematsu
13 March 2026
Mooneye Studios reports 300,000 Steam wishlists. GamesMarket
Waiting for Ikuma: The Frozen Compass? Play these
Our best guesses until it is out, picked for the same kind of experience.
Lost Ember
The previous game from the same studio, a story-led adventure with a strong sense of atmosphere.
What Remains of Edith Finch
A short, emotional narrative adventure built around story rather than challenge.
The Long Dark
Another cold-weather survival game, for those drawn to the frozen wilderness setting.
Firewatch
A narrative adventure about isolation, mystery and a strong sense of place.
A Plague Tale: Innocence
A story-driven adventure about a bond between companions in a harsh historical world.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to what people search for most.
When is IKUMA: The Frozen Compass released?
No exact date has been announced. The official store pages only say 2026.
Which platforms is it coming to?
PC via Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Can you play IKUMA: The Frozen Compass co-op?
Yes. You can play solo and switch between Sam and Ellie, or play with a friend who controls one of them.
Who makes it?
Mooneye Studios, the Hamburg developer of Lost Ember, develops and publishes it.
Is there a demo?
The Steam page states that no demo is available.