PC and PlayStation 5 GOTY contender confirms free DLC launch date as awards season looms

2026 indie darling Cairn has revealed a new release date for its upcoming free DLC, On The Trail: Deep Water.

Originally set for release in August earlier this year, developer The Game Bakers delayed the DLC in July to add new features and expand its scope beyond what was originally announced.

The DLC is now expected to launch in October, just a few weeks before awards season is expected to commence.

Cairn: On The Trail - Deep Water will release on PC and PS5 on October 29, 2026.

Cairn's new Deep Water DLC will add a load of new fun features to the game

The Game Bakers has also revealed some new information about what kind of content is included in the new DLC, such as the new locations featured as well as some of the gameplay mechanics we’ll be able to use.

There are three new locations, which are apparently “filled with fresh problems and discoveries” for you to overcome. And since these new areas are smaller than Mt Kami, The Game Bakers has added a new twist that gives you a limited amount of energy to complete the climb.

This makes it essential for you to choose your gear and route carefully, so that no mistakes result in you failing the climb.

Meanwhile, the DLC features two playable characters. Aava is back of course, but you’ll also be able to take Marco out climbing along these new locations featured in the DLC.

This isn’t just a visual change though. Marco is a completely different kind of climber compared to Aava, as seen in the main story of Cairn. He’s not as tall or as flexible as Aava, so his climbing style is very different.

However, he makes up for this by having a longer reach, stronger arms, and a newer climbot model. It should give you a reason to replay the DLC again with the other character, allowing you to experience these locations with brand new challenges.

Alongside this new story campaign, Cairn will also be adding a new Free Roam update. This’ll allow you to return to Mt. Kami as either Aava or Marco, allowing you to explore every path of the mountain without being tied down by certain limitations of the story.

Cairn was released in January earlier this year. In GAMINGbible’s 10/10 review of the game, I said that “I don’t just think Cairn will be one of the best games of the year, I think it might be one of the best video games I’ve ever played.”

“Cairn has now become one of my favourite games of all time. I absolutely love the game’s reactive climbing mechanics, the tough-but-fair difficulty, and its entire presentation is simply gorgeous.”