03 SEP 2026
Web // 1.0
ROOTLINE website launched
The first static version of the public ROOTLINE website is
live-ready, with a focused Steam wishlist path and dedicated
pages for roadmap and development notes.
-
Added responsive landing page and terminal-inspired visual
system.
- Added Steam wishlist and Playtest calls to action.
-
Added public roadmap with current, planned and longer-term
development direction.
-
Added this changelog as a simple static publishing surface.
03 SEP 2026
STEAM PLAYTEST // 0.1.1
First steam playtest build approved
This playtest milestone added player-owned network hosting
and made substantial changes to ROOTLINE's terminal, scripting,
browser, mail, and persistence systems. Players gained the ability
to rent and manage networks through Uplink Control, configure
routers and hosted services, and use pipelines, background jobs,
and expanded shell scripting to automate tasks. The browser gained
tabs and persistent web sessions, while RootMail received folders,
replies, attachments, and live updates. An offline Manual was added
to document the game's systems and Lua APIs, alongside improvements
to SSH, file transfers, banking, contracts, sign-in, account resets,
and connection recovery.
- Persistent multiplayer world remains the core setting.
-
Steam Playtest access can be requested from the store page.
- Early Access release date remains
TBA.
15 AUG 2026
PLAYTEST // 0.1.0
Desktop Expansion Playtest
The Desktop Expansion Playtest significantly expanded how players interacted with
ROOTLINE's world. Explorer gained drag-and-drop transfers, multi-selection, folder
operations, file associations, and a Recycle Bin, while the desktop received
improved icons, launchers, notifications, window controls, and taskbar behavior.
Contracts gained downloadable instructions, hacking commands provided clearer results,
and players received more control over domains and DNS. Browser navigation,
mail, text editing, networking, payments, and multiplayer state updates were
also improved.
- Expanded Explorer with drag-and-drop transfers, batch file operations, folder copying, renaming, and a Recycle Bin.
- Added richer contract delivery, additional attack opportunities, clearer hacking output, and expanded DNS administration.
- Improved desktop applications, browser feedback, payments, networking, and live multiplayer state updates.
14 AUG 2026
PLAYTEST // 0.0.5
First Contact Playtest
The First Contact Playtest was the first time ROOTLINE was made available to players.
It introduced the core hacking loop of discovering targets, scanning and exploiting
services, navigating remote machines, retrieving files, and completing contracts for
payment. Players could explore the desktop, use the terminal, browser, mail client,
file explorer, and code editor, create Lua programs, purchase domains, manage their
bank account, and operate network services within a persistent shared world.
- Opened ROOTLINE to players for the first time with its core desktop and hacking systems.
- Introduced contracts, remote network access, file retrieval, banking, mail, domains, and IRC.
- Allowed players to write Lua programs, manage files and packages, and operate their own network services.