The Magus Circle release date and demo
Quick answer
The Magus Circle launched September 24, 2026 on Steam for Windows, macOS and Linux. The US Steam price is $12.99 as of October 30; patch 1.1.5 adds Steam Cloud and protects Anima rewards after unexpected exits.
The Magus Circle launched September 24, 2026 (By Witchlight; Windows, macOS, Linux) — $12.99 on the US Steam store as of October 30, 2026.
Release facts and launch review snapshot
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Release date | Sep 24, 2026 |
| US Steam price (Oct 30) | $12.99 |
| Launch reviews (Oct 8 snapshot) | 379 total, 335 positive (88%, Very Positive) |
| Developer / Publisher | By Witchlight (self-published) |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Languages | English, Korean (full audio) |
| Achievements | 12 |
Post-launch patch log
By Witchlight’s published patch log now reaches 1.1.5 (October 20) — five hotfixes on from the 1.1.0 physics overhaul, still the biggest single update since launch.
| Patch | Date | Headline fixes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.1–1.0.2 (Day 1) | Sep 25, 2026 | Deck default controls, kill-count save, achievements on victory, death-and-cliff hardlock; mana-mote lag optimized (biggest launch complaint), Anchan soft-lock |
| 1.0.3 | Sep 26, 2026 | Extraction errors, effects stuck on screen; balance: Exsanguinate AoE −25%, Prismatic Gale free, no star-shaped shielded enemies; new scrolls in the hub |
| 1.0.4 | Sep 28, 2026 | First-flashback hardlock, "double milk" in flashback 4, decimal spell descriptions; Odds' bets show the anima bonus |
| 1.0.5 | Sep 29, 2026 | Elysia map generation reworked (final glyphs guaranteed reachable); gesture recognition no longer misfires as "forbidden"; damage-numbers toggle; Mana Burn perk; recoverable lost magic; sprint tutorial in the hub |
| 1.0.6 | Sep 30, 2026 | Unreachable chests, blank recipe ingredients, spellcraft description errors, Leviathan achievements, wrong Assist Mode spell, endings not clearing |
| 1.1.0 | Oct 7, 2026 | Physics overhaul (with Piktiv) — every spell/enemy interaction rebuilt; settings tabs to rebind movement, abilities, Button Press mode, controllers; long fix list (flashback softlock, Aura of Undeath invincible enemies, potion sigils, save/ending fixes) |
| 1.1.1 | Oct 8, 2026 | World-corruption toggle after you beat the game (all maps); missing Tier 2 and Tier 3 level-up gems are back; extra crit damage now shows in damage results; Aura of Pain can no longer go into negative damage; Piercing Solo removed; fixes for Linux save deletion, Elysia phase 1 running off, Apparition Form softlock, an unkillable final boss, walking on water in Yomori, Poppet damaging dead enemies, and tapestry cutscenes now skippable |
| 1.1.2 | Oct 9, 2026 | The Hub's Spellbook now lists every spell you have unlocked and all their upgrades; Yawm boss fixes (disappearing on teleport, damage at odd times); Executioner and Harvest Beam on-kill effects; Omega Beam no longer applies crits twice; Mana Pylon and Explosive Pylon reimplemented; missing text on Tier 2/3 upgrades; boss encounters recorded in map select |
| 1.1.3 | Oct 11, 2026 | No re-casting an ability while it is already active; i-frames during revive; the first Leviathan has a new move; performance work on Bone Shards, Binding String and Gale; spellbook readability improved; Chicha's Reversed Aeon now shows its damage range; fixes for Purification Beam, the Disintegration ray, Cross Gale / Swift Gale amounts, Lightning Blast start-up, Milk's Universe tarot damage, bone spikes 2 and 3, the Yomori and Yawm Leviathan behaviours (flying off, rotating, killbox escape), max HP dropping to 0, and the executioner beam that could cause crashes or lag spikes |
| 1.1.5 | Oct 20, 2026 | Steam Cloud, crash/quit Anima rewards, stronger save backups, post-clear Puddle in Acts 2/3, mid-run achievements, spell and pause fixes |
| 1.1.4 | Oct 15, 2026 | All spell synergies buffed; chests despawn after 5 minutes and give mana and XP when no upgrades are left to give; Mana Burn now prevents mana regen; Emergency Extract usable before the boss (no boss loot); fixes for chest softlocks, wrong damage-over-time effects, gestures not re-adding after a tutorial, the player offset after falling off platforms in Yomori, Earthward Synergies, Roaring Flames and Poppet Missile positioning, Mana Burn values, glyphs appearing out of bounds, achievements' secret descriptions, and boss attacks continuing during pause |
What to do about these current bugs
- Final Elysia glyph unreachable: install 1.0.5+ — map generation reworked; old routes may differ.
- Chest unreachable or recipe ingredients blank: update to 1.0.6 first.
- Leviathan achievement will not unlock: 1.0.6 fixes it; retry on the patched build.
- Wrong Assist Mode cast: update to 1.0.6 and retest. Drawing troubleshooting.
- Invincible enemies, potions not registering, softlocks: update to 1.1.0 — fixed October 7.
- Chest softlocks: 1.1.4 prevents chests softlocking — and note chests now despawn after 5 minutes, so open them on sight.
- Fell off a platform in Yomori and movement feels offset: 1.1.4 fixes the player offset — update and re-enter the map.
- Wrong damage-over-time effects, or a boss still attacking while paused: both fixed in 1.1.3–1.1.4 — update before reporting again.
- Lost progress after a crash or a new PC: 1.1.5 adds Steam Cloud saves and keeps Anima rewards when the game dies mid-run — update before a long session.
Official 1.1.0 announcement; 1.1.3 and 1.1.4 hotfix notes.
Source: official Steam announcements (Sept 28 "Plans for Future Updates" post; launch-day post). Ports for Google Play / iOS are targeted by end of 2026.
Save and progression checks in 1.1.5
- Changing devices: Steam Cloud now carries your save across devices.
- Crash or unexpected exit: Anima rewards are still awarded. Beginner save and reward checks.
- Missed Puddle: Acts 2 and 3 offer another opportunity after beating the game. Mansion progression.
- Achievement attempt: tracking happens during the run, with several triggers fixed; finish the achievement's own objective.
- Combat/input problem: Shifting Tide projectiles stop while paused; jellyfish slowdown after Fireball, Wisp FPS dependence, Curse/Rebuke damage, Overgrowth spawning, Exsanguinate + Ink and Prismatic-orb targeting were fixed. Spellblades and Ink were optimized.
Demo notes
The free demo (separate Steam app) ran through Next Fest: 216 reviews, 97% positive, 21,000+ players. It was delisted on launch day — if the first hours feel steep, the controls page has the official answers.
Demo vs launch
| Area | Demo | Launch build |
|---|---|---|
| Core loop (draw, survive) | Confirmed | Carried forward |
| Spells / upgrades | Fewer | 20 spells, 600 possible upgrades |
| Content | Limited slice | 4 planets + bosses, 6 mages, mansion story |
| Accessibility | Present | Present + Difficulty, Save Anytime tags |
What launch players actually report
First 301 reviews (Sep 30): 90% positive — praise for draw-to-cast, humor and the mansion loop; complaints on long-run performance (1.0.2's target) and strokes dropping under frame drops (workarounds).
Where to buy and follow
- Steam: app/2796640 (only confirmed storefront).
- Developer & community: bywitchlight.com; Discord
discord.gg/7dhYduNDXe; X/TikTok/Instagram@themaguscircle.
Official 1.1.5 update. Regional prices and store review totals can change.
