Clockwork Revolution fans might finally have a release timeframe to circle on their calendars. Nathan Long, a former writer at inXile Entertainment, recently updated his professional portfolio to list Clockwork Revolution as a 2026 title. While this isn’t an official announcement from Microsoft or inXile, portfolio listings from developers often provide the most reliable hints about when games will actually ship.
What the Portfolio Reveals
According to Long’s professional profile, he worked as a Senior Writer and Narrative Designer on Clockwork Revolution. The listing specifically identifies the game as a 2026 release, which would make sense given the current state of development. InXile has been working on this project since before Wasteland 3 launched in 2020, meaning the game will have been in development for at least six years by 2026.
This timeline aligns with what we know about the game’s ambitious scope. Brian Fargo, the studio head at inXile, revealed in August 2025 that the team had already written 750,000 words of dialogue for Clockwork Revolution. For context, that’s significantly more than most RPGs, including many entries in the Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises.
Why 2026 Makes Perfect Sense
A 2026 release would fit perfectly into Xbox’s crowded first-party lineup. Microsoft has several major titles scheduled for 2025, including Fable, South of Midnight, Doom: The Dark Ages, and potentially others. Spreading out these releases prevents Xbox’s own games from competing against each other for attention and sales.
InXile itself has been careful about setting expectations. Back in June 2024, when rumors circulated that Clockwork Revolution would launch in 2025, the studio posted a meme on Twitter making fun of the speculation. The company made it clear they were still determining the release window and weren’t ready to commit to any specific year.
The Game Needs More Polish Time
When Clockwork Revolution was first revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2023, the footage shown was clearly pre-alpha quality. Even the extended gameplay demonstration at the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase showed a game that still needed considerable work. Given that major AAA games typically need at least a year of polish after reaching alpha status, a 2026 launch would provide the necessary development time.
What Is Clockwork Revolution Anyway
For those unfamiliar, Clockwork Revolution is inXile Entertainment’s first AAA game under Xbox Game Studios ownership. It’s a time-bending steampunk first-person RPG set in the fictional city of Avalon. The game combines elements from classic RPGs like Arcanum and Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines with modern first-person shooter mechanics.
The core gameplay revolves around time manipulation. Players can travel through different time periods, and their actions in the past directly affect the present and future. This creates a web of consequences where even small decisions can dramatically alter the world. The setting blends Victorian-era aesthetics with advanced clockwork technology, creating a unique visual identity that draws comparisons to BioShock Infinite.
The Talent Behind the Project
InXile assembled an impressive team for Clockwork Revolution. Game Director Chad Moore and Principal Designer Jason Anderson both worked on the original Arcanum at Troika Games, as well as the classic Fallout titles and Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines. Their combined expertise in crafting deep RPG systems provides a strong foundation for the project.
Beyond the core RPG talent, inXile brought in specialists from studios like Rockstar Games, Bungie, and Blizzard Entertainment. These hires were specifically focused on improving cinematics, narrative interactions, lighting, animation, and gunplay. The goal was to combine inXile’s RPG expertise with the polish and production values expected from modern AAA games.
Co-Development Support From Shapeshifter Games
In January 2024, inXile announced a partnership with Shapeshifter Games to help develop Clockwork Revolution. Shapeshifter Games was founded by former Volition developers, the studio behind the Saints Row franchise. This co-development arrangement allows inXile to scale up production while maintaining creative control over the project.
Co-development partnerships have become increasingly common in the gaming industry, especially for ambitious AAA projects. They allow studios to access specialized talent and increase production capacity without the overhead of permanently expanding their team. For a project as large as Clockwork Revolution, this support could prove crucial to hitting their quality targets.
How Long Will the Game Be
Producer Brian Fargo has stated that Clockwork Revolution will offer at least 20 hours of gameplay without touching side content. When you factor in all the optional quests, exploration, and alternate timeline possibilities, the total playtime could easily exceed 50 hours. The 750,000 words of dialogue already written suggests a narrative scope comparable to games like The Witcher 3 or Baldur’s Gate 3.
The time travel mechanics add another layer of complexity to the length calculation. Players who want to explore all the different timeline variations and see how their choices ripple through history will likely spend significantly more time with the game than those who stick to a single playthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Clockwork Revolution be released?
While not officially confirmed, a former inXile writer has listed Clockwork Revolution as a 2026 title on their professional portfolio. This aligns with the game’s development timeline and Xbox’s release schedule for other first-party titles.
What platforms will Clockwork Revolution be on?
Clockwork Revolution will launch on Xbox Series X/S and PC. As an Xbox Game Studios title, it will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass for both console and PC subscribers.
Who is developing Clockwork Revolution?
InXile Entertainment is the primary developer, with co-development support from Shapeshifter Games. InXile is the studio behind Wasteland 2, Wasteland 3, and The Bard’s Tale IV.
What kind of game is Clockwork Revolution?
Clockwork Revolution is a first-person action RPG with time travel mechanics set in a steampunk world. It features deep RPG systems, dialogue choices with consequences, weapon customization, and the ability to alter timelines through player decisions.
How long has Clockwork Revolution been in development?
Concept and early development began before Wasteland 3 released in 2020, meaning the game has been in development for at least five years as of late 2025. A 2026 release would put total development time at around six years.
Is Clockwork Revolution like BioShock?
While both games share first-person perspectives and unique settings, Clockwork Revolution is a full RPG with character creation, dialogue trees, and deep choice-and-consequence systems. It’s more similar to Fallout 4 than BioShock in terms of gameplay depth.
Will Clockwork Revolution have multiplayer?
No information has been released about multiplayer features. All promotional materials and interviews have focused on the single-player RPG experience.
How much dialogue is in Clockwork Revolution?
As of August 2025, the development team had written 750,000 words of dialogue. This is more than most major RPGs and suggests extensive branching conversations and multiple storyline paths.
Conclusion
The 2026 release window spotted on Nathan Long’s portfolio feels right for Clockwork Revolution. The game represents inXile’s most ambitious project to date, combining the studio’s RPG pedigree with AAA production values and innovative time travel mechanics. While Xbox has remained tight-lipped about official release plans, the pieces are falling into place for a 2026 launch that gives the development team enough time to deliver on their vision. Between the massive amount of dialogue already written, the talented team assembled from across the industry, and the co-development support from Shapeshifter Games, Clockwork Revolution has the potential to be one of Xbox’s biggest releases in years. Fans will just need to exercise a bit more patience before they can explore the time-twisted streets of Avalon for themselves.