Developer Edelweiss has rolled out a public beta for the next major update to Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, bringing the game to version 2.6 on PC via Steam. The update, which is accessible through the game’s open_beta branch, introduces a long-requested New Game+ mode alongside a host of quality-of-life improvements and new content. The news was reported by Rpgsite.
According to an announcement from the studio’s Nal and Koichi on their respective social media accounts, the team is preparing to release this significant update, marking the first major content drop for the title since December 2021. Players on Steam can now opt into the beta by navigating to Game Versions & Betas in the game’s properties, though Nal noted that the team is still waiting for the original Japanese build to be translated and localized into other languages.
New Game+ and Expanded Story Content
The headline feature of update 2.6 is the addition of a New Game+ mode. This mode allows players to restart the game from the beginning while specifying which categories—such as equipment or items—they wish to inherit, offering a more tailored replay experience.
Beyond the new game mode, the update adds a significant number of conversation event scenes with other characters, expanding the narrative depth of the game’s cast. In a smaller but welcome addition, the character Kokorowa will now be able to join meals at home, integrating her more fully into the daily life simulation aspects of the game.
New Outfits, Harvest Mechanics, and Quality-of-Life Changes
The update introduces several new equipment outfits with unique effects. One outfit grants the wearer the ability to work at double speed, but this buff is disabled for the rest of the day if the player receives damage. Another new outfit applies the results of last year’s harvest to the player’s stats, creating a direct link between farming success and combat prowess. Additionally, the daily ability is now being changed at random, adding a new layer of unpredictability to daily planning.
Several quality-of-life improvements are also on the way. The maximum possession limit for Rice is being increased to 9,999, while other items remain capped at 999. Players will also benefit from a quick outfit change feature and the ability to register favorite outfits for faster switching.
On the presentation side, the update includes changes to several object models and presentations, including another set of lines that play after eating poor meals. For PC players specifically, update 2.6 adds more option settings, including one that lets players fix the button icon display type to Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch layouts.
Exploration and Platform Availability
Exploration is also getting a visual upgrade: regions that have been 100% explored will now have their names shown in blue on the map, making it easier for completionists to track their progress.
The studio has publicized a Japanese spreadsheet containing detailed notes about the update for those who want to dig into the specifics. Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is presently available on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. While the beta is currently PC-only, the full release of update 2.6 is expected to roll out to other platforms once localization is complete.
