ISC-Avalanche's World Tree Defender Targets Q2 2027 With Japanese Support

ISC-Avalanche has outlined plans to release its tower defense game World Tree Defender in the second quarter of 2027 with Japanese language support, detailing the project at a demo event in Thailand, according to 4gamer.net.

Players build the route enemies follow by placing tower pieces made of several connected hexagonal cells, rotating and fitting them into a grid in Tetris-block style. Longer, more winding paths keep enemies inside tower range for longer, making placement the core of the game. The retail version's maps are about five to seven times larger than the small tutorial map playable at the demo station.

Stages are split by region: the lava zone Cinder Heart, the forest Verdant Vale and the wetland Mire Moe, each with three tower types and three unique enemies. Weather plays a role, with rain, volcanic ash falling after eruptions in the lava zone and thick fog in the wetland. Wildlife allies include a stag in the forest and an awakened golem that stuns nearby enemies, while a giant serpent lurks in the water in Mire Moe. Towers begin as a turret and can be upgraded into sniper, flamethrower, spark pyron, ice ring, gravity well and earth shatter types.

Co-op will be supported from launch, letting players ping each other, split the map and send credits or place pieces for teammates. A Grind mode after the campaign raises a malice level with each win, giving enemies more HP and new skills, and is planned to include drop items in the manner of Diablo III. A map editor will let players upload their maps and receive ratings from other players.

ISC-Avalanche was founded by Lukas Plazovnik in 2024, and World Tree Defender is its first title, in development for about a year. The team is spread across Europe, with concept artists in Germany and Austria, 3D models and effects in Italy, and music in the UK. Public playtests are planned on Steam, with an official release or early access around Q2 2027 if development goes smoothly, followed by continued content updates. The studio is also considering a mobile port and a versus mode in which players build mazes on their own maps and send bad weather or extra enemies to opponents in rounds of 10 to 15 minutes.