The confirmed date
The official Steam store page lists October 26, 2026 as the planned Early Access date. On October 23, 2026, the developer posted an announcement saying the game launches in three days. Counting forward from that post also lands on October 26. That makes the date consistent across both official channels.
Those two official sources are the basis for the date on this page. PAO PAO is developed by ArtDock and published by Dreland Enterprises. Both sources were checked on October 25, 2026, the day before the scheduled launch. No official source we checked gave a different date.
Scheduled, not yet released
This page describes the launch as scheduled because it had not happened at the time of checking. Release plans can still shift at the last moment, even when everything points to a fixed date. We will update the wording only after confirming the game is actually available. That keeps this page from claiming a launch that has not happened yet.
If you are reading this after October 26, check the Steam page to see whether the game is now purchasable. The store page is always the most current source for availability in your region. It will also show the final price once sales begin. Regional storefronts may show different prices and dates for local time zones.
What Early Access means
Early Access on Steam means the game is playable and sold while development continues. Features, balance and content can change through updates after launch. That is different from a finished version 1.0 release. Buying in Early Access means you play while the game is still growing.
The Steam page includes an estimated Early Access duration, but that estimate is not a confirmed version 1.0 date. Treat any full-release date you see elsewhere with caution unless the developer announces it. For now, October 26, 2026 is the Early Access start, nothing more. Any later full-release date will need its own official announcement.
What news sites report
Secondary coverage agrees with the official date. Destructoid published a release countdown on October 25, 2026, reporting October 26. The site iHeartGeek also reported a worldwide launch on October 26 on the same day.
Those reports repeat the official announcement rather than independently confirming every detail. Destructoid's article also mentions a precise release time, which this page does not repeat. No matching official unlock-time statement was found in the sources we checked. That is why the time is left out here.
Why we do not list a release time
Players often want the exact hour the game unlocks. We did not find an official statement giving a specific unlock time or time-zone countdown. Publishing an unverified hour could leave players waiting at the wrong time.
Steam itself shows the moment a game becomes available, so watch the store page on launch day. Wishlisting the game means Steam can notify you when it releases. That is more reliable than any third-party countdown. It also accounts for your own time zone automatically.
The release date trailer
The official release date trailer was published on September 18, 2026. IGN carries the official upload, which you can watch on our homepage without leaving the site. GameTrailers posted a second upload of the same trailer on the same day.
Those two uploads are the same video, not two separate confirmations. The trailer provides promotional context, while the date itself comes from the written official sources. No spoken quote or timestamp from the trailer is used on this page. The trailer is still the best quick look at the game's cozy seaside style.
Platform at launch
PAO PAO is launching on Steam for Windows PC. The official Steam application number is 3024130, with a separate demo application. Console release dates have not been announced in the sources we checked.
Do not expect a console version on October 26 based on rumors or store tags. If console versions are announced, they will appear in official news first. Our Steam guide covers the listing and the published PC requirements. Check them before launch day so you know your PC is ready.
Price at launch
The launch price was not established in the official material checked on October 25, 2026. A developer said on the Steam forum that affordable pricing and a launch discount are planned. No amount or percentage was given in that reply.
The final regional price will appear on the Steam page when the game goes on sale. The free demo does not mean the full game is free-to-play. Read the price guide for everything currently confirmed. It will be updated once the store shows a real number.
Play the demo before launch
You can try PAO PAO before Early Access through the free demo on Steam. The current prerelease demo opened on September 14, 2026. It supports solo play or online co-op for up to four players.
The September 18, 2026 patch notes state that demo saves can transfer to the full version. The exact import steps could not be tested before launch, so check the demo save transfer guide. Our demo guide explains what the demo includes. Playing it now is the easiest way to be ready on launch day.
What to do on launch day
When the store page shows PAO PAO as available, you can buy it and start playing in Early Access. If you played the demo, read the save transfer guide before starting a new file. The official patch notes say demo saves can transfer, but the exact steps had not been tested before launch.
Back up anything important and follow the in-game prompts carefully. Expect the first days of Early Access to bring patches, since the developer has updated the game regularly. The official news feed on Steam will list each update with its notes.
Who is making PAO PAO
PAO PAO is a cozy restaurant and life simulation game developed by ArtDock. It is published by Dreland Enterprises and supports solo play or online co-op for up to four players. You run a seaside restaurant, fish, farm and explore the town.
Knowing the developer and publisher helps you find the right official channels. ArtDock's website and Discord, and the PAO PAO news on Steam, are where launch updates appear. Avoid similarly named games when searching the store.
What is not confirmed
Several release details remain unverified. There is no confirmed launch hour, time-zone countdown, console date or fixed version 1.0 date. The Early Access duration estimate on Steam is a plan, not a promise. Plans like this often change during development.
We will recheck the Steam page after October 26 before changing the word scheduled to released. Any confirmed launch-time or full-release information will be added with its official source. Until then, October 26, 2026 is the date to remember. Bookmark this page to see the update after launch.
Sources and further reading
- PAO PAO — Steam store
- Pao Pao Launches in 3 Days!
- PAO PAO release countdown: Exact date and time — Destructoid
- PAO PAO Launches Worldwide October 26 — iHeartGeek
- PAO PAO — Official Release Date Trailer — IGN
- PAO PAO — Official Release Date Trailer — GameTrailers
- Price? — Steam developer reply
- PAO PAO Demo Is Now Open
- PAO PAO DEMO Patchnote
- Pao Pao Second Patch is Live!
- PAO PAO — ArtDock
- Pao Pao free demo is now available to play! — Dreland