The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
On the Rocks, the first-person bar-management and survival game from LootBAG Studios and 312 Interactive, now has a free PC demo that previews online co-op for up to four players. The demo is available on Steam ahead of Steam Next Fest, which runs October 19–26, 2026. The full game is planned for release in Q4 2026, although a specific launch date and price have not been announced.
What is On the Rocks?
On the Rocks is set in the year 2635, after endless war has left clean water nearly unavailable. Following a convoy ambush, survivors find shelter with Uncle John in a derelict family bar. The objective is to restore the business while surviving in a toxic wasteland populated by raiders, mutants and scarce resources.
The game combines several genres rather than treating the bar as a simple menu-based management screen. Players scavenge supplies, process contaminated liquids, brew drinks, serve customers, expand the building, build reputation, explore the desert and fight threats around the settlement.
What can you do in the demo?
Purify, ferment and brew
Liquids found during exploration can be processed into safe water or fermented into valuable drinks. Mutated creatures also provide volatile fluids that become ingredients in brewing. Industrial processing and recipe choices connect directly to the bar’s finances and survival needs.
#1 Best Overall
- 👉️【Usage Notes】When using the gamepad for the first time, it needs to be connected to the PS5 console via a USB-C cable（It must be the data cable included in the package or the original data cable）, and then press the Home button to activate it. If your controller has any functional issues, please use this url to update the firmware: we.tl/t-yAwofXJL9YOyyq3K !!! The gamepad is only compatible with PS5 series consoles and Windows PCs, and it is not compatible with PS4.
- 👋【Quick Connection & One - click Wake - up】 You can connect to the PS5 console by pressing the HOME button on the controller. When connecting to the console for the first time, you need to use a data cable. It also supports use on computers with Windows operating systems.
- 🎮️【Controller with Sound】 The controller is capable of producing sound, providing an immersive gaming experience. Please note that the controller is only equipped with a speaker and has no microphone. If you want to use the microphone fuacnction, please use an external headset. It is equipped with a 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack（not compatible with Apple headphones.）
- 🌈【Customizable Colors】Press the Lighting button to switch colors and light effect modes with one click. It features a color memory function, ensuring that the next time you use it, it will still be the color you prefer.
- 🕹️【High - Precision Joysticks】Equipped with upgraded joysticks, these effectively reduce the joystick dead zone and extend the controller's service life.
Run and expand the bar
Players serve customers, manage inventory and set prices while improving the derelict property. Construction and reputation systems give the bar a longer-term progression role: it is both the team’s headquarters and the source of income needed to support further expeditions.
Explore and defend the wasteland
Outside the bar, the crew can complete quests, shop, gather materials, use vehicles and confront hostile raiders or mutated creatures. Combat is part of the same loop as production and service rather than a separate mode.
Rank #2
- Bring gaming worlds to life - Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback*. Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers*
- Find your voice, share your passion - Chat online through the built-in microphone. Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack. Record and broadcast your epic gaming moments with the create button
- A gaming icon in your hands - Enjoy a comfortable, evolved design with an iconic layout and enhanced sticks. Hear higher-fidelity** sound effects through the built-in speaker in supported games
- Multi-device connectivity - Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth technology and easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range of blockbuster PC titles.
How four-player co-op works
The preview supports online lobbies for up to four players. A host creates the session, invites friends and uses a ready check before starting. The group then plays in a shared world, with the host managing the world save that records collective progress.
| Co-op feature | What the demo supports |
|---|---|
| Maximum party size | Up to four players online |
| Session setup | Friend lobbies, invitations and ready checks |
| World progression | Shared world with the host managing saves |
| Shared activities | Story content, NPC interactions, brewing, shopping, inventory, vehicles, quests and combat |
| Communication | Proximity voice chat at the bar and walkie-talkie communication over longer distances |
Designed for divided jobs
The four-player limit supports a practical division of labor. One teammate can hunt and gather supplies while another returns to process ingredients or brew. Others can serve customers, adjust inventory and prices, shop, drive, complete quests or protect the bar. Because progress is shared in the host’s world, the group can regroup without maintaining separate campaign states.
Rank #3
- Haptic feedback - Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions with dual actuators which replace traditional rumble motors. In your hands, these dynamic vibrations can simulate the feeling of everything from environments to the recoil of different weapons. .Operating temperature : 41 °F to 95 °F (5 °C to 35 °C)
- Adaptive triggers - Experience varying levels of force and tension as you interact with your in-game gear and environments. From pulling back an increasingly tight bowstring to hitting the brakes on a speeding car, feel physically connected to your on-screen actions.
- Built-in microphone and headset jack - Chat with friends online using the built-in microphone or by connecting a headset to the 3.5mm jack. Easily switch voice capture on and off at a moment’s notice with the dedicated mute button. Internet and account for PlayStation Network required.
- DualSense Controller PS5 and PC compatible. Not compatible with PS4.
- PS Remote Play requires Remote Play App connected to Wi-Fi, PS4 or PS5 console with the latest system software and compatible game. A PS4 or PS5 console with a wired connection via a LAN cable is recommended. Version 4.0 of the Remote Play App on iOS and iPadOS or version 4.1 on macOS is required for games to be playable with the controller over Bluetooth.
Two communication ranges
Proximity voice chat is intended for conversations when players are together at the bar or in the same area. Walkie-talkies extend communication when teammates spread out across the desert, allowing an exploration team and a bar team to coordinate without staying within voice range.
When is the Steam Next Fest demo available?
The free PC demo is available through Steam before Steam Next Fest begins. The event is scheduled for October 19–26, 2026. Players can install the demo now, test the co-op preview and add the game to their Steam wishlist ahead of the event.
Rank #4
- ❗❗❗Tips：Due to a recent PS5 system update, vibration and controller speaker functions of our controllers may be temporarily unavailable.. No need to worry—your controller is not defective. This is a system compatibility issue that may be resolved through a future PS5 update
- 【Designed for PS5 Console Compatibility】Our PS5 wireless controller is specially designed to work seamlessly with the PS5 console. It pairs effortlessly and delivers stable performance across a wide range of PS5 games. Players can enjoy smooth gameplay with intuitive button layouts and responsive control functions, offering a true next-gen gaming experience
- 【Ergonomic Design with Immersive LED Light Effects】This PS5 controller is designed with player comfort in mind. It has a balanced weight and a comfortable grip, effectively reducing fatigue even during long gaming sessions. The built-in LED lighting system offers vibrant, customizable color effects that enhance the visual atmosphere and bring more excitement to your gaming setup
- 【Advanced Bluetooth Connection】Our PS5 wireless controller uses the latest Bluetooth technology to ensure a stable and fast wireless connection with your PS5 system.The setup process is quick and simple—just pair once and enjoy reliable communication without cables. The enhanced transmission performance minimizes interference and ensures consistent control, even during fast-paced action games
- 【Ultra-Low Latency and High-Precision Control】Built for accuracy and responsiveness, this controller features highly sensitive analog sticks and precision triggers for refined control. Every movement and command registers instantly with minimal delay, giving players a competitive edge in shooting, racing, or sports games. The optimized chip design helps maintain low input lag for a fluid, real-time response
The demo is a preview, not the complete release. The current Steam listing identifies the game as unreleased and does not publish a full-game price.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
When does On the Rocks release?
LootBAG Studios and 312 Interactive currently plan to release On the Rocks in Q4 2026. No exact day, supported platforms beyond the current PC Steam listing, or launch price has been confirmed in the available announcement and store information.
Best Value
- 【Connection & Wake-up】When using the gamepad for the first time, it needs to be connected to the PS5 console via a USB-C cable（It must be the data cable included in the package or the original data cable）, and then press the Home button to activate it. After completing the first connection, you only need to press the HOME button to turn on the PS5 console. The gamepad is compatible with PS5 series consoles and Windows PCs, and it is not compatible with PS4.
- 【Controller with Sound】The controller is capable of producing sound, providing an immersive gaming experience. Please note that the controller is only equipped with a speaker and has no microphone. If you want to use the microphone function, please use an external headset. It is equipped with a 3.5mm TRRS headphone jack（not compatible with Apple headphones.）
- 【Customizable Colors】Press the Lighting button to switch colors and light effect modes with one click. It features a color memory function, ensuring that the next time you use it, it will still be the color you prefer.
- 【High - Precision Joysticks】Equipped with upgraded joysticks, these effectively reduce the joystick dead zone and extend the controller's service life.
- 【Multiple Functions】10 times/second Turbo function can be set, supporting up to 16 keys programming, making your gaming experience even better.
What to know before starting a co-op session
- Install the free Steam demo on PC and have each friend join the host’s lobby.
- Use the ready check before launching so all four players enter the same shared world.
- Decide who will gather, process, serve, explore and defend; the systems are built to reward parallel jobs.
- Keep track of which player is carrying ingredients or equipment before splitting up, since the session uses shared activity but individual inventory management.
- Agree on a regroup point at the bar and use walkie-talkies when teams move beyond proximity voice range.
- Remember that the host controls the world save, so the host should be available for future sessions if the group wants to continue the same progression.
Why the co-op preview matters
Bar management is usually presented as a solo optimization exercise. On the Rocks instead treats the bar as a cooperative operation: gathering, production, customer service, logistics and defense can happen at the same time. The result is a survival game whose central question is not only which recipe to make, but also how a small crew should allocate people and supplies while the settlement remains vulnerable.
As 312 Interactive co-founder Aysu Ünal put it, “Running a bar has never been a one-person job, so bringing co-op to ‘On the Rocks’ felt like the natural next step.” The Steam demo is the first practical way to test that idea with a group before the planned Q4 2026 launch.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems
