Sources and claim ledger
The paper trail behind the guide: every official document, press report and store snapshot used on the site.
Claim ledger
What the public record supports
Each row is a claim used somewhere on the site. The status reflects the source, not our confidence in the game. “Unconfirmed” means no official answer exists yet.
| Claim | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| HANDS OVER launches in Steam Early Access on November 13, 2026.Current Steam release date and the October 28 delay announcement agree. | Confirmed | |
| The original Early Access date was October 30, 2026.Announced October 9 and superseded on October 28. | Confirmed | |
| The delay was attributed to polish and issues identified during Next Fest.ArtDock’s delay post cites feedback, streams and gameplay videos from Next Fest. | Confirmed | |
| PC via Steam is the only platform with a confirmed Early Access launch date.PlayStation, Xbox and Switch are announced without dates. | Confirmed | |
| A session supports up to five players online.Stated in the store description, demo description, and official announcements. | Confirmed | |
| Steam lists online PvP and online co-op.The game is marketed as co-op but the match is competitive: the last player at the table wins. | Confirmed | |
| The Early Access launch will include a discount.ArtDock promised a “special, generous discount” in the delay announcement; the amount is unknown. | Confirmed | |
| Early Access is expected to last roughly 6 to 12 months.This is ArtDock’s estimate, not a fixed schedule. | Confirmed | |
| ArtDock currently does not plan to change the price at 1.0.Stated in the Early Access FAQ; described as a current plan, not a guarantee. | Confirmed | |
| One challenge is a tooth-pressing device where one tooth is wrong.Described in the official store text and shown in official screenshots. | Confirmed | |
| Influence cards can change odds, protect, sabotage, and trigger chaotic events.This is the official functional summary; individual card names are not published. | Confirmed | |
| Losing a hand does not eliminate you from the match.ArtDock explicitly said “losing a hand doesn’t mean you’re out of the game.” A bad move can still knock you out of a round. | Confirmed | |
| The free demo launched on October 15, 2026.Demo store page and official announcement agree. | Confirmed | |
| The demo ranked #13 in Steam Next Fest’s Top 50.Based on ArtDock’s official announcement, not an independent ranking audit. | Confirmed | |
| Minimum PC requirements are published.Windows 10/11, i5-4460 or FX-8350, 8 GB RAM, GTX 960 or R9 280. | Confirmed | |
| Steam lists 19 interface languages, including English and Simplified Chinese.The table shows interface support only; audio and subtitle columns are blank. | Confirmed | |
| The demo had 185 reviews and a 77% positive rating at the time of checking.A live Steam snapshot from November 2, 2026. Review counts and scores change. | Observed | |
| Local co-op or split-screen is supported.No local mode has been announced; Steam lists online play only. | Unconfirmed | |
| Crossplay between PC and consoles is supported.No official crossplay statement has been found. Console versions have no release date. | Unconfirmed | |
| The Steam price is published.No price is listed as of November 3, 2026. | Unconfirmed | |
| The complete list of challenges and their rules is public.Only the tooth device is described in detail. Other devices appear in screenshots without official names or rules. | Unconfirmed | |
| A complete influence card database is available.No official card names, costs, deck size, or draw rules have been published. | Unconfirmed | |
| Named characters with published biographies exist.Official screenshots show stylized players, but no names or bios have been published. | Unconfirmed | |
| Recommended specs and storage requirements are published.Steam lists only the minimum requirements. No recommended tier or storage figure is shown. | Unconfirmed | |
| The exact Steam unlock time is published.Only the calendar date is shown. This site does not guess an unlock hour. | Unconfirmed | |
| An ESRB, PEGI, or other age rating is published.No rating body classification is shown on the Steam page. ArtDock’s mature-content note is not a formal rating. | Unconfirmed | |
| Steam Deck compatibility is confirmed.No Steam Deck compatibility badge is shown on the store page at the time of checking. | Unconfirmed | |
| Match length, round count, and lobby rules are documented.ArtDock has described the loop but not these structural details. | Unconfirmed | |
| Specific post-launch update dates are published.The Early Access FAQ lists broad plans, not dated milestones. | Unconfirmed | |
| Console versions will support the same five-player online modes at launch.No console-specific feature list or date has been published. | Unconfirmed |
The archive
Every source, grouped by type
Accessed November 2–3, 2026. Dates are publication dates where available. Official statements are treated as primary; press coverage is used for context and quotes.
Official announcements15
- 01Hands Over Release Delayed to November 13! ↗
Two-week delay, reason given, and confirmation of a launch discount.
ArtDock / Steam
October 28, 2026
- 02HANDS OVER Ranks #13 in Steam Next Fest’s Top 50 Demos! ↗
Official statement that the demo ranked 13th in Steam Next Fest’s Top 50 demo list.
ArtDock / Steam
October 27, 2026
- 03HANDS OVER Joins Steam Scream Fest! ↗
Steam Scream Fest participation through November 2, 2026.
ArtDock / Steam
October 26, 2026
- 04HANDS OVER Joins Steam Next Fest! ↗
Steam Next Fest participation and developer live streams.
ArtDock / Steam
October 19, 2026
- 05HANDS OVER Demo Is Now Live! ↗
Demo launch and the official Discord route for finding teammates.
ArtDock / Steam
October 15, 2026
- 06HANDS OVER - Demo coming on October 15 ↗
Demo date, Steam Next Fest dates, and the clarification that losing a hand does not eliminate a player.
ArtDock / Steam
October 12, 2026
- 07HANDS OVER IS COMING ON 30 OCTOBER! ↗
The original October 30, 2026 release announcement, later superseded.
ArtDock / Steam
October 9, 2026
- 08HANDS OVER Is Coming to Early Access ↗
Early Access announcement and the studio’s content-expansion intentions.
ArtDock / Steam
September 17, 2026
- 09100,000 WISHLISTS! PLAYTEST CLOSED! ↗
100,000 wishlist milestone and the end of the closed playtest.
ArtDock / Steam
September 1, 2026
- 10You’ve Waited Long Enough. ↗
The closed playtest started with a limited first wave of players.
ArtDock / Steam
August 12, 2026
- 11A New Milestone: 80,000 Wishlists! ↗
80,000 wishlist milestone and the approximate Steam wishlist ranking at that time.
ArtDock / Steam
July 24, 2026
- 12We Accidentally Made Some Noise ↗
Playtest sign-up milestone and the studio’s SteamDB visibility comment.
ArtDock / Steam
June 8, 2026
- 13HANDS OVER at The MIX Summer Game Showcase 2026 ↗
Console reveal trailer and the studio statement about experimenting with modes.
ArtDock / Steam
June 2, 2026
- 14HANDS OVER official game page ↗
Official premise, coming-soon status, screenshots, Steam and Discord links.
ArtDock
May 27, 2026
- 15HANDS OVER is now on Steam! ↗
Steam page launch, IGN coverage, and the original tabletop premise.
ArtDock / Steam
May 27, 2026
Store pages2
- 01HANDS OVER Demo store page ↗
Demo availability, demo description, review snapshot, and demo system requirements.
Steam / ArtDock
October 15, 2026
- 02HANDS OVER store page ↗
Release date, Early Access FAQ, mature content description, minimum requirements, supported languages, and store description.
Steam / ArtDock
May 27, 2026
Press2
- 01Familiar Party Game Turns Gruesome in ‘Hands Over’ ↗
Independent press summary of the tooth device, influence cards, and failure states.
Bloody Disgusting
May 28, 2026
- 02Hands Over, a Horror Party Game, Announced for PC ↗
Announcement coverage quoting game designer Grigory on the design intent.
IGN
May 27, 2026
Video2
- 01Hands Over - Official Console Announcement Trailer ↗
Lists PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam) as announced platforms, without console dates.
IGN / The MIX
June 2, 2026
- 02Hands Over - The MIX Summer Game Showcase 2026 ↗
Official console announcement trailer, used for platform confirmation only.
The MIX / YouTube
June 2, 2026
Database1
- 01Steam appdetails API record for HANDS OVER ↗
Machine-readable record used to cross-check the release date, platforms, categories, and requirements.
Valve
November 2, 2026
Corrections
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