My Time At Portia Sequel, Sandrock, Is Already More Popular Than Original

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Early-access game My Time at Sandrock has already surpassed its predecessor in PC player numbers, despite only just releasing. Serving as something of a sequel to My Time at Portia, My Time at Sandrock has improved crafting, exploration, and more, making it less cumbersome for players old and new. The game is in Early Access with its full release expected in 2023.

Developed by Chinese-based studio Pathea Games, My Time at Portia and My Time at Sandrock are roleplaying simulation games inspired by such titles as Harvest Moon, Stardew Valley, and Rune Factory. The My Time games see the player assume the role of a builder who must help grow their respective towns. While Portia had the players start in a relatively resource-rich area, Sandrock instead has players in the middle of a barren desert, which is home to several ruins containing valuable resources. The harsh desert can also be cultivated to suit the builder's needs. The land isn’t the only thing a player can cultivate, as Sandrock features a much more refined relationship system similar to Rune Factory 5, which features roughly over 30 NPCs to befriend, with a few even being romanceable.

Related: My Time At Portia: Starter Tips for New Players

Despite releasing just last week on May 26, My Time at Sandrock has already surpassed My Time at Portia's concurrent player count record on Steam, proving it's already primed for success. According to SteamDB data (via PC Gamer), Sandrock peaked at 18,500 players on the day of its release, comfortable beating Portia's lifetime best player count of 13,299. This was further beaten on May 28, when My Time at Sandrock reached over 21,000 concurrent players. While this spells good news for the upcoming full release, it's perhaps