The Escapists 3 Is Coming in 2027: 3D Prisons, Crafting and Co-Op Explained

Team17 has announced The Escapists 3 for 2027, with a new 3D prison sandbox, solo play, two-player local split-screen and online co-op for up to four. Its October 8 official announcement trailer confirms the year; an exact day or month remains unannounced.

The sequel’s useful distinction is how you plan a breakout: learn prison routines, gather supplies and choose an escape route while maintaining the appearance of an inmate following the rules.

What changes in the 3D prisons?

The official site describes digging under walls, climbing above them and slipping past guards. Roll call and prison jobs still matter while you prepare.

The Steam feature list specifies five distinct prisons. Escaping their perimeter can lead into surrounding environments, including forests, canyons, catacombs and water routes.

That makes the move to 3D relevant to the routes being advertised, rather than merely a change of presentation. It does not establish larger levels, smarter guards or a particular amount of freedom compared with the previous game; those would require evidence beyond an announcement.

Local and online co-op have different limits

Team17’s trailer description confirms these arrangements:

The local limit should not be inflated to four by borrowing the online number. Likewise, online co-op does not establish cross-platform multiplayer. The checked publisher descriptions do not confirm crossplay or explain how combined local-and-online sessions would work.

Team17 describes dividing prison jobs and coordinating escape timing with friends. Those are announced goals for co-op, rather than a hands-on verdict on how reliable those systems will be.

Crafting and XP progression

The Steam listing advertises 120+ items and weapons to loot and craft. That is a combined pool, not a promise of more than 120 weapons alone.

Players earn XP, unlock skills and develop different strengths as they move between prisons. Cell customization is also listed. The announcement does not provide a complete skill tree or explain a post-release progression economy.

What carries over from The Escapists 2?

Multiplayer and improvised crafting are not new to the franchise. The 2017 game’s official listing already describes online and split-screen play, prison routines, makeshift tools and a prison editor.

The sequel’s new presentation and its currently announced player limits should be assessed on their own terms. A feature existing in The Escapists 2 does not automatically confirm its return in The Escapists 3; Team17 has not established every legacy feature in this reveal.

Release window and platforms

The publisher website currently links Steam, PS5 and Xbox. Gematsu’s announcement report lists PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC via Steam. Switch 2 is part of that reported lineup, although it is not currently among the website’s linked storefronts.

Steam still displays To be announced in its release field. That is compatible with Team17’s broader 2027 window; it does not supply an exact launch date. Pricing, a playable demo and finalized PC requirements remain unverified. Our release calendar therefore records the year only.

Hero screenshot: Team17’s official Steam listing, © 2026 Team17 Digital Ltd. Original framing preserved.