Cairn's first free expansion, On the Trail: Deep Water, has a new release date of October 29, 2026. The announcement was made during the PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct. This DLC will introduce three new climbing areas: the cliffs of Haken and Ruka, which feature overhangs above water, and the Lamu climbing gym.
The water at Haken and Ruka serves a gameplay purpose, acting as a safety net that negates fall damage, allowing players to experiment with climbs without fear of consequences. The Lamu climbing gym offers a more controlled environment for practice.
Deep Water also introduces Marco as a playable character, offering a different climbing style compared to Aava. Players can also utilize a new free roam mode, enabling them to reload saves on mountains and explore new routes or practice existing ones. Aava and Marco are both available in this mode.
Cairn received a 91% score in PC Gamer's review. The game is currently available at a 20% discount on Steam until September 26.