Watch the Torchlight 3 trailer and interview on the video PC Gaming Show; there is also a trailer on YouTube.

The long and winding road of Torchlight 3 development has just reached a major milestone. As revealed today at the PC Gaming Show....

Torchlight 3 is now in Early Access on Steam...

And by now, I mean "now." It just started! Check out the Early Access trailer above and head over to Steam if you want to start playing.

Torchlight 3 creator and Echtra Games CEO Max Schaefer also stopped by the PC Gaming Show (virtually) to talk with host Sean "Day

" Plott. He spoke with host Sean "Day

" Plott about the new features, lore, pets, character classes, and more for this colorful action RPG.

Torchlight 3 takes place in the same world as Torchlight 1 and 2, but a century has passed. The empire is in decline, a little lazier, a little more comfortable, and a new threat looms on the horizon."

Fortress building plays a major role in Torchlight 3. Not only can players upgrade and customize their own forts, but they can also visit forts built by other players. It's definitely worth exploring [other players' forts]," Schaefer said. Because not only can you use items such as the fort's owner's Luck Tree (which gives you a passive bonus), but you can enchant your own items using recipes unlocked by the fort's owner. It would be well worth taking a peek into other people's forts.

The pet system has also been expanded. Not only will you be able to choose a pet, but you will be able to find new pets in the wild, rescue them when you defeat a boss, and add them to your collection of faithful companions. Dogs, cats, llamas, owls, and far more exotic creatures will fill your stable with new pets to rescue.

And as always, Torchlight 3 continues the tradition of character classes that break the generic mold of knight, rogue, and wizard. One class, the Forge, is a steam-powered robot, while another, the Railmaster, can summon ghost trains.

"We always wanted to avoid going down the main street with character classes and try something interesting," says Schaefer.

"But at the same time we wanted you to be able to look at them and intuitively feel what they do.

More information can be found on the official Torchlight 3 website, and PC Gaming Show news can be checked here.