Dear LithoBreak Community,
We hope this message finds you well. We want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your continued support and enthusiasm for LithoBreak. Your feedback and engagement have been invaluable to us as we work to make this game the best it can be.
Pause on Episode Development
We have an important update to share regarding the development of Episode 1 and future episodes.
After careful consideration, we’ve decided to temporarily offload work on the episodes during early access. This means that while we have updated the Steam 'default' branch to include multiplayer functionality, it does not include Episode 1 content.
We understand that this news may be disappointing, knowing most of you have enjoyed Episode 1 and are eagerly awaiting Episode 2. However, we believe this decision will ultimately benefit the game and the community in the long run. By focusing on completing and polishing the core gameplay loop, we can ensure a more robust and engaging experience for everyone in all game modes.
Why This Change?
- Improved Story Content: When we reintroduce the story content, it will be refreshed and be built atop a solid foundation of core gameplay mechanics. This allows us more creative freedom and ensures a seamless experience.
- Resource Efficiency: Maintaining Episode 1 through development is resource-intensive for our small team. Offloading this work allows us to focus our efforts on enhancing the core gameplay and adding new features.
- Access to Original Episode 1: For those who wish to experience the original Episode 1, we’ve added an 'ogepisode1' branch on Steam. This way, you can still enjoy the story content while we work on bringing you an even better experience in the future.
Current Development Focus
Here’s an update on where we are at and what we’re working on:
- Multiplayer Testing: We’ve recently completed a round of testing, open to everyone who had purchased LithoBreak, to validate that multiplayer functionality works seamlessly. Thank you to everyone who participated in this testing phase!
- First-Person Mechanics: In direct response to the feedback received through the multiplayer testing, we’re adding more first-person mechanics to give multiplayer gameplay more depth and meaning. This includes animated character models and Gadgets (holdable and useable items) that players can utilize.
- Community Poll for Next Gadget: We’re excited to involve you in the development process! We are hosting a week-long community poll to decide what the next Gadget should be over on Discord.
Looking Ahead
While this shift in focus may be challenging in the short term, we are confident that it will lead to a more polished and enjoyable game for all. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we make these necessary adjustments. Your feedback and support are crucial to us, and we encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas.
Following the Gadgets mechanics will come the much anticipated Custom Buildings and Custom Vehicles, so stay tuned for that!
Thank you for being a part of the LithoBreak journey. Together, we can create something truly special.
Warm regards,
The LithoBreak Development Team