Hi everyone,
Over the past month, we’ve been focused on improving the core combat experience in The Signal, especially around how it feels to move and shoot in first-person.
Why We're Making Changes
The Signal is a narrative-driven game set on an alien planet. Our original vision leaned heavily into puzzle-solving to supplement the environmental storytelling and to support the unfolding mystery of the world. However, after multiple playtests, we realized that the slower gameplay rhythm was detracting from the overall experience, and pulling focus away from the story.
The feedback was clear: a snappier, more reactive moment-to-moment experience would better support player immersion and pacing.
What We've Changed
To support this shift, we’ve made major updates:
Redesigned the animation system to support a more responsive feel.
Moved to a more data-driven system for scalability and easier iteration.
Reworked enemy AI to add more variety and personality to encounters.
Improved terrain navigation and shooting feel to make first-person gameplay more satisfying.
All of this ties into our renewed focus on making each encounter more dynamic and meaningful.
World Structure Rework
Throughout our playtests, we also tried several different world structures. The version that resonated most with playtesters—and our team—is one that centers around a single hub area. You’ll build your base here and head out on expeditions from this central location. This setup not only fits our gameplay better, it also aligns more closely with our story direction.
With the world structure design locked in, we finally started working on level design that we intend to carry into the final game. We can’t wait to test this out with players.
What’s Next?
We're continuing to polish combat and improve overall aesthetics. Our goal is to put together a playable slice that brings everything together for another round of playtesting.
If you’d like to take part, head over to our Steam page and click the green Playtest button to sign up:
Thanks for the Feedback
Your feedback has been essential in guiding our decisions. Testing early and often helps us stay grounded and avoid tunnel vision. We’re excited to share more soon.
If you’d like to stay updated, follow us on social media:
Twitter: @TheSignalGame
Bluesky: thesignalgame.bsky.social
TikTok: @TheSignalGame
— The Signal Dev Team