Hello everyone!
It’s been a while since our last update, and we’re excited to share some of the progress we’ve made on Coreless as we gear up for its Early Access launch later this year.
Improving the Moment-to-Moment Gameplay
We were pretty happy with the overall session experience in our latest version, but something felt off. The pacing wasn’t quite right, and the gameplay lacked that extra push to keep things intense. So, we went back to the drawing board and are currently revamping the ability system.
Introducing Overdrive Abilities
Overdrive abilities require holding down keys for a period of time before releasing them, and many can be charged through multiple stages to amplify their impact. They consume Energy and pack a much bigger punch than standard abilities, adding a tactical layer with a risk/reward tradeoff. This should create more engaging combat, encouraging players to make split-second decisions that could turn the tide of battle.
Revamping the In-Session Upgrade System
Stat stacking is fun—don’t worry, that’s still here—but we wanted to encourage more thoughtful decision-making instead of just chasing raw numbers. The new system introduces more diverse upgrade paths, making each run feel unique. We’ll dive deeper into in-session exploration changes in a future post!
Meta-Progression Updates: Talent Tree & Power Systems
Meta-progression is where we want Coreless to shine, and we’ve made some big changes:
- More Meaningful Talent Tree Choices – We reworked the Talent Tree to ensure each decision feels impactful, rather than just incremental stat bumps.
- The Addon System – A new mechanic where Addons drop during adventures, granting powerful bonuses and random affixes. These can be socketed into the Talent Tree, allowing for deep build customization.
- Consumables Overhaul – Consumables now provide more strategic advantages, from basic health potions to immunity-based elixirs that could save you in a pinch.
- Affix System – Both Addons and Consumables now roll with affixes that further shape their impact, opening up even more ways to tweak and optimize your build.
For example, the Addon Metallic Blitz allows you to throw a metallic bomb at a nearby target, dealing damage to both the target and surrounding units. If socketed into a 'Double-dash trigger' node, the bomb will be thrown whenever you double-dash. Alternatively, if placed in a 'Pickup trigger' node, the bomb will activate whenever you collect buffs, adding a layer of adaptability to your build.
Our ultimate vision for meta-progression in Coreless is to provide a space where players can make long-term and experimental decisions, refining their build in a gradual and strategic way. Meanwhile, the in-session experience should feel spontaneous, immediate, fun, and impactful.
Companions Are Now More Than Just Sidekicks
Previously, Companions were a nice addition, but we felt they lacked depth. Now, each Companion comes with a dedicated set of abilities and passives, giving them a much larger role in your pre-session build. Your choice of Companion will significantly impact both your starting abilities and the upgrade options available during a run.
For example, Kat could equip Voltbringer to gain Energy Burst and Thunderbolt Sphere, enabling a melee-ranged hybrid build. Alternatively, she could go with Venom Weaver, gaining passive plague capabilities and the Overdrive ability Plague Blast, which detonates all nearby Plague effects for devastating area damage.
More to Come!
These are just some of the big changes coming to Coreless, and we’ve got plenty more in the works. We’ll be sharing more details over the coming months, so stay tuned!
Thanks for following our journey—we can’t wait for you to jump into Coreless!