Hey Voyagers! It's Michael (Spacenorth) here with the latest update to our demo!
We heard your feedback loud and clear—while video updates are great, many of you also appreciate having a written breakdown of the changes. So, alongside our usual video updates, we’re bringing you a detailed written recap to keep everyone in the loop. Let’s dive into what’s new!
Important Update Note
Before we dive into the details, a quick heads-up: when the patch goes live on the demo, your save data will be wiped. Be sure to save any progress in the demo locally through screenshots and video recordings, otherwise you will not be able to access it.
Revamped: The Embrace
The first biome, The Embrace, has undergone significant changes, including a complete overhaul of its enemies.
- New Enemy Type – The Shattered: These are enraged beings made of corrupted Mana. Defeating them will reward you with Mana, which is essential for crafting.
- Relocated Enemies: The previous enemies of The Embrace have now been moved to the second biome, The Reef.
- Revamped Ancient Ruins: To complete the first biome, players must explore three newly redesigned ancient ruins, battle ancient constructs, and recover a fragment of the Elder Spirit of the Ocean.
- Updated Quests: The quest system has been refined to guide players more effectively through these new changes.
Major Ocean Gameplay Enhancements
The latest update brings a host of improvements to the game’s ocean exploration:
- New Ship – The Cargo Skiff: This new vessel expands your options for sea travel.
- Speed UI: Players can now monitor their sailing speed with a brand-new user interface.
- Enhanced Camera & Physics: Ships now bob more realistically on waves, improving immersion.
- Inventory Protection: If a ship sinks, a floating chest will appear, holding all lost inventory items.
Underwater Exploration Overhaul
Underwater gameplay has been refined to provide a smoother, more immersive experience.
- Improved Combat: Spear combat is now more fluid and easier to aim.
- Underwater Dash: Players can now dodge and juke enemies using an underwater dash move.
- Spear Fishing: A new mechanic that allows players to hunt fish as a primary food source.
- Enhanced Environment: The ocean floor is now more lush, dynamic, and visually engaging.
- More Oxygen: Increased oxygen availability makes underwater exploration more accessible.
Terrifying New Creatures
- Giant Deepling Sharks:These massive predators patrol deep waters, and will keep you on the edge.
- Bioluminescent Stalkers: Found at the biome’s furthest edges, these creatures can hunt you and ships, with a preference for attacking swimmers first!
New Gameplay Features & Improvements
Beyond the biome and ocean changes, the update introduces several quality-of-life enhancements:
- Inventory Upgrades: New Take All and Store Like Items buttons streamline inventory management.
- Craftable Armor: Players can now build protective gear, both for function and aesthetic appeal.
New Crafting Stations:
- Imbuing Bench: Upgrade armor for enhanced defense.
- Mana Forge: Craft magical trinkets, including those that boost oxygen capacity.
- Trash Management: Inspired by a suggestion from Discord users Sublime and MrMeeko, the cute Bullwog now serves as a trash can for discarding unwanted items.
Credits to Sublime and MrMeeko for sharing these ideas with us in our Discord!
A Glimpse at the Second Biome – The Reef
Although not fully available in the demo, The Reef promises to be a breathtaking new adventure.
- Massive Coral Cliffs: Towering reef formations create new vertical exploration opportunities.
- Glider & Air Geysers: Players can use these to soar high above the ocean.
- Expansive Underwater Exploration: More secrets and creatures await in the deep.
- Deadly Purple Death Zones: Corruption spreads through these hazardous areas filled with dangerous monsters.
- Deep Link Spires: Mysterious sources of corruption lie beneath the ocean and must be found and destroyed.
While this biome isn’t yet accessible in the Steam demo, regular updates and testing opportunities are available through the game’s Discord community.
Join the Community & Stay Updated
Our team actively seeks feedback from all our passionate players. If you want early access to future updates and want to help shape the game, consider joining our Discord community or our playtests!
We are coming out with new playtest builds every two weeks (unless other notified) so there’s always something new to discover. We will continue doing patch updates here on Steam when we have a new playtest build. Our team values all of your feedback and looks forward to hearing your thoughts!
Hope you have fun! And don't forget to wishlist and invite your friends along for the journey!
- Michael and Treehouse Games