Hello, Explorers!
In our previous dev diary, we showed you how Kiran’s new design was built to survive the harsh desert. Today, it’s time to talk about one of the reasons why he needs to be so agile: meet the Stormdog, one of the desert’s most brutal dangers.
👉 Watch it now:
If you played EARTHLOCK or Ikonei Island, you’re likely familiar with Stormdogs as loyal companions who help you dig up buried treasure. In Lysward, however, the Stormdog is far from friendly. It is a highly territorial predator that will hunt you down if you aren't careful. Every environment needs its apex threats to make survival feel earned, and this creature is designed to keep you constantly looking over your shoulder.
The Stormdog is a massive creature. To capture that intimidating presence, we gave it a hunched posture and a low, heavy slouch. Its head stays low as it walks, creating a rhythmic, heavy momentum that immediately signals danger.
We still need to drop these animations into the engine for further testing and fine-tuning, so we don’t have a set date for when the Stormdog will be added to the live game just yet, but we're eager to share more progress soon.
How do you feel about facing down a creature like this in the desert? Let us know your thoughts! And if you haven’t already, wishlist Lysward to support the development.
Snowcastle Games