Hello everyone!
As promised in our previous post, it is finally time to share what I’ve been working on since the demo release; and there is a lot to talk about.
If you missed our last update, here is the quick recap:
The demo was incredibly well received and many players spent time experimenting with different weapons, builds, and multiple runs. But alongside the positive reception, one message stood out clearly:
Players wanted deeper build variety and more meaningful upgrade choices.
We listened.
And after spending the last few months revisiting core systems, I agreed, there was an opportunity to push Spaceborn much further. So I went back to the drawing board and the result is not simply a patch.
The Spaceborn demo is receiving a major gameplay revamp.
And the best part?
You will be able to experience it during:
Steam Bullet Fest (Jun 8 – Jun 15)
Steam Next Fest 2026 (Jun 15 – Jun 22)
This revamped demo introduces major new systems, deeper progression, and significantly more build freedom than before. Let’s dive in!
Reworked Weapon Power Ups
One of our main goals was to make upgrades feel genuinely meaningful.
During the original demo, we observed that certain upgrades were almost always chosen while others, despite being numerically powerful, often felt like simple passive stat boosts.
To address this, every weapon upgrade in the game has been redesigned.
The new Power Ups are now:
Unique to each weapon
Built around that weapon’s identity and fantasy
Designed to encourage different playstyles and gameplay patterns
Instead of simply increasing numbers, upgrades now create gameplay decisions.
Here is an example using the pistol:
The new system is capped at 10 upgrade choices, meaning every decision matters.
Will you specialise heavily into a single path? Or spread upgrades for a more balanced build?
The new system supports both approaches and many upgrades are designed to synergise with one another.
But this is only the beginning.
Because the next system takes build paths even further.
Tags & Perks - A New Layer to Build Paths
Every weapon now belongs to three gameplay Tags.
For example the pistol has [LIGHT], [FIREARM] and [PROJECTILE] (as shown in the above graphic).
There are now 20+ tags across the game, creating unique combinations and interactions. Some advanced Tech and Cosmic weapons even possess rarer and more exotic tags.
These Tags form the foundation of an entirely new feature:
The Perk System
Perks are passive bonuses that activate when you meet tag requirements.
Tags are most commonly gained through your equipped weapons; though there may be some more… unusual ways to obtain them.
Here is an example using the [FIREARM] tag:
2 [FIREARM] tags → First perk effect
3 [FIREARM] tags → Additional perk effect
This system adds a completely new dimension to progression. Weapon choices now influence Perks. Perks influence build paths. And Power Ups interact with both.
The result is a much deeper system with significantly more room for experimentation.
And honestly? I cannot wait to see the combinations players discover and inevitably the ways you manage to break the game.
More Control Over Your Runs
Of course, meaningful build choices only matter if players have ways to pursue them.
Roguelites thrive on randomness, but randomness should create exciting decisions, not frustration.
That is why the revamped gameplay introduces several systems designed to give players more control over their runs.
Re-Rolls
Re-Rolls are now available.
Players can invest Upgrade Points to gain Re-Rolls and there are additional ways to replenish them during gameplay.
This gives you greater flexibility when searching for upgrades and build synergies.
Reworked Missions
Missions have also received a major overhaul.
Including the missions you’ve already seen, there are now five additional mission types and players choose between easy, medium and hard
Each option offers different rewards and opportunities.
Do you choose a safer mission for steady growth? Or risk a difficult encounter for a reward that perfectly complements your build?
Difficulty now becomes part of the decision-making process.
Anomaly Events
And finally, the wildcard.
Anomalies are large-scale environmental events that can occur at any moment and push both your skill and build to their limits. They may even trigger during other events.
Like Missions, Anomalies present difficulty choices spanning from easy, medium and hard.
Survive them and you will earn unique rewards capable of dramatically altering your power progression and more.
They are unpredictable, chaotic, and often dangerous.
Exactly as intended.
This Is Only the Beginning
What we’ve shown today is only part of the revamped demo.
Alongside these systems you can also expect:
Quality of life improvements
Gameplay refinements
Additional features and polish
Numerous smaller changes across the experience
And most importantly:
This overhaul exists because of your feedback.
The original demo gave us valuable insight into how players approached Spaceborn and helped highlight where the experience could evolve. That feedback directly shaped this new version.
So if you played the demo…Thank you.
And I hope you will return to experience what Spaceborn has become.
Join us on Discord and follow our social channels! I would love to hear your thoughts once the revamped demo goes live.
For now, I’ll be heading back into development to add those final touches.
See you soon at:
Steam Bullet Fest — Jun 8–15
Steam Next Fest 2026 — Jun 15–22
