When Noct initially went into early access with an incomplete story, this impeded the game and development more than I realized it would. Like supplying people with a half finished book, obviously you're not going to like it, it's going to leave you unsatisfied and wanting more. At that point why even read it? I don't think I understood that, but I get it now. I guess it's one of those life lessons where you won't fully understand something until you fail at it. For awhile, I completely regretted pushing the game into Early Access. Development can be, and is (at least for us) extremely chaotic. With Early Access, I feel that every build should be perfect, fans deserve nothing short of that, especially for supporting the game in such an infant state. The development reality is very different from that. Builds are messy, full of bugs, and you're constantly breaking your own game when you add new features... all this goes down while trying to rush out updates to keep your fans and supporters happy.

I don't feel the same way anymore. Noct is 100% directly influenced by it's Early Access community. It wouldn't be the game it is today, and it certainly wont be the game it can be tomorrow, without the small community that drives it. I've never worked on a project this long before, or one like this. I've also never felt an attachment to something like this as an artist.

I wouldn't choose do it any other way. If it wasn't a struggle, how would you learn and grow from it?

Narrative core:
While we drastically improve the inventory and scavenging aspects of Noct, we are also busy working on the main storyline. I mentioned before how the bunker would play a direct role, working as some sort of hidden gateway to different parts of the Narrative. Some of these chapters will bring you topside. However the majority are focused inward, involving underground catacombs and passageways.

Will XMIT return? Will it feel like the old narrative?
Yes. The mysteriousness of the satellite viewer will return.

When will the narrative update be released?
As soon as the Inventory update launches, we will be full time on Narrative. With the changes now made to the game, we expect storyline development to proceed at an accelerated pace.

However, I want the full story to be completed and in the game before the update goes live. I don't mind it being buggy, I expect as much from development. What I can't stand is an unfinished story going out the door again.

As always, post any comments or questions below, I'll always do my best to answer them.

-c3sk