Hello Bug Adventurers!
Long time no see! Can you believe it? The Buddy Bug Demo has been live for three whole months! Over this time, we’ve received so much encouragement and thoughtful feedback from all of you. We’ve carefully read every single message, and we’re truly grateful for your continued support. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
For those who are new here, a quick introduction: we’re Wildfire Studio from Wuxi, the team behind Eastern Exorcist. Our new project, Buddy Bug, is a side-scrolling action roguelite supporting two-player co-op. In this adventure, you’ll play as an adorable yet heroic little beetle, turning everyday objects like lighters and tennis balls into powerful weapons, and rampaging through a vibrant insect world!
Our dream is to create a game with Eastern charm that families can enjoy together and players around the world can love. To make that dream come true, we need your feedback more than ever. So please keep playing, keep sharing your thoughts, and don’t hesitate to tell us what you think!
Alright, enough small talk! Let’s jump into the big news! Today we’re bringing you a massive February update, along with a preview of what’s coming next. Let’s dive in!
（We also have a video version of our patch notes. Feel free to check it out if you’d like.）
Important Notice for Returning Players
Old save files from previous versions will no longer be compatible after this update. Please make sure to:
1. Go to the in-game save management screen.
2. Delete your old save file.
3. Start a brand-new empty save.
If you don’t, you may not be able to enter the game properly! （We're sorry for the inconvenience. :( ）
Future Update Preview
Element System Rework
We’re planning a major overhaul of the Element System!
Previously, some elements lacked long-term growth and didn’t feel satisfying enough in extended runs. In future updates, we’ll introduce scaling mechanics so elements can grow stronger alongside the player.
Take the Electric element for example: We’ll keep its classic conductive properties (water conducts electricity, lightning chains, etc.), and we’re also adding a new “Charge” system. Charged turrets can temporarily fire at full power. Fully charged taunt dolls can switch into auto-attack mode.
We want elements to shape the battlefield continuously, not just trigger one-time effects. This rework is still in development and won’t be included in the February update, but stay tuned!
We’re also enhancing elemental identity. In this update, Oil now causes enemies to slip, even without being ignited. Slippery floors? Makes perfect sense, right?
Additionally:
Water + Electric now creates conductive networks between puddles.
Water + Fire produces steam that blinds enemies, causing chaos among their ranks.
Even Water + Oil now reacts realistically, splashing bouncing droplets for secondary attacks.
In the new version, nearly every elemental combination has a meaningful interaction—no more “useless” pairings!
New Gameplay & Mechanics
We heard your feedback about wanting more gameplay variety beyond combat-focused stages. So starting this February update, we’re introducing new mode-based stages, beginning with: Food Defense Mode.
Protect the food at the center of the map from waves of enemies! Coordinate with a friend for maximum efficiency. Split defenses, hold your ground, and survive to earn massive food rewards.
More creative modes are already in development, including: Balance Scale Challenge & Surreal Toilet Adventure. And many more experimental ideas!
We’ve also added new battlefield mechanics like the Rotating Barrier, which lets you divide enemies strategically and create tactical advantages with throwable items.
February Demo Update
Here’s what’s available right now:
New Weapon: Canned Shield
Adorable and powerful!
Hold attack to reflect enemy bullets. Charge to dash forward and knock enemies back. Throw it to create a spinning damage zone.
(Where does Buddy get infinite shields? That’s a question for our inventor Ant Bro… )
Route Selection System
You can now see and choose your adventure path freely. Farm rewards or challenge new stages, the choice is yours!
Art Overhaul – Cardboard Fortress
We’ve revamped Chapter 1 with: brighter, more vibrant colors; richer background details; overall improved visual depth. Perfect for screenshots!
Quality-of-Life Improvements
Improved tutorial flow
Choose your starting weapon (Pile Driver / Electromagnetic Gun / Magnetic Flywheel)
Online co-op moved to the save screen
Steam Cloud Save support added
New cutscenes for better immersion
New outfit NPC “Lady Noctua”
Improved cart stage & pesticide mechanics
Aggressive fish in the aquatic zone (watch out!)
Weapon upgrade paths are now selectable
Item and Knowledge refresh options improved
Multiple difficulty settings added
(One More Reminder: Please delete your old save file and start a new one to avoid issues!)
One Last Favor
If you’re enjoying Buddy Bug, please add the game to your Steam Wishlist and fill out the in-game survey. Every bit of feedback helps us improve.
We’ll also be launching new Playtests soon. Follow us to stay updated!
That’s everything for this update. Happy adventuring, Bug Heroes! See you in-game!