This marks the first regular Thursday Update during Early Access, which I have been eagerly looking forward to share.
There's a lot to cover - but real quick - check out the brand new enemy, the Gunboat! Built for fighting in Asteroids, its targeting is programmed to clear out pesky asteroids and players alike!.
Thanks to everyone who has purchased and wishlisted the game, It really means a lot to me personally that you have decided to put your trust into me to deliver something worth playing and sharing.
Let's make Cosmic Destroyer better every step of the way!
A few important call outs...
Future Updates and Expectations
The plan is to release regular updates to the game and share development information updates every Thursday. These will include information about the game's progress, planned future work and any current difficulties with everyone through weekly.
Weekly information about whats new, being worked on, and what's coming up next
Weekly builds with improvements and bug fixes.
Content updates as new stage and enemy content is ready to share
Previous Stable branch is offered to alleviate any issues with breaking changes - this is available now.
Planned release of Public Test Branch 11/13/25.
Public Test branch may include new, untested content, or mechanics. This branch is more likely to contain bugs or situations that bend or break expected game-play behaviors.
To avoid any surprises any plans which affect development schedule will be announced in advance. I want to be transparent, news will include any events or known issues that might affect timing of new features or other game updates.
Development Priorities
Bugs generally come first and foremost, particularly if they have any impact to a majority of player's experience.
Planned feature updates and major mechanics updates will be developed and tested until they are ready and will have announced release date targets. Any major feature that is outright broken, is untested, or needs more time will not be moved into stable releases.
General content, stage changes, behavioral improvements to enemy logic, User Experience and UI. Everything from Dialogues and Debriefs to New Enemies, Bullet Patterns and Behaviors. This is where things will change
Prototyping new systems, effects, features and performance improvements will always have some time scheduled every week, but not take up too much time at the expense of the above priorities. I feel experimentation is still very important part of allowing game-play depth to grow and identify fun new mechanics. This is a great place to welcome new ideas from players, try them out and iterate on feedback in Public Test.
Any content's first release does not mean the element is "complete" or will not be changed or improved later. This is particularly true for visuals and audio, which I expect to be part of continuous improvement and polish.
Game Direction
My vision for the development direction of the game includes plans for features and content including the additional enemies, bosses and stages. There are also areas such as new weapons and game mode mechanics which I want to introduce. I am very interested in exploring feedback and ideas from the community whenever possible. Two prototypes being tested with promising results:
Stage branching - this has been prototyped and the result is more dynamic stages with additional side area choices providing more varied, difficult and rewarding routes. These add "opt-in" to harder areas which could affect allies and impact game endings but also have additional enemies, pickup items or bosses. This means some routes can also be more beginner friendly, to allow players to learn and grow into choosing harder routes.
Rank based Hyper Augments - a new tier of ship powers available by using Grappling Hook throws and combos. By building the Hit Counter, then performing a throw, grapple, or multi-kill the player is awarded with a hyper power such as a shield, focus aura damage, supercharged weapons, missiles and option drone abilities. These powers fade over time after the Multiplier has been lost.
Week 1 Update - Public Test Branch Notable Changes
New Enemy - Gunboat - this large ship is equipped to blast its way through asteroid fields. It is equipped with a fast turning double turret and a spinning volley turret.
Enemy round bullets changed from yellow to pink. Players reported some visibility problems with the yellow bullets. A feature to allow player to change color of enemy bullets is coming soon.
Aimed bullet graphic has been adjusted to be slightly longer to increase visibility. Hit box has not changed.
When player uses the Vulcan Cannon, bullets are light blue, allowing a bit more visibility to enemies' projectiles.
Improvements to placement and pacing of all enemies in all stages. Pacing and balancing will continue to be improved including lane adjustments to enemy waves. Some areas are harder right now.
Cooldown for Grappling Hook deployment and throwing has been reduced by 50%
Egg Pods "Wake up" when hit by player's projectiles, making them more of a threat.
Explosions of enemy ships and missiles inherit velocity from the ship or missile at the time they were destroyed
Improvement to Cargo boxes near Crane Mid-boss fight. Boxes now come into the foreground when picked up - changing to a brighter color and displaying on top of background elements
Split-fire bots now enter the screen instead of just "floating in"
Laser Miners move to fire on the player more quickly, avoiding situations where they never fired if the player was constantly moving.
Player ship banking animation sped up - The time before the player ship's begin banking during movement has been reduced, which looks more responsive.
An issue where some thrown objects were not contributing to the player's Hit Counter has been addressed.
An issue causing collision effects to continuously be created intermittently has been corrected.
Collisions for the V-Spec Mk. I's Crush Shell have been improved
What's Next?
Here are the current plans for next week
Maintain a roadmap for the next 3 weeks of development
Game Public Branches - Public Test and Previous Stable
Balancing for Hard Mode - some enemy waves will be adjusted to hard mode, and hard mode pacing in Stage 1 through 3 will get some additional attention.
Training Mode to allow stage selection
High Score screen controls, navigation and ability to support Hard Mode in the future
Additional enemies and segment layouts for Stage 3's planetary approach section.
Improvements to the Clamps Boss and Lab area
More laser sounds
Design & Planning for tutorial updates & improvements.