Greetings, Banebreakers!
Our first Steam Playtest has officially concluded, and we want to extend our deepest gratitude to every player who joined us on this journey.
Thank you for dedicating your time and passion to an early development build that is still very much "in the forge." We were thrilled to see players blitz through the first two chapters within hours of gaining access, while many others spent countless hours experimenting with artifact synergies and elemental builds to carve out their own unique paths.
We have been carefully reviewing every piece of feedback shared through community discussions and surveys. From the difficulty curve between early and late-game stages to the readability of the UI and the overall build progression, your insights are invaluable. Concerns regarding artifact balance, performance optimization, and visual clarity have already been integrated into our immediate iteration plans.
For us, the greatest value of this playtest was the "trial by fire" only real players can provide. Your experiences are the primary catalyst helping Demonbane: Ascension evolve into a more refined, solid, and complete experience.
We'd also like to share a glimpse of our future development direction. The Five Elements, cultivation tiers, and artifacts featured in this test represent only a small part of our larger vision.
Moving forward, we plan to further deepen the elemental system, creating clearer progression paths and stronger synergies between elements. At the same time, the mid-game “Wonder Skill” system is already actively in development. Future cultivation progression will be far more than simple stat increases, it will fundamentally reshape combat and offer a deeper, more expressive gameplay experience.
In addition, a brand-new “Dao Heart” system is also currently in development. This will become one of the core mechanics defining the ultimate direction of a your build.
As you delve deeper into specific cultivation paths, placing your Dao Heart in different positions will trigger unique mutations and transformations within your abilities. These changes will not only create meaningful progression and mechanical evolution in combat, but also introduce distinct visual variations.
Our goal is for every decision during a run to feel meaningful. We want you to feel like you are truly shaping your cultivation journey, not just chasing higher damage numbers.
*Dao Heart system (WIP)
We know the current version is still rough around the edges. This playtest isn't the end of a chapter, but the true beginning of the refinement process.
If you weren't able to gain access this time, don’t be discouraged! We are already planning larger-scale tests for the future, where more players will be invited to step into this mythical world to experience more mature systems and content.
Please continue to support us by adding the game to your Steam Wishlist and following our official social media. We will be sharing regular development logs and upcoming playtest dates as we move forward.
The road of cultivation is long, until we meet again!
Howkey Deer Studio