Hi,

Invariant has now reached a point where its core game design is locked in. This means the visual style, mechanics, and major design decisions are all set, with a few nice to have features saved for later.

Originally, my goal was to lock down all of the game's systems by January 2027, but after a lot of development and testing, I feel that the game is already in a really good place.

After spending a lot of time playing and testing it, I can finally say that Invariant feels like it has its own identity. The gameplay feels fun and engaging, at least to me, and I hope you will have fun with it as well.

Looking at the game purely from a player's perspective, especially in terms of gameplay, I would say it reminds me most of Half Life 2, Quake 2, and Doom 2016. I really like how everything fits together now and how the different systems complement each other.

When it comes to the story and setting, things will become much clearer in the next trailer. The direction it has taken reminds me somewhat of Ghost in the Shell and Metal Gear Solid. Invariant is set in the 1990s, inside a facility that is technologically advanced for its time, and in many ways even by today's standards. As the protagonist, you will be able to make use of both old and new technologies throughout the game.

The story explores what it means to be human, human curiosity, AI, and some deeper philosophical ideas, all wrapped in an action packed experience. When it comes to pacing, it probably reminds me most of Half Life 2. There is more to all of this, but I would rather leave that for the next trailer and devlog, where I will also reveal the release date.

Of course, all of those systems still need tuning and polishing, and that will continue as development progresses. But the foundation is there, and I am happy with where the game has landed. Naturally, making something a bit different comes with its own set of risks, but I believe that is part of the beauty of development and exploration.

The next time I write an update will be when the new trailer is finished. Alongside it, I am also preparing a much more detailed devlog where I will talk about everything that has happened so far. I will go into how certain ideas made their way into the game, why others were removed, how different systems evolved, and the decisions behind all of it. There is still a lot of work to be done, and it will take some time, but the game is in constant development, and I would rather do it properly than rush it.

The goal has always been to create a complete experience where the individual systems do not feel like they were simply thrown together, but instead work together as parts of a cohesive whole. I want Invariant to have clear inspirations while still being different enough to stand on its own. I feel that it has finally reached that point.

Thank you for your kind and ongoing support, and especially for sticking around throughout development. It genuinely means a lot.

If you have any questions, feel free to write.

Josip