[img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28169799/6f9265452d0810a59d55d9c21c4692b4ef7d6585.png[/img] Greetings good fellows of the community! We now step ever closer to the next update for Holdfast. The team are working endlessly to polish off this first of larger updates coming in 2023 all of which will aid in expanding and maintaining this great community we all love so dearly. Soon we will be undertaking closed BETA sessions to test and gather feedback prior to the update's full release. While there is indeed a lot of change coming with this update it is a very important stage of our plans to ensure that players new and old can continue enjoying Holdfast for the years to come. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28169799/d160e8ca5783dcc75ed5e4c1daf41dd637f9922d.jpg[/img] The newest members Gest, Matt and Grandayy slotted into the team effortlessly and have all already begun directly working on multiple sections of this next update coming to the game. They are all very excited for you to see what they have been working on. Speaking of which, we’re pleased to announce that the long-awaited Howitzer artillery piece will be added to the game with this update. This new foe on the battlefield makes up what it lacks in range with devastating shrapnel explosions and blasts that will knock back those who are near. Here’s a sneak peek of this beast of the battlefield. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28169799/b75f5a6301a04103e6ee7a4a1f03ca6592627260.gif[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28169799/8db2ebbd75ff6d183ca9449021f5e63a6c3e6544.gif[/img] [i]*The above footage is a work in progress and may not be representative of the content upon release.[/i] One of the changes coming to Holdfast with this update is an entire redesign of the game's user interface. Holdfast is a game that has been in development since 2013 and over the years, it has come to be rather dated in a lot of ways, often limiting the development of many features due to its lack of modularity. Part and parcel of the above-mentioned redesign are customisable player cards. You will be able to brilliantly showcase your hard-earned achievements through a selection of customisable medals, portraits, titles and banners in your own style and liking. It will show to players you kill and also within the game’s leaderboards. These will be visible across all fronts of the game including Naval, Nations At War and Frontlines. The initial introduction of these cards will have a limited pool of portraits, banners, titles and medals to pick from. Other updates will see the inclusion of a wide selection of customisable elements that can be unlocked by completing service challenges and feats of strength. We’re doing this to limit the scope of the upcoming release ensuring that we’re able to deliver it to you as soon as humanly possible. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28169799/1c7c2ce4cca781c8cdbf1f83beb157ac61e76b07.png[/img] Our systems backend which cares for stats and experience collection as well as the regiment registry was similarly rudimentary in its construct. This severely limited our designers from enlisting features aiding with both community building and player retention. Needless to say, this was quite the involving task to see come to fruition but was a necessary step forward. Thanks to these changes, the team has brought to life a more robust and responsive regiment registry along with various tools to bolster and assist with community building. The registry has also been made accessible whilst playing a match enabling new players to join a clan with ease. Here’s a hint at some of the features that will be complimenting the new regiment registry in this coming update. Anvil Game Studios is determined to [b]bring Holdfast into the new age[/b] all the while staying true to its core design values and pillars. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28169799/42a076ccc6918958ae3b3e3b7f1e2674318e3f14.png[/img] [i]*The above image is a work in progress and may not be representative of the content upon release[/i] [h2]Holdfast Game Sale[/h2] Should you have yet to enlist and fight for Emperor or King, now’s the ripe moment to do so as Holdfast and all of its cosmetic DLCs will be on sale up to 55% off for a limited time! We hope to see you with us soon on the battlefield. https://store.steampowered.com/app/589290/Holdfast_Nations_At_War/ https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/13424/Holdfast_Collectors_Edition/ https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/25822/Napoleonic_Pack/ We’ll have plenty more to show soon enough. On behalf of everyone at Anvil Game Studios, I wish you all, our dear community the best of health. :oheart: [url=discord.gg/holdfastgame]discord.gg/holdfastgame[/url] [url=discord.gg/holdfastgame][img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28169799/93d850c53ec40e7e3205750354a2c7838aa7fa0c.png[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28169799/d9327a848672e9960e686e66d403b75d52fa9abf.gif[/img][/url] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28169799/19c3d161cb22a68bc8cdca7e864b8453209122eb.png[/img] [b][i]- Andrew ‘Refleax’ Farrugia[/i][/b] [b][i]Game Director[/i][/b] On behalf of all the great folks at Anvil Game Studios.