[b]Hi Backpack Survivors![/b] With the release of a very early demo more than a week ago, we would like to present our roadmap for the game, highlighting planned features and additions in the upcoming months. Here's a detailed look at what's coming: [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/45041880/ceb4a66f58813edf563b2458ec19fdd804ac7f25.png[/img] [u][b]0.7 – ALPHA BUILD: Q1 2025[/b][/u] We are working hard to addressing all issues that came forth from the early demo release. Thanks for all the feedback – it’s incredibly useful for us! Further changes we are looking at include: • [b]Combat enhancements[/b]: Different enemy types and movement forms will be added, including a balancing iteration for all existing and new enemies. • [b]UI Polishing[/b]: More controller support, cleaning up the UI styling. • [b]Gameplay settings[/b]: Adding customizability settings to the gameplay, such as healthbar visibility, cooldown visuals, mini-map visibility, and damage number visibility. • [b]Community Feedback[/b]: You guys gave us much feedback during the demo, and it’s too much to simply list here. But you can be sure we listened and are changing game aspects accordingly. • [b]Physical and Energy weapons & Items[/b]: During the demo, the item pool was intended to be small, but we noticed a distinct lack of build viable options. To counter this, during the entire roadmap we are adding many new weapons and items to allow a high level of build variety. For the 0.7 build, that focus lies on energy and physical types. Next to these changes, we are also diving deep into performance issues, and general bug-fixing in 0.7. Also, the adventure presented in the demo will be completed with 2 more levels to flesh it out fully.   [b][u]0.8 ALPHA BUILD: Q2 2025[/u][/b] For the 0.8 build, we are focusing on adding core content to the game and stabilizing our central systems. This build, once completed, will be available for early access. • [b]New adventure: Deadly Depths[/b]: In the demo only 1 (shortened) adventure was available. The 0.8 build will contain an entire new adventure, with new levels, unique enemies and bosses and special rewards for completions. • [b]New character: The Necromancer[/b]: Together with the new adventure, a new character will be available to unlock. This character is focused on summoning undead allies to do his work and will be our first summoning character. • [b]Summons and Totems[/b]: With the rise of the Necromancer and summoning, new weapons and relics that affect your summons will be added. • [b]Environmental hazards & Traps[/b]: The inclusion of dark crypts and forgotten ruins in the new adventure gives us the opportunity to experiment with environmental hazards. Be careful of that spike trap or that sawblade hidden in the walls when escaping the undead! • [b]Player leveling[/b]: Those eager eyed among you already noticed the character in the demo gaining levels. For the 0.8 build we are improving on that element. Leveling your characters will grant talentpoints to increase your power before an adventure dramatically. • [b]Talents[/b]: Yes, that talent tree! What’s the use of leveling your characters if you cannot direct that power effectively? With the 0.8 build, the talent tree will be released. • [b]Item merging[/b]: Allowing items to be merged to combine a stronger variant. Why keep looking for that Epic Infernal Blade, if you can merge your Stone Great-sword and a Volcanic Orb? • [b]Hellfire Difficulties[/b]: In the early demo, 2 hellfire difficulties were unlockable. For the 0.8 build, all 9 hellfire difficulties will be available. The rewards are great, but so are the risks. Are you ready? • [b]Special Bags[/b]: For the 0.8 build, we are experimenting with special bags. As an example, weapons inside an ‘Infernal Bag’ would deal additional Fire damage! • [b]Cold and Poison weapons & Items[/b]: Similar to the reasoning in the 0.7 build, we are adding additional Cold and Poison build viable items to the item pool.   [u][b]0.9 EARLY ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS: Q3 2025[/b][/u] For the 0.9 build, the goal is add more content and tweaking the game. • [b]New adventure: Infernal Ruins[/b]: A new adventure, where your characters can discover the ancient ruins of old, and perhaps even unlock a new character? • [b]New character: The Mage[/b]: Fire incarnate, this new character pushes the bounds of what’s possible with magic to the limits. Physically weaker than the warrior, this mage will burn, freeze or electrocute any enemy that dares to set foot in her radius. • [b]Daily Quests[/b]: Daily quests will be available for unlocking, rewarding additional Titanic Souls for completing the challenges during an adventure run. Or perhaps you receive that rare daily quest and receive those new unique items? • [b]Load-Outs[/b]: With the inclusion of another adventure and rewards, your storage will eventually fill up quickly. Load-outs will allow you to pick what you want to take into your adventures! • [b]More Relics[/b]: Our relic pool is currently quite small, and that needs to change! We want relics to have a major impact on your run, so expect these new relics to have quite some impact! • [b]Economy balances[/b]: With the addition of new items, weapons and powerful systems, keeping an eye on how everything is priced and performing is key. This 0.9 build will have many tweaks and changes regarding this. • [b]Subclasses[/b]: Though our goal for the 1.0 release is to only have 4 characters, this does not mean we cannot have subclass variations for these awesome characters. Let’s have your warrior become an indomitable shield wearing monster, damaging enemies with his spikes, and scaling damage from his armor? Or perhaps the newly added mage has a subclass focused on purely cold damage, and freezing everything around her? • [b]Fire and Lightning weapons & Items[/b]: We are adding more Fire and Lightning build viable items to the item pool. • [b]Cold and Poison weapons & Items[/b]: We are adding additional Cold and Poison build viable items to the item pool.   [u][b]1.0 RELEASE: Q4 2025[/b][/u] Before we feel confident for a 1.0 release, we still have a few additions we want to add to the full game. Changes will be made based on feedback from the community during the early access phase, and as we are approaching the full release, focus is on these subjects: • [b]New adventure: Sorrow of the Void[/b]: The final adventure for the 1.0 game. Finally discover what happened in the story, and what your role in all of this is. Also, deep in the void, a final character can be unlocked! • [b]New character: The Rogue[/b]: Hiding in the shadows, attacking quickly and without hesitation, this new character completes our set of 4 characters. Coming with his own set of subclasses, there will be plenty of build variety to attempt that highest hellfire level. • [b]Training Room[/b]: With so many items, weapons, characters, subclasses and talents, this training room will help with testing builds, or simply playing around with new weapons or items. You will only have access to weapons and items previously found, so be sure to find them all! • [b]Item upgrading[/b]: During your adventures, you will find unique materials. These materials can be used to upgrade items before an adventure. Note, that we are still experimenting with this concept, and is subject to change. • [b]Collections[/b]: View all the enemies, items, weapons and relics you have encountered. Can you collect them all? • [b]Steam achievements[/b]: Not much to say about this one. You will be able to show your Backpack Surviving prowess in steam! • [b]Localization[/b]: We want as many people as possible to play the game, so we want to add localization for more languages. • [b]Infinite mode[/b]: Want to see how far you can get with all those new weapons and all that power? Enable infinite mode and earn epic rewards. • [b]Void and Holy weapons & Items[/b]: We are adding additional Void and Holy build viable items to the item pool. Please note that all dates described are subject to change. Many things can change during development, and we will update the timelines accordingly. However, know that we are working on this based on, among others, two core principles: • It’s done, when it’s done! • We want to make a game that is fun to play! This roadmap promises a lot of exciting content, and we hope you have much to look forward to in the coming months. Stay tuned for more updates! Kind regards, [i]CM[/i]