A new generation of in-house engine technology allows us to raise the bar on [i]Hero's Spirit[/i], enabling a multitude of new features to be explored. At the same time, we have made some changes to the self-imposed 'hardware limitations' that constrain the game's design, allowing for more aesthetically pleasing (and accessibility-friendly) color palettes. We still strive to maintain a consistent look and feel across the entirety of the game's surface, but the specifics have changed to allow us to deliver a better experience for our players. [img]https://i.imgur.com/uTrKq2B.png[/img] But the changes are not entirely visual - the new audio backend will... well, sound exactly the same, but work [i]more betterer![/i] The new map and item data format allows us to revise things that were previously off-limits (because they'd have corrupted savegames). Steam API support is expanded, allowing us to explore some new social features! The HUD and menu systems are being expanded with some new functionality, allowing for better quality of life and screen visibility! And of course, all the graphics are being updated for better ambience, clarity and gameplay quality. [img]https://i.imgur.com/c6n3Yg4.gif[/img] One bit of sad news for a select few of you: We will be saying goodbye to Tool-Assist mode and its accompanying toolset. Maintaining TAS playback consistency was one of the biggest constraints and was a considerable investment of time and energy, and still imperfect. By leaving that feature behind, we can focus that time and energy on the game itself; and more importantly, this allows us to implement a pretty significant feature I might have forgotten to mention... what was it, now? Hmm. I remember it was important, interesting, and kind of a big deal. Oh well, more on that later.