[h2]Big Announcement[/h2] Hello, Darfall community! It’s me Lukas and we have some thrilling news to share that marks a new era in the journey of Darfall. We are incredibly proud and excited to announce our partnership with the renowned game publisher, [b]Paradox[/b]! More specifically, their [b]Arc[/b] initiative. This collaboration is not just a milestone for us at SquareNite, but also a testament to the potential of Darfall. For us, collaborating with Paradox is a dream realized. Their commitment to crafting quality, strategic games that captivate players for countless hours aligns perfectly with our vision for Darfall. Check out the announcement trailer! [previewyoutube=qPv7tcsdOms;full][/previewyoutube] [h1]Wishlist the game here[/h1] https://store.steampowered.com/app/1961600/Darfall/ [h2]Meet the Team[/h2] Before we dive into what this means for Darfall, let's take a moment to appreciate the people behind the scenes. Here's a snapshot of our first office we set up beginning of this month, where magic happens every day. From left to right, meet Erik, Lukas, and Martin: [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42663831/4f10679b286b6ca479460863e2599f409b2d80e5.jpg[/img] [h2]January Highlights[/h2] January has been a month of relentless passion and hard work for our team. Here's a sneak peek into what each of us has been up to: Lukas: [list] [*] Generating of voice overs for all the human units [*] Cage captive system for map camps [*] Added abilities to elites and bosses [*] Hero gathering animations (finally!) [/list] Martin: [list] [*] UI improvements and art for the “survival timer” [*] Forging of our company logo [*] Improving the survival world map [*] Guidance of music composer for Darfall [/list] Erik: [list] [*] Getting to know the project! [*] Adding abilities to undead Graveguard elite [*] Implementing the “survival timer” into UI [*] Giving loot chests some special features [*] Added numerous new tutorial steps [/list] [h2]Game Feature Spotlight[/h2] As we progress towards our early access in the upcoming months, let's go over the newest additions in more details. [b]Handcrafted Soundtracks[/b] Thanks to our Paradox cooperation, we're excited to welcome Robert Bruckmayer, an exceptionally talented Slovak music composer, to our team. He'll be meticulously crafting the soundtracks for Darfall, starting with the main theme that you can hear in our announcement trailer. This soundtrack resonates every time we hear it, capturing and elevating the essence of the Darfall universe. [b]Survival Timer[/b] The “Survival Timer” now displays not only each impending undead invasion night but also the countdown to the ultimate challenge - the final demonic invasion. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42663831/574a170bf65f28be35064c53e10515519531aa32.png[/img] [b]Boss Abilities[/b] Our elites and bosses now boast unique abilities, adding an extra layer of tactical depth to your gameplay. Here is a peek at the Blazing Overlord, the formidable final boss in survival mode. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42663831/eed4153ee4f51a19207041f3330958bdac9de2af.png[/img]' This demon leaves a trail of fire in his path and occasionally unleashes a radial inferno, challenging you to adapt your troop positions swiftly to escape his scorching wrath. [b]Loot Chests & Art[/b] Our loot chests have undergone a stunning transformation, both visually and functionally. We're proud to introduce Jakub, a supremely talented freelance artist who has joined our team to elevate Darfall's visual aesthetics. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the revamped chest models: [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42663831/9e4527b5a03be0b01f6ee242053911bde8432465.png[/img] [b]Main Menu Concept Art[/b] We're also sprucing up our main menu in preparation for the grand release. The main menu concept art is currently being crafted by our talented concept artist friend, Dalibor. Here are a few sketches from the work he has done. We will reveal the final concept art in upcoming dev blogs! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42663831/1ec4f623e6a3a598f4e789641bbf32f399f6b457.png[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42663831/cbf28df3418cabb450a3394783cba10fdade844a.png[/img] [b]Studio Logo[/b] And finally, feast your eyes on the newly minted logo for our studio, SquareNite, created by Martin! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/42663831/35af246cf3c5bd0eb27144f834634efd17c66e01.jpg[/img] This logo symbolizes a “squared knight”, imbued with elements from Darfall, to signify our first game. The three peaks in the helmet crown design pay homage to Slovakia's national emblem. [b]And More...[/b] This is just a small glimpse of what's to come. We have many more features and additions up our sleeves, which we'll either leave as surprises or gradually unveil in our upcoming dev blogs. Stay tuned for more exciting updates! [h2]The Paradox Impact[/h2] Our partnership with Paradox is a game-changer, quite literally. Thanks to the partnership with Paradox, we’ve been able to make some significant enhancements to Darfall. This includes huge improvements to sound effects, the hiring of a skilled music composer who will bring audio experience to the next level, and additional talented artists to elevate the game’s visual experience. Their support has been instrumental in bringing our vision for Darfall closer to reality. [h2]What's Next for Darfall[/h2] As we move closer to our early access release, we want to thank our community from Discord and other social media for your support. Your feedback, enthusiasm, and love for Darfall have been our driving force. Stay tuned for more updates, and get ready to experience a world like no other in Darfall! With gratitude and excitement, The SquareNite Team, from beyond the darkness of Darfall.