Greetings Jarls!
It’s been almost a year since we released Land of the Vikings into Steam’s Early Access program. Since then, it has seen many major updates that have brought more than 10 new & revamped features, such as the battle and runic systems, heroes, new maps, the building editor, defenses and automation, as well as over 500+ general improvements and bug fixes to the game. We’re extremely grateful to everyone who has played the game during Early Access, and provided feedback and bug reports that shaped the game into what it is now!
So before we cover all the features that’ll be coming with version 1.0, we’d like to reflect and take a look back at all the major updates that have come around during Early Access!
Looking back:
Defense Update - Dec 21, 2022
From the very first major update, we introduced new defensive buildings for you to build, like the wall and watchtowers, to defend your bases against other Viking raids. As these Vikings can now attack you, you get the choice of how you’d deal with these attackers.
Not only that, the Defense update brought in many small improvements and heavily requested features like automated jobs and reassignment that make things easier to manage towards the later stages of the game, as well as reworking the tavern so that Vikings can regain their happiness.
Building Editor Update - Apr 4, 2023
The next major update introduced the building editor, a powerful in-game editor that allowed you to build and personalize the look and feel of an endless variety of buildings and decorations. You can also share your creations with your friends and other players through the Steam Workshop. With over 200 workshop designs from the community, you can subscribe and pick the ones you like best and make your village unique.
Battle & Runic Update - Aug 31, 2023
Lastly, our most recent update introduced many different new features. These include a runic system that grants your village abilities, heroes that will inspire and lead your Vikings into battle, a new currency - gold - that can be used to upgrade your heroes and be spent in the runics system, and a complete overhaul of the battle system that allows you to strategize and calculate the consequences based on soldier types and numbers.
Next to this, we have been meticulously going through more than 11,000 bug reports and feedback to classify, fix, and improve the game as much as we can since the Early Access release in preparation for the 1.0 release. This invaluable input has have sparked numerous quality-of-life improvements, including enhanced camera and in-game speed for specific goods and days, an expanded building editor with more meshes, and new map textures. Additionally, we've tackled various reported bugs, addressing issues such as characters climbing on top of buildings and randomly quitting jobs, save problems, and editor-related glitches. This effort was made possible by your invaluable feedback and support. We simply could not do it without you all!
Moreover, in response to your input and wishes, we brought in features like Steam cloud saves, automated tree-cutting, fresh maps, and UI enhancements aimed at enhancing village interactions.
What’s coming in 1.0:
With just 1 week before the full release, we’ll be adding in the last of the features that we set out to do at the beginning, fulfilling our original vision for the game. Here’s what will be coming in the 1.0:
New Game Mode - Immersive Mode
Take on the mantle of Jarl, and guide your Vikings through glory! In this introductory mode, it's a great starting point for new players to learn how to navigate Land of the Vikings, with more than 25 objectives exclusive to this Viking-themed story.
New Events
As you navigate your Vikings towards unrivaled glory, be prepared for the lurking shadows of treachery and the ever-mounting dangers that await your village. Brace yourself for over 20 events, ranging from raids to charismatic commanders, and perplexing village choices. Your leadership will be tested like never before.
New Map - Volcano
Do you have what it takes to settle on an island, with an active volcano? The new map introduces a new landscape for you to explore and settle your Vikings on, all while being in the presence of a mighty volcano!
New Disaster - Volcanic bombs
Witness the skies ablaze as volcano bombs descend upon your brave settlement. Do you have what it takes to survive this fiery trial?
Next to all this, Land of the Vikings will be available in 8 different languages, including English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, and Turkish.
What’s next?
With these last features being added in, we’ll be reaching a point where we have now implemented all the elements that were part of our original vision for the game. Thus, we’re happy to fully realize this dream and release the game out of Early Access! This accomplishment wouldn’t have been possible without you, and the community, and we are truly thankful for your passion and dedication to the game.
Even then, our dedication to the game remains strong. We love this game as much as you do and are determined to make it the best it can possibly be with you all. Therefore, we have a post-release roadmap in store, so stay tuned. Beyond the launch, we’ll continue to fix any bugs found, and, more importantly, we'll be excited to showcase new features and improvements, many of which have been inspired by your valuable suggestions and feedback, as well as ideas that have surfaced during the development process.
Skål!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1981570/Land_of_the_Vikings/
