As we head towards launch, we're starting a new series called "Road To Launch".
We want to highlight all the cool features and improvements Songs of Silence has received in DETAIL throughout the many updates. Meaning "Behind the Scenes" info, the "Why's" and the "How's"...
But before that, we have a big announcement ...
???? We have a 1.0 Release Date - Nov 13! ????
Songs of Silence will release its 1.0 version on Steam (and consoles) November 13th!
(We hope you all are just as excited as we are)
That said, let's continue.
This is the first instalment of the Road to Launch series. It's a special moment ✨ as much of this was driven by YOU, our dedicated community! Today and in the coming weeks - we’ll take you through the significant milestones we’ve achieved together, thanks to your feedback, ideas, and support.
⚔️ An Overview of the Road to Launch! ⚔️
Long ago, the Chimeras lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when we went into Early Access... Wait what?
Yes. That's where the story starts. The moment we went into Early Access, the day where we started talking to the Community Non-stop.
You see, the moment we released, there was a small moment of hype. We celebrated, drank some apple juice, and were happy.
???? Then the reviews came in... ????
Some negative - Immediately, we got our toolboxes out. What was the issue? We are checking, reading, party mode long forgotten. There it is. Japanese Characters in unrelated translations. Oh no.
How did this happen? Doesn't matter. What does is to listen. Immediately we make a post about it.
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2195410/view/4182234368465978335?l=english
2 hours later we deliver the fix. But the damage was done. We struggle with the visibility. What a bummer. People have questions. Why the negative reviews? What's up with the price? Why is the Crusade so overpowered?? Why did we lock everything??? All valid questions. Questions we answered the next day.
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2195410/view/4186738601581408974?l=english
And for everyone coming in after that, we made an edited version together with our Creative Director Alex, and our Publishing team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWqqsceBy9I
???? Hotfix 2.0: Early Unlocks and Faster Battles!
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2195410/view/4186738601585741984?l=english
Your feedback on the game’s pacing and accessibility sparked one of our earliest updates, and we knew we had to respond swiftly. With Hotfix 2.0, we introduced a series of quality of life improvements to streamline your experience.
✨ Encyclopedia Revamp: We improved the UX/UI, offering clearer explanations for how to unlock content in Skirmish and Multiplayer. No more guessing—you’ll know exactly how to access your favorite heroes and armies!
✨ Unlocks from the Start: We made sure that from the get-go, every faction starts with two hero vocations unlocked and the 4min Chess Fate is now available to all. No more slow starts—get into the action faster!
✨ Speed Up Battles: Yes, some battles felt slow. We understand. So, we added the speed up option! Now you can engage in combat at 2X and 4X speeds, so you can swiftly outmaneuver your enemies or experience quicker, more intense clashes!
✨ Exit & Load During Battle: This one almost everyone complained about. We didn't even think of it, before you voiced it - but you showed us why it made sense. So we’ve added the ability to exit and load games mid-battle for ultimate flexibility.
????️ Hotfix 3: Movement, Maps, and Deeper Immersion
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2195410/view/6041096475587860516?l=english
The next phase of fixes was all about perfecting the flow and feel of the game. Especially Map 2 received a lot of backslash. The stealth mission we had invisioned did not work as intended, as the Map Terrain did not support it very well. So together with some bugs, we started a big rework.
✨ Movement UI: We’ve improved the movement meter and added better visual cues for hero movement points on their portraits—making it easier to plan your moves.
✨ Map 02 Tutorial Rework: Eila’s Guidance, and stealth mechanics, got a makeover, together with the whole Map 2 terrain. Now, learning how to navigate Map 02 feels smoother and more intuitive.
✨ Zoom-in Battle Depth: Oh, this one was a joy to bring. We’ve deepened the zoom in battles, so you can now appreciate the finer details of your armies clashing in the heat of battle!
⚔️ Update 0.5.5: The Big Balancing Overhaul!
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2195410/view/4270057097450005006?l=english
You may ask, why did we switch from Hotfix to Update? For clarity, honestly. From that point, we weren't running around with our pants on fire anymore. We could plan. Hotfixes were helpful to communicate the urgency that came with Early Access launch. But now things had stabilized. :)
Especially in our 0.5.5 Update, which brought in a big list of Balancing changes. We could not call that a Hotfix anymore, since we had adjusted so much.
Let's also not go into details here. If checking out numbers is your think, feel free to read the Steam post, otherwise this would take a lot of space. :D
⚖️ Crusade Nerf, Old Race Buff: The mighty Crusade received some well-deserved nerfs to balance their dominance, while the ancient Old Race has gained some much-needed buffs to bring them back into the competitive scene. This of course still isn't perfect, and we're adjusting the numbers all the time. Once day, we will have it perfectly. Once day...
???? Update 0.6: Community Feedback FTW!
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2195410/view/4353376227583508897?l=english
This update was all about you—the players! Together with our Roadmap Features such as the Movement System rework, or Steam deck support, we took your feedback and built upon it, introducing some of the most highly requested changes.
???? Garrison Aid in Sieges: You wanted it, and we thought it made sense. Your Garrison now joins the fight when you are besieged. Because why wouldn't they? This is a game-changer for early-game sieges, making defense more strategic and impactful.
???? Music Settings for Streamers: Love the soundtrack? Now you can choose whether the music keeps playing when you switch windows—perfect for streamers and multi-taskers alike.
⚔️ AI Army Management: The AI is now smarter when managing units—healing in safe locations and leaving garrison troops for protection. Plus, allied armies can now move through occupied locations, optimizing their movement.
???? Visual Overhauls: We updated the Wilderness biome on large maps with more details and procedural decoration. Whether it’s windmills or vegetation, the world feels more alive than ever!
✨ Light Veins Visual Update: Sharper, brighter, and more visible—Light Veins on the map now stand out beautifully.
????️ Update 0.7: Choose Your Next Hero!
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2195410/view/4613462277091416632?l=english
Getting Erudite 3 times in a row, or never getting a Highlord when you started with the Hierophant (trust me, I speak from experience) It feels.. unfair. Especially if your enemy is putting out Arbiters one after another. A lot of you have requested to be able to choose your next hero. This was something more complicated to implement, so it took its sweet time. But for 0.7 we made it, and it enhanced the gameplay A LOT.
✨ Choose Your Hero: One of the most requested features is here—now, you can choose your next hero in single-player skirmish and multiplayer! Say goodbye to getting the same hero multiple times in a row. We agree—it’s neat!
???? Co-op Multiplayer: It's still in v.01, so it's not at its full potential yet. We see the vision already: Exchanging resources and Armies - that would be neat. But that system is overly complicated, it would add more resource management, and our backend is not made for it. So we delivered the first version - shared vision and friendly locations, so we can add up on it based on your feedback!
???? Update 0.8: Difficulty Levels & Community-Driven Enhancements
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2195410/view/4656248375959274623?l=english
Last Update everyone! Not forever - for Early Access. That's it. Week after week we've been checking the feedback, discussed it with the team and implemented what made sense. It's been a ride - whew. But 0.8 was something important to deliver, and it brought some other great improvements!
???? AI Improvements: From better handling of lootwagons to making neutral AI more aggressive, we’ve improved how the AI behaves in various scenarios. They now traverse purgatories more effectively and no longer leave isolated armies wandering aimlessly.
????️ Strategy Map Zoom-In & UI Toggle: Whenever you want to admire the beautiful locations, you can now zoom in closer on the map!
⚔️ Quest Unlock Adjustments: Grinding be gone! Now, you only need to win 1 game to unlock quests, instead of 3—making progression smoother and faster.
???? MP Lobby Exit Confirmation: We’ve added an exit confirmation popup when leaving the Multiplayer Lobby, making sure you don’t accidentally quit the game after waiting for that perfect match.
???? In-Game News Screen: Meet our friendly Kobold! He’s here to give you the latest news and updates right inside the game, so you’re always in the loop.
❓Where is 0.9❓
Good Question! We got what we need.
We really, like really want to launch this game. And we think with all your feedback we're just at the right spot. So let's be a bit more patient, and wait for 1.0.
????️ The Road Ahead
As we continue our journey toward launch, we are thrilled to have you by our side. Your insights, feedback, and suggestions have been invaluable in shaping Songs of Silence into the epic experience it’s becoming. Each update marks a milestone in our shared adventure, and we can’t wait to show you what’s next.
Thank you for being a part of this journey.
Join us in our Discord, be sure to grab the Private Tester role to participate in discussions and playtests.
Let’s continue crafting this world together!
⚔️ Join the Battle, Shape the Future! ⚔️
