We’re super excited to share that - ahead of our participation in Steam Next Fest next week - our first public demo for Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown is now available!
[previewyoutube=ZG6TeFFl4A8;full][/previewyoutube]
There is a whole new world of content to explore in Nysamor, including Multiplayer, Waelgrim Surges, our first Waelbeast encounter, the AI controlled Wyrmaxa Kingdom, and a ton of updated and improved gameplay systems.
The Next Fest Demo includes over ten hours of gameplay, alongside countless fixes and enhanced AI encounters for those that experienced our Closed Beta in December. Importantly, this is your final chance to experience Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown prior to our Early Access launch later this year!
Download the demo NOW via Steam and join in the conversation on Discord!
Be quick! The demo will conclude on February 12. We will have more exciting details to share on Early Access in the coming months, but we hope you enjoy this slice until then.
Will you be a kind or cruel ruler? It’s time to find out!
DEMO FAQ
What is Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown?
Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown is a medieval fantasy city builder where the decisions you make weigh heavily on the fate of your kingdom. In Nysamor, you and your citizens will transform a settlement into a kingdom, staking your claim on its provinces while meeting the essential needs and demands of your people. A mysterious, devastating force known as the Waelgrim also lurks in these lands, but the Nysians do not fear it. The roaming Grimrot and ruling Wyrmaxans embrace its power, and see it as a gift. As your reign shifts toward a path of Benevolence or Tyranny, you too must decide if the Waelgrim becomes something to be honored…or subdued.
- Grow a formidable kingdom, with more than thirty unique buildings and dozens of resources.
- Address the needs of your people and kingdom through events and specializations to reflect your style of rule.
- Amass a grand army and challenge the Grimrot, Wyrmaxans, or other players in RTS combat.
- Compete with friends and foes in multiplayer with up to four players.
What will the demo include?
The demo features:
- Updated gameplay:
- City Building - Resource Collection - Population Growth - Trade Routes - Combat including NPC combat with Grimrot and Waelbeast - Multiplayer - Waelgrim surges and first Waelbeast encounter - Wyrmaxan AI faction
- Narrative complete up to Act 1 (same as Closed Beta)
- Estimated 10 hours of play time
- Supported languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Simplified Chinese
- Changes based on beta feedback: - Fixes to the tutorial flow - Multiplayer improvements - Performance optimisation - UI improvements
What feedback did you take on board from the Closed Beta build?
Our Closed Beta late last year was a tremendous success, so we thank you all for taking part. Players should now expect considerable upgrades across performance, graphic textures, lighting, various UI elements, onboarding, combat, fires, disease, attacks, trade, the strategic map, and, of course, multiplayer. Some of the changes we have made are below:
- Separate builder class: Builders now deliver all resources to construct the build, taking the load off the Stockpile workers. This also allows buildings to be constructed anywhere in a province. - Builders can have townspeople added to the job and removed but it is not part of the priority list on the job menu anymore. - The job menu is now drag and drop using the left mouse click and hold and drag into priority.
- Wyrmaxa Kingdom is now a major threat to the player. Patrols the map, attacks the player, and does not like players building relationships with AI towns. Players can defeat the Wyrmaxa Kingdom, but you best be prepared…
- Adderbeasts will attack your kindgom with Waelgrim surges.
- UI improvements: - Most icons have been adjusted or colorized in some way to be more visible. - Camp worldspace icons are more visible. - The War and Demolish buttons have been separated from the placeables buttons in the Build Bar to more clearly separate their functions. - Updated Event UI for further clarity based on Beta feedback.
What can I expect in the Demo versus the Early Access launch?
While many of the Early Access anticipated features are present in the Demo, there are some items that are either still being tweaked and polished, or being withheld to build up anticipation for Early Access and Full Release.
In Early Access, you can expect:
- Forty (40) additional buildings
- Twenty (20) more craftable items
- Discovering your path: Benevolence or Tyranny
- Four (4) new classes of citizens once the Benevolent/Tyrannical paths are unlocked (two for each)
- Acts II and III of the main narrative arc, along with Random and Building Specialization events
- Increased military units and options
- And more…
—————
Until we next meet…
Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown is available to Wishlist on Steam now!
Social Links:
Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown Website - Official Website
Discord - Join our Discord community
X/Twitter - Follow us @thrivehltc
Facebook - Like Our Facebook Page
YouTube - Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel
Find out more about PlaySide Publishing on its official website
To learn more about Zugalu Entertainment, please visit its official website
