Better Than Dead
Steam News 22 January 20263mo ago

DEV LOG #6 | Current State of Development

Development Update Hi everyone, I wanted to share a short update on where Better Than Dead is right now, and how its core experience is taking shape. Playtesting Status The first rounds of playtesting have concluded. Ov…

Update log

Full Better Than Dead update

The complete published notes, normalized for clean reading and source attribution.

Extracted changes

0 fixes5 additions2 changes0 removals
  • Gameplay
addedPlaytesting StatusThe first rounds of playtesting have concluded. Over the past weeks, I’ve been reviewing feedback and applying adjustments to the core gameplay. A new round of playtests is currently being prepared.
changedPlaytesting StatusEncounters tend to begin under heavy pressure, then gradually settle into a more controlled rhythm as movement, space, and timing start to align. The experience is built around this shift… from instability to a deliberate, physical flow of violence.
changedCore ExperiencePanic gradually gives way to momentum. As encounters unfold, movement and positioning become more deliberate, and control starts to emerge.
addedDevelopment is currently focused on:Building new locations
addedDevelopment is currently focused on:Adding new gameplay mechanics
addedAbout the PlaytestA new update is planned soon., and the playtest will reopen to a new group of players.

Development Update

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share a short update on where Better Than Dead is right now, and how its core experience is taking shape.

Playtesting Status

The first rounds of playtesting have concluded. Over the past weeks, I’ve been reviewing feedback and applying adjustments to the core gameplay. A new round of playtests is currently being prepared.

One clear pattern emerged across nearly every level.

Encounters tend to begin under heavy pressure, then gradually settle into a more controlled rhythm as movement, space, and timing start to align. The experience is built around this shift… from instability to a deliberate, physical flow of violence.

Core Experience

Better Than Dead follows an untrained woman driven by raw revenge.

The experience starts in chaos. You’re not prepared. You react badly. You survive by instinct.

But if you push through, something shifts.

Panic gradually gives way to momentum. As encounters unfold, movement and positioning become more deliberate, and control starts to emerge.

Current Focus

Development is currently focused on:

  • Expanding and refining existing levels

  • Building new locations

  • Improving environmental detail and realism

  • Adding new gameplay mechanics

A significant amount of work is going into the construction of each level.

Each environment is unique and purpose-built, with a strong focus on recreating 90s Hong Kong spaces as faithfully as possible.

About the Playtest

A new update is planned soon., and the playtest will reopen to a new group of players.

The playtest is intentionally kept small and closed. This allows feedback and bug reports to be reviewed carefully, and changes to be implemented quickly without unnecessary noise.

Starting with upcoming updates, access will rotate more consistently. Each new build will open to a fresh group of players, keeping the test focused while allowing more people to take part over time.

Thank You

Thank you to everyone following the project… the Discord community, the playtesters, and everyone who has taken the time to share feedback. All of it directly helps improve the game.

If you haven’t already, adding Better Than Dead to your Steam wishlist really helps and keeps the project moving forward.

- Montegallo

Source

Steam News / 22 January 2026

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