Developer's Letter - December 23 Update Preview

Thank you for playing CLOSERS. This is PD Lee Hyun Soo.

I’ve prepared this developer letter to briefly share the major features coming in the upcoming Winter Update.

The Winter Update content we previously announced, scheduled to begin on December 10, has already been reflected in the game step by step.

Through this letter, I’d like to explain the changes arriving in December and early 2026, both major and minor.

However, any content that may contain spoilers or has not yet been finalized in the development schedule will only be revealed closer to the update and will not be included here.

We ask for your continued support and love for Closers throughout this winter season. Below are the key update details:

[color="#89CFF0"] ▶ December 23 Update Preview [/color]

[color="#FFAC1C"] 1. Area Travel System Revamp [/color] The existing Area Transfer UI will be revamped.

Previously, every time a new area was added, the placement of older areas within the UI shifted, the interface was narrow, and the information we could display was limited.

On top of that, marking designs varied by character, making it difficult for you to navigate intuitively.

With this revamp, we will provide a unified UI/UX across all characters and adopt a structure that can adapt flexibly even as more areas are added in the future. [color="#FFAC1C"] 2. Triss’s Solomon Costume [/color] As mentioned during the online Q&A held on the KR server, Triss’s new Unique Costume, the “Solomon Outfit” is coming soon. A translated version of the Q&A will be shared soon on the World server website as well.

Please look forward to her new costume.

[color="#FFAC1C"] 3. New Facial Shadow Rendering [/color] We will update the facial shading applied to playable characters.

This feature was attempted in the early stages of Closers’ development, but the results did not align with the natural, aesthetic look we aimed for at the time, so it was not applied.

The new shading will generate natural, animation-style shadows based on light direction.

We hope this system, designed to dynamically respond to various in-game lighting sources, will give your characters a greater sense of life and presence.

[color="#FFAC1C"] 4. Changes to the Gear Crafting/Upgrading System [/color] Before releasing the new area, we will completely remove material and credit costs from gear crafting.

I believe that acquiring and crafting gear naturally through gameplay, while only incurring costs when choosing to grow stronger, creates a more engaging gameplay experience for Agents.

Though the comparison isn’t exact, my intended direction is “simple to begin, challenging to complete,” and a move away from the current model of excessive entry fees.

[color="#89CFF0"] ▶ January–February Planned Updates [/color]

The first update of 2026 will be implemented on January 14, bringing a new area long awaited by our Agents.

Through new missions and gear, we aim to revitalize game progression and character growth, which has stagnated for some time. Below are the major planned additions:

[color="#FFAC1C"] 1. New Area ‘Incheon’ [/color] The 15th area will be set in Incheon. In less than a month, you will be able to discover the story and battles unfolding in this new stage.

The new region will feature two Battle Programs. You will encounter powerful bosses and take on new challenges. Please look forward to the January 14th update.

[color="#FFAC1C"] 2. New Area Gear [/color] Through the two Battle Programs mentioned above, we will introduce:

• Six new Trinkets usable by each character

• New modules