DarkSwarm Devlog: July 2025

Steam post image Hello SwarmTroopers!

It’s been a while — but we’ve been deep in the hive, laying the foundation for the next major step in DarkSwarm’s development: the Closed Alpha.

Over the past six months, we’ve made massive progress both under the hood and on the surface. From core systems to new content and improved visuals, the game has taken a big leap forward. Here are some of the highlights:

Total Codebase Refactor

We’ve rewritten most of our core codebase to ensure long-term stability, scalability, and performance. It’s one of those invisible-but-essential upgrades — and we’re incredibly proud of how much cleaner, faster, and more flexible things are now. Future features will be quicker to implement and more robust because of this work.

Steam post imageSteam post image New Procedural Map Generation & Biomes

Since December, you’ve been testing our handcrafted desert map — but that was just the beginning. We’ve now implemented a brand new procedural map generation system powered by seed-based logic and rule-based terrain creation. Every mission will feel fresh and unpredictable.

So far, the system supports four unique biomes, each with its own gameplay and visual identity. And we’re not done — more biomes and mission objective variations are already in the pipeline. Steam post imageSteam post image

Aiming Rework & New Weapons

We’ve rebuilt the aiming system from the ground up. You can now target enemies above or below your position with much more precision — adding verticality and intensity to combat.

Alongside this, we’ve implemented a new weapon architecture that’s more scalable and easier to balance. And yes, we’ve added new weapons and reworked some existing ones with fresh 3D models — they look and feel awesome.

Cosmetics for Weapons & Classes

We’ve introduced a full cosmetic system for both weapons and armor. Skins can now be unlocked and equipped via the shop, allowing for a more personalized and expressive experience. Whether you're chasing prestige or just want to look like a badass, there’s something for you here.

Steam post image Progression System: XP, Ranks & Unlocks

Replayability is key — and our new progression system brings just that. You’ll earn XP for completing objectives and being a great teammate. As you level up, you’ll unlock:

• New weapons

• Cosmetic items

• Equipment upgrades

• Additional biomes and mission types

This system ties everything together and gives real rewards for your time and skill. Steam post image

Sound Design & Music

Our audio team has been hard at work. We now have a music system and a dynamic ambience system which allows for custom music and ambience to give each biome their own identity and flavor.

We’ve also improved overall sound design, added new voicelines for S.A.R.A. (with cleaner processing), and made countless tweaks and designs that make the game sound more immersive and exciting than ever before.

New Equipment Screen

The new equipment screen makes it easier to manage your loadout, customize weapons, and explore upgrades. It's a big step toward making the game more rewarding for players of all skill levels. It makes it easier to manage your loadout, customize weapons, and explore upgrades. Preview your weapons with unlocked skins, and invest the credits and data drives won from missions to buy mods to apply to your favorite weapons on a per-class basis.

Looking Ahead

That’s it for now! We’ve laid down some serious groundwork — and we’re getting closer to our Closed Alpha every day. We can’t wait to show you what’s next.

Have a great summer — and remember to keep your rifles loaded and your flashlights charged.

Oh by the way, the DarkSwarm Closed Alpha will take place in September. More info about the exact date and how to sign up is coming very soon.

Much love

The DarkSwarm Team