May Status Report

it’s been quite some time since our last post, so we wanted to give you a little update on the current development state of Dusky Depths.

Multiplayer Playtest

We originally wanted to start the playtest in April, but progress has been much slower than anticipated. The multiplayer mode is a core feature of Dusky Depths, which is why we want to ensure that our netcode is rock solid. Fundamentally flawed netcode would likely be very difficult to fix once it is interwoven into the game. So if we take shortcuts, it would likely come back to bite us in the long run.

We can’t say for certain when the playtest will start, but we will try to have it ready this summer.

Release Date

The release date depends on the outcome of the multiplayer playtest. If the results of the playtest are positive, then we could release the game into Early Access very soon afterwards. But since the playtest is delayed, we will have to push back the release date of the Early Access version as well. Consequently, our originally planned Q2 2024 release is no longer possible, and we’re really sorry about that. We underestimated the difficulty of making good netcode.

We’re now aiming for a Q3 2024 release, but we can’t make any promises. For now, the only thing we’re sure of is that the game will release in 2024.

Additional Progress

Outside of the multiplayer part of the game, we have also been hard at work improving other aspects of the game. For example, we received a lot of feedback and suggestions regarding the HUD during the previous playtest. That’s why we’ve started experimenting on the HUD a bit further.

Check it out, but keep in mind that it’s still a work-in-progress!