Next Fest: Major Demo Update

We have a new Major Update for the our co-op demo for this Summer's Next Fest 2026. Check out the new trailer below!

Let's take a closer look at what's in the new update.

More book sizes

Based on your feedback, we've updated the range of books sizes. Don't worry, they are still CHONKEH, to say the least. But they can now be more often arranged to fill a full shelf without gaps, whilst also affording more variety of thicker and thinner volumes.

The book thief

Think your books are safe at night? Not always. At night you might find this creepy little guy lurking around, stealing from your precious collection. Follow his footprints to track him down!

Viking ghosts and combat

Over the years the Abbey has been victim to many a Viking raid, and their ghosts still haunt the isle!

Yup, we’ve had a bit of a redesign of the (entirely optional) enemies you might encounter at the Abbey. Skeletons now come in several different flavours of Viking Ghosts. Some are stronger and better at blocking than others!

Keep in mind you can disable enemies in Game Options if you want a more chilled experience.

Based on feedback I also added a bit more depth to combat. Alongside parrying, you can also perform a Perfect Parry if your block timed precisely at the enemies attack time. This will daze them briefly allowing you a time window to counter-strike.

Lord Fluffy

The Abbey has a new resident. Maybe he can help with pest control!

Arachnophobia Mode

Due to popular demand, we've added a full Arachnophobia mode, which replaces web-casting and jumping spiders with Text overlays instead. This is distinct to the enemy spawning options - so you can still have the gameplay of spiders, without look at their horrible 8 legged bodies. (I have a touch of this phobia myself, so developing the spiders was interesting to say the least! It maybe even helped improve things with the exposure...)

Improved tutorial

We've updated the tutorial so that pop ups no longer pause the game and interrupt play, so it should feel like a smoother experience.

Better controller and Steam Deck Support

I've added full controller menu navigation (rather than a virtual cursor) to make it more friendly to play without a mouse. This carries through to Steam Deck. We believe to runs well on Deck. We've also added an Auto Run toggle option in the menu.

Updated Torch Ember Mechanics

Torches now spit visible embers that bounce around and can ignite books. This makes the fire mechanic more visible and immersive. You can still disable fires in Game Options if you don't want your precious collection going up in flames.

Countless bug fixes and some Q.O.L.

Thanks so much for filing any issues you found in the game by pressing F1. I've fixed a bunch of issues making the game feel quite stable now. It's also better at handling players dropping and rejoining mid session. The game will also hotswap to empty hotbar slots if needed when picking something up.

Can't wait to tell you more about the full release which surely can't be too far off! Have a nice Next Fest. You can see the full changelog below.

Gramercy,

(SquarePlay Games)

Changelog 0.6.3.7 (all changes since my last post at v0.5.7.4)

Controls, Input & UI

• Controls HUD updates when rebinding during gameplay

• Menu navigation switches between d‑pad, keyboard, and mouse depending on input

• Full controller + d‑pad navigation support

• Virtual cursor appears when using left stick

• UI slider clicks no longer lose selection

• Dialogue and menu buttons animate on select

• Menu no longer fully black

• Menu correctly shows paused/unpaused in SP/MP

• Fixed in‑game menu

• Updated tutorial pop‑ups (non‑pausing, queueing, better placement)

• First skeleton tutorial shows again

• Initial function dialog tutorial added

• Prevent double‑selecting invert Y

• Correct switching to gamepad nav when opening menu

• Titles menu buttons fixed

• Rebind menu no longer snaps incorrectly

• Fixed control remap confirm button justification

• Updated player list menu (mic volumes, lobby code, fonts)

• Updated player menu spacing and layout

• Missing back buttons fixed in Titles Quit & Credits

• Correct demo over screen

• Updated text chat formatting

• Updated holo box visuals

• Updated loading sequence (shelves unlock before books spawn)

• Ensure event/input systems active when entering main menu

• Better kick dialog

• Fixed squashed icons on large books

Books, Shelves & Library Systems

• New book sizes and adjusted size distribution

• Larger books less common

• Half‑books narrower for better visuals

• Book placement indicator clamps to valid areas (green/red)

• Improved overlap detection and placement logic

• Books cannot be destroyed for 1 second after spawn

• Destroyed books replaced with tattered versions next day

• Prevent picking up a book already picked up

• Fix shelf unlock bug above max progression

• New shelves with hostile architecture

• Can place books on shelves above others properly

• Prevent phantom collisions when placing books

• Fix books self‑destructing near dock

• Books spawn in 6 piles at dock to reduce height

• Books no longer fall into water

• Adjusted book spawn heights

• Books can be webbed again

• Books dropped by disconnecting clients now sync properly

• Dropped books regain correct layer + collider

• Updated book size frequency

• Updated book size distribution (restricted large books)

• Allow slight leeway when placing books on full shelves

• Fix book thief targeting shelves 1 & 2 only

• Book thief correctly steals, holds, and drops books

• Book thief drops book on client kill and on despawn

• Fix null errors in book targeting

• Fix cost lookup bug on maxed shelf

• Remove null error when looking at uninitialised book

• Prevent stacking checked‑out books on reconnect

• Updated drop‑book‑in‑wall logic

• Fix rare issue of books jumping when placed

• Fix books not pickable after client disconnect

• Fix books falling over at dock

• Fix typo in destroyed book popup

Player, Items & Networking

• Player robe colours consistent after reconnect

• Weapon rack + reconnect logic fixed

• Tools/books dropped correctly on disconnect

• Held items sync properly across network

• Correct monk robe colours and cursor state on client start

• Red/green robes aligned in 1st/3rd person

• Reconnection screen added (3‑second sync pause)

• Items dropped by disconnecting players visible and persistent

• Fix hands/held items FOV on ultrawide

• Hotswap system added (auto‑switch to empty hotbar slot)

• Holster system added (press hotbar key to holster/unholster)

• Hands holster/unholster smoothly when cycling

• Updated unholster logic to avoid unnecessary actions

• Picking up items networked better to prevent duping

• Client can pet Fluffy

• Fix placing books not triggering right‑hand unholster

• Fix dropped items on reconnect

• Updated player list menu

• Updated player menu

• Fix missing back buttons

• Correct demo over screen

Creatures, Enemy AI & Gameplay

General Gameplay

• More players reduce default time (4‑player = 55% of solo time)

• Can look further up/down in first person

• Hand torches extinguish on floor

• Torches create embers that bounce and ignite books

• Fire arrows create embers

• Ember rate reduced

• Added toggle run option

• Pressing run with toggle enabled switches off running

• Cannot drop items into library desk

• Updated embers to network correctly

• Increased red health vignette intensity

• Updated loading sequence

• Torches only load lit state if in holders

Skeletons

• 1‑second delay before acting

• Will hit you if you rush past

• Balanced damage down

• Balanced HP up

• All skellies slightly brighter

• Corrected enemy names in options

Spiders & Rats

• Spiders and rats dissolve on death

• Spiders flip upside down on death

• Spiders don’t push books

• Increased spider timeout to 60

• Slightly fewer spiders early

• Jumping spiders tracked separately

• Fix spider animation freeze

• Add 1‑second delay before spider spawn

• Arachnophobia mode added (spiders become moving text)

New Enemies

• All enemy models replaced

• New melee types:

  • Viking Draugr Grunt

  • Raider

  • Berserker

• Book Thief added (steals books, leaves green footprints)

• Thief improvements:

  • Better targeting

  • Faster flee

  • Footprints fade on death

  • Drops books correctly

  • Fixed thief behaviour and targeting

Archers

• Archers face targets

• Fix hood clipping

• Improved AI to avoid walking off edges

• Don’t reposition if they have line of sight

Fluffy (Cat)

• Added Fluffy

• Fixed infinite Fluffy bug

• Can pet Fluffy

• Fluffy waits after petting

• Improved cat speed

• Updated size, walk, pet animations

• Fluffy attacks more effectively

• Fluffy no longer flammable

Combat, Weapons & Perks

• Fire arrows ember chance = 50%

• Added Torch Perk Shrine (reduces ember chance up to 0%)

• Added Perfect Parry (precise parry dazes enemies)

• Balanced enemy damage down

• Balanced some enemy HP up

• Fixed Pray animation

• Shorter pray animation

• Pray sound corrected

AI, Logic & Systems

• Weighted pest spawning (70:20:10)

• Updated rat spawn logic

• Updated AI targeting and attack distances

• Fix enemies targeting books correctly

• Fix nav mesh issues (trees, signs)

• Do not spawn enemies on night 2 (tutorial instead)

• Increased time between enemy spawns

• Game over pushed to client & server

• Removed spiders from loading screens

Bug Fixes & Stability

• Fix desync from scheduled actions on altered lists

• Fix shelfitemforbuy bug

• Fix null errors in multiple systems

• Fix reconnect issues with shelves

• Fix spawn book location

• Fix statues floating

• Fix fire arrow ember spam

• Fix rare book self‑destruct bug

• Fix FOV issues

• Fix reconnect item visibility

• Fix thief flee behaviour

• Fix thief targeting

• Fix nav mesh issues

• Fix tutorial triggers at freeze time

• Fix steam links

• Fix control remap confirm

• Fix missing back buttons

• Fix demo over screen

• Fix hundreds of embers from bouncing fire arrows

• Fix occasional double checkout from one book

Miscellaneous

• Added “Fluffy”

• Added “Meow”

• Updated fonts

• Updated signpost tutorial

• Updated copy review with highlighted keywords

• Updated belfry waypoint label logic

• Updated rebind menu

• Updated enemy animations

• Updated holo box

• Updated loading sequence

• Updated embers

• Updated pest spawn debug

• Updated player list menu

• Updated player menu