Dev Update #3 — Demo Update, Prologue Expansion and QA Work, Early April

I know some of you have been asking — the demo was supposed to ship on March 24. I felt the initial prologue needed a bit more intrigue and decision making, so I am adding a bit more content to the demo before releasing.

Why I Held It

The demo is playable. The prologue, Act 1, and the demo ending all work. Save transfer to Early Access works. But I felt the game need a bit more excitement in the beginning, so I will be launch in a few weeks.

This upcoming week, I will be running automated QA agents against the demo build — each one playing a different specialization and playstyle, capturing thousands of screenshots, and scoring every screen for visual quality, clarity, and engagement.

Based upon issues, identified by the QA Agents and play testers, I will fix each one and then release soon.

When

Early April. I am not setting a specific date. The demo ships when the QA agents stop finding issues worth fixing. Based on the last 15 QA cycles, that is days, not weeks.

What You Get in the Demo

The demo covers the first act of the war — summer 1914 through your first combat patrols over the Western Front.

• Pilot creation with consequences. Choose your name, specialization (fighter, recon, or bomber), and origin story. Every choice shapes your temperament — Daring, Methodical, or Cautious — and the war responds differently to each.

• Your first sorties. 1914 aviation means wood, canvas, and a sidearm. Reconnaissance flights escalate into first contact with German aircraft. The encounters are not scripted — your specialization and playstyle determine what you face.

• Hex tactical combat. Position your aircraft, manage altitude and deflection angles, and outmaneuver the enemy on a hex grid inspired by classic WWI aerial board games.

• Aerodrome management. Allocate supplies, build facilities, manage personnel. The decisions you make on the ground shape what is possible in the air.

• Your save carries forward. The demo ends at a narrative turning point with a cutscene tailored to how you played. When Early Access launches, you pick up exactly where you left off — same pilot, same choices, same war.

What Changed Since Dev Update #2

Three polish passes since the last update (v0.4.38 through v0.5.90):

• 1,575 automated tests passing

• Flights between sectors now include atmospheric micro-events — weather shifts, AA fire, ground observations. Quiet stretches feel alive instead of empty.

• Combat debriefs track your closest call and near-misses. You see how close you came.

• Return-to-base narratives expanded from 32 to 64 variants. Repeat sorties feel distinct.

• Prologue scenes enriched with longer narrative context and larger character art.

• Numerous display artifacts

Wishlist Rotary Knights to get notified the moment the demo drops. If you are in the Discord, I will be posting QA results and progress updates there as they come in.

Clear skies,

— Steve, Old Blue Chair