Shards of Her - DEVLog February

First off, with this update, I'll start making some changes for the full release of the game, including core updates that will be announced and implemented, and so on.

Now, the game will be updated to version 0.4, meaning we're now in ACT 4. I'll slowly update the UI/UX of the game. I’ve already started working on it, but I won’t make it available until I’m sure everything works properly.

Some things have been moved from where they were before, and a new menu has been introduced where you can find all the in-game lore, including character stories, major locations of importance, items, and more.

By the end of this, I’ll also share a few previews from the next update!

So, let's start by introducing the CODEX Menu, which features several sub-menus, including Characters (previously moved from the Extra tab), Realms, The Shards, Astrology, and Timeline.

For now, these are the main sub-menus available in the CODEX Menu. Two more are in development, but they will be introduced later, once the Aethral language begins to play a bigger role, its origins and why some beings in the current world still use it.

Plus, Gallery function is in work.

Now, let's go over the menus and see what we can find there, in the order they appear from left to right

Characters

I'm sure most of you are familiar with this menu, or at least, I hope so, haha. Anyway, it has received an update! Since the cast of characters is growing and new ones are being introduced, I’ve expanded the list. You can now scroll through it or use the mouse to navigate.

Some characters won’t be available right from the start; you’ll need to meet them and interact with them through actions, conversations, or scenes first. Their individual pages have also been updated—for example, Neith's page, as shown below.

Most character biographies have been updated and improved. In some cases, if the player discovers new information about a specific character, their page will be updated accordingly.

You’ll also notice tags indicating their superpowers, hovering over them will display a short description of each ability.

Additionally, there’s a special row for Origins and Race. Origins refers to when or where the character was born, while Race is self-explanatory.

On the right side of the menu, you’ll find Character Variants. This is where alternate appearances, special outfits, or any other visual differences for a character will be displayed. If a character has another look, you can check it out here. (This is unrelated to the Shadow Realm content.)

Realms

Here, you'll find the locations from the game, especially those important to the story and lore. Each location comes with a description, and in some cases, additional lore details about the place. For now, this feature is limited to viewing locations, but an exploration feature is currently in development.

So, be sure to check them out!

The Shards

The game has always been about the Shards, right? Well, things are finally starting to come together, and this addition was necessary. As you discover Shards, they will appear here, and you’ll be notified via a notification. The first one will be introduced in the next update, so, here we go!

Each Shard’s page will provide details such as its name,