Steam News14 March 20263mo ago

Development Update: New Features, Refined Mechanics, and the Road Ahead

I spent another year taking Sword Islands to the next level. Here is a devlog summarizing the major features and systems I've developed during that time You can watch the full update in video format below or read throug

In this update2

Full notes

Full Sword Islands update

Read the full published notes in a cleaner layout. The original post stays linked below.

What changed

0 fixes7 additions2 changes0 removals

Gameplay
Store
Balance
UI and audio

addedCurrent Improvements & Feature HighlightsFull Body IK: No more floating hands! Full Body IK is finally here. You can now move around with a calibrated player character for maximum immersion. The system uses hybrid animations, toggling between Inverse Kinematics and leg animations to keep the vibes on point.

changedCurrent Improvements & Feature HighlightsPlayer Clothing: Outfits now feature physics simulations and come in various presets, making it easy to differentiate players during co-op sessions.

addedCurrent Improvements & Feature HighlightsCombat Overhaul: I’ve cleaned up the combat systems and split damage into three distinct types: slashing, piercing, and striking. I also added hitboxes to the player's hands so you can now punch enemies in the face if your sword is out of reach.

addedCurrent Improvements & Feature HighlightsHarvesting System: You can now harvest dozens of different plants to use as ingredients. Collect everything from fungi and herbs to vegetables to use while cooking.

addedCurrent Improvements & Feature HighlightsChests & Loot: I've improved the looting flow from chests and added multiple new item categories to the loot tables.

changedCurrent Improvements & Feature HighlightsFishing Enhancements: The fishing mini-game has been simplified and is now smoother than ever, striking a perfect balance between being fun and accessible.

Sword Islands changes

addedFull Body IK: No more floating hands! Full Body IK is finally here. You can now move around with a calibrated player character for maximum immersion. The system uses hybrid animations, toggling between Inverse Kinematics and leg animations to keep the vibes on point.

changedPlayer Clothing: Outfits now feature physics simulations and come in various presets, making it easy to differentiate players during co-op sessions.

addedCombat Overhaul: I’ve cleaned up the combat systems and split damage into three distinct types: slashing, piercing, and striking. I also added hitboxes to the player's hands so you can now punch enemies in the face if your sword is out of reach.

addedHarvesting System: You can now harvest dozens of different plants to use as ingredients. Collect everything from fungi and herbs to vegetables to use while cooking.

addedChests & Loot: I've improved the looting flow from chests and added multiple new item categories to the loot tables.

I spent another year taking Sword Islands to the next level. Here is a devlog summarizing the major features and systems I've developed during that time

You can watch the full update in video format below or read through this article for the key highlights.

Current Improvements & Feature Highlights

Full Body IK: No more floating hands! Full Body IK is finally here. You can now move around with a calibrated player character for maximum immersion. The system uses hybrid animations, toggling between Inverse Kinematics and leg animations to keep the vibes on point.

Player Clothing: Outfits now feature physics simulations and come in various presets, making it easy to differentiate players during co-op sessions.

Combat OverhaulI’ve cleaned up the combat systems and split damage into three distinct types: slashing, piercing, and striking. I also added hitboxes to the player's hands so you can now punch enemies in the face if your sword is out of reach.

Harvesting System: You can now harvest dozens of different plants to use as ingredients. Collect everything from fungi and herbs to vegetables to use while cooking.

Chests & LootI've improved the looting flow from chests and added multiple new item categories to the loot tables.

Fishing EnhancementsThe fishing mini-game has been simplified and is now smoother than ever, striking a perfect balance between being fun and accessible.

Advanced CookingThe new cooking system is miles ahead of the previous version. With tons of recipes and unique 3D models for every ingredient, you can actually see your meal coming together in the pot. Dishes now feature different tiers and rarities based on the quality of ingredients used.

Modern InterfaceThe UI has finally reached a state I’m proud of. The design is clean and modern with a sleek "glassy" look. Every panel has been reorganized with a new layout to provide a next-gen UX experience.

Custom Themes: The menu isn't just clean; it’s customizable. You can now tweak the colors to match your own branding and vibe.

That’s about it for this update! Thank you all for reading and following the journey.

Source

Steam News / 14 March 2026

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