Early Access Major Update: Chapter 4, Chris, and Lava Volcano Are Now Live!

Early Access Major Update: Chapter 4, Chris, and Lava Volcano Are Now Live!

Hello everyone!

The Bell Echoes has received a major Early Access content update.

In this update, we have added the Chapter 4 main story, introduced a new playable character, Chris, and opened the brand-new Corrupted Zone, Lava Volcano. At the same time, we have also made major adjustments to the Corrupted Zone difficulty system, the early story and tutorial experience, English localization, some enemy passive effects, and overall battle balance.

If you have already cleared the previous chapters, you can now continue the main story. If you felt that the early game was a bit difficult to get into before, you may also want to revisit the improved opening experience.

Chapter 4 Main Story Added

A new main story chapter is now available.

As the journey continues, the characters will face an even more dangerous Corrupted Zone and move closer to the truth hidden beneath this world.

This update also adds new memory fragment stories. In addition to progressing through the main story, players can learn more about the characters’ pasts, relationships, and inner thoughts through these new fragments.

New Character: Chris

Chris has officially joined the team as a new playable character.

Chris is built around ranged attacks, movement, throwing, collision tactics, and a pact with a fire dragon. He can create flexible battle rhythms through his own skills, while also using the Dragon Crystal and Fire Dragon to unleash more explosive human-dragon coordination.

His arrival brings new build directions to the three-character party and opens up more possible combinations with the existing cast.

New Corrupted Zone: Lava Volcano

The brand-new Corrupted Zone, Lava Volcano, has been added to the game.

Enemies in this area are built more heavily around fire terrain, Burning, object detonation, summons, and high-pressure offense. Compared with the previous Corrupted Zones, Lava Volcano places greater emphasis on the constantly changing battlefield, as well as the player’s ability to manage danger zones, enemy intents, and terrain chains.

New normal enemies, elite enemies, and bosses have all been added to the Corrupted Zone progression.

Corrupted Zone Difficulty System Reworked

This update reworks the difficulty system for Corrupted Zones, the game’s roguelite maps.

We want the new difficulty system to make challenge goals clearer, while also making the risks and rewards of higher difficulties easier to understand.

We will continue adjusting this system based on player feedback. If you enjoy tougher builds and more demanding battles, we hope you will try the new Corrupted Zone difficulties.

Gem Crafting Blueprints Added

This update adds new gem crafting blueprints.

The gem system is an important part of long-term progression outside of individual runs. These new blueprints provide more goals for character growth and long-term build planning, giving players more progression targets while advancing through Corrupted Zones.

Save File Management Added

A save file management feature has been added.

Players can now manage their save files more easily. We will continue improving this system to make the Early Access experience more stable and transparent.

Story, Tutorial, and Localization Improvements

This update also includes several improvements to the early game:

• Improved early story content

• Improved tutorial stage experience

• Revised some story content and dialogue

• Improved English localization text

We hope new players will be able to understand the core rules of The Bell Echoes more smoothly, while returning players can experience a more natural flow when replaying the early sections.

Enemy and Balance Adjustments

This update adjusts some enemy passive effects and makes several changes to the battle experience.

In particular, the Ice Cave boss, Frost Colossus, has been weakened. We received quite a bit of feedback about the pressure and pacing of this boss fight, so this update includes targeted adjustments to improve the experience.

Full Update List

• Added Chapter 4 main story

• Added new character: Chris

• Added new Corrupted Zone: Lava Volcano

• Added new memory fragment stories

• Added gem crafting blueprints

• Added save file management

• Reworked the Corrupted Zone difficulty system

• Adjusted some enemy passive effects

• Improved early story content

• Improved tutorial stage experience

• Revised some story content and dialogue

• Improved English localization

• Weakened the Ice Cave boss, Frost Colossus

Thank you all for continuing to play, give feedback, and support the game during Early Access.

The Bell Echoes is still in development. We will continue adding new story content, characters, Corrupted Zones, build options, and experience improvements, while also adjusting the game’s pacing and balance based on your feedback.

We hope you enjoy this Chapter 4 update.

— The Bell Echoes Development Team