Steam News14 March 20263mo ago

Warding Witches Devlog #02 - Catching Up!

Hey! It's Been A While 9 months since the last devlog. That's... a long time. Let's catch up. The Publisher Situation You’ve probably seen it already - I’m with Headup Games!

In this update7

Full notes

Full Warding Witches update

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

What changed

0 fixes0 additions9 changes0 removals

Events
Gameplay
Maps
Server
Store
UI and audio

changedConvention Tour 2025After GG Bavaria 2025, Warding Witches went to LFG-Con, LEVEL Up Salzburg, Connichi, the German Shmup Event, POLARIS, MAG-C and, again, GG Bavaria (2026). That’s a LOT of conventions!

changedConvention Tour 2025It takes out a lot of development time, but interacting with people, from shmup newbies to superplayers, seeing players regardless of gender, age and background vibe to the music and the gameplay is so rewarding. Shmup never dies!

changedHere's what's actually done:Core system and mechanics: The code base is mostly done (famous last words). The game transitions stably from one screen to the other, including logic (score holdover, death, etc.). Shot limits, upgrades, variable option counts, enemy behaviour, event triggers, and so on - everything works!

changedHere's what's actually done:Stage 2 , the burning village, is about half way done - mostly to show it off at conventions. Stage 1 is mostly done already.

changedHere's what's actually done:Multiplayer mode is fully functional! I’m trying for it to not be just “tacked on” - there are no lives in multiplayer mode. Instead, if both players are dead, the game ends. But if only one player is dead, the other can revive them by successfully using their defensive skill to build up the revive meter. It get’s incrementally harder the more often you die!

changedHere's what's actually done:The combo/chain system is implemented - it’s called Hexlink! It rewards killing and defending, and it stales if you do either one too much consecutively, rewarding varied gameplay and resource management.

Warding Witches changes

changedAfter GG Bavaria 2025, Warding Witches went to LFG-Con, LEVEL Up Salzburg, Connichi, the German Shmup Event, POLARIS, MAG-C and, again, GG Bavaria (2026). That’s a LOT of conventions!

changedIt takes out a lot of development time, but interacting with people, from shmup newbies to superplayers, seeing players regardless of gender, age and background vibe to the music and the gameplay is so rewarding. Shmup never dies!

changedCore system and mechanics: The code base is mostly done (famous last words). The game transitions stably from one screen to the other, including logic (score holdover, death, etc.). Shot limits, upgrades, variable option counts, enemy behaviour, event triggers, and so on - everything works!

changedStage 2 , the burning village, is about half way done - mostly to show it off at conventions. Stage 1 is mostly done already.

changedMultiplayer mode is fully functional! I’m trying for it to not be just “tacked on” - there are no lives in multiplayer mode. Instead, if both players are dead, the game ends. But if only one player is dead, the other can revive them by successfully using their defensive skill to build up the revive meter. It get’s incrementally harder the more often you die!

Hey! It's Been A While

9 months since the last devlog. That's... a long time. Let's catch up.

The Publisher Situation

You’ve probably seen it already - I’m with Headup Games! We announced our collaboration in October 2025. Very happy with them so far, they’re lovely people who are passionate about indie games and help me out a lot. On the other hand though, I'm being held accountable which is stressful at times. But it helps with getting the witches on the road!

Convention Tour 2025

After GG Bavaria 2025, Warding Witches went to LFG-Con, LEVEL Up Salzburg, Connichi, the German Shmup Event, POLARIS, MAG-C and, again, GG Bavaria (2026). That’s a LOT of conventions!

Highlight: Someone COSPLAYED as Willa at MAG-C! 😍

Steam post image Instagram: @yozora_cosplay

It takes out a lot of development time, but interacting with people, from shmup newbies to superplayers, seeing players regardless of gender, age and background vibe to the music and the gameplay is so rewarding. Shmup never dies!

Development Progress

Here's what's actually done:

Core system and mechanics: The code base is mostly done (famous last words). The game transitions stably from one screen to the other, including logic (score holdover, death, etc.). Shot limits, upgrades, variable option counts, enemy behaviour, event triggers, and so on - everything works!
Stage 2, the burning village, is about half way done - mostly to show it off at conventions. Stage 1 is mostly done already.
Multiplayer mode is fully functional! I’m trying for it to not be just “tacked on” - there are no lives in multiplayer mode. Instead, if both players are dead, the game ends. But if only one player is dead, the other can revive them by successfully using their defensive skill to build up the revive meter. It get’s incrementally harder the more often you die!

The combo/chain system is implemented - it’s called Hexlink! It rewards killing and defending, and it stales if you do either one too much consecutively, rewarding varied gameplay and resource management.

New Video Series

Started "When an EDM Producer Makes a Game" - showing music production process for boss themes and stage tracks. I should have done more content before, but now that I'm mostly doing "content" (instead of programming, debugging etc.), it's easier to keep in mind. I'm really bad at social media :(

View store page

If there's anything in particular you like to see, feel free to tell me!

What's Next

Finishing Stages 3-5, planning localization (German/Japanese/Chinese),

and actually posting devlogs more than once per presidential term.

Next update won't take 9 months. Probably!

Take care! See ya in the next one.

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For more frequent updates: https://bsky.app/profile/sonorode.com

Hang out in the official discord: https://discord.gg/UKEwYxGP9S

Source

Steam News / 14 March 2026

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