Deathground News

[h3]We’ve started a DevLog![/h3]
We've wanted to make more visual and engaging content for some time to help keep you in the loop. We hope this makes it easier to get your Deathground fill! We're switching it up to do monthly public DevLogs to replace written and sometimes lengthy updates.

DevGround Episode 1 is here, hit play and enjoy catching up with Deathground's development in less than 5 minutes!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

For any of our Kickstarter backers, don't forget to read the latest update here for the announcement!

[h3]Until next time…[/h3]
We hope you liked this new style of content as a way to digest updates faster and easier. This is only the start, let us know what you'd like to see more of.

As always, join us and the rest of the community over on Discord or watch more behind-the-scenes on TikTok. Don’t forget, you can find and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter too. And if you’re an Alpha-pledged Kickstarter backer, keep an eye out for your next Mission Briefing coming soon!



https://store.steampowered.com/app/1200770/Deathground/

The holiday season is quickly approaching! Thanks to every single one of you who's been following the game with interest, sharing it with friends and leaving such positive comments or interesting gameplay suggestions on here, our Discord and across socials. We hugely appreciate it all and it's incredibly motivating and exciting to see - it's not long now until we can share more and more!

It's been a rollercoaster of a year in the industry and for our game and studio but we've overcome lots of tough challenges and done everything we can to get the game in the best shape it's been. Especially in this latter part of 2024 with launching the first major rounds of Kickstarter Backer Testing and thanks to our talented and dedicated team working around the clock. I hope this is evident in our most recent and frequent Steam updates and it all builds a great foundation for next year!

We're looking forward to getting more and more gamers in on the action with Beta testing and potential wider testing so do let us know if you'd be interested in that. Here's a little teaser of what's to come...




But until then, whichever way you choose to spend the festive season, we hope you have an amazing time and wish you a Happy New Year.





Thanks everyone, until next year!

[h3]Private Alpha Playtesting[/h3]
You may have already picked up that some of our Kickstarter backer tiers included private Alpha Early Access playtesting as a reward. Recently, they’ve been busy helping us playtest Deathground’s Mission Command and Bunker maps! This means we’ve been busy fixing and patching bugs they’ve helped us find along the way, on top of continuing to polish and improve the performance, gameplay and visuals. Getting the game, even in this Alpha form, into hands beyond our own has been a tremendous milestone for us and we’re truly grateful for the feedback so far!

We’ll be continuing to polish as we head towards Beta, leading up to launch. But until the wider community can get their hands on these initial maps too, here’s a quick update on just a handful of things we’ve been working on here.

[h3]Setting the Tone[/h3]
Weather and lighting updates have helped set the menacing tone of Deathground outside and darkened the mood in our Mission Command map. You’ll have a torch, of course, but maybe a flash of lightning will help you find your way through the darkness…


Wish you were here?

[h3]Levelling out the Playing Field[/h3]
There may be more places to take cover from the rain inside the facility, but you’ll still have to sneak past lurking dinosaurs in closer proximity. We’ve been improving the level design to help you navigate your way through and around this map, without compromising that sense of urgency to survive.

From feeling free and out in the open…

…to Hide and No Sneak

Of course, it'll be all fun and games watching your teammates run away screaming. Then again, when it's you being chased, take a cheeky peek over your shoulder just after sliding into a vent (in perhaps the coolest way possible) to check how close you were to being dinner.

Are they still following me?!

[h3]Devices and Electrical Chaos[/h3]
We’ve been improving how the primary items work and feel in-game too. Tracking a Compy with the Motion Detector might be fun - but sneaking around Raptors whilst attempting to escape by hacking terminals can be stressful, to say the least!

Gotcha, Compy.

The Hacking Device in action!

[h3]Until next time…[/h3]
We’ll be heading into Alpha Early Access Phase 2 this month where Alpha-pledge Kickstarter backers will move on to playtesting the next map - The Geothermal facility’s Powerplant!

As always, join us and the rest of the community over on Discord or watch more behind-the-scenes on TikTok. Don’t forget, you can find and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter too. And if you’re an Alpha-pledged Kickstarter backer, keep an eye out for your next Mission Briefing coming soon!



https://store.steampowered.com/app/1200770/Deathground/

[h3]Introducing Dr Alena Choi[/h3]
After telling you about adding the 4th player slot in a recent update, we’re stoked to say that our new medic character, Dr Choi, is now fully playable and an option in-game. Our artist has finessed the model’s clothing and hair and she’s been fully textured, skinned and rigged with full animations by our animator, Beate.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube] Calling Dr Choi!

Player down? No problem.

WIPs of the Medic coming to life recently.

But whose blood is on that ID card…?

A little lore drop for you, Dr Choi is a brilliant biological researcher turned highly capable field medic. And because of her background, we’re naturally adding a Med-kit to the primary items options! …Wait, options?

[h3]Character Design Update[/h3]
After considering a lot of community feedback about not wanting to be restricted by a set aesthetic and ability for our playable characters, we’ve opted to open things up a bit more for you.

Our 4 playable characters with their lore-specific items.

We want to give more power to the player. So, instead of being bound by a character class, you will now be able to mix and match your preferred character and a primary loadout item. Then in-game, while you won’t be able to carry more than one primary item, you will be able to drop ‘n’ swap your current primary item out if you discover another one in the map.

[h3]Primary Items Update[/h3]
Here’s a quick summary of our starting four:

Motion Detector
The Scout’s go-to sneaky handheld device that allows the player to track the location of dinosaurs lurking nearby. Perfect for the rogue-type folk who need to be in the know.

Hacking Device
A handheld device of the Engineer's design that allows the player to 'Hack' some objects within the environment, unlocking or activating them. Just be careful, you don't want to set off any unwanted alarms in the process!

Tranquiliser Rifle
The high calibre rifle has now become a tranquiliser gun for gameplay balancing purposes. Still, with limited ammo, it can be fired at dinosaurs to temporarily send them to sleep. If you’re the sharpshooter of the group, the Survivalist’s item is for you.

Med-kit
A reusable Med-kit which allows the player to heal themselves or other players. Who needs a medic?! Most likely, all of us…

Let us know in the comments if you have any suggestions for future items!

[h3]Until next time...[/h3]
Trust the Engineer to hack open the door where the raptor was waiting. Silly Advik…

As always, join us and the rest of the community over on Discord or watch more behind-the-scenes on TikTok. Don’t forget, you can find and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter too. And if you’re an Alpha-pledged Kickstarter backer, make sure to check out the latest update posted last week!



https://store.steampowered.com/app/1200770/Deathground/

[h3]Attack to Kill[/h3]
Remember that WIP teaser we showed you last month, of a Compy feeling threatened? The one where they jumped up and started attacking the player at the face and neck out of self-defence? Well, here it is fully rendered and in first-person!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Despite their adorable size and fluffy feathers, getting up close and personal with the Compy, or any dinosaur for that matter, is a bad choice!

[h3]Animation Updates[/h3]
As well as the dinosaurs, our lead Animator, Beate has also been creating and hooking up player movement animations such as the slide mechanic. Pretty perfect for part of your dramatic escape, sliding into cover areas like vents or drop-down spaces. We hope you enjoy sliding your way in and out of danger!

Player slide animation WIP

Dash and slide under natural cover in the jungle or dramatically enter a building, your choice!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]Internal monologue while testing the slide mechanic

[h3]Kickstarter Backers[/h3]
A reminder to our Kickstarter backers who have pledged for the private Alpha access reward, please check your updates! You'll soon be getting your hands on a 'pre-alpha' build, playtesting missions and mechanics to help us refine Deathground. Starting with the Mission Command map!



Once we've collated feedback and iterated the levels, it'll be onto Beta testing and beyond. This may or may not include more public playtests. So, keep an eye out for that if you'd be interested!

[h3]Until next time...[/h3]
Although we’re maintaining beast mode for Alpha testing, we will still aim to keep you updated on our progress throughout. Even if it’s a light, bitesize update like this one. Please stay patient with us, we’re a small team now with plenty to work on. Thanks for your ongoing support!

As always, join us and the rest of the community over on Discord. And don’t forget, you can find and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter and TikTok too.



https://store.steampowered.com/app/1200770/Deathground/