Aztecs: The Last Sun News

O Mighty Tlatoani!
We're excited to announce that the demo of Aztecs: The Last Sun will be available worldwide on December 10th! Each sunset is a step closer to our Early Access release, so we want to invite all brave leaders to experience the challenge of building the greatest city in the world, while preparing for the dangers that await when the night falls. Here’s a look at what’s in the demo!




Building your city is now more engaging and rewarding than ever. We've redesigned the construction system from the ground up, making it smoother and more visually appealing. New buildings have been added, and each construction feels more meaningful. Resources won’t just appear out of nowhere anymore—instead, you’ll watch your citizens transport wood, stone, and food throughout your city, bringing a lively and bustling atmosphere to the heart of your empire.




Managing resources is now a more strategic challenge. You can assign workers to your storehouses, set up transport routes, and create a fully functioning supply chain to ensure the city thrives. This new logistics system adds a layer of depth and realism to your city management.




When the sun sets, your real challenges begin. The Night Mode brings new dangers and opportunities, as the Moon Goddess seeks to claim her place. Keep your Blood Zone strong by gathering sacrifices, defend against nightly attacks, and explore the haunted Sunken Temples and mysterious Moon Beacons. Every night is a test of your leadership and will.




A successful city is one where the people believe in you. Our new Trust System measures your citizens' loyalty and morale. High trust means higher productivity and happiness, but lose their faith, and you could face a rebellion—or worse, a total collapse. How will you win the hearts of your people?




We’ve introduced a vast, strategic map of the Valley of Mexico for you to discover. Send scouts and expeditions to explore hidden locations, uncover ancient secrets, and retrieve valuable resources. But beware—expedition teams face unknown dangers, and some may not return unscathed. What mysteries will you uncover?





[h2]Let’s Shape This World Together![/h2]
We’re incredibly excited to share this journey with you, and we want to hear from YOU! Your feedback and ideas will help shape the future of Aztecs: The Last Sun. Let us know what you think about the demo, and share your thoughts on what you’d like to see in upcoming updates. Together, we can create a game that not only tells a story but lives and breathes it.
Praise the Mighty Sun!

[h2]Join our Discord of fellow Tlatoanis[/h2]





[h2]Wishlist Aztecs: The Last Sun now![/h2]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1409840/Aztecs_The_Last_Sun/

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Today, we’re diving into the rich mythological roots of Aztecs: The Last Sun. The legends of night and day, blood sacrifices, and the eternal battle between Sun and Moon are deeply woven into the very fabric of our game. Let’s explore how these ancient beliefs shape our world's core mechanics and atmosphere.


In Aztec mythology, nightfall wasn’t just the end of the day—it was a terrifying reminder of the Sun’s vulnerability. When the Sun set, it entered a perilous battle with the Moon, represented by a vengeful goddess. This nightly conflict wasn’t guaranteed to end with the Sun’s return. The fear of a perpetual darkness, or Eternal Night, loomed over the Aztecs.

For the Aztecs, blood was the most sacred offering. According to legend, the Sun’s initial journey across the sky was only possible because the gods sacrificed their blood. In return, humans were tasked with continuing this tradition to keep the Sun strong. However, blood wasn’t the only offering. Animals, flowers, and copal (a fragrant resin) were also used to honor the gods, though none could rival the importance of human blood.



These myths form the foundation of our gameplay. In Aztecs: The Last Sun, players must collect and manage blood as a vital resource in the Blood Zone, a literal and metaphorical shield against the dangers of the night. This mechanic mirrors the Aztec belief that blood sacrifices kept the cosmic balance and ensured the Sun’s rise.




The title Aztecs: The Last Sun is deeply rooted in Aztec cosmology. According to their beliefs, the world has undergone four great cycles of creation and destruction, each marked by catastrophic endings such as floods, fires, or famine. The current age, known as the Fifth Sun, represents humanity’s final opportunity to thrive before the ultimate collapse.



In our game, this mythological context is more than just a backdrop - it’s the driving force behind your mission. As Tlatoani, you are not merely a ruler but a guardian of this fragile balance. Every decision you make, from resource management to sacrificial offerings, determines whether your city can withstand the looming threats. By safeguarding the Fifth Sun, you’re ensuring that the light of life continues to shine, warding off the chaos of eternal darkness.


Central to Aztec mythology is the nightly battle between the Sun and the Moon - a cosmic conflict that reflects both the physical and spiritual struggle for balance. According to legend, the Moon Goddess, once the Sun God’s sister, was betrayed and slain by him, her head cast into the sky to become the Moon. Though distant, her spirit remains restless, seeking vengeance each night.



In Aztecs: The Last Sun, this myth takes center stage in the game’s core mechanics. As darkness falls, the Moon Goddess exerts her influence, manifesting through Moon Beacons and other night-time dangers. Players must explore Sunken Temples, manage vital resources like blood to strengthen their city’s defenses and ensure the Sun’s victorious return at dawn. This eternal conflict between light and shadow isn’t just a backdrop - it’s the heartbeat of your journey as Tlatoani, blending strategy, survival, and myth into a seamless experience.



Aztecs: The Last Sun isn’t just a city-building game - it’s a journey through ancient mythology, a reflection of humanity’s eternal struggle to maintain balance and order. The myths of blood, night, and the Last Sun shape every aspect of the game, offering players a unique blend of strategy, survival, and storytelling.

We hope you enjoy uncovering the mysteries and challenges rooted in Aztec lore. Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and may your city thrive under the light of the Sun! ☀️

Praise the Mighty Sun!



[h2]Join our Discord of fellow Tlatoanis[/h2]


[h2]Wishlist Aztecs: The Last Sun now![/h2]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1409840/Aztecs_The_Last_Sun/

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Last time we discussed what intriguing story lies beneath Aztecs: The Last Sun. Now, we want to present to you how the game has changed throughout the development to also show that we continue improving on the title and making sure it is ready for imminent release. Let’s check it out then!



As you may be aware, Tlatoani, in order to succeed in Aztecs: The Last Sun you have to build and manage your city appropriately. Even this very fundamental aspect of the game has been changing over the time of the development both in design and visuals. Take a look below to compare a thriving city before and now!
We promise, it’s not only the addition of roads that has changed here…





Your city needs good access to water to prevent sickness and help out the fishers get food quicker. So, in Aztecs: The Last Sun you will be able, for a price of Cocoa, shape how you want your map to look when it comes to the basins, rivers and lakes. We wanted to make it look as realistic as possible for the player to really feel how impactful their landscaping is. That’s why we had a lot of different iterations of this system, which you can see for yourself in the GIF.

Not only does it look better, but also the waters caping isn’t instant no more and requires labor from your tribe!




In order for your city to prosper and for you to uncover more of the story behind Aztecs: The Last Sun, you will need to set up expeditions. This is a side part to the game that you should take care of after establishing your buildings, routes and food distribution. Expeditions require a specialized team of people from your tribe and they will be gone for some time exploring the Valley of Mexico. They may bring a lot of valuable treasures, but some people may not come back unharmed…
As shown above, the system has evolved quite drastically throughout the project, from just simple shapes on a gray background to real places and buildings on the backdrop of the Valley of Mexico!



[h2]What do you think of our progress on Aztecs: The Last Sun so far? [/h2]
Let us know in the comments and also share your thoughts about possible future topics for devlogs. We love hearing from you - our beloved community!

[h2]Join our Discord of fellow Tlatoanis[/h2]


[h2]Wishlist Aztecs: The Last Sun now![/h2]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1409840/Aztecs_The_Last_Sun/

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As our game is based on real-life people and their mythology, it will have a story campaign. We’ll cover the background and some characters present from the beginning. Obviously, today’s entry contains some spoilers for the start of the game.


[h2]How did they get there?
[/h2]
In the real world, Aztecs migrated to the Valley of Mexico somewhere from the north. It would be way too simple, though. Aztecs believed that their ancestors formed a pact with Huitzilopochtli, the god of sun and war, in the mythical land of Aztlan. The deal was simple - the Aztecs would provide sacrifices and he would lead them to their promised land. After a long trek filled with tragic events and attrition, a small Aztec squad found an island in the middle of a lake. They recognised it as their promised land, as there was a stone that looked like a cactus. The name of the island became Tenochtitlán - it literally translates to Cactus Stone.

Upon further inspection, they found ruins of a massive pyramid temple. Nobody knew who had built it or what it had looked like in its prime. Aztecs used the rubble to shape their city… And this is the time you enter the scene - as the Tlatoani, the ruler of the Aztecs, who will rule them after the one who found the island passed away. While some comparisons could be drawn between the player character and Acamapichtli (the first Tlatoani), you will not embody this historical ruler.


[h2]A few words about morality
[/h2]
Aztecs are often considered to be violent savages both in historical sources and contemporary culture. Human sacrifices and a culture not shying away from warfare don’t exactly align with most ideas people subscribe to nowadays. The truth isn’t black and white, though and these people had plenty of great accomplishments as well - public hygiene, education for commoners and such. It would be unfair to neglect either of these aspects, so we aim to deliver a balanced approach to who the Aztecs were and what they did - acknowledging “the good” and “the bad”

As you’ll be controlling the Aztecs, you will be the “good guys”. “Good” is going to be quite a subjective term in this case. You’ll be doing things that won’t necessarily be considered moral, but all will serve the purpose of surviving yet another day. You’ll be benefiting your people.


[h2]If only it was so simple…
[/h2]
The consequences of your actions will catch up to you sometimes. While at the beginning of your game, you’ll clearly represent the good side, you’ll learn that the history of your people has plenty of dark and bloodstained pages. We don’t want to spoil too much, but you will need to encounter things that will haunt the Aztecs. Some major characters will also be crucial in that regard. Speaking of characters…


[h2]How I met your ruling cast?
[/h2]
Here are some of the most important people you’ll encounter during your rule

[h3]Coatl, Gods Advisor
[/h3]

The elder of the community. A voice of compassion and reason. As he’s been closely knit to the divine sphere, he understands the nature of gods and how violent they can be. A devout follower of Quetzalcoatl. Dedicated to education and expanding the wealth of Aztecs. Has some dark secrets he keeps to himself.

[h3]Yaotl, War Advisor
[/h3]

A military leader, who may seem a simple man on the outside, but has a mischievous and cunning nature he rarely shows. His main goal is to expand the Aztec sphere of influence via conquest. He will always be in favour of sacrificing more or less everyone you encounter, not caring about the well-being of other tribes.

[h3]Citlalee, Merchant
[/h3]

A hedonistic man who only cares about amassing wealth. He’ll gladly sell you goods of various nature, including slaves to sacrifice. While he generally prefers to be on good terms with you, you know he wouldn’t even blink if he had an opportunity to profit off of you. For example, by selling you off to someone else.

You’ll of course encounter other people as well. Some of them will be of help, others will be your adversaries. One of them, Achitometl, is going to be one of the major antagonists. A highborn of the Colhuacan tribe, he used to rule the Aztecs. He treated them with respect and recognised their might. Thinking it would be a good idea to tighten the bonds with the Aztecs, he agreed to have his daughter marry the Sun god. What he didn’t know was that the ritual included skinning the bride. This, understandably, sent him into a spiral of sorrow and hatred and he’ll be one of the main antagonists in the game. Will he be the main one? You’ll see!

Here is also the picture of Zyanya, a refugee leader who was already present in the demo. More to see from her in the future!




[h2]Conclusion[/h2]
Some of you might be a bit upset we’ve shared some spoilers regarding the game in this devlog. Firstly, there was a warning in the beginning! Secondly, we’re pretty comfortable with it. While the game isn’t going to be overly long, we only scratched the surface and plenty more is to come. The development has been going well and we’ll be sharing more info on the game in the near future. Thank you for reading. Cheers!



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We’re always up for a talk and we appreciate each and every one of you!

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