Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon News

[h2]Hello, travelers![/h2]
Before we get to the point of this post, a small intro.

We launched the 0.9 update 1 week ago, and let us tell you: what a blast it was! Seeing you enjoy the new stuff made all the hard work double worth it. :D

Thank you SO MUCH for playing, feedbacking, reporting bugs, and discussing the game so extensively. We’re also very sorry for the technical issues some of you encounter (yes engine crashes, talking about you). We’re now sitting down and trying to get those out of the game; you can expect smaller or bigger hotfixes for the current game version. We’re also polishing the upcoming Act 2 & Act 3 zones at the same time. The next 2-3 months will be quite a gamedev ride, but we’re buckled up and ready. It will be worth it! :D

Now, going back to the main topic…

You heard it right! Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is receiving its...
[h2] Collector’s & Deluxe Editions! 🔥[/h2]


[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Some of you might know that, but a huge part of Awaken Realms is about making and publishing board games! The digital Tainted Grail universe itself originated from the tabletop game we created.

We wanted to stay #loyal to our roots, so as proper nerds… we prepared a bad-ass Collector’s Edition for the game, full of cool Tainted Grail-branded merch! There’s also a Deluxe Edition; more info below!

So, here’s the overview look at the Collector’s Edition:


Now, let’s dive deeper and take a closer look at every part of the box!

[h2]King Arthur statue[/h2]

The Once and Future King has come back from the dead, so powerful that he’s unfit to be called human! Immortalized as an epic, 37 cm-tall, painted statue, suited in full armor and wielding his legendary Excalibur, Arthur Pendragon is celebrating yet another battle won. And there are many, many more to come…

[h2]Mouse & Keyboard Pad[/h2]

Sized at 800 x 300 mm, this high-quality neoprene mat will be your daily gaming companion. Its artwork represents the in-game Avalon maps, so you will never get lost when exploring the open world!

[h2]Artbook[/h2]

A premium, hard-cover book, with 104 pages of stunning, hand-crafted artwork, straight from the gloomy world of Avalon. The best tool to get you immersed in the visuals and mood of Tainted Grail.

[h2]Metal Poster[/h2]

Something kingworthy to decorate your room with: a premium-quality, 420 x 300 mm metal poster, featuring nothing less than the royal sarcophagus. Here lie the remains of Arthur Pendragon. Well, at least they used to…

[h2]Steelbook[/h2]

A sleek and stylish steel case, crafted to serve as an exceptional canvas for the game’s atmospheric artwork. A physical disk is not included! Instead, you can store your love letters inside.

[h2]Notebook[/h2]

Whether you need a place to write all your in-game notes, save a potion recipe for later, or inscribe your favorite curse, this soft-cover 210 x 148 mm notebook will always be at your hand!

[h2]Metal Magnet[/h2]

A small yet powerful addition to your collection, featuring the Mistbearer: one of the many Tainted Grail’s powerful bosses. Just don’t get lost in all the mist! Better stick him to your fridge to stay safe.

[h2]Metal Coin[/h2]

Avalon’s basic trading currency. Alternatively, you can just flip it and decide someone’s fate, with a fairly high chance for success :D

As mentioned, there’s also the Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon Deluxe Edition! This version is a smaller package, consisting only of the game’s Artbook and Steelbook.

[h2]What about the game itself?[/h2]

Apart from the physical stuff, each edition comes with a digital code (key) for a platform of your choice:

• PC (Steam): delivered via email, within 3 days of placing the order; you can activate the key and play Early Access right away, or wait for 1.0
  
• Console (PS5 or Xbox X/S): delivered via email, on the game’s 1.0 release, planned for May/June 2025
  

[h2]How & where to get these?[/h2]

Everything can be found on our Gamefound page: GAMEFOUND LINK
The pre-sales are open… NOW!

Stay safe, travelers, and stay tuned for more info about Tainted Grail!

Questline / Awaken Realms

Join our Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/Hn5zJYV
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466060/Tainted_Grail_The_Fall_of_Avalon/

[h2]Hey guys! [/h2]

First of all, we wanted to thank you ALL for such a warm welcome of 0.9! We are so extremely happy you guys enjoy our game that it is hard to put to words. This makes all the hard work worth it ;)

Now, we know there are a bunch of issues and problems and we are working hard on them - today we got a first patch for you fixing some of the problems.
We are also sharing some known issues that we are currently working on.

So, without further ado - hot fix 0.9b

[h2]Patch Notes 0.9b[/h2]

• The sketchbook sketches will no longer wipe after exiting the game. Sorry!
  
• We have improved their visuals as well
  
• Seacoast mansion should no longer be corrupted after progressing story
  
• Entering duels while having recently dead summons will no longer lock the player forcing the exit of the game
  
• Final story cutscenes should now correctly trigger instead of hanging on a black screen
  
• Prologue mini bosses will no longer lock up in their starting spots/animations in certain scenarios
  

[h2]Known Issues that we are working on fixing[/h2]

• crashes mostly on scene changes and inventory opening
  - This is our highest priority but a fix unfortunately takes time
  
• screen colors changing until entering inventory
  - make sure to quick save F5 when this happens as it often results in a crash later
  - we'd like to know how common this issue is.
  
• resetting of movement direction keys on exiting game: a fix is being worked on
  
• steam input messing with playstation dualsense inventory opening: a fix is being worked on but as a temporary fix we suggest you disable the feature as it limits the controllers features
  

[h2]Hey everyone! [/h2]

So… this is IT! Today we bring you the biggest and most important update ever (other than the upcoming 1.0 version, obviously :D). Let us start with something AWESOME!

Please check out the official Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon Cinematic Trailer (created by Unit Image, the studio behind the Elden Ring and Baldur’s Gate 3 cinematic trailers)!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
(Song credits - Danheim & Gealdýr - Ymir)

We also have a new, shiny gameplay trailer for the game!
(with a great soundtrack by Dzivia; https://www.youtube.com/@Dzivia)

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

We would really appreciate it if you could share those two trailers around! This is the final push for Tainted Grail. We spent the last 4+ years working on this game; much of it together with you. Now that the game will launch very soon, we want to make sure as many people as possible will learn about it!

Okay! Now, let's learn more about patch 0.9! *breathe in, breathe out* :D



Today, we’re launching the final, public patch to the game that is giving you access to the almost-final prologue and Act 1 (~20 hours of the game).

This includes full English voiceovers and text translation to the following languages*:

• English
  
• Czech
  
• Italian
  
• Japanese
  
• Polish
  
• Brazilian Portuguese
  
• Russian
  
• Spanish
  
• Simplified Chinese
  
• Traditional Chinese
  
• French
  
• German
  

*At the premiere of the patch, there might be some readable and journal entry translations missing (they will be added in 2-3 weeks)



[h2]What have we changed? [/h2]
Ha, great question!

Patch 0.9 is pretty much *almost final* version of Prologue and Act 1. You can expect final quality—BUT there still might be some bugs and problems here and there (please send us a bug report if you find anything!)

If you are wondering if anything significant changed since the last patch… yup! This is almost like a new, shiny game :D Our whole team has worked tirelessly to get to this point and the game is looking and most importantly playing AMAZING!

Once again, pretty much every aspect of the game should be better (from slight upgrades to HUGE changes). Below, you can find some examples:

• Completely new prologue, with 2 new mini-bosses, many more NPCs, and new content to discover
  
• Much more content in Act 1 (quests, dungeons, enemies, loot)
  
• New character creation
  
• Revamped & upgraded crafting (blacksmithing, alchemy, cooking)
  
• Revamped magic (much more dynamic, fluid, and satisfying)
  
• Totally revamped summoning (summons now block your max mana)
  
• Upgrades in the feeling of close combat
  
• TONS of new items to find and use
  
• Revamped Attributes and Skills system (more flexibility for build crafting and more useful perks)
  
• Completely revamped and polished UI
  
• Totally revamped Wyrdnight (new visuals and improved in terms of balance)
  
• New systems: sketchbooks, farming, house, pet
  
• ADDED ROMANCE
  
• Added Photo Mode
  
• Entirely revamped and upgraded gameplay balance, including combat
  
• Added “finisher” moves
  
• Added boss mini cut-scenes
  
• Added TONS of new soundtrack
  
• Overall lighting overhaul in the open world
  
• New, better weather effects
  
• Added a lot of new NPCs and quests
  
• Added shrines in the open world
  
• Added story interactions in the fireplace
  
• Added guilds and their questlines
  
• Added new weapon types: Spears
  
• …and a lot of smaller & bigger things here and there (we could be going for ages :D).
  

Generally speaking, we’ve been quite busy for the past year and we really poured our hearts and passion into Tainted Grail. We hope it shows in the game itself! And most importantly, our fingers are crossed that you will have A TON of fun in the 0.9 update, and the upcoming 1.0 too!

So without further ado: ENJOY THE NEW PATCH, TRAVELERS!
If you wish to, please spread the word about the game as much as you can! We are super close to the final premiere right now and we want to ensure people will hear about Tainted Grail all over the world.

And obviously, let us know about your feelings & experiences with the new stuff!

IMPORTANT:
Your current saves will be wiped and we will unfortunately have one more wipe with the 1.0 update. We are extremely sorry for that; we do know this is annoying. Keeping those saves would be extremely complicated and we need to prioritize game optimization and bug-fixing for the final version of the game.

But we feel that our game is HIGHLY replayable, both in the many different builds you can create, as well as the branching narrative with multiple quests and endings.

Okay! Now let’s give you a big screenshot dump to convince you to try out the 0.9! :D



Last but not least, a few words from our CEO!

Hey everyone!

I wanted to add a personal note from myself, from the perspective of CEO! After all, this is the most important moment for Tainted Grail! Also something I have been personally working towards for over 11 years now, leading Awaken Realms from our origins as a small 2-man miniature painting studio.

I always felt I have a huge debt of gratitude to pay to the gaming industry - thanks to them I was able to live through one of the most amazing adventures and it definitely helped carry me through my teens. I remember one holiday that I literally spent playing Gothic 2 all-day (with night of the raven expansion) for straight 2 months. BEST HOLIDAY EVER! :D



So creating a similar experience for others was always my dream and a huge passion. Both Questline and Awaken Realms teams are full of people with exactly the same approach. When we are working on a game, we do not start with the excel spreadsheet - but with an idea and tons of passion. Sure, spreadsheets are there to make sure everything accounts for itself - but we know what is most important here.

For the last 7 years I have witnessed how the Questline team developed. Both as a team and every single person individually and I have to say, I am so proud of what we managed to accomplish here! The level of growth is unprecedented and you can just compare when we launched EA to how the game looks today!



Game development is not an easy job, trust me. Sure, it has its moments - but most of the time it’s like building a house during a fire tornado. So yeah, if you want to make it, you need to be forged in that fire :D And I got to say that our team has put in all the heart, sweat, and passion into this crazy ambitious project. A TRUE open world RPG! Something that we only dreamt of doing now is something that we actually will be delivering very, very soon!

I just want to let you all know that this game is a product of an extremely hardworking and passionate team that grew from around 20 to 50 people over the course of development. While I know it’s not perfect and lacks AAA polish, I am EXTREMELY proud of their work!



So today, we are laying on your hands an awesome cinematic trailer, free demo on all platforms (as we believe it is really good practice to give customers a way to test the game before purchase) and a final patch in Early Access.

Thank you so much for being on this journey with us. It was quite a ride and your comments, feedback and goodwill is what kept us going!


Take care and enjoy the 0.9!


Join our Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/Hn5zJYV

Take care, safe travels!
Always yours,
Questline & Awaken Realms team

[h2]Hello, Travelers![/h2]
We’re proudly presenting you this month’s dev update.

Before we start this update (and it will be a wild one! there’s TONS of new progress), we need to share one less-exciting news.

Remember, when in the last update we said, that after patch 0.9 there would be no more save wipes…? Yeah…. so that turned out not to be true, unfortunately.

Most probably, we will still have to save-wipe the game at 1.0. The reason for that is pretty simple—we need our tech team to 100% focus on optimization and Xbox & PlayStation ports. We estimated that keeping save files would be easier, but unfortunately, it turned out to be much more complex at this time. Before the release, we need to make sure that 1.0 is fully technically sound.

We will obviously make it very transparent on the Steam main page, we just wanted to take the time and tell you here too, with our explanation and apologies. We really didn’t want to mislead you, it's just… video game development is… let’s call it “agile” :D Unfortunately, things and plans have to adjust. Sorry for that folks!

Now, for some of the good news: Tainted Grail’s replayability will be very high:

• You can create and execute a lot of different builds
  
• There is A LOT of secrets hidden all around
  
• Your decisions will have big consequences in terms of the storyline
  

So, if you want to experience 0.9 in all its glory, go for it! We believe you'll still have a great time replaying Act 1 when 1.0 drops. But if you'd rather wait a few extra months for the full experience—that's completely fine too!

IMPORTANT: Last month to get the game at a special, lower Early Access price!
This is the last call to get the game at its current price. Remember that on the 25th of March, the new price will be 45 USD (or regional equivalent).

[h2]0.9 PATCH IS COMING! What can you expect? [/h2]

• NEW language support! Here is a full list of translations that will be coming: English, Czech, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, and German.
  
• full Act 1 in 95% of the final quality;
  
• full English voice-over;
  
• about 15-20h of revamped gameplay in Act 1;
  
• NEW free demo!;
  
• and A LOT of surprises ;) We will have a full list next month, once the update goes live!
  

[h2]OK! Now let's get to the meat of this update! [/h2]

As always, let’s start with the video overview made by WolfheartFPS:
[previewyoutube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq0fc7A_xgk&ab_channel=WolfheartFPS[/previewyoutube]

This month, we’d like to focus on the newest addition to the game: the third and final region, Forlorn Swords. This is actually the first real opportunity to showcase our work. Of course, the region isn’t fully complete yet, but we’d love to give you an early tour of some selected locations.

[h2]Forlorn Swords: the 3rd act main zone[/h2]



We already teased it some time ago, and now we’re ready for a more visual showcase! Forlorn Swords is a snowy land home to the wild Dal Riata tribes. As you trek through its frozen peaks, you'll uncover the history, traditions, and long-standing clashes between the Dal Riata and Kamelot (yes, it goes with a “K”). These tribes share a deep bond with the mystical Giants and live in scattered villages throughout the region, with their capital in Mathair Mines—once an old mine, now the hub of their entire culture and ceremonies. Along the way, you will encounter representatives from five different tribes, and will be able to shape their fate!



[h2]Companions? Here is your new pet: Qrko![/h2]

Now, you’re gonna love this one: meet Qrko, a tiny cute pet that can become your companion for the journey through Avalon! Once found, it will never leave your side! And don’t worry—Qrko is immortal, so you don’t have to worry about smacking him with your two-handed sword when fending off Grindylows. When it comes to interactions, for now, you can:

• pet Qrko;
  ask Qrko to perform a trick;
  command Qrko to stay in place or follow your lead.

We’re still figuring out different interactions with Qrko, so if you have any ideas, we’re open to suggestions! Let us know in the comments.


[h2]Photo Mode (no, that’s not a third-person perspective!)[/h2]
We’re introducing a Photo Mode, allowing you to fully appreciate and adore the beautiful armor sets you compose. #FashionGrail at its finest!

However, we want to make this very clear—this is ONLY a Photo Mode, NOT a third-person gameplay option. We want to avoid any misunderstandings on this topic.



Although…

[h2]Would you be interested in a third-person perspective? :)[/h2]
If so, let us know in the comments below! We’re not making any promises, but there’s a chance we’ll add this feature—if not with the 1.0 update, then possibly later through post-launch patches. To make sure it’s worth the effort, we need to hear from you first! :)

[h2]New craftable armor[/h2]
Speaking of #FashionGrail, we’ve added several new armor sets, crafted from the remains of enemies—and we believe they’re pretty badass! Name a better way to flex about beating the hell out of your opponents! 😎

Those include:

• the Red Cap crafting armor (“Bloodsoaked”);
  
• the Grindylow crafting armor (“Torn Sinew”);
  
• the Sharg crafting armor (“Ravenous);
  
• the Ice Weaver crafting armor (“Frostwoven”).
  

[h2]New enemies[/h2]
As per usual, each month we bring you some new enemies to the table. This time, we’re most excited about the Foredweller, currently available in two variants: the Knight one, and the Warrior one. This guy comes equipped with four active arms, making fights more dynamic and unpredictable.



[h2]New gameplay mechanics in progress[/h2]
Gameplay is king, so we’re now working on three gameplay mechanics:

• a revamped throwables system;
  a brand-new wand system;
  the introduction of Soul Cubes.

To dive a bit deeper…

[h2]Throwables[/h2]
They are our way of supporting combat against multiple foes, especially for melee-focused builds, as their users tend to get surrounded by enemies quite easily.

Throwables feature a quick-use mechanic. Just put them in the quick-use slots, and you can activate them instantly, just like potions. They serve various purposes, such as dealing damage, applying status effects, creating AoE effects, and providing crowd control. That makes them a great tool for non-magic and/or non-ranged players!

We've also added a ton of new throwables, including:

• the Booming Flare: creates an 8m explosion of light, blinding all targets;
  
• the Breathstealer: enemies hit within a 5m area lose a portion of their max stamina;
  
• the Ephemerate Crystal: banishes the target, making it disappear for a while;
  
• the Flaming Concoction: on impact, covers the area in flammable liquid;
  
• the Orb of Vortex: pulls all targets towards the point of impact;
  
• the Siphon Bomb: restores mana for each enemy hit within its area of impact.
  

[h2]Wands[/h2]
Mechanically, wands work similarly to shields (off-hand items), designed to passively enhance spellcasting rather than being full-fledged weapons. Things worth mentioning about them:

• held in one hand: they usually deal minimal damage but enhance spells cast with the other hand;
  
• no activation required: they don’t consume resources but provide passive buffs;
  
• some wands trigger effects on block, parry, or even attack, always tied to mana and spell power.

Some of the wands that will be available in the game are:

• the Oldtree Staff: when casting spells, you have a % chance to restore half of the spent mana;
  
• the Essence Channeler: blocking regenerates 100% of the elemental damage blocked as mana; attacks regenerate 10% of the damage dealt as mana;
  
• the Hexbounce Wand: blocking deflects projectiles at the cost of 10 mana; parrying deflects and duplicates projectiles for free;
  
• the Unstable Conduit: increases casting speed by 75% but doubles damage received while charging spells.
  

[h2]Soul Cubes[/h2]
Soul Cubes function as charge-based artifacts that build up energy through different combat actions like killing enemies, spending mana, and applying elemental status effects. Similarly to wands, they must be held in hand to charge up. Once fully charged, you can unleash powerful effects, ranging from buffs and damage to summoning unique allies.

Some of the new Soul Cubes include:

• the Undying Watch: summons an Undead Camelot Defender for 30s;
  
• the Wailing Gale: summons a tornado, pulling in enemies within a 5m radius;
  
• the Prism of Maelstrom: creates an explosion dealing damage and applying random elemental statuses to all nearby enemies;
  
• the Pyroclast Core: summons a burning rain of fire over an area for 12s.
  

All these above-mentioned mechanics are still very much work in progress, missing their final visual assets and polish, but they’re functional; take a look at WolfheartFPS’ video to see them in action!

[h2]Lighting and post-processing improvements[/h2]
Though the world of Avalon is pretty grim, we're putting a lot of effort into enhancing the game's lighting and post-processing effects; all to create a more immersive and visually polished experience. Right now, the most noticeable changes (between the public version and our in-house dev one) can be seen in Horns of the South region, particularly in the castle and cemetery areas, as well as parts of the open world.



[h2]New shrines[/h2]
Those were also mentioned before, but they’ve come a long way and have been visually upgraded! Take a peek at the new types of shrines: open-world activities, each offering unique interactions and rewards:

• the Hunting Shrine: use them to offer items related to a specific animal or creature (e.g., deer hides at a deer shrine) in exchange for small permanent stat boosts;
  
• the Druidic Shrine: offering any animal part grants a small amount of experience and restores health;
  
• the Stagfather Shrine: praying at this shrine summons three magical deer, which must be defeated within a time limit. If you succeed, you get rewarded with experience and special crafting materials from the Wyrddeer, used to create unique items (such as a knife, arrows, a shield, or a stew).
  

[h2]Misc stuff[/h2]
To end with, some things that did not fit in the other parts of the update:

• new music incoming: we’re preparing tons of new tracks, so look forward to a fresh and expanded OST (we know you love Tainted Grail music as much as we do!);
  [previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
  [previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
  
• the Ghostly Stag is still wandering around: how did it end up casually exploring the Plains in the first place?!
  

[h2]Aaaand we’re finished for today![/h2]
Thank you for being with us! As always, let us know what you think of all the new & improved stuff. Also, join our Discord to chat and learn more about the game! DISCORD

The 0.9 March update is just around the corner, and we really can’t wait for you to try it.
IT’S GOING…
TO BE…
A BLAST!

Stay safe, Travelers!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466060/Tainted_Grail_The_Fall_of_Avalon/

Hello, Travelers!

Hope you all had a great holiday season! We certainly did, and after some crazy getting-back-on-track time, we’re now in action, all hands on board. We’ve got some cool news to share about what we’ve been working on recently. As always, there’s tons of more stuff cooking behind the scenes, but here’s a sneak peek at what’s ready (or almost ready) and deserves to be showcased.

As per usual, let’s begin with WoflheartFPS and his video covering all the changes:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
And before we get to the new stuff, take a peek at our December development recap (so, basically all the things we mentioned last month!):

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Now, let’s get down to business.

[h2]Cuanacht updates:[/h2]

We’ve unlocked two new areas in Cuanacht, that both lead to the upcoming Forlorn Swords (the Act 3 main zone):

• The Towers: This area involves new exploration and combat opportunities.
  
  
• The Plains: A wide-open space where you can freely roam on horseback, giving you a break from the more intense parts of the game. Just your regular kind of a “breather area”.
  
  

And don’t worry, these areas aren’t empty. Apart from regular gameplay elements, you might encounter some interesting surprises like:

• The not-yet-determined spirits roaming around
  The Tibby boss fight
  The Charred Conclave

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

We’re still testing to see if they fit well in the game, so things might evolve over time.

[h2]Horns of the South updates:[/h2]

We’re STILL adding content to the first area. Can’t stop, won’t stop!

• New boss fight: Already teased before, but now it’s official. Meet the Scourge of the Seas, aka the infamous Javy Dones (wink wink). He’ll be the final guardian of one shipwrecked dungeon.
  

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

• Recapturing HotS: Some of you found an unfinished feature during our recent 0.8 beta tests—when you defeat a boss on the King’s Road, guards start spawning, and the whole place becomes a bloodbath. Jokes on you, that was just the beginning! Now, after becoming one of the Keepers, you’ll get a new quest to take out additional bandit bosses to reclaim parts of the region, which the Keepers will then populate.
  

[h2]Gameplay misc additions:[/h2]

• New Spirituality skills: We’re introducing ~14 new skills to the skill tree to expand your character development options.
  

• Magic schools: You’ll be able to master the arts of 4 different magic schools. These include Kamelot, Druid, Red Priest, and Wild (Wyrdness), each focusing on different types of spells. Let there be wizardry!
  
• New magic VFX: There are some new spells, and some of the old ones have new visual effects. Needless to say more, just take a look below.
  [previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
  
• Archery overhaul: Everyone’s favorite, right? We’ve added a bunch of new gear for bow lovers, including:
  - 6 new bows
  - 3 new arrow types (also, every arrow in the game was rebalanced and tiered accordingly, especially elemental arrows)
  - 7 new armor pieces for archers
  - 5 new consumables for archers

• New enemy variants, including Ogres (in Cuanacht and Forlorn Swords), Dryads, and the fearsome Fleshtree.
  

That would be it for today! Thanks for taking the time to get through this development update. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and stay tuned for future updates. March, and with it the 0.9 release, is getting closer and closer (definitely no pressure at all!).
Join our Discord to chat and learn more about the game! https://discord.com/invite/Hn5zJYV
Stay safe, Travelers!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466060/Tainted_Grail_The_Fall_of_Avalon/