Guardians of the Wild Sky News

[h3]Hello Explores,
[/h3][h3]First off, a huge thank you to everyone who entered our Guardians of the Wild Sky playtest key giveaway! Nearly 1,500 of you chimed in, helped us fine-tune our Steam page tags, and told us whether you’re a Builder or a Fighter.[/h3][p][/p][p]We have randomly selected 100 winners. Congratulations to the following players:
[/p][p] [/p][h3]What’s next…[/h3][p]We’ll contact each winner via Steam DM with their playtest key and setup instructions for the next closed playtest. We plan to expand playtests quickly, so if you didn’t get in this time, there will be more chances in the future.[/p][p]
Thank you for being part of this journey. As a small studio we are pouring our passion into this project; we care deeply about crafting a genuine experience, and we’ll keep listening, iterating, and evolving the game with your feedback in mind. We look forward to your input and to shaping the skies with your help.

We have much more to share soon. Until then, know we are on a quest to make this the best game… ev-arrrrrr! (I hope you read that in a pirate voice)[/p]

[p]Hey folks,[/p][p]We’ve been working on the airship sailing systems in the game and wanted to share where it’s at and hear what you think.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Our goal was to make sailing feel like more than just pointing your ship and setting off. In the game, wind direction actually matters. When the wind is at your back or your sides, you generally want to deploy all of your sails if you want to sail at max speeds. Lowering your sails will of course slow you down, but you can manage your speed based on how many sails you deploy. [/p][p][/p][p]You also need to build side sails to maintain lift for your ship, otherwise, you will sink! For times when the wind is not in your favour, you can take all of your sails down (with just a few button presses) and enter what we call 'paddle' mode. This means your ship can continue moving, at a reduced speed, in any direction, regardless of the wind's direction. It adds some real strategy, so you'll want to pay attention to the wind while traveling.[/p][p][/p][p]Later in the game, more advanced ships can be equipped with engines for true freedom of exploration. Engines will need a source of fuel, which luckily, some Guardian types can automatically provide, or you can feed it fuel yourself[/p][p][/p][p]Arm your vessel and ready yourself for battle[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]A few other key features worth mentioning[/p]

• [p]Ships are modular, so you can build and customize however you like[/p]
• [p]Favorite builds can be saved as blueprints and shared with other players[/p]
• [p]Since we’re in the skies, you are free to move in all directions, including up and down. This adds a whole new dimension to exploring [/p]
• [p]There are threats up there too like sky pirates, and even a massive cloud-dwelling seasnake. Watch out![/p]
• [p]Your Guardians can help crew the ship by manning cannons, repairing, crafting, or farming while you focus on steering[/p][p][/p]

[p]Tend to chores and upkeep as your airship sails the skies[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Dangers lurk in the skies...beware[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]What mechanics or little touches would make airship sailing feel great to you? We’re still in active development, so any suggestions could help shape the final system. Please let us know![/p]

[p]It’s only been 3 months since we announced Guardians Of The Wild Sky and… we just crossed 100,000 wishlists on Steam![/p][p]From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Seeing this kind of excitement from all of you is both humbling and incredibly motivating. Every wishlist, every comment, every bit of support fuels us to keep pushing, refining, and giving this project everything we’ve got. To celebrate, we decided to go surfing![/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]We're a small (but veteran) self-funded studio; we don't have any outside investors, publishers or sources of funding. Everything we are building is being done with our own resources. Your support means the world to us, and we are pouring everything we've got into this project. Hitting this milestone reminds us that we’re on the right track and that we’re building this adventure together with all of you.[/p][p]As many of you know, over the past few weeks we’ve been bringing in small groups of playtesters. Expanding access is our top priority, and the team has been working really hard to make it happen. Right now, our approach has been small and measured. We can only handle so much feedback at a time. We want to make sure we’re listening carefully, learning, and building the best experience possible before opening it up to a larger group. Our ultimate goal is simple: we want everyone to have an amazing time when they step into this world.[/p][p]We’re getting closer to opening the doors to hundreds, and soon after, thousands of players. Thanks for your patience and for bearing with us.[/p][p]Stay up to date with the latest by following us on the platforms below. There’s so much more to come![/p]

• [p]Discord: https://discord.com/invite/3hww8TwXej[/p]
• [p]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playwildsky [/p]
• [p]TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blueislestudios [/p]
• [p]Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/GuardiansoftheWildSky/[/p]
• [p]YouTube: [dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]
• [p]Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playwildsky/[/p]

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[p]Hey everyone,[/p][p]We’re excited to share some big news about the game: our soundtrack is being composed by Andreas Waldetoft![/p][p]If you’ve played titles like Crusader Kings II & III, Stellaris, Hearts of Iron IV, Europa Universalis IV and more, you’ve already heard his incredible work. All of us at the studio have been fans of Andreas' work for a long time so it's been pretty awesome getting to collaborate with him. [/p][p]From the very first sketches, Andreas really captured the tone and atmosphere of our world. The soudtrack isn't final yet, there is still a lot to do but we just wanted to share an early WIP of one of our favorite tracks, meant to be used in our tropical environments. Check it out: [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h3]Behind The Scenes[/h3][p]We approached the soundtrack process with a thoughtful and layered mindset by:[/p]

1. [p]Starting with MIDI mockups with virtual instruments and getting the foundational arrangement right.[/p]
2. [p]Adding live players selectively and focusing on where acoustic nuance truly elevates the track.[/p]

[p]Our first live-instrument test featured flutes performed by the very talented Sandro Friedrich, who we previously worked with on our game Valley. Everything you’ll hear is still fairly rough and unfinished. Some of the music will go through proper mixing and polish before launch. But even in this early state, the addition of live flutes completely changed the track’s energy compared to the mockup. [/p][p]Here it is with the live flute: https://youtu.be/z5kozEWs3fw[/p][p][/p][p]We've also been tapping into our own team’s talents. Our Technical Director and co-founder, Brenden Frank, happens to have a real knack for music, so he recorded piano renditions to bring our quieter nighttime sequences to life. The idea was to take Andreas’ tracks and have Brenden play them live on piano for a slower, nighttime version which would expand the soundtrack and reinforce the theme.[/p][p]You can listen here if you're interested in hearing the differences:[/p]

• [p]Andreas’ WIP Version (No Piano): https://youtu.be/U0tKBOVDfzc[/p]
• [p]Brenden’s Version (Live Piano): https://youtu.be/O6n6DhVo4f8[/p]

[p]Let us know what you think so far! We have so much more to share in terms of development with everyone. Thanks for your patience with us, please stay tuned for more! We have so much to share soon.[/p]

[p]Hi everyone,[/p][p][/p][p]We’ve just reached another exciting milestone following our closed playtests and we’re thrilled to share what we’ve learned and what’s coming next. [/p][p]Over the past few weeks, it’s been incredible watching how players engage with the world and interact with the game’s core systems. We are still learning something new from each playtest, and as we continue development we will gradually open this up to a wider group of players.[/p][p][/p][p]Before we get into more details, we’re excited to share our very first gameplay demo:[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]This video offers a first look at the current state of the game and highlights some major updates we’ve been working on:
[/p][h3]
Gameplay & Lore[/h3][p]One of the most requested features has been a deeper quest system. Alongside the main questline with your big overarching objective, you’ll discover islands scattered across the world, each with towns or points of interest. Here, you’ll meet quest-givers offering side quests; some simple, others evolving into larger quest chains that expand the lore and deepen your journey.
[/p][h3]Guardian Catching Mechanics[/h3][p]We’ve reworked the Guardian catching mechanic based on early feedback. The new design is far more interactive acting like a catching trap, integrating a magic force for a more immersive and dynamic capturing experience. It’s no longer just about throwing and hoping, you now have more control when planning and placing your trap to successfully capture a Guardian. Originally with our throw and capture mechanic you could waste Capture Crystals by missing your target. Now if your trap misses or you want to reposition it, no problem! Simply pick it back up and deploy it again.
[/p][h3]Building & Survival[/h3][p]Many of our playtesters have come from survival game backgrounds, so we’ve leaned into that, adding more traditional survival elements to increase challenge and replayability. Nightfall has become a lot more dangerous: hostile Guardian spawn rates have ramped up, some types of food spoil, whether the player is wet or in cold or hot temperature has to be taken into account, and that’s just the beginning! We of course recognize not all these features are for everyone so many of them can be turned off, giving the player a cozier experience overall.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Building continues to be one of the most loved systems in the game. Thanks to your feedback, we've expanded the building system with new structure types and decorative elements. You can now discover building recipes from merchants, including nature-themed decor, perfect for crafting your own secluded hideaway deep in the wilderness. Building in Wild Sky represents a significant improvement over previous titles. Pieces can be rotated in all directions, copied, and replaced with higher tier structure pieces. We’ve added loads of QOL features such as multiple snap modes, magnetized attachment points and having ctrl-z undo build actions. You can also build on your ship or even build entirely new ships of your own.
[/p][h3]World Design[/h3][p]Each biome in the game is home to a unique town or settlement, offering valuable items, crafting materials, and recipes. Hoist your sails and rally your crew for a journey through the clouds. While sailing between biomes, you can stay productive by crafting items at your ship’s workbench, you can even deploy your Guardians (or should we say “crew”) to assist with crafting along the way.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Once you have reached your destination, be on the look out, each biome has their own distinct weather patterns, some are rainy while others are cloaked in fog. Additionally, certain Guardians only appear in specific regions, adding depth to exploration and collection.[/p][p]
[/p][h2]What’s Next: Open Playtests[/h2][p]Since our closed playtests, one of the most common questions has been: “When will we gain access to the game?” To that we say: soon™!
[/p][p]So far, all testing has been under NDA, but over the next few weeks we’ll be gradually adding more players as we implement key changes and squash bugs. Once the game is ready for larger groups, we’ll scale up further. The good news? Initial responses and playtest observations have been really encouraging, we’re eager to get the game into more of your hands as quickly as we can.
[/p][p]When we first opened sign-ups, we never expected over 40,000 of you to join. That support has been incredible, and we’re so grateful. Our goal is to get as many of you into the game as possible, but we ask for your patience as invites roll out.
[/p][p]In the meantime, we’re carefully working through all the feedback we’ve received and steadily iterating on your suggestions. A detailed update highlighting the improvements based on playtester input is on the way, so stay tuned!
[/p][p]And finally, to show our appreciation, we’re giving away 100 guaranteed playtest keys.[/p][p] [/p][p]Here’s how to enter:[/p]

• [p]Click on our Steam page and under the game’s description you will see tags [/p]

• [p]Press the \[ + ] icon and suggest some tags you feel that represent the game (e.g. Survival, Open World, Magic, Crafting - whatever fits!)[/p]
• [p]Leave a comment on this post telling us: Are you the Builder or a Fighter in survival games?[/p]

[p]
[/p][p]That’s it! We’ll randomly select 100 participants to receive guaranteed access to the next round of playtesting.[/p][p]
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