Moros Protocol News

[p][/p][p][/p][h3]\[RECORDING: ORPHEUS-LOG.4128-5: TRANSCRIBED][/h3][p] [/p][p]"Something's wrong with the ship! … I’ve tried to figure out exactly what the problem is, but I’m struggling... I just need a little more time. These damn things, they’ve taken over and they’re EVERYWHERE! [/p][p][/p][p]I need to get into engineering. If I can then I can put The Orpheus back on the correct course, and we can get out of this system. I don’t know how much longer I can take the noises these things are making. I feel like I’m going mad!! … September 18th, I just need to make it to September 18th." [/p][p][/p][p]\[TRANSMISSION ENDS][/p][p][/p][p]The launch of Moros Protocol has been rescheduled to September 18th, and will drop on Steam and GOG simultaneously. We know many of you have been standing by patiently, and we're grateful for the continuous support as we chart the course forward. [/p][p]The Pixel Reign Team[/p]

[p]\[RECOVERED TRANSMISSION: ORPHEUS-AUD.17] Timestamp: 04:12:37 // Location: Primary Habitat Deck // Speaker: Unknown[/p]

[p]“The red emergency strips barely light the corridor… but I can still hear it. Not footsteps... something else.
Low, pulsing, almost like a heartbeat carried through the hull.
Sometimes it fades, like it’s retreating. Other times, it swells until it’s right behind me… even when nothing’s there.[/p][p]The others think I’m imagining it. Maybe I am. But there’s a rhythm to it… a pattern. Like the ship itself is trying to warn us… or mourn us.”[/p]

[p][/p][p]This week, we’re hearing from Vicky Fysika, Pixel Reign’s co-founder and composer, about how she shapes the music of Moros Protocol, and the inspirations behind its soundscape.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][h3]1. What inspires you when you’re composing tracks for Moros Protocol?[/h3][p]The space/sci-fi theme has always been my favorite. It’s a universe I love to immerse myself in. I often draw inspiration directly from the game itself; its atmosphere, its story, and the world we’re building.[/p][p]I was also influenced by iconic sci-fi films like Alien, Blade Runner, Tron, Star Wars, and others that shaped my imagination. Their soundscapes and moods left a deep imprint on how I approach the game’s soundtrack.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]2. Can you describe where you start when creating music for specific moments in the game?[/h3][p]For action tracks, especially battle themes, I usually start with the rhythm. The beat helps me capture the intensity and energy right away.[/p][p]For atmospheric pieces, I begin with drones and ambient pads, layering textures to create a sense of space and tension.[/p][p]Boss music is a different beast: I focus heavily on strong, memorable melodies, using distinctive sounds that stick with you even after you’ve stopped playing.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]3. What’s your favorite track so far, and why?[/h3][p]That would be the game’s main theme. It encapsulates the mystery, intensity, and emotional weight of Moros Protocol.[/p][p]I started writing it around the time composer Vangelis passed away. He was a huge inspiration to me, so in many ways, it became a tribute to him as well.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]4. What made you want to get into composition?[/h3][p]When I was a kid playing Super Mario, I remember wondering, Who creates the music I’m hearing right now? I knew immediately: That’s what I want to do when I grow up.[/p][p]I started piano lessons early and began composing soon after. By high school, I wanted to be a rock singer and start a band... which I did, and I’m still the lead singer today.[/p][p]Later, while at university, I discovered The Longest Journey. Its atmosphere and soundtrack reignited my childhood dream. That was the moment I knew I wanted to create music for video games.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]5. What do you want players to feel when they hear your music in-game?[/h3][p]I want them to fully immerse themselves in Moros Protocol’s dark, layered world. The soundtrack shifts between mysterious ambience, tension, high-energy action, and epic emotional moments.[/p][p]It’s a mix of electronic textures, metal and goth influences, atmospheric pieces, drum & bass, and more! Something for every mood and moment in the story. My hope is that the music helps players connect more deeply with the protagonist and the characters they encounter.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]6. Any advice for aspiring game composers?[/h3][p]Video games are a magical medium. Composing for them lets you explore the wildest ideas, even ones that seem unrelated at first.[/p][p]Game music tells the story, breathes life into the world, and stays with players long after they’ve finished playing. My advice? Experiment, push boundaries, and never stop creating. Not everyone will like your work and that’s okay. Art is subjective. The most important thing is to stay true to your own creative voice.[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]Thanks for reading about Vicky’s process and inspirations. Next week, we’ll return with another deep dive into the making of Moros Protocol. Until then… keep listening. You never know what you might hear in the dark.[/p][p][/p][p]See you in the stars 💫
- Pixel Reign 🚀[/p][p][/p][h2]Be sure to wishlist👇[/h2][h2][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/h2]

[p]\[RECORDING: ORPHEUS-LOG.4123-7: TRANSCRIBED][/p][p]"…we're down to emergency power. Life support is holding, barely. Hallway lights are dead, just those strip lights along the floor now, pulsing like a heartbeat. I don’t know if that’s comforting or just cruel."[/p][p]"I saw something in Hab Deck 2... hiding, crouched under the bulkhead, hunched over one of the maintenance crew. Its body was... wrong. Not just in shape but also in the way it caught the light. Like it wasn’t reflecting correctly. Like the shadows didn’t agree on where it was."[/p][p]"I couldn’t make out a face. Just movement... jerky, non-human. Every time I blinked, it was somewhere new."[/p][p]"If you're hearing this… don't come looking. It's too late for us, for me. Destroy it before it..."[/p][p]\[TRANSMISSION END][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]This week, Pixel Reign's Project Lead is taking over the dev diary to share some insights into what makes Moros Protocol’s visual style stand out. From retro pixel inspirations to custom rendering tricks, here’s how they brought our world to life...[/p][p][/p][h3]Inspiration[/h3][p]A lot of people look at Moros Protocol and say, “Oh, it’s like DOOM!” But actually our visual foundation goes back further to the 16-bit pixel art era.[/p][p]I spent years working with pixel art in game development, and I’ve always been fascinated by how a few well-placed pixels can suggest complex shapes, lighting, and motion. It’s all about illusion and technique, especially the shading methods artists used to imply depth and texture.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Old Tricks, New Tech[/h3][p]Once I knew the look we wanted, the challenge became how to achieve it in a modern engine without losing that hand-crafted feel.[/p][p]To do that, I rewrote Unity’s deferred renderer, modified the GBuffer, and created custom shaders that simulate the old pixel art shading techniques using real-time lighting.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]1: Unlit texture.  2: Traditional lighting.  3: Final result.[/p][p][/p][h3]Low-Poly, High-Intent[/h3][p]We wanted a visual style that felt grounded and stylized, but not “blocky” like voxel-based games. So we targeted an early 2000s polygon count for our 3D models: low-poly enough to feel stylized, but detailed enough to support modern lighting and animation.[/p][p]Textures are kept at a constant pixel density across the board. In fact, our pipeline uses more texture layers than most conventional 3D shaders.[/p][p][/p][h3]The "Pixelizer" Shader[/h3][p]One of our key tools is a custom shader we call the Pixelizer. It uses a special texture built with diffusion techniques taken from classic pixel painting.[/p][p]This texture allows our lighting to behave the way pixel artists used to simulate with color ramps and dithering, giving smooth shading without losing the stylized look.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Thanks for reading. We’ll be back next week with another behind-the-scenes look at Moros Protocol.[/p][p][/p][p]See you in the stars 💫
- Pixel Reign 🚀[/p][p][/p][h2]Be sure to wishlist👇[/h2][h2][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/h2]

[p]\[ARCHIVAL RECORDS – Intergalactic Inquiry into Human Enhancement Ethics, File 7R-73/19X207 - REDACTED FOR PUBLIC CIRCULATION][/p][p]“The BioBoost system was never meant for mass deployment. It was a controlled program...measured, evaluated, regulated. Yes, it used ███████ material, but in trace amounts. We had psychic screenings. We had safeguards. The side effects were manageable. It was never meant to be used like this. We'd never expected test subjects to became less ███████ with each advancement.”[/p][p]- Dr. P Ilias, former lead researcher, Acantha X Biogenetics Division[/p][h3][/h3][p][/p][p]One of the most crucial parts of Moros Protocol isn't the shooting and stabbing, it's what happens when you've lost the fight! Players have the opportunity to upgrade themselves with BioMats that they collected during their previous run. This upgrade system is called BioBoost, designed at making you more formidable with every death. Let's learn a little more about it now...[/p][p][/p][h3]What is BioBoost?[/h3][p]The BioBoost system is a high-tier genetic enhancement program developed by Acantha X to make their soldiers tougher, faster, and more adaptable. Traditionally, upgrades were handed out based on rank and combat performance, awarded only to the most loyal operatives.[/p][p]In-game, BioBoosts enhancements are strong, more aggressive… and powered by a mysterious new resource: BioMats.[/p][p][/p][h3]How It Works[/h3][p]Each time you’re defeated, you’ll restart at the beginning of the current act. But you won’t go back empty-handed.[/p][p]Using the BioMats you collected during your run, you can unlock permanent upgrades via the BioBoost system—letting you carry forward progress between attempts. These upgrades make you more effective with every attempt, letting you push further and survive longer.[/p][p]No two deaths are wasted. Every run brings you closer to perfection.[/p][p][/p][h3]What Kind of Upgrades Can You Expect?[/h3][p]BioBoost upgrades are designed to be passive enhancements, they won’t change your gameplay style outright (that’s what weapons and augments are for), but they will make you stronger, more durable, and more prepared.[/p][p]Expect improvements like:[/p]

• [p]Increased max health[/p]
• [p]Higher stamina regen[/p]
• [p]Faster resource collection[/p]
• [p]And more...[/p]

[p]Each boost is subtle, but together they shape you into something... a little more than human.[/p][p][/p][h3]How Do You Get BioMats?[/h3][p]BioMats are rare biological materials scattered throughout the ship—found in chests, dropped by enemies, and hidden in high-risk areas. They’re highly valuable and absolutely essential for unlocking BioBoost upgrades.[/p][p]In the lore, they’re fragments of genetic material drawn from the same source that caused the Orpheus’s infection. What exactly that means… well, that’s for you to uncover.[/p][p]But one thing is certain: with every upgrade, you feel just a little less human.[/p][p][/p][p]We’ll be back next week with another dev breakdown. In the meantime, join our Discord to chat lore, drop feedback, and stay up to date with the road to launch.[/p][p][/p][p]See you in the stars 💫
- Pixel Reign 🚀[/p][p][/p][h2]Be sure to wishlist👇[/h2][h2][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/h2]

[h3]Invest in Victory with Utopia Credits![/h3][p]Attention Citizens![/p][p]Save up your Utopia Credits and purchase a brand-new Acantha Weapon today! From shock-hammers to sharp sabers, Acantha X’s arsenal is certified war-ready and stylish enough to turn heads on any battlefield.[/p][p]Why settle for surviving… when you can dominate?[/p][h3]Acantha X: Crafting a better tomorrow, through superior firepower today.[/h3][p]WARNING:[/p][p]Utopia Credits are not eligible for exchange, refund, or conversion into:[/p][p]Meal tokens, sanitation passes, access to entertainment channels, interstellar travel clearance, legal representation, Cryo-sleep pod upgrades.[/p][p]Misuse of Utopia Credits may result in biometric penalties or disciplinary orbital reassignment.[/p][p]Always read your Galactic Exchange Compliance Terms™.[/p][h3][/h3][p][/p][p]With Version 1.0 only seven weeks away, it’s time for a closer look at the core gameplay systems that power your survival and progression aboard the Orpheus. Let’s break down your main objectives, combat tools, and the resources you’ll rely on run after run.[/p][p][/p][h2]GOALS[/h2][p]The ship is infected and the systems are breaking down. You're the last line of defense.[/p][p]Your mission: travel deep into the ship to reactivate critical systems and stop the infection before it consumes everything. With ODY-6 lighting your way, explore quarantined sectors, eliminate hostile threats, and lift lockdowns to proceed. Once you find the ship's internal transport bays, you choose your path forward and continue. Be sure to check which path you take, as some may lead to valuable resources or drop you into even deadlier encounters.[/p][p]
[/p][h2]WEAPONS AND AUGMENTS[/h2][p]In Moros Protocol, you’ll carry one melee weapon and two ranged weapons at a time. Weapons fall into three categories: melee, energy, and physical. Melee uses stamina. Ranged weapons rely on either energy or physical ammo, depending on the type.[/p][p]Each weapon has its own level and rarity. You can upgrade levels at vendors you find along your journey, but rarity is locked in. That makes high-rarity drops especially valuable—they hit harder and often come with unique traits.[/p][p]Augments are where you shape your playstyle. Some are simple stat boosts like extra health or movement speed. Others change the way you fight, like giving you a double jump or modifying how your weapon behaves in combat.[/p][p]We’ve also added Implanted Augments. These are stronger than regular augments, but they come with a cost. They might increase your damage but reduce your defense, or give you speed while draining stamina faster. Once implanted, they can’t be removed for the rest of the run.[/p][p]Pick your tools, build your loadout, and adapt to survive.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]RESOURCES[/h2][p]You’ll gather five core resources as you fight and explore, each helping you progress, unlock content or improve your build.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Resource List:[/p][p]BioMats – Used to upgrade your BioBoost[/p][p]Energy Ammo – Powers blue energy weapons[/p][p]Physical Ammo – Powers orange physical weapons[/p][p]Door Keys – Opens locked sectors, vendor rooms, and loot chests[/p][p]Utopia Credits – Used to buy weapons, upgrades, and augments[/p][p]Break crates, loot chests, and defeat enemies to collect more. Or... just hope you survive long enough to use them.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]BIOBOOST[/h2][p]Death is not failure. Death is data.[/p][p]If you fall in battle, you’ll restart from the beginning of the current act. But don’t worry, your BioMats carry over, allowing you to permanently enhance your core abilities between runs.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We’ll be covering the full BioBoost system in detail next Thursday, so stay tuned![/p][p]Thanks for reading! As we build towards launch we have a lot of exciting content coming. Be sure to join our Discord server to get the earliest updates and exclusive news![/p][p][/p][p]See you in the stars 💫 [/p][p]- Pixel Reign 🚀 [/p][p][/p][h2]Be sure to wishlist👇[/h2][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]