Our CEO answers YOUR questions! | Neighbors Developer Update #5

Hey there Neighbors!

Hope you've had a good weekend, with a few neighborhood brawls! 💥 This week is going to be a big one for Neighbors, with updates in the game, as well as more info on future upcoming content.

We'll kick the week off by posting the curated version of the live Q&A our CEO did this Friday. For a detailed breakdown of a bunch of the questions you've had since launch, check out the video! 🙏

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For you who don't have the time to watch the whole thing, here's a compact text version of the content:

Q: Why is the matchmaking system sometimes unfair?
A: The matchmaking system has been a work in progress, especially during the early days. Initially, players had a lot of experience due to pre-launch play sessions, which led to unfair matchups. We're making improvements, including introducing a "new player" tag to help beginners get a more balanced experience in their early matches.


Q: What is the plan to balance characters?
A: Balancing is an ongoing challenge, especially as a small indie studio. We're working to adjust characters that don’t work as intended, like PA and Kim. The goal is to strike a balance without aiming for a perfectly balanced game. We want to ensure each character feels unique and satisfying to play.


Q: Are there any technical issues being worked on?
A: Yes, we are constantly working on technical improvements. Some of the issues being addressed include hit registration, lag, and improving the overall gameplay feel. We’ve already implemented multiple patches to fix various technical issues, and we have a large update planned for the near future that will address these problems even further.


Q: Is there a penalty for dropping out of a game?
A: Currently, there is no penalty for leaving a game, especially in casual play. Instead, we aim to reward players who stay through the entire match, even if they lose, with a bonus multiplier for their next game. However, we are considering changes in the future, such as making early-leaving more costly to the player who chooses those actions.


Q: Is there any plan to improve the anti-cheat system?
A: Yes, we are implementing stronger anti-cheat measures, including player reporting. A system is being put in place to allow players to report cheaters in-game, and we'll take action based on those reports.


Q: Will there be more game modes in the future?
A: Yes, more game modes are on the way! The next update will include a classic team deathmatch mode, with even more crazy modes planned for the future.


Q: Will the game feature more neighbors in the future? A: Yes! There are already two new neighbors in the pipeline, each with unique abilities. Stay tuned for the official roadmap next week to see when they’ll be added.


Q: Are there any plans for a console release?
A: A console release is in the distant future. For now, the focus is on optimizing the game for Steam, as it allows for faster iteration and testing based on player feedback.


Q: Is there a plan to add more events or challenges in the game?
A: Yes, we're planning to add more achievements and challenges. The goal is to make the progression system more rewarding with unique milestones to achieve.


Q: Are there any plans to add a ranked or competitive mode?
A: While we're not planning a ranked mode, there will be a competitive mode for players who want to focus on more intense gameplay. This is something that's coming soon.


Q: Will there be more skins or content after level 20?
A: Yes, we plan to extend the progression system. More skins and content will be added for players who reach higher levels, though we want to avoid adding too many tiered skins in between.


Q: What was the reception of the game’s launch?
A: The launch wasn't a runaway success, but it met our expectations. We’re focusing on long-term improvement and expanding the game with more features, game modes, and content.


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[h2]Invisible Walls x Ghost Ship Games Stream![/h2]

In other news: Invisible Walls will visit their real life neighbors Ghost Ship Games tomorrow Tuesday! Okay...it's still a 10 minute walk, but we consider them as our neighbors. 💛

Kat and Artjom are going to join them in one of their weekly developer streams to talk about Neighbors and play some games together with Jakob and Marc from Ghost Ship and the Deep Rock Galactic community. Rock and Stone meets Heartsville chaos. 💥

The stream starts at 13:00 CEST Tuesday over at twitch.tv/Ghostship_games.



Thanks for your support and see you soon! ✌