🐜 For The Hive – Combat Playtest Incoming!

[p][/p][p]Hey everyone,[/p][p][/p][p]It’s been a little while since our last update, but we’ve got some exciting news to share![/p][p][/p][p]We’ve been hard at work on For The Hive, and we’re finally approaching a major milestone: our first public combat playtest. This build is a huge step forward, and while it’s still a bit rough around the edges (expect a few bugs 🐛), it’s ready enough for us to put it into players' hands and start gathering feedback.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Why This Matters[/h3][p]This playtest isn’t just about showcasing progress – it’s a crucial learning moment for us. Our goal is to better understand how the game feels in actual player hands, especially the combat, before we move forward with building out the core campaign mechanics this year.[/p][p][/p][h3]What Took So Long?[/h3][p]In short: jumping spiders.[/p][p]One enemy type caused more delays than we expected due to issues with its jump attack logic. It took a fair bit of debugging and design iteration to get things stable. Lesson learned – and progress made![/p][p][/p][h3]What’s the Plan?[/h3]

[p]Patreon supporters will get first access to the combat playtest shortly.[/p]
[p]A wider release on Steam will follow a few weeks after that.[/p]

[p]We’re aiming to use this test as a foundation to:[/p]

[p]Refine and evolve the combat systems[/p]
[p]Set a faster pace for development in 2026[/p]
[p]Attract new players and supporters to help us keep the lights on and the ants marching 🐜💥[/p]

[h3]A Personal Note[/h3][p]On a personal front – my wife and I are expecting our second child, so life’s been a little extra hectic (in the best way)! Thanks for your patience and continued support during a very busy season.[/p][p]We can’t wait for you to try V1.0 of For The Hive, and we’ll be sharing more info soon. Stay tuned, and if you’re excited about the project, wishlisting and spreading the word really helps![/p][p][/p][p]Thanks again,

Will[/p]