ASCENDANT News

It’s that time of year again (already?!) when everyone slaps a bow on the chaos and calls it a wrap, and what a year it’s been in the world of ASCENDANT! We’re not saying 2024 almost killed every single one of our devs (they’ve forgotten what sunlight is), but let’s just say, if there was a Biocore for stress management, we’d have stolen it by now.



We’ve run three open betas, one closed beta, and four technical tests, proving that not even a futuristic hellscape can slow down our passion for perfection. We also took ASCENDANT to the big leagues during Steam Next Fest, where our little biopunk baby got to mingle with the cool kids.
During these play times, you guys dealt out 155M damage globally this year - with almost 1M of that being self inflicted damage -, over 40M damage delivered to those raging Gorlizards, a whopping 485,130 Cattermaws killed, and almost (this one’s huge… you ready?) 309M total damage to NPCs. We can only thank you for choosing us over therapy.



To our community: you’re our IRL Earthtrees keeping us and this madness alive. Whether you’ve been rage quitting in our betas, roasting us in Discord (yep, we see you), or idolising that sexy, scaley beast, Mr.G-lizard like he’s a cult leader, we couldn’t have done this without you. Like, SERIOUSLY. You’re like amber - vital, glowing, worth fighting for… and a little dangerous when concentrated in one place.



Our Top Dogs events went down a storm, and featured over 200 creators going head-to-head for the ultimate cash prize and the right to see their clans rock their custom decals in-game. Sure, it wasn’t about the decals (they were just for the bragging rights), but every creator’s clan showed up to fight for that top spot. In the end, Team CuzSai crushed it, with Team ChaosCash155, Team CaedVT, Team xPoeticx, and Team SoraTheSyke rounding out the top five.
On top of that, some huge gaming legends like Summit1g, HutchMF, CDNThe3rd, Tomographic, JackFrags, Dokibird, Vulkan, AquaFPS, TheTacticalBrit, Stylosa, and more took to the streams to show the world how it's done in Harmony. If you missed it… seriously, where the hell have you been? Should we send help?



2025 is the year we finally launch this beast, and we couldn’t be more hyped. We’re bringing bigger events, harder-hitting gameplay, and more reasons to yell, “HO HO HOLY SH*T!” while dodging those bastard mind-controlled Gorlizards. This journey isn’t just ours, it’s yours too, and we couldn’t be more gassed to have you along with us for the ride.
So here’s to you 🥂. Thanks for being part of the insanity. May your holidays be filled with chaos, your New Year’s resolutions include ‘fewer respawns’, and your 2025 bring all the Biocores your Earthtree could ever need.

Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animals! 🎄

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As promised, we want to keep you everyone updated on the improvements and updates we've been making to the game based on our community's feedback.

One of the most requested changes was to the gunplay, and we’re excited to share a sneak peek at the updates we’ve made to the pistol!

Thanks for your patience and support, we’ll be back VERY SOON™ with more sneak peeks and updates!

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In case you needed more reasons to vote for ASCENDANT in the IndieDB ‘Indie Game of The Year’ 2024 Awards (besides the fact that we’re amazing), we’ve got you covered. We know all the games featured on IndieDB are eligible, but let’s be real - they don’t have the same (unhinged) charm we do. So, if you’re still on the fence, here’s a list of 24 reasons (because it’s 2024, duh) that are 90% satire and 10% desperate plea. Enjoy, and then vote. Seriously… Please.

Vote for us here!

1. Because our game isn’t just a game - it’s a personality test. Vote, and discover that you’re the kind of person who makes excellent choices.
   
2. Because our codebase has been described as “less cursed than usual.” This is an achievement. We deserve this.
   
3. Because if you vote, @Nosfekavian, our Lead Developer won’t have to sell his rare Pokémon cards to fund our server. Charizard’s life is in your hands.
   
4. Because you’ve spent hours inside us… inside ASCENDANT, that is (get your mind out of the gutter). So we’re basically in a committed relationship now. A vote is just the next logical step.
   
5. Because we’ll personally blame YOU if we lose. You don’t want that guilt. It’s heavy. Vote and sleep better.
   
6. Because @RiaanHodget, our Co-Founder will perform interpretive dance if we win. It will be awkward. You’ll hate it… You’ll love it.
   
7. Because voting for us ensures you’ll never step on a LEGO again. Scientifically unproven, but spiritually and karmically valid.
   
8. Because our game doesn’t crash (much). And when it does, it’s just testing your resilience.
   
9. Because you already binged all your shows, and voting gives your scrolling thumb a break. You’re basically multitasking like a pro, and that makes you a genius (ONLY if you vote, obvs).
   
10. Because we wanna make our moms proud, and now we’re counting on you. Don’t let our moms down, please. They’ve already dealt with enough of having us as their offspring. Sorry, mom.
    
11. Because our Head of Community, @JanesCastle said she’ll learn how to play ‘Final Countdown’ on the recorder and play it on a live stream if we hit the top 10. You voted for worse reasons before. Admit it.
    
12. Because we’re indie AF and powered entirely by coffee, pillow screams (not the fun kind) and questionable life choices.
    
13. Because Mike, our Lead Animator said he’d dye his hair neon green if we make the top 10. So what if he’s a bald king.
    
14. Because our game has fewer bugs than the average summer picnic. Low bar? Maybe. But we cleared it.
    
15. Because you’ve already voted in less important elections. We’ll say no more…
    
16. Because @sammis_town_, our Senior Marketing Manager still believes in love (we don’t know why - you should see the exes). We don’t know what that has to do with voting, but it sounds inspiring, right?
    
17. Because you were probably going to click something today anyway. Might as well be the vote button.
    
18. Because our game brings joy to you and mild terror to our QA team. It’s a symbiotic relationship, and your vote keeps the circle of life going strong.
    
19. Because our game is fun enough to make you forget your existential dread for at least five minutes. That kind of relief deserves a vote, right?
    
20. Because voting for us is the closest you’ll get to casting a magic spell today. You click, we rise - instant impact, no wand required. Plus, it's more fun than swiping left again.
    
21. Because our game is a unicorn in a sea of horses. It’s different, it’s bold, and if you don’t vote, innovation dies a little inside. Don’t let that happen.
    
22. Because our events are so insane that they make reality TV look like a nap. If you want more brain-melting, jaw-dropping chaos, you know what to do.
    
23. Because @NerdPlayerOne, our Lead Video Editor, deserves freedom. Vote for us, or he’ll keep editing under the unrelenting glare of “motivational” nerf gun fire. Save Elliott. Save the world.
    
24. Because the other games are great, but they don’t have us. And we’re at least 10% more chaotic, which should count for something.
    

We know you were getting fired up for the open beta weekends on December 6th and 20th (trust us, we were too). But we've made the tough decision to cancel those events, and instead, we’re shifting our focus to something that really matters - making ASCENDANT the absolute best it can be, and an FPS gamer’s dream.

We’ve been listening - really listening - to your feedback on movement and gunplay. And you’re right, we can do better. So instead of hosting the open betas, we’re channeling all our energy into cranking up the intensity. Get ready for tighter movement, more speed, and gunfights that feel way more satisfying. Plus, we’ve got some *chef's kiss* new features in the works that’ll make jumping into ASCENDANT an absolute wild ride from the get-go.

But… we’re not just focused on the action. We’re weaving in a story-driven narrative that adds depth and meaning to every battle. There’s untapped lore baked into ASCENDANT that we want to show more of, and give YOU more reasons to care about what’s happening beyond just pulling the trigger and securing those Biocores.

Let’s be honest, you’re not looking for “kinda good.” You want something that’s next level, and that’s exactly what we’re shooting for. Your passion (aggression… either or) and the way you keep pushing us to raise the bar is what makes ASCENDANT truly unique. Keep that energy up, because when it drops, it’s gonna hit harder than your ex’s new rebound.

And don’t sweat it - you won’t be left out of the loop, as we’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes updates along the way. From gameplay improvements to sneak peeks of the new features we’re working on, you’ll get a front-row seat to see how your feedback is shaping everything. We want you to feel the hype, witness the progress, and get just as excited as we are for what’s coming in 2025… it’s going to blow your goddamn mind.

Stay tuned - we’ve got more to show you… SOON™.