LightSup! News

[p][/p][p]As we step into a brand-new year, we just want to take a moment to say thank you. Your support, feedback, and excitement throughout the past year have meant everything to us, and they continue to push us forward every single day.[/p][p][/p][p]2026 is shaping up to be an exciting chapter for LightSup!, and we can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on with you. Until then, we hope your year starts off strong, filled with good vibes, great games, and plenty of fun.[/p][p][/p][p]Here’s to a bright year ahead, and thank you for being part of the journey! ❤️[/p][p][/p][p]The LightSup! Team[/p]

[p][/p][p]Phew! It’s the final stretch of the year…[/p][p][/p][p]Can you believe it's already the final stretch of the year? We're deep into crunch mode, fueled by questionable amounts of coffee and the sheer terror of forgetting to wishlist our own game![/p][p][/p][p]Seriously, though, this is likely our final developer blog of 2025![/p][p][/p][p]Before we dive into the juicy LightSup updates, let's talk turkey:[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]If you haven’t hit Add to Wishlist yet… what are you even doing?[/p][p]
Help us feed the Steam algorithm gods and make them smile upon LightSup! 🌟[/p][p][/p][p]If you know someone who loves indie games, couch co-op chaos, or shiny weapons — drag them here and tell them to wishlist too.[/p][p][/p][p]Okay, PSA over. Let’s get into the fun stuff.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]This month was all about refinement. Making things smoother, cleaner, better, and more satisfying. Here’s what changed:[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][h2]🎨 UI/UX Review — Because Nobody Likes Clunky Menus[/h2][p][/p][p]We took a hard look at where the game felt like a spreadsheet and started scrubbing![/p][p][/p][h3]✨ Map Selection Glow-Up:[/h3][p][/p][p]Selecting your next adventure is now less confusing and 100% more dazzling! We've tidied up the interface, implementing clear Difficulty Stars and sleek Quest Banners to ensure you always know what objective you're chasing. No more accidental easy mode![/p][p][/p][h3]✨ Game HUD Refinement:[/h3][p][/p][p]The in-game HUD has been on a diet. We've streamlined the vital info so you can focus on dodging fireballs instead of finding your health bar. It's clean, it's mean, and it works![/p][p][/p][h3]✨ TGS Sequence Polish:[/h3][p][/p][p]We reviewed various game sequences prepared for the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) demo. They are now smoother, less buggy, and flow like a developer's tears when a feature finally works.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][h2]🖼️ Beautiful New Art![/h2][p][/p][p]We've been busy creating beautiful things and making sure the game looks good enough to invite home for the holidays.[/p][p][/p][h3]🎨 Back Story Art:[/h3][p][/p][p]Our lore masters have been hard at work! We have some gorgeous new story art to flesh out the world. Get ready to dive deep into the mysteries that make our world tick (and probably make our heroes suffer).[/p][p][/p][h3]🎨 New Marketing Art:[/h3][p][/p][p]Keep an eye out! We've got a fresh batch of promotional images designed to ensnare unsuspecting gamers. If you see it, share it![/p][p][/p][h3]🎨 New Game Icon:[/h3][p][/p][p]Out with the old, in with the icon that will look perfect sitting on your desktop, judging your life choices. It's sharp, it's clear, and it represents the game's vibe perfectly![/p][p][/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p](A full list will be in the Steam patch notes, but here’s a taste.)[/p]

• [p]Numerous UI fixes[/p]
• [p]Smoother combat animations[/p]
• [p]Improved hit reactions[/p]
• [p]Optimized performance in multiple areas[/p]
• [p]Updated tutorial step clarity[/p]
• [p]Fewer bugs, more fun[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]Players LOVE seeing progress, so here’s what we improved:[/p][p][/p][h3]⚔️ Combat FX + Weapon Animations[/h3][p][/p]

• [p]Attacks now feel fierce.[/p]
• [p]More impactful swings[/p]
• [p]Clearer hit feedback[/p]
• [p]Enhanced ability effects[/p]

[p]
Your strikes don’t just connect — they punish enemies.[/p][p][/p][h3]👹 Monster Motivation Update[/h3][p][/p][p]Monsters are now:[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Meaner[/p]
• [p]Heavier[/p]
• [p]More dramatic in their reactions
  [/p]

[p]Combat readability is much higher, and fights feel significantly more intense.[/p][p][/p][h3]⭐ UI in Motion[/h3][p][/p][p]Dynamic elements like Difficulty Stars & Quest Banners now “snap” into place, giving decisions more weight and clarity.[/p][p]Before/after assets will showcase these improvements visually.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]You might be thinking,[/p][p]
“Wow… this is a lot of polish and not just raw new content.”[/p][p]And you’re right.[/p][p]This final push of the year was dedicated to refinement.[/p][p][/p][h3]The Process:[/h3][p][/p][p]The Final Cutscene Prologue + Tutorial was a massive priority. We knew the "first five minutes" determined if a player sticks around. We spent serious time integrating the tutorial seamlessly into the narrative so it feels like a natural introduction, not a boring checklist. Likewise, the New Mini-Boss Room and New Gathering Quest were implemented to break up the "kill, kill, kill" cycle and give the pacing some much-needed variety.[/p][p][/p][h3]The Impact:[/h3][p][/p][p]You'll start the game with a clear understanding of the threat and your abilities, all delivered in an engaging, narrative-driven sequence. The variety in quests means the gameplay loop stays fresh for longer, and the new mini-boss is there to make sure you never get too comfortable. We're crafting a beginning that grips you and a loop that keeps you hooked![/p][p][/p][p]We hope this glimpse behind the curtain helps you appreciate why we spent these last few weeks focusing on polish and player comfort.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]Teasers of what’s coming next to the game and the company.[/p][p][/p][p]Just because we're shutting down the dev blog for the month doesn't mean the coffee machine is getting a break. We're setting the stage for an explosive start to the New Year![/p][p][/p][h3]LightSup: The Gourmet Experience[/h3][p][/p][p]Right now, our entire team feels like a massive Michelin-starred chef preparing the final, perfect dish for you. We've gathered all the ingredients: every piece of feedback, every comment, and the invaluable mentoring from our publisher.[/p][p][/p][h3]Our singular focus for the early New Year is clear:[/h3][p][/p][h3]🧹 The Bug Hunt[/h3][p][/p][p]Our mission for early New Year:[/p][p]
Destroy every bug.
(Please pray for our fingers.)[/p][p][/p][h3]🎮 The Fun Factor[/h3][p][/p][p]We’re tuning, tweaking, balancing, and adjusting every core loop to maximize fun.
A minute of LightSup! should always feel worth it.[/p][p][/p][h3]✨ The LightSup Motto[/h3][p][/p]

[p]When there is no light, the Light will up like LightSup!
Brace yourselves — the shining final version is getting closer.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]🤫 Future Seeds…[/h3][p][/p][p]We might have a new project quietly growing in the background — but LightSup! remains our #1 priority until it's completely ready to shine.[/p][p]More on that… much later.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]This might officially be our last LightSup! update of the calendar year, and we want to say:[/p][p][/p][p]Thank you. Truly.[/p][p][/p][p]Every Wishlist, every like, every comment, every bit of hype, it all fueled our work throughout 2025.[/p][p][/p][p]We hope you have an amazing festive season!
Disconnect, relax, and make sure your friends and family don’t forget to wishlist the game too 😉[/p][p][/p][p]We’ll see you in 2026 with more updates, more features, more polish —
…and hopefully fewer bugs.[/p][p][/p][p]~ ❤️ The LightSup! Team[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p]Hello everyone![/p][p][/p][p]We’re excited to share that LightsUp! has been selected to participate in South East Asia Games Onward, a regional showcase celebrating indie games connected to Southeast Asia.[/p][p][/p][p]We’re grateful for the support we’ve received so far, and being included in this showcase is a wonderful milestone for our team.[/p][p][/p][p]If you’d like to support the project, don’t forget to wishlist LightsUp! and try out the demo, it truly means a lot to us.[/p][p][/p][p]Thank you for being part of our journey! 💡✨[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p]🌟 Hello, Lightseekers! Our Journey Takes Flight![/p][p][/p][p]Get ready, everyone! We got a lot of energy and excited to take you behind the scenes of what has been a truly whirlwind adventure for our little indie team. This devlog is all about the significant leaps we've taken recently, from interacting with players in Japan and Thailand to expanding into the digital world of Steam.[/p][p][/p][p]These events weren't just fun; they were crucial for a small team like ours. Think of them as us leveling up our developer stats![/p][p][/p][p]Without further ado, let's dive right in![/p][p][/p][h2]Tokyo Game Show[/h2][p][/p][h3]Insights[/h3][p][/p][p]Stepping onto the floor at TGS was a dream come true! This year was a landmark moment for us. With over 200,000 visitors pouring in, we knew it was going to be big—but we were blown away by the reality![/p][p][/p][p]This year, we had our biggest booth ever, and we owe a massive shout-out to our awesome publisher, Red Dunes Games, for their support! They helped us create some seriously cool gifts for the fans who came to enjoy the new build. Thank you for making us look so good![/p][p][/p][h3]Impact[/h3][p][/p][p]B2B vs. Public Days: The first two days were our B2B sessions, which our small team could mostly handle. But once those doors opened for the public... it was CRAZY! People just kept pouring in, eager to try the game.[/p][p][/p][p]Real-Time Reactions: We loved watching your faces light up (and sometimes scrunch up in concentration!) as you played the demo. Getting that instant, honest feedback was invaluable. The great reactions and genuine enthusiasm proved we're on the right track![/p][p][/p][p]Global Connection: We took the chance to run a survey to understand what the Japanese market truly loves. Trying to communicate with our passionate players was a hilarious adventure in gestures and pointing—but as we all know, gaming is a universal language, right? There’s truly nothing quite like seeing they play our game in person![/p][p][/p][h3]Growth[/h3][p][/p][p]"While the wishlist number was modest, the experience of having our entire team understand what players truly want and how they interact with our game is priceless. This qualitative data is going to make the final game infinitely better."[/p][p][/p][p]We realized that even if a player doesn't understand the text, the storytelling needs to shine through the gameplay, art, and emotion. We are now committed to capturing the player's interest more effectively by prioritizing a clearer and more impactful visual/emotional narrative.[/p][p][/p][p]Observing all the different reactions gave us a better compass for player needs. We know exactly which moments in the game are naturally fun and how to guide players to those moments faster.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Steam Next Fest[/h2][p][/p][h3]Insights[/h3][p][/p][p]Steam Next Fest is the single shot an indie game gets on its path to launch, and it just so happened to overlap directly with our Gamescom Asia trip! Talk about a logistical boss fight![/p][p][/p][p]The internal team strategy session was intense: we had to execute the "Great Split"—planning exactly who would man the physical booth in Bangkok and who would lead the charge in the digital trenches of Steam. It was a stressful sprint, but we are thrilled and a little tired, since we can only do this once, we went all-in to maximize our exposure and traction[/p][p][/p][h3]Impact[/h3][p][/p][p]We committed to live-streaming our game throughout the entire event. This ensured we were constantly popping up on the Next Fest pages, giving players a chance to see the gameplay, ask questions in real-time, and feel connected to the developers.[/p][p][/p][p]Our team worked hard to prepare the best possible demo experience, clocking in at around 2-3 hours of gameplay. This length was strategic: it allowed you to fully grasp the:[/p][p][/p]

• [p]The Intro & Atmosphere: Setting the mood and look-and-feel.[/p]
• [p]Core Concept & Mechanic: Giving you a solid understanding of what makes LightSup! unique.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Overlapping a physical event with the one-time Next Fest was a huge risk, but it paid off in visibility and critical mass. It confirmed that no matter how busy we are, we have to keep that direct line open to you, the players, through consistent streaming and a high-quality, memorable demo.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Gamescom Asia[/h2][p][/p][h3]Insights[/h3][p][/p][p]The end of the year turned into a massive balancing act! Since Gamescom Asia overlapped with Steam Next Fest, we had to pull a classic team move: we split up! Half the team managed the online event, while the other half headed to the convention floor.[/p][p][/p][p]We brought tons of fun giveaways for all the players. What really surprised us was how much everyone loved them! You guys really connect with the art style of LightSup!, and seeing your genuine excitement when you got a prize made us so happy and cemented your place in the world of our game.[/p][p][/p][p]We also made sure to improve the build from the Tokyo Game Show in September. We wanted the Gamescom version to be even easier to jump into, and for those who couldn't make it, you can now enjoy the same great improvements in the new demo available on Steam![/p][p][/p][h3]Impact[/h3][p][/p][p]The build we brought to Gamescom was a hit, which made us so satisfied and happy! We loved watching everyone play. It's fascinating how different groups approach the game—for example, we noticed that Thai players have a slightly different play style compared to players from other countries, which is great insight![/p][p][/p][p]We collected some truly valuable feedback, and here’s the best part: we loved it so much that we already implemented a key change this month (November) based on it! We won't spoil it, but you'll have to jump into the game to find out what it is! 😉[/p][p][/p][p]One major piece of feedback we got was about the pacing:[/p][p][/p][p]"The text speed on the story animations is too fast! We can't keep up and get lost in the story." that's a super important note, and we are working to make sure everyone can enjoy the narrative at their own pace![/p][p][/p][h3]Growth[/h3][p][/p][p]This year was special because it was the first time Gamescom Asia was held right here in Bangkok, Thailand. We initially thought the crowd would be mostly Thai, but we were wonderfully wrong! About 40% of the visitors were foreigners![/p][p][/p][p]This gave us fantastic exposure and revealed a few key things:[/p][p][/p][p]We heard from many Thai players who love the game and are passionately asking for localization! We hear you loud and clear![/p][p][/p][p]Our game got a lot more eyeballs on it globally. We even got an interview from a Japanese press member who just walked up to our booth! He told us the art style was incredibly attractive and wanted to know everything about LightSup![/p][p][/p][p]Moments like that really fuel us and prove we're heading in the right direction![/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]What's Next[/h2][p][/p][p]We are participating in Southeast Asia Games Onward 2025! Check us out from December 9th to December 20th, and don't forget to wishlist the game while you are at it![/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Thank You![/h2][p][/p][p]A huge, THANK YOU to everyone who participated in Steam Next Fest, visited us at Gamescom Asia, gave us feedback, and shared a good time with the Bugblio Studio team! Your passion keeps the lights on—literally![/p][p][/p][p]Stay tuned for more updates![/p][p][/p][p]The Bugblio Studio Team![/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p]Hey everyone![/p][p][/p][p]We're excited to share what's new in LightsUp! this month, and it's a big one! Steam Next Fest is almost here, and we’ve prepared exciting updates, new features, and a fresh trailer to celebrate. Let’s dive in![/p][p][/p][h2]Steam Next Fest[/h2][p][/p][p]That’s right - LightsUp! will be part of Steam Next Fest! 🎉[/p][p][/p][p]From October 13–20, you’ll be able to jump into the latest version of our demo and experience the most polished build yet.[/p][p][/p][p]Don’t miss out:[/p][p][/p][p]🎮 Check out the updated demo[/p][p]🦔 Explore the Darkwood Level (and see what secrets await)[/p][p]💚 Add LightsUp! to your Steam Wishlist to show your support![/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h2]What's New[/h2][p][/p][p]Our team has been hard at work improving the LightsUp! experience. Here’s a quick overview of what’s new in this update:[/p][p][/p][p]UIUX IMPROVEMENT[/p]

• [p]Refined overall game UI[/p]
• [p]Added new animation polish to characters, monsters, and the Nightmare Timer UI[/p]
• [p]Readjusted input displays fot both controller and keyboard users[/p]

[p][/p][p]CONTENT/GAMEPLAY[/p]

• [p]New Prey Mechanic[/p]
• [p]New Attack Mechanic[/p]
• [p]Weapon Rework[/p]
• [p]New Quest Type: Gathering[/p]
• [p]Cutscene
• Narrative Revisions[/p]
• [p]New Tutorial Sequence[/p]

[p][/p][p]BALANCE & TUNING[/p]

• [p]Adjusted character stats and skill buffs[/p]
• [p]Rebalanced dungeon pacing, enemy difficulty, and reward structures[/p]
• [p]Improved general gameplay performance and responsiveness[/p]

[p][/p][p]WHAT'S PLAYABLE IN THIS BUILD[/p]

• [p]Darkwood Missions 1-1 to 1-3[/p]
• [p]Only Normal and Hard Mode are unlocked in this phase[/p]
• [p]Curse Cards are disabled for this phase[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][h2]Before and After[/h2][p][/p][p]We’ve made several visual and gameplay improvements since the last version, here’s are some sneak peeks![/p][p][/p][p]Old Goblin Animations[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]New Goblin Animations[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]New Gentle Boss Animations[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]More will be shared down the line! Be sure to keep an eye on socials and Discord![/p][p][/p][h2]Tips and Tricks[/h2][p][/p][p]Want to make the most of your time in the new demo? Here are a few things to look out for:[/p][p][/p][p]✨ Prey Mechanic – This new feature brings a deeper layer to gameplay. Learning how to “prey” effectively can completely change how you approach encounters.[/p][p][/p][p]⚡ Charging Attack Mechanic – Every weapon now has a charge ability! Experiment with different weapons and team compositions to find your favorite combos.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]What to Expect Next![/h2][p][/p][p]In our next devlog, we’ll be talking about the final step of preparation for LightsUp! - a 2025 recap of all the amazing events we’ve attended and the milestones we’ve reached together.[/p][p][/p][p]We’ll also be teasing something brand new that’s coming soon… 👀[/p][p][/p][p]For those who can’t attend Gamescom Asia, don’t worry! We’ll be running special community activities that will let you win exclusive LightsUp! gifts. Stay tuned to our Discord and social channels for updates![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Follow LightsUp![/h2][p][/p][p]Join us on Discord![/p][p]Follow us on Socials[/p][p]Wishlist the Game Today![/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]