Swordai News

Playtest 8 will start at 1pm Pacific on 12-17-2025 and will run through 12-23-2025. This playtest features tons of new content including a giant open world where you can siege the Othari castle, gather herbs to craft potions, explore the underground mines and find new bosses and much more. Everyone who requests access will be able to play on 12-17.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

What's new in Playtest 8?

Below is just the highlights, for full patch notes see discord.

Content

• A massive new open world with scattered entrance portals to the tower
  
• Sword recycling / smelting
  
• Herb Gathering
  
• Potion crafting
  
• Soul strength / soul flame
  
• New secrets / puzzles
  
• New NPC types
  

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Community Feedback

• Feint changes
  [previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
  
• Control of sword upgrades
  
• Can add "Awakens" to swords that don't have it
  
• Lets of minor UI polish
  
• Potion Crafting
  

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

QoL

• Lots of animation and sound improvements
  
• Lots of visual improvements
  
• Further optimization of the ice cave
  
• Bulk purchasing
  

Can't wait to see you all at the next playtest.

[h3]Major Updates and New Features[/h3]
This month I've primarily been working on a new map but I've also made some core combat changes, loot changes, a few ability tweaks, and more. Here is a video sneak peak of the new map.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]


Combat Changes

Riposte Damage Reduction: The base incoming damage reduction while riposting was increased from 50% -> 75%. The riposte invulnerability passive was removed and replaced with a new passive that gives riposte life steal.
Feint Attack Charge: You now maintain 50% of your previous attack charge when feinting.
Frost Armor: The frost armor active now immediately ends when you get hit and grants you a riposte. If you get hit during its active duration its cooldown is reset.

See below for a discussion of the feint changes:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Sword Recycling / Awakening / Upgrading

You can now smelt down swords you don't want into raw components that can be used to upgrade or awaken other swords. In addition, you can now pay an extra cost to select a specific upgrade rather than a random one to apply to a sword and you can add or replace the awakening buff on a sword. See the video below for details.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

QoL
I've also done a significant amount of QoL / polish / bug fix work based on community feedback. Huge thanks to everyone on discord giving suggestions.

As always this is just the highlights, for full patch notes see discord: https://discord.gg/tK64nsXheq

Playtest 7 will start at 1pm Pacific on 9-3-2025 and will run through 9-8-2025. This playtest features tons of changes based on your feedback from playtest 6 as well as a greatly expanded quest line, new 1vX NPC code that is unparalleled in the slasher genre, a new enemy type, new control options, tons of QoL and more.

Right after playtest 6 I also released a new official game trailer. Huge shout out to everyone who participating in the filming. The trailer is absolutely fire and I'm super grateful for all the help from the community. ICYMI:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

What's new in Playtest 7?

Below is just the highlights, for full patch notes see discord.

1. Content
   
   • Greatly expanded the main quest line
     
   • Significant updates to the ice cave including new sections, new chests/secrets, and a new NPC type
     
   • Added a new 1vX AI module that makes the harder AIs riposte transfer, target switch, etc in 1vX scenarios.
     
   • A new kata, called the Kata of the Fading Sun. Currently Raydil has the #1 time.
     [previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
     
   
   
   
2. Community Feedback
   
   • Killing another player near their bind stone banishes them to a far away bindstone
     
   • When you go through a red portal you will not be sent to a bind stone that is being camped
     
   • Ability slot unlocks no longer require Kata's instead those have greatly increased quest rewards
     
   • The entrance has a PvP toggle
     
   • Ice golem hitboxes have been reworked to use the Basalt Golem code base
     
   • Greatly improved the directionality of the audio to give a better indication of direction and distance
     
   • You can now practice specific phases of the initiation trial and other challenges
     
   • You can now practice defending against kicks at the block trainer
     
   • Player loot crystals now persist for 30 minutes and are visually distinct from NPC crystals
     
   • Tons more, thanks so much to all of you who dropped suggestions in discord
   
   
   
3. QoL
   
   • You can now search and filter your inventory
     
   • Added new control schemes such as "Freeblock" which lets you update your block direction in real time while holding RMB.
     
   • Added a "Buffered Kiai" option that applies your kiai to the next attack rather than the current one
     
   • Added control presets that load in specific recommended configurations
     
   • Katas now show a preview of the next orb
     
   • The arena is greatly streamlined, NPC duels are greatly sped up if two npcs are fighting and players are queued, npc's auto spawn if you are waiting for an opponent, etc
     
   
   
   
4. Bug Fixes
   
   • Fixed issues with swords not loading in properly
     
   • Fixed a couple of issues with NPCs not resetting properly between duels
     
   • Fixed a bug where you could get stuck on the "play now" screen
     
   • Many more
     

Can't wait to see you all at the next playtest. Here's the hype video!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[p]I'll be hosting a 2v2 tournament on Saturday August 30th at 1pm pacific time on the NA East freeform server. To participate, please join discord and see the signup instructions. If you don't have a partner, you can just show up and pair up with someone that day.

The 2v2 tournaments are always a ton of fun and are a great way to hone you skills with Playtest 7 approaching! All fights will be done with the pure loadout and weapon rack swords so that everyone is on equal footing. [/p][p][/p][p]If anyone would like to practice or find a partner, you can also join Saturday duels at 1pm pacific time on August 23rd. Usually we do a mix of duels, team fights, 1v2s and 2v2s (example video below). Its a great way to meet people and improve.[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[p][/p][p]Huge thanks to everyone who tried the game this playtest. It was awesome to hop on and fight with you all. Had a blast in duels, 3v3s and getting stream sniped with Firebox in the tower by players hunting my bounty. [/p][p]Counting only new players who hadn't launched the game before this playtest, there were over 10,000 tower runs, over 100K PvE kills, 30 million online damage dealt by players, 16K PvP kills and 34k chests looted. [/p][p]Several gold nametags were claimed by, @GK (won two categories), @HotsaucE who already had one, @Cable, a guy with a blank name who probably needs to dm me if he wants the reward, and @☣ZomBiE. I will award the name tags and sort that out the chests winner late this week.[/p][p][/p][p]Anyone who has access to the playtest is welcome to keep playing, servers aren't always up inbetween playtests but there is probably roughly 90% uptime, details are here: [/p][p]https://discord.com/channels/1139642147356811465/1176902764232720424/1396693288073035810[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]I will plan on updating the short term roadmap and making a video or something sharing my thoughts and takeaways either towards the end of this week or early next.[/p][p][/p][p]Truly grateful to everyone who gave the game a chance. Super excited to keep on building.[/p]