Concubine News

[h3][/h3][p]We were planning to open the new test build earlier this July. 700 testers have already signed up, and we can’t wait to start. But as our palace became more dazzling, and the number of visitors grew, so did our nerves. Every bug began to shine brighter than the lights we worked so hard to perfect.[/p][p][/p][p]In our previous post, we unveiled a reborn, larger palace with a brand new lighting system. What we didn’t mention: the Caravanserai, Hippodrome, Crypt, and Galata levels all previously available have also been updated with new lighting, animations, and rebalanced combat. They’re not just ready they’re beautiful. Also, deadlier. And no, the rest of the game hasn’t fallen behind. Most levels are in great shape, but this round of testing will focus on select areas to ensure quality over quantity.[/p][p][/p][p]So why the delay?[/p][p][/p][p]Short answer: 140 concubines.[/p][p][/p][p]Long answer: We wanted our palace to feel alive… and may have overdone it just a bit. Between the concubines, dynamic lights, AI behavior, and the ornate architecture, we ended up with a palace that could bring most systems to their knees dropping frame rates into single digits. The final straw came just when we were about to hit upload. We fixed the issue quickly (a few ladies had to be… excused), and now we're back on track.[/p][p][/p][p]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯[/p][p][/p][h3]Combat Reforged[/h3][p][/p][p]This build includes a full overhaul of our combat animations and weapon handling. While the skill tree isn’t implemented just yet, we didn’t want to lock away the new special attacks so you’ll be able to test them freely. These attacks will eventually require investment, but for now, consider this a taste of power.[/p][p]Weapons included:[/p]

• [p]One-handed and two-handed Ottoman swords[/p]
• [p]Bows (ranged combat now feels fluid and responsive)[/p]
• [p]Dual wielding for the brave (try it if you're lucky with drops)[/p]
• [p]Staves (which will eventually support magic, but currently function like polearms)[/p]

[p]The system is designed to reward timing, positioning, and awareness. Combat may feel challenging at first but if you pay attention to the new guidance system, manage your healing potions, and equip wisely, you’ll find your rhythm.[/p][p][/p][p]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯[/p][p][/p][h3]A Room of One’s Own[/h3][p][/p][p]Your main character’s room is a blank canvas, just like any other room you can buy in the full game. In the final version, players will decorate it themselves from the bed and wardrobe to mirrors and more. For this build, we’ve set up an example room modest but enough to give you a taste of what a decorated room feels like.[/p][p][/p][p]Want to try furnishing it yourself? Talk to the carpenter and pick up a few pieces you’ll see how placement, rotation, and interaction works. It’s a small but satisfying window into how your palace will become truly yours. Soon you will have different styles of furniture to create your dream rooms.[/p][p][/p][p]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ [/p][p][/p][h3]A Final Word Before Release[/h3][p][/p][p]One important note: in this test build, death is harsh. If you die, you lose everything and restart. We’ll address this in the first update after the test goes live but to avoid further delays, we’re launching with the system as-is. Consider it a hardcore challenge (and don’t forget to heal!).[/p][p][/p][p]As we write this, the team is finalizing the last fixes. Some of us are in Canada where, conveniently, it’s still Monday. If we manage to hit send before they go to bed, technically we’ve kept our promise… right?[/p][p]Either way, we’re almost there. Thank you for your patience and welcome to the harem.[/p][p][/p][p]If you'd like to support the development, get exclusive behind-the-scenes updates, and play early builds like this one, consider joining us on Patreon. Your support is what keeps the palace gates open.[/p][p][/p][p]—Upgrade Team
Where desire meets death.[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[h3]Greetings Warriors of Silk and Steel,[/h3][p][/p][p]Our fourth Steam post took a little longer than expected because keeping our promises sometimes takes more time than making them. But we’re here, with brighter halls, better looks, and new faces in the team.[/p][p][/p][p]Since our last update, two new artists joined our ranks. One of them is a lighting artist, and you’ll feel their magic the moment you step into the palace. Just compare the current character creation screen with the old one the difference is more than technical. Skin tones now glow more naturally, shadows wrap gently around curves, and the whole scene feels richer, warmer, more alive.[/p][p]
Together with our developers, the lighting artist also helped refine camera angles and ambient moods, making the world feel more immersive and intentional. We’re still tweaking things, of course this is a palace in progress.[/p][p][/p][p]Our second newcomer is a 3D organic artist, and their work is already shaping what’s next. In future patches, expect more natural, expressive hairstyles and a wider variety of eye colors and facial details small touches that make your seductress truly your own.[/p][p][/p][p]Speaking of customization we’re now able to turn your created characters into presets that can be shared across the player base! So here’s an idea:[/p][p]
💎 What if we held a Preset Showcase Contest among our test build players?
Winners get their concubines immortalized as selectable templates and bragging rights in the harem, of course.[/p][p][/p][p]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯[/p][p][/p][h3]The Test Build Grows Bigger[/h3][p][/p][p] The numbers are in:
✨ 450 players have signed up for the test build
✨ 120 content creators have requested early access[/p][p]That’s without a dedicated community builder on board just word of mouth, curiosity, and your support. Thank you for being with us as we scale things organically.[/p][p][/p][p]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]No New Levels (Yet)… But a New Palace Awaits[/h3][p][/p][p]We promised two new levels. They won’t be in this build but in their place, a brand-new palace environment awaits.[/p][p][/p][p]Thanks to progress on onboarding, you’ll be able to find your room and meet Destan without wandering for hours in candlelit confusion 😉[/p][p]
The lighting here is chef’s kiss. We think you’ll want to take screenshots, lots of them.[/p][p][/p][p]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ [/p][p][/p][h3]Boss Fights, Reforged[/h3][p][/p][p]Bosses are getting serious upgrades.
🩸 Flavius no longer moves like a paper doll
🩸 The Ecinni fight now feels much tighter and more atmospheric
🩸 Alkarısı hasn’t been reworked yet but don’t expect her to die as easily next time[/p][p]Visual effects are being layered in as well, making these fights not just better balanced, but more dramatic. We’re building toward boss fights that feel like events not just encounters.[/p][p][/p][p]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯[/p][p][/p][h3]Combat and Customization Notes[/h3][p][/p][p]No difficulty selection yet, but we’ve tuned down the combat challenge a bit it shouldn’t feel as punishing as the previous build.
If you like speed and power, dual wield might surprise you with how smooth it plays.[/p][p][/p][p]On the palace front: decoration options are still limited, but we’ve unlocked more rooms, so you can test and play with existing décor systems. Even with a modest furniture set, the mood already feels distinct.[/p][p][/p][p]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯[/p][p][/p][p]More is coming. Your feedback, your screenshots, your shared characters they shape how Concubine grows. We’re building this world with you, not just for you.[/p][p][/p][p]May your beauty shine brighter than your blades,[/p]

[p]🎮 Concubine Public Playtest Applications Are Now Open![/p][p][/p][p]Hey adventurers 👋[/p][p]The shadows of Istanbul are stirring and your invitation is waiting.[/p][p][/p][p]Join us for our next Concubine playtest!.[/p][p]⚔️ Create and customize your dream concubine & companions[/p][p]🏛️ Explore secrets of harem, crime infested streets & haunted catacombs of medieval Istanbul[/p][p]Face evils unspoken of - including an undead Byzantion knight[/p][p]Share your ideas with us & become a part of our development team[/p][p][/p][p]🩸 Let’s shape Concubine together![/p][p]✨ Apply now on our Steam store page→ [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]May you survive The Harem…[/p]

[h3]Greetings, Warriors of Seduction![/h3][p][/p][p]Another two weeks behind the curtains and this time, we dove headfirst into the realms of physics and perspective. Sounds boring? Think again. Because finally… the clothes stopped floating like cursed cardboard in zero gravity. Yes, fabric now flows seductively, realistically as it should.[/p][p]Are there still quirks? Absolutely. But we’re smoothing those final creases. And thanks to our improved camera system, you can now admire even the finest detail... like toe nails. (Which somehow caused us to lose sight of finger nails. Dev magic,folks.)[/p][p][/p][p]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ [/p][p][/p][h3]Combat: From Pillow Fight to Painful Precision[/h3][p][/p][p]Our first build had combat that felt… let’s say, “generous.” Now? It bites back. A little too hard, maybe.[/p][p]The dev team is split in two: One side loves the brutality, the other just wants to feel powerful in pretty boots.[/p][p]Result? We’re planning to add difficulty modes.[/p][p]So whether you're a masochist or a monarch, you’ll find your pace in the harem.[/p][p][/p][p]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ [/p][p][/p][h3]Light. Camera. (Still no action, but we’re close.)[/h3][p][/p][p]We’ve been working on onboarding — planning is done, implementation… not quite. Why? Because lighting took center stage. And believe us, it was worth it.[/p][p][/p][p]We lit up the mysterious room where some of you couldn’t find Destan (you're not alone), and suddenly, it feels alive. One lamp. One dramatic shadow. One giant leap for immersion.[/p][p][/p][p]Next step? A new team member has joined us to focus fully on the palace’s atmosphere. Our goal is to make you feel like you’ve walked into the pages of One Thousand and One Nights. By the next build, we want you to open your eyes in a whole new palace.[/p][p][/p][p]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ [/p][p][/p][h3]Beasts, Bosses, and Beautiful Nightmares[/h3][p][/p][p]Our upcoming bosses; Alamet, Serpent, and the twisted twins Yecüc & Mecüc are fully modeled in 3D.[/p][p]They’re waiting. Watching. (Still missing their moves, but that’s coming.)[/p][p]Our trash mobs are all planned, but haven’t been invited to the party yet.[/p][p]We hear them whining in dev limbo. Soon, sweet monsters. Soon. [/p][p][/p][p]⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ [/p][p][/p][h3]Small Steps. Big Promises.[/h3][p]Sometimes, progress feels invisible — until you put it all together. So here's our vow: [/p][p]📍 Two new levels in the next build [/p][p]📍 Boss encounters incoming [/p][p]📍 Even better fashion physics (and hopefully, nails) [/p][p]📍 The slow birth of our onboarding system[/p][p][/p][p]Follow us, wishlist the game, join our Discord, and tell us what detail you noticed that we didn’t. Because this isn’t just our dark fantasy it’s yours too.[/p][p][/p][p]Until next time, May your blades stay sharp and your silks flow true. [/p][p]— Team Upgrade[/p]

It’s been a wild few weeks behind the scenes — And we finally did it.

We unleashed our new playable build to our handpicked group of testers. Around 150 testers from our Discord and friends & family entered The Ottoman Harem in disguise.

Why so few testers? Simple: We wanted experienced developers & testers to share their ideas & judge our build before we go public testing and to make sure Concubine’s spark was real. It was🔥

The feedback of our community proved Concubine is what we want her to be - Deeper, bolder & more seductive than her predecessors.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

[h3]Combat[/h3]

We dropped two big patches right after the test build — but don’t worry, you won’t find dry devlog talk here.

What you will find is:

• Enemies now strike back harder
  
• Camera now follows action & drama from a better PoV
  
• The game world has expanded
  

Be warned, if you’re not prepared, new AI will make you bleed & want to bleed more.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

[h3]Character Customization[/h3]

You asked for more character presets, more variety, more beauty.

So, incoming in next patches:

• More body shapes, facial features, skin tones, and hair
  
• Sexy, stylized sliders to fine-tune your Concubine
  
• One-click preset saves — And a one-click button to share them on Discord
  

Now that our NDA is lifted, we encourage our testers to share their Concubines & companions anywhere they like - The seductive enchantresses like to be seen.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

[h3]World[/h3]

• Topkapi Palace is being remade - We have expanded The Palace to almost its real life size & added more rooms to decorate for your concubines & companions
  
• Protectors Cellar is getting a new vendor - The Beastmaster, the one who trades beast companions & stores them for you is about to take his post.
  
• Random Instances - Three new areas with more evil & loot.
  
• We hear a much stronger undead Byzantion Warlord is hammering the gates of Caravansarai.
  
• Haunting whispers are rising from Byzantion Crypts under the Hippodrome - An unspoken evil stirs the catacombs.
  
• Armor, costume & weapons sets are being added - We all want more! Make sure to let us know what kind of armor, costumes & weapons you want, and we’ll try our best to add them to our collection.
  

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

[h3]Jobs @ Concubine[/h3]

We’re looking for a Community Builder / Manager
We’re looking for experienced Modders
We’re looking for design & development ideas - Gamers know best.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

Come join us at our Discord & wishlists and let’s build the most seductive & dangerous dark fantasy ARPG together.

May you survive The Harem…