Fading Echo News

[p]The moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here, the closed alpha for Fading Echo is officially live! We’re beyond excited to open the gates and let you experience the first hands-on look at the world we’ve been building.[/p][p]If you signed up, check your inbox. Selected players are receiving their alpha access emails starting today.[/p][p]Not in yet? Don’t worry, you can still apply to join the playtest! Spots are limited, but we’re continuing to review new sign-ups.[/p][p]👉 https://fadingecho.firstlook.gg/signup/playtest[/p][p][/p][p]And to celebrate the launch, we’re also dropping a brand new gameplay trailer ! [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][h2]🧪 What’s in the Alpha Build?[/h2][p]This closed alpha build includes around 1.5 hours of gameplay, giving you a first real glimpse into the world of Fading Echo.[/p][p]Your mission? Reach the Bastion and unlock the first Source, deep in the heart of the Volcano Region. And trust us, this place is hiding more than just lava. 🔥 There are secrets in the shadows... and you’ll want to find them.[/p][p]You’ll also get an early feel for the story, meet a few key characters, and most importantly, start messing around with the game’s systemic foundations. This is your first chance to experiment with elemental interactions, discover what reacts with what, and begin shaping the kind of player you’ll be in this world.[/p][p]It’s early, it’s experimental, and it’s exactly the kind of playground we want your feedback on. [/p][p]
[/p][h2]🚀 Jump In and Tell Us What You Think[/h2][p]We’re all ears, everything helps and not just for compliments (though we do like those too).[/p][p]Here are a few key areas we’re especially looking at:[/p]

• [p]Combat feel & difficulty[/p]
• [p]Elemental fluid system[/p]
• [p]Story[/p]
• [p]Characters & world[/p]
• [p]Progression[/p]

[p]You’ll be able to share your thoughts in two ways:[/p]

• [p]Join the conversation on the Fading Echo Discord[/p]
• [p]Fill out our feedback Survey[/p]

[p]Remember to stay hydrated while playing 💧
The Fading Echo Team[/p][p][/p][h3]🌊 Flow with us[/h3][p]✨ Wishlist Fading Echo[/p][p]Steam | Epic Games Store | PlayStation Store | Xbox Store[/p][p][/p][p]💬 Join the Echoverse on Discord[/p][p]And follow the adventure:[/p][p]YouTube | TikTok | Instagram[/p]

[p]Hey Legends,[/p][p]We were supposed to introduce you to some of the wild things lurking in the Echoverse this month: the monstrous creatures, twisted by Corruption and warped by decaying Immanence. You know, the stuff that crawls through the cracks in your dreams.[/p][p]And don’t worry, they’re still coming. Just… not today.[/p][p]Because something way scarier is happening. In just a few days, we’re opening the gates to Fading Echo’s very first Closed Alpha. It’s early. It’s raw. It’s real. And if we’re being completely honest… we’re a little (no, totally) terrified.[/p][p]This is the first time we’re letting you, the community, step into the Echoverse and actually play the game we’ve been building. That’s a huge milestone, and one that comes with a lot of vulnerability. This isn’t a polished vertical slice or a show-floor demo. This is the scaffolding, the bones, the messy middle.[/p][p]It’s a peek behind the curtain of a still-growing world… We’re incredibly proud (and anxious) to share it with you.
[/p][p][/p][h2]What’s in the Alpha?[/h2][p]Let’s keep it real, this is a work-in-progress. Like, seriously WIP. Here's what you'll find:[/p]

• [p]Cutscenes: Story moments are told through raw, animated storyboard-style sequences. Final voice acting is in, but music and polish are still on the way. It’s basically like sitting in the sound booth with us and watching the actor and engineer work it out live.[/p]
• [p]Combat: Fast, fluid… and sometimes a bit chaotic. The elemental fluid system is meant to get messy, but we need your help figuring out when it’s fun chaos vs just confusing.[/p]
• [p]Worldbuilding: Later zones (parts of the Volcano, other islands, and the Bastion exterior) are still under visual construction.[/p]
• [p]Perk Screen: Still temporary. We were just a few weeks short… it’ll get its glow-up next alpha.[/p]
• [p]Performance: Expect some framerate drops and the occasional crash, especially in certain arenas or on lower-end setups. Optimization is ongoing.[/p]
• [p]Controls: No remapping yet even if we know that matters. For now, we’re eager to hear how the default layout feels.[/p]

[p][/p][h2]What We’re Looking For[/h2][p]This alpha isn’t just a showcase, it’s a conversation. We’re inviting you in to help shape what comes next. Here's where your feedback matters most:[/p]

• [p]Combat feel & difficulty – Is it fun? Too easy? Too punishing? How often are you dying, and why?[/p]
• [p]Elemental fluid system – Does it click? Does it feel fresh?[/p]
• [p]Systems – Mana leeching, immunities, tactical layers etc… do they make sense? What’s working? What’s not?[/p]
• [p]Story – Are you reading, listening, skipping? Does it draw you in or leave you lost?[/p]
• [p]Characters – What’s your take on One’s Hair? (Yes, it’s important.) What’s your vibe check on Vellum across realities?[/p]
• [p]Pacing – Are you enjoying the back-and-forth between dialogue, combat, and exploration? Or do you wish for more quiet space?[/p]
• [p]Accessibility – Is anything missing that could improve your experience?[/p]

[p][/p][h2]Why This Matters[/h2][p]This alpha isn’t about polish, it’s about heart. We’re a small indie team making something big, weird, and personal. We’re testing the soul of Fading Echo… Its tone, systems, characters, and world. It’s early, it’s raw, and yeah, it’s scary. But that’s what makes it real.[/p][p]And you, your curiosity, your feedback, your presence, are a critical part of that process. So thank you for stepping into the Echoverse with us: nerves, bugs, blood and all. We can’t wait to hear what you think. And yes, next devlog, the monsters will have their moment.[/p][p]Until then… Stay Aetheric,
The Emeteria Team[/p][p][/p][h3]🌊 Flow with us[/h3][p]✨ Wishlist Fading Echo[/p][p]Steam | Epic Games Store | PlayStation Store | Xbox Store[/p][p][/p][p]💬 Join the Echoverse on Discord[/p][p]And follow the adventure:[/p][p]YouTube | TikTok | Instagram[/p][p][/p][p]📝 Sign Up for the Alpha Playtest [/p][p]https://fadingecho.firstlook.gg/signup/playtest[/p]

[p]Hey everyone![/p][p]Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes of Fading Echo’s music system to talk about something we’re really excited about: interactive music.[/p][p]If you've ever noticed how the music in a game seems to shift perfectly with your actions ramping up during combat or softening as you explore, that’s no accident. Let’s break down how we’re doing it in Fading Echo, and why it matters.[/p][p][/p][h2]🎧 What Is “Layering” in Game Music?[/h2][p]Layering is a technique where a single piece of music is broken into multiple parts called layers that can be turned on or off depending on what’s happening in the game.[/p][p]Instead of switching between completely different tracks (which can feel jarring), layering allows one core composition to adapt dynamically, giving players a seamless and immersive audio experience.[/p][p][/p][h2]🛠️ How Does It Work?[/h2][p]We start by splitting the music into layers. These can include:[/p]

• [p]🎻 A main melody – the theme or emotional core[/p]
• [p]🎸 A rhythmic base – drums, bass, or a steady groove[/p]
• [p]🌫️ Ambient textures – pads, drones, or atmospheric sounds[/p]
• [p]🥁 Intensity elements – epic percussion, brass, choirs[/p]

[p](Here's an example of our music editing in action. Yes, it’s not the most visual thing in the world, but trust us, it sounds awesome. 😅)[/p][p][/p][p]In Fading Echo, we separate interactive music into two main categories: Exploration and Combat. Each category uses its own set of conditions to determine how the music should evolve.[/p][p]When specific gameplay conditions are triggered like starting a fight, or discovering something important, the system automatically modifies the active music layers. This allows us to guide your emotional experience in real time: tension builds, or things calm down, all depending on what you're doing.[/p][p]Because the layers are all rhythmically and harmonically aligned, the transitions feel seamless and natural.[/p][p][/p][h2]🎮 A Concrete Example[/h2][p]Imagine you're deep in a tense moment in Fading Echo, and your health starts to drop.[/p][p]As your life gets lower, the music automatically begins to shift, a subtle tension layer fades in, adding unease.[/p][p]The lower your health, the more the music leans into that danger, amplifying the pressure you’re already feeling through gameplay.[/p][p][/p][h2]We have a little surprise 🎁[/h2][p]If you want to hear what Fading Echo's music actually sounds like, we’ve put together a short YouTube video with a few in-game music examples.[/p][p]
[dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]
Music by Maxwell Sterling.
[/p][p]Let us know what you think ![/p][p][/p][h3]🌊 Flow with us[/h3][p]✨ Wishlist Fading Echo[/p][p]Steam | Epic Games Store | PlayStation Store | Xbox Store[/p][p][/p][p]💬 Join the Echoverse on Discord[/p][p]And follow the adventure:[/p][p]YouTube | TikTok | Instagram[/p][p][/p][p]📝 Sign Up for the Alpha Playtest [/p][p]https://fadingecho.firstlook.gg/signup/playtest[/p]

[p]We recently kicked off a new series of live Q&A sessions on our Discord, where we hang out with the community, answer your questions, and share behind-the-scenes insights into the development of Fading Echo.[/p][p]Our first session took place on August 28th, and it was a blast. Thank you to everyone who joined us live! If you missed it, no worries, this blog post is a recap of some of the best questions and answers from the session.[/p][p]We’re planning to host more Q&As in the future, so if you’d like to be part of the next one, make sure to join our Discord[/p][p]Let’s dive into what we covered during the first session 👇[/p][p][/p][h2]🌍 Meet the Team Behind Fading Echo[/h2]

[p]Elise (Producer):[/p][p]Hi All! I'm Elise, the Producer working with Amaury (and other amazing people!) on Fading Echo. I'm originally from Australia and ended up in France via Sweden![/p][p]Amaury (Art Director):[/p][p]Hey everyone! So excited to chat with all of you. I'm Amaury, Art Director of Fading Echo![/p]

[p]Is the FE team international?[/p]

[p]Like Pokémon badges, we would like to collect them all! We have people from 4 continents so far. The development team is primarily based in Lyon, France, but we’re a global crew. That doesn’t mean some of us haven’t been scarred by Vegemite, though…[/p]

[p][/p][h2]🎨 French References & Unusual Inspirations[/h2][p]
Will we see French references in the game?[/p]

[p]Oui. We definitely want to highlight some fun French themes in the game. It’s as much for us as it will be for the players. We want to bring our personality and passions into everything we create.[/p][p][/p]

[p]What non-game references inspired Fading Echo?[/p]

[p]It depends on the topic, but we absorbed a lot of comic books and were inspired by dramedy-style South Korean films like Parasite, as well as Japanese anime, great for capturing our desert punk tone.[/p]

[p]What’s the strangest source of inspiration for the game?[/p]

[p]We’ve spent more time than we care to admit watching videos of underwater volcanoes… if that counts? Also: nature documentaries, obscure TV shows from our childhoods, and museum sculptures. We try not to limit our creativity, we’ll take inspiration from anywhere.[/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][h2]🌀 Complex Realities[/h2][p]
Is it harder to make a game with multiple realities? How do you keep it coherent?[/p]

[p]Yes, definitely. Since the realities are all intertwined, each time we change one, we have to think about how that impacts the others. It’s a constant balancing act![/p]

[p][/p][h2]🛠️ A World Years in the Making[/h2][p]
How big is the dev team?[/p]

[p]We have around 20 people actively working full-time on Fading Echo, including everyone from interns to studio directors. We also collaborate with about 10 freelancers, who are crucial to the game’s development.[/p]

[p]How long has the team been working on the game?[/p]

[p]We started building Fading Echo almost 3 years ago, but the universe itself was imagined long before that.[/p]

[p]Has the story changed over time as the world developed?[/p]

[p]Oh yes, many times! The story has a really unique tone: it’s dark and real but also light and comical. Finding that balance has taken a lot of work. Fun fact: Fading Echo started out as a tabletop RPG about 10 years ago. So we’re building on a massive IP, but the game story is a new creation, something we want to make truly special and memorable.[/p]

[p][/p][h2]✏️ From 2D to 3D: Designing Characters Like "One"[/h2][p][/p][p]Do you draw characters on paper first, or go straight to digital?[/p]

[p]We spent a lot of time in the 2D phase getting the look of the characters just right. A big inspiration for the art style was Jamie Hewlett (Tank Girl, Gorillaz). It looked amazing in 2D, but replicating that in 3D was a huge challenge. We went through a lot of iterations to make sure the characters felt as alive in-game as they do on paper.[/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][h3]🌊 Flow with us[/h3][p]✨ Wishlist Fading Echo[/p][p]Steam | Epic Games Store | PlayStation Store | Xbox Store[/p][p][/p][p]💬 Join the Echoverse on Discord[/p][p]And follow the adventure:[/p][p]YouTube | TikTok | Instagram[/p][p][/p][p]📝 Sign Up for the Alpha Playtest [/p][p]https://fadingecho.firstlook.gg/signup/playtest[/p]

[p]The Poisoned Quarry sits in silence — massive, mechanical, and scarred beyond repair. This industrial graveyard was clearly built for extraction, but from what… and by whom?[/p][p]Abandoned carts line rusted rails that vanish into the dark. Dark cliffs lean over cracked platforms, and fractured pipes drip an unnatural fluid into bottomless shafts. The air hums with leftover energy.[/p][p]Whatever was taken from this place left a wound behind.[/p][p][/p][h2]☣️ Toxic by Design[/h2][p]The Quarry’s very essence is poison and that toxicity isn’t just a threat; it’s a tool.[/p][p]Corrosive fluids seep through the environment, distorting pathways and reshaping combat itself. Players will have to engage with this element — manipulating it to clear paths, trigger mechanisms, and survive sudden environmental shifts.[/p][p]You’ll be forced to adapt constantly:[/p]

• [p]Toxic pools melt away your resistances[/p]
• [p]Platforms don’t hold forever. Pause too long, and they’re gone.[/p]
• [p]Mechanisms respond dynamically to elemental use, unlocking new routes or triggering hazards[/p]

[p]Using the environment against itself is the only way through.[/p][p]Survival depends on learning to work with the poison, not just around it.
[/p][p][/p][h2]🌀 Through Portals and Into the Unknown[/h2][p]To recover the Quarry’s lost power, you’ll need to traverse portals that allow travel through shards and shadows.[/p][p]Each portal leads to an isolated challenge. Each challenge is a test of perception, timing, and logic. But something has started watching.[/p][p]A presence stalks the Quarry: the Disappear.[/p][p]Unseen. Unheard. But undeniably there.[/p][p]It doesn’t chase. It waits, then strikes from below, taking you by surprise when you least expect it.[/p][p]Once it finds you, escape is no longer an option.
[/p][p][/p][h2]🪨 Silent Monument[/h2][p]The Poisoned Quarry stands as a scar, a place where industry left its mark and then abandoned it to rot.[/p][p]Its rails are empty, its machines silent, its stone darkened by time and ruin.[/p][p]Yet the danger here hasn’t faded; it has only changed shape.[/p][p][/p][h3]🌊 Flow with us[/h3][p]✨ Wishlist Fading Echo[/p][p]Steam | Epic Games Store | PlayStation Store | Xbox Store[/p][p][/p][p]💬 Join the Echoverse on Discord[/p][p]And follow the adventure:[/p][p]YouTube | TikTok | Instagram[/p][p][/p][p]📝 Sign Up for the Alpha Playtest [/p][p]https://fadingecho.firstlook.gg/signup/playtest[/p]