Soulmask News

[h2]Welcome to the Scorching Land, Chieftains![/h2][p][/p][p]Pass through the gate to another world, and uncover the secrets of gods and kings buried beneath these shifting sands. Don your mask, and walk with Them—[/p][p][/p][p]That's right! With the full support of the PC GAMING SHOW @ TOKYO DIRECT, we are thrilled to announce:[/p][p][/p][h3]The major themed DLC, Soulmask: Shifting Sands, will launch simultaneously with the Soulmask 1.0 full version in Q4 2025!
[/h3][h3][/h3][p]Launching the DLC and the 1.0 version together was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. It is tied to the two most essential core features of Soulmask: surviving, recruiting, and managing a tribe in a sandbox world; and reinterpreting different lost ancient civilizations, allowing you to explore the stories behind them.[/p][p]These two parts have been at the core of Soulmask since its conceptual phase, and we unanimously believe they are one of the primary reasons why over 700,000 players have come to love our game.[/p][p][/p][p]Therefore, we want to present both of these parts—the key experiences we want to convey—to you at the same time: to start anew against the backdrop of a different ancient civilization, struggling to survive with your untamed tribesmen and managing your clan, to finally unravel the mysteries of a buried civilization.[/p][p][/p][p]We have a deep fascination with the various mysterious and magnificent ancient civilizations throughout human history. Their charm, their mysteries—we use them as archetypes to create unique answers to these enigmas through the distinct worldview of Soulmask. [/p][p][/p][p]In the "Golden Legend" DLC, inspired by China's Ancient civilization, Soulmask offered its own fantasy interpretation of this ancient civilization and its unsolved riddles.[/p][p]But we felt there was more to explore: Why not create an entire world based on an exotic civilization? And when we thought of "ancient civilization," Egypt immediately came to mind.[/p][p][/p][p]For "Shifting Sands," we considered many ways to present this other ancient civilization. Still, we ultimately decided on the format of a major themed DLC, and this is the name we chose to introduce it.[/p][p]Thus, a desert world inspired by the mythology of ancient Egyptian civilization was born. When influenced by the mysterious entity known as the "Solar Deity," everything you thought you knew about the Nile will be turned upside down. The clash between the \[FAMILIAR] and the \[UNKNOWN] is the core experience we wish to convey to you, Chieftains, in this DLC. It is also the most crucial connecting thread in the Soulmask worldview.[/p][p][/p][p]So, what exactly does "Shifting Sands" hold?[/p][p]Patience, Chieftains. Allow Maggie to lift the First veil from this world.[/p][p][/p][h2]The Scorching Land: A New World Born from Ancient Egypt[/h2][p][/p][p]This was once a land blessed by the Solar Deity, a pearl in the desert, but now, all its glory has scattered to the winds...[/p][p][/p][p]The main stage of "Shifting Sands" is a reimagined world based on the Nile River basin—beyond the life-giving great river lies a desert sea symbolizing death. This is the world "Shifting Sands" aims to bring to you, Chieftains: a land that exists on the border between life and death.[/p][p][/p][p]Simultaneously, the "ruins of a glorious civilization" and the "mystery of the gods" will serve as the main threads for your exploration. Under the influence of the "Solar Deity," this seemingly familiar desert will become something entirely different.[/p][p][/p][p]It still features all the classic elements of ancient Egypt you know: Pyramids, Egyptian temples, the river, and Long Barges.[/p][p][/p][p]However, when you see the fleet of Solar Barges floating in the sky, the suspended temples and palaces, and even the pyramids inverted in the clouds... all your "stereotypes" about the stories of the Nile will gradually be subverted:[/p][p][/p][p]You will discover that "Shifting Sands" is a Scorching Land beyond your imagination.[/p][p]How did they become like this? What kind of existence is the mysterious "Solar Deity"? This will require Chieftains to explore step by step and uncover the truth.[/p][p]And eventually, inherit their authority and walk with the gods.[/p][h2]Walk with the Gods: Don the New Divine Masks[/h2][p][/p][p]The Mask, the Mandate of the Gods! The omniscient and omnipotent "Solar Deity" selected the gods and bestowed upon them sacred masks. The boundless power of the Solar Deity is manifested through these masks: they can dissolve a body in the great river, obliterate armies with sunlight, and judge sinners with gravity...[/p][p][/p][p]As the most important element in Soulmask, the mask shares considerable common ground with ancient Egyptian mummy culture: the physical body is a vessel for the soul, and in Soulmask, the mask is another vessel for the soul.[/p][p][/p][p]But in "Shifting Sands," we wanted the mask to evolve further. Therefore, the gods of Egyptian mythology will become the archetypes for a new batch of mask abilities. In "Shifting Sands," the mask is not just a vessel for the soul, but the very authority of the gods.[/p][p][/p][p]They possess many extraordinary abilities that transcend your previous understanding of "masks," such as soaring through the skies and reviving the dead. The power from the gods will give you a completely new appreciation for the power of the mask.[/p][p]For instance, the first mask you acquire upon entering this world is inspired by the ancient Egyptian sky god, "Horus." It grants you a unique ability: FLY! [/p][p][/p][p]From the very first second you step into the Scorching Land, the wings it bestows upon you will help you explore this multi-dimensional world[/p][p][/p][p]Or consider the mask born from the most well-known guardian of the underworld, "Anubis." Legend has it that its mimicry can decide one's fate in an instant: from instantly annihilating enemies to resurrecting them to fight for you, all at your command.[/p][p][/p][p]As you progress through the game, you will encounter more and more familiar divine faces, their millennia-old powers reinterpreted in the masks of "Shifting Sands." However, Maggie doesn't want to spoil too much—experience the power of the gods, don't just be told about it.
[/p][h2]A Barge for a Home: Experience the All-New Customizable Solar Barge[/h2][p][/p][p]The Solar Barge, a miracle of the Solar Deity, was once a status symbol for the nobles of the old dynasty. They loved to use their Solar Barges as mobile palaces, believing they could reign above all mortals from the sky. How laughable. The fall of the dynasty proved that in the face of absolute power, even a Solar Barge is fragile.[/p][p]
Legend says that the barge of the Solar Deity Ra could traverse the realms of both life and death. As one of the most important means of transport in the Nile region, the "Barge" holds an irreplaceable significance in Egyptian culture.[/p][p]
In "Shifting Sands," the "Barge" is the core gameplay element of the DLC and will be central to your journey. From the moment you look up and see the floating barges, to your first thatched reed raft, and finally to a true "palace in the sky," your progression in the Scorching Land will revolve around your "Barge."[/p][p]
As your technology advances, the "Barge" will offer more and more customization options, allowing you to freely build your own home or even a palace upon it—just as the glorious nobles of the old dynasty once did.[/p][p][/p][p]But, empowered by the miraculous anti-gravity technology bestowed by the "Solar Deity," what will the war barges of you and your tribesmen evolve into? Allow me to leave you in suspense here. Trust me, everything about the Solar Barge will surpass your wildest imagination, to the point where your "fleet" may be able to engage in an earth-shattering battle with the most terrifying presence in the depths of the desert...[/p][p][/p][h2]A Final Word
[/h2][p]We will be revealing more content progressively. Please forgive our cryptic tone today. We feel that gradually unveiling the mysteries of the Scorching Land is the better choice!
[/p][p]But the true secrets hidden deep within the shifting sands must be uncovered by you—by every Chieftain. How did the ancient civilization perish? What are the so-called "gods"? What is the source of the "Solar Deity's" great power?
[/p][p]Soulmask: Shifting Sands awaits your arrival in the fourth quarter of this year. If this piques your interest, do not miss any of our updates. And we mean, any information![/p]

[h2]Hey, Chieftains! It's happening![/h2][p][/p][h3]A scorching world is coming soon![/h3][p][/p][p][/p][p]We will be officially featured at the PC Gaming Show @ Tokyo Direct, where we will announce a ton of exciting content! This will, of course, include the trailer for Soulmask's first major themed DLC.[/p][p][/p][p]Exhibitors from other studios will also be participating. At the show, we will unveil new secrets of Soulmask before everyone's eyes.[/p][p][/p][p]The event will be live-streamed on YouTube, Steam & Twitch, and the new DLC will be revealed on September 28th at 4:00 PM (UTC).[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We sincerely invite all Chieftains to join us on this journey of discovery and unveil the new world together.[/p]

[h3]Dear Chieftains,[/h3][p][/p][p]To provide a better gaming experience, the server will undergo maintenance. It will be temporarily unavailable starting from September 25th, at 7:00 AM UTC, with an expected downtime 30 minutes. This update includes a client update, and chieftains will need to update their client to enjoy the game normally. We are very grateful for your understanding and support. [/p][p][/p][p]Fixed the incorrect spawn point of Barbarian Invaders at Wetland - Elite Tortoise [/p][p][/p][p]Fixed that Mastery - Terrorizing Lunge's Coma effect incorrectly triggered on successful defense [/p][p][/p][p]Fixed audio crashes caused by certain mods during server loading and startup[/p]

[h3]Hi Chieftains![/h3][p][/p][p]It's been a while! The question we've been asked the most recently is definitely this one:[/p][p][/p][p]*Link, we hope you don't mind, but you speak for many. BTW, we really love this meme.[/p][p][/p][p]Maggie was taught from a young age that being secretive isn't a good habit! So, Zima and I have decided to share our latest development progress:[/p][p][/p][p]Soulmask is officially scheduled to launch its 1.0 version in the fourth quarter of 2025![/p][p][/p][p]Yes, we have re-confirmed the true release date for 1.0. This decision was made after much consideration, but most importantly, we feel there's still some way to go before we reach the complete Soulmask we envision.[/p][p]And on that note, Maggie wants to take this opportunity to give you all a better understanding of Soulmask 1.0! So Zima has decided to join me here for an in-depth chat about everything that will change in the game for 1.0: starting from its core lore, to give you all an early look at what the official version of Soulmask will become.[/p][p][/p][h3]Developer Interview: Soulmask 1.0[/h3][p]Maggie: I know many Chieftains are most curious about what exactly Soulmask 1.0 will be. Can you tell us about the biggest changes and highlights in terms of content and experience for the 1.0 version?[/p][p][/p][p]Zima: Absolutely. In version 1.0, we will be focusing on several key areas to present a new Soulmask to our players:[/p][p]First, 1.0 needs to be complete enough: This is the absolute foundation. We will be refining many of the unfinished parts of the game from the EA version, ensuring that any issues hindering your gameplay experience are significantly improved. This includes aspects like tribesmen, game interactions, balancing, and more.[/p][p]Second, Soulmask will be a game built with the goal of being the "ultimate management sandbox." Many of our new systems are designed for this purpose. You will see a comprehensive integration of tribe management and survival gameplay, allowing you to build a brand-new tribal kingdom.[/p][p]Finally, new Chieftains will be able to get started faster: We want all new Soulmask players to experience its charm as quickly as possible. To that end, we've designed a new, independent tutorial system. We are also trying something more interesting: in 1.0, there will be a brand-new design, something new to ensure your journey in Soulmask is no longer a lonely one and to help you get familiar with this world.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Maggie: What do you think will be the most appealing part of 1.0 for players who haven't tried Soulmask yet? And for veteran Chieftains? How should they re-recognize Soulmask in 1.0?[/p][p][/p][p]Zima: For Chieftains new to Soulmask, you'll have more choices: we have currently divided the game into three major modes. For sandbox beginners, the Management mode - \[Curious survivors] is the most suitable, providing a more comfortable experience even for solo players. For those who love the original experience, we have preserved and even enhanced the Survival Mode, offering a more thrilling survival and combat experience. We believe that with these new modes, both our long-time veteran Chieftains and our new ones will find the game even more enjoyable.[/p][p]And for our loyal veteran Chieftains, I personally recommend starting a new save file to experience the new Management Mode. Additionally, we are adding a new gameplay mode called \[Song of the Brave]—perfect for Chieftains who dislike production and construction and just want to focus on combat.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Maggie: You mentioned before that Soulmask 1.0 will be the "ultimate management survival sandbox." Can you give us a brief description of the kind of fun we can experience in that regard, Zima?[/p][p]Zima: For that, you might want to take a look at my endgame save file! This is the result of hundreds of hours I've spent in the development build. This base is roughly divided into several sections: a workshop, a rest area, a training area, and a defense area. You could say each one is a microcosm of the brand-new version of Soulmask.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Let's start with our core workshop section. Our entire production line, from inventory to the status of each workbench and the assignment of tribesmen, can now be fully managed with one-click operations through a single interface. At the same time, all equipment and items up to the black iron stage can be fully automated.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]And for those minerals and resources scattered far across the world, I've designed a fully automatic, series-connected ropeway system with distribution capabilities: from tribesmen's mines all over the world, all minerals are transported along a ropeway that's over ten kilometers long , powered by windmills, and delivered uniformly to my base. Through this distribution system, my tribesmen sort everything. Sorry, I'm a bit of a perfectionist; setting it up was a bit tedious, but it's incredibly satisfying.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Next is my training area. Compared to our EA version, our tribesmen can now increase their Proficiency in the base, so you no longer need to control them for training in the dangerous wilderness . But we didn't stop there. In 1.0, you'll also be able to have tribesmen acquire the exceptional skills of their companions through training. I hope this training system will better enable everyone to cultivate their own uniquely powerful tribesmen.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The rest area isn't very large. Its purpose is to provide my tribesmen with basic food, sleep, and happiness. Additionally, tribesmen can automatically equip their own gear based on the preset templates I've configured; I no longer need to manage them one by one.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Finally, there's my defense module. This is also your biggest enemy in Management mode: the three major tribes won't just stand by and watch a new power rise. They will periodically dispatch forces to attack your base. I've set up a fortified trap city here with automatic turrets. Most of them can't even get past the first winding corridor, let alone the floor traps that follow. It might sound a bit grim, but I quite enjoy personally watching my tribesmen slaughter enemies from the turrets...[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]These automated and standardized management elements are all things you will be able to experience in 1.0. As a survival and management player who is also a perfectionist, I hope to share a gaming experience that I myself am satisfied with.[/p][p][/p][p]Maggie: Let's talk about something deeper. It's been over a year since Soulmask first entered Early Access. Has the feedback from our Chieftains led to any shifts in our design direction?[/p][p]Zima: In truth, soul, mask, and civilization have always been the themes we wanted to express. Refining tribe and tribesmen management, the expression of the masks, and a deeper narrative for the world are our main priorities now.[/p][p]But we are grateful for all the feedback. The vast number of suggestions we've received since the EA launch has given us a much better understanding of where the Chieftain experience needs improvement. Optimizing that experience is now our most important task, and every feature we develop will serve that goal.[/p][p][/p][p]Maggie: Do you feel there are any core product ideas that were part of your original vision, but that most chieftains might not have felt in the EA stage, which you'd like to emphasize and convey now?[/p][p]Zima: If I had to pick one, it would be the expression of the worldview, which was the most lacking element in the EA version. Due to time and cost constraints, the expression of Soulmask's world was very insufficient in the EA version, so it might have been difficult for players to understand what we were trying to convey.[/p][p]The concept of Soulmask ultimately returns to the theme of Awareness, asking "What do people live for?" This was the inspiration for creating Soulmask. Please believe that this game still has a long road ahead. We hope to continue to perfect its narrative and see the final story through together with all of you.[/p][p][/p][p]Maggie: Lastly, do you have any final words for the players?[/p][p]Zima: The 1.0 version of Soulmask will be a brand-new experience for fans of both survival games and simulation management games. As fans of both genres ourselves, we've poured many of our wildest ideas into it. This world is just beginning. Once again, we hope you will all join us in exploring it.[/p][p]In the future, the designers for several of our key modules will also chat with you one by one about the specific gameplay details, giving you a more three-dimensional understanding of our game's official version. We would be overjoyed if you end up loving it.[/p][p][/p]

[h3]Dear Chieftains,[/h3][p][/p][p]To provide a better gaming experience, the server will undergo maintenance. It will be temporarily unavailable starting from August 21, at 7:00 AM UTC, with an expected downtime 30 minutes. This update includes a client update, and chieftains will need to update their client to enjoy the game normally. We are very grateful for your understanding and support. [/p][p][/p][p]Fixed an issue preventing Golden Legend DLC content from unlocking during online play after activation.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed an issue where using campfire on the elephant deck saddle to revive allowed players to pass through walls.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed an issue with incorrect positioning of the inverted sloping wall.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed an issue where the inverted sloping wall could not be placed overlapping.[/p][p][/p][p]The system now displays a reason for why a mask cannot be unlocked.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed an issue where recruited barbarian invaders lacked Mastery skills.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed an issue causing Execute to be misaligned at times.[/p][p][/p][p]Tribesman recruitment cap for tribes increased to 1000 (single-player and multiplayer modes). Please adjust the NPC recruitment limit appropriately based on the server's available memory to avoid overload and lag.[/p][p][/p][p]Updated Item descriptions for Mysterious Tisane and Mysterious Bodyshaping Pill.[/p][p][/p][p]Improved construction efficiency of tribesmen when performing repairs, upgrades, and material procurement.[/p][p][/p]