Witchspire News

[p][/p][h2] Patch #1[/h2][h3]CL 22268[/h3][p][/p][p]We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has already played the demo. We've received a ton of super valuable feedback and issue reports. Things are still early for Witchspire, and we truly believe that sharing this Demo now for your feedback will help to ensure a better launch and future for the game. [/p][p]In today's patch we'll be introducing an early look at a new feature, as well as fixing some of the most commonly reported bugs. If you want to continue being involved with Witchspire's development beyond this demo, please add the game to your Wishlist and stay tuned here and on our Discord.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Patch Notes[/h2][h3] Feature Changes[/h3]

• [p]Introducing
• Celestial* Familiars: these rare versions of Familiars have a distinct look and are slightly more powerful. Celestials can spawn as any Rarity, allowing for some interesting combinations. [/p][p]They're far rarer to find, but have a higher chance to linger, we do suggest using Incense though. We'd love to see what you manage to bond![/p][p][/p]

• [p]Attacks can now be performed while airborne
  [/p]

[h3] Fixes & Stability[/h3]

• [p]Fixed an issue that could result in infinite loading when using Homebound scrolls, Respawning or Fast Travelling between Hearths[/p]
• [p]Fixed a crash that could occur when viewing tooltips[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue where players could mysteriously float away[/p]
• [p]Fixed an Incense crafting recipe that couldn't be made properly[/p]

[p]
[/p]

[p]Hello Witches,

Steam Next Fest is officially here, and we couldn't be more excited to kick things off.

If you've been waiting for the perfect time to step into our magical open world - This is it. The Witchspire Demo is live and ready, and we look forward to giving you a glimpse at what's in store.[/p][p]This demo represents a snapshot of Early Access development, and while we're proud of getting it to this stage, we know there's more to be worked on. Next Fest is a huge opportunity for us to gather even more feedback and continue refining the experience. If you haven't jumped it yet but want to see what we've included in the demo, we put together a handy Demo Guide for more information. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]🎉 200,000 Wishlists… Thank You![/h2][p]Before anything else, we need to say this.[/p][p]Witchspire has officially passed 200,000 wishlists.[/p][p]That number honestly blows us away.[/p][p]Every single wishlist, comment, demo download and bit of feedback has helped shape the game and push it forward. Seeing so many of you excited to jump in and uncover the secrets of Witchspire has been incredibly motivating for the entire team.[/p][p]From the bottom of our spellbooks -- thank You✨[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]🧙‍♀️About the Demo (and your feedback)[/h2][p][/p][p]We've seen your feedback on the demo and we want to say thank you for the great feedback covering everything from combat feel to UI. We want to addressed some parts directly and let you all know that we are working hard at continuing to build the game and are actively weaving in all your feedback.[/p][p][/p][p]We're really focused on scoping up the world in time for launch later this year and are focusing hard on everything from optimisation passes, clearer tutorials and UX improvements as well as quality of life enhancements across the board. We've already done a handful of patches to the demo and will keep you all updated with future updates.[/p][p][/p][p]If you’ve left a review — thank you. If you haven’t yet, we’d love to hear your thoughts after playing. [/p][p][/p][p]Thank you for being part of our journey![/p][p]The Envar Team[/p][p][/p][h2]🔮 Follow us on Socials[/h2]

• [p]Join your fellow Witches and give feedback in Discord[/p]
• [p]Follow development on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube[/p]
• [p]Keep up to date on Bluesky[/p]

[p][/p][p]Welcome to the Witchspire Demo FAQs. [/p][p][/p][p]Please take a look through all our FAQs for any immediate questions about the Demo. If you’d like to find out more about what features are in the game, please check out our Gameplay Guide HERE. [/p][p]This demo is a glimpse - not the full spellbook.[/p][p][/p][p]Some features are still bubbling away, some systems are evolving and more content awaits in Early Access. Thank you very much for playing the demo, please leave a review and we can’t wait to hear what you think!  Please leave a review on our Demo page and wishlist, it makes all the difference for us. [/p][p] [/p][h3]How many friends can I play with?[/h3][p]You can play with up to four players total per world – That’s you and three friends! The host can invite their friends through Steam invites so you can hop in and start adventuring.[/p][p][/p][h3]Can I adjust the difficulty level?[/h3][p]Yes! We’ve added four different tiers of difficulty so you can explore the world however you want, you can find out more in our Gameplay Guide.[/p][p][/p][h3]Will my demo progress carry into Early Access?[/h3][p]We are working to see whether the game can be carried across - but this depends on the scale of changes between the demo and Early Access launch! Our current expectation is that we will need to reset everyone.[/p][p][/p][h3]When are you launching in Early Access?[/h3][p]Soon. We’ll be sharing the exact date in a little while, but if you want updates and sneak peeks - join our Discord or follow us on socials![/p][p][/p][h3]Does controller / Steam Deck work?[/h3][p]Yes… but not exactly how we want it to (yet).[/p][p]Controller and Steam Deck are functional, but not fully optimized. You might experience some awkward navigation and some imperfect button prompts. Controller and Steam Deck improvements are coming, they just aren’t there just yet.[/p][p]For the smoothest experience, we strongly recommend Mouse & Keyboard for now.[/p][p][/p][h3]What are the current keybindings?[/h3][p]You can find all the controls below. We are working on adding custom keybindings to the game. In the meantime, we'd recommend going into your computer language settings and adding an English keyboard.[/p][p][/p][p]SPACE: Jump[/p][p]SHIFT: Sprint (Hold)[/p][p]LEFT ALT: Toggle Sprint[/p][p]Q: Familiar Ability 1[/p][p]E: Familiar Ability 2[/p][p]R: Command Familiar (Hold or Tap)[/p][p]B: Build Mode[/p][p]M: Map[/p][p]Z: Reflect on Surroundings[/p][p]TAB: Character Menu & Inventory[/p][p]ESC: Settings[/p][p]1-8: Hotbar quick select [/p][p][/p][h3]Where do I report bugs or share feedback?[/h3][p]You can share feedback on either Discord or on Steam forums. We have templates set out for both to submit any bugs. We also have a general feedback form set up HERE. We appreciate the time it takes to write every single report, and look forward to your feedback![/p]

• [p]Clicking the ‘Survey’ button in-game[/p]
• [p]Posting in our Discord in #game-feedback[/p]
• [p]Posting on the Steam Forums[/p]

[h3]I’m getting a DirectX12 error. What should I do?[/h3][p]In some cases this error is caused by the game using the wrong graphics device! So if you're on a new-ish device and are seeing this, you can try the following:[/p]

• [p]Right click ⁨⁨⁨⁨Witchspire Playtest⁩⁩⁩⁩ in your steam library[/p]
• [p]Click ⁨⁨⁨⁨Properties⁩⁩⁩⁩ and go into the ⁨⁨⁨⁨General⁩⁩⁩⁩ tab[/p]
• [p]In the ⁨⁨⁨⁨Launch Options⁩⁩⁩⁩ text box enter either ⁨⁨⁨⁨-preferNvidia⁩⁩⁩⁩ or ⁨⁨⁨⁨-preferAMD⁩⁩⁩⁩ (depending on which your laptop has)[/p]
• [p]Launch the game[/p]

[p]If you don't know if you have ⁨⁨⁨⁨Nvidia⁩⁩⁩⁩ or ⁨⁨⁨⁨AMD⁩⁩⁩⁩ you can look on your device for a sticker, or just try both individually. If both of these fail, you can also try:[/p]

• [p]In the ⁨⁨⁨⁨Launch Options⁩⁩⁩⁩ text box enter either ⁨⁨⁨⁨graphicsadapter=1⁩⁩⁩⁩ or ⁨⁨⁨⁨graphicsadapter=2⁩⁩⁩⁩[/p]
• [p]Launch the game[/p]

[p]You can also try ⁨⁨⁨⁨graphicsadapter=0⁩⁩⁩⁩ but this may be the default "device". So only do this if it appears that other two did not work when tested individually. [/p][p]If none of the above works for you, it's very likely your device is not supported, and we would appreciate it if you can post your PC specs as a bug report with "DX12" in the title to allow us to verify the specs and track configurations we may need in future. [/p][p][/p][h3]Can I stream or create videos?[/h3][p]Please do – and feel free to tag us. We love seeing your adventures.[/p][p][/p][h3]How long will the demo stay live?[/h3][p]We are planning on keeping it live for at least two weeks. Our goal is to gather as much feedback as possible and then get our heads down and focus on a heap of new features and content for Early Access! [/p][p][/p][h3]Has any AI been used in the game process?[/h3][p]No AI has been used. We're really proud to say that our entire game is handcrafted, from development and art we're a team of people pouring our heart into this game![/p][p][/p][h3]I'm walking on water?[/h3][p]It’s coming, it’s coming! But not quite yet - we’ve seen the feedback, please continue to meme on it hard in the Discord. Water exists in a beautiful decorative state at the moment. In the meantime, enjoy getting as many spirits jumps as possible! [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]This guide aims to walk you through everything you need to know about the demo. Please do keep in mind that this is an early look at the game. You'll see content and features that are still in development, you'll possibly experience scary bugs and other issues - and you won't have access to all the features of the game. We’re still working on implementing things like rebindable hotkeys and mouse sensitivity.[/p][p]If you’re having troubles with this in-development demo, please check out the FAQ blog on Steam or join the Discord where our community may be able to assist.[/p][p][/p][p]Remember to join Discord or follow our socials for the latest updates and if you enjoyed your time, please leave a review on our Demo page, it makes all the difference for us![/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p][/p][h2] Play solo or with friends[/h2][p]Hop on in and Create a World and invite your friends either by hitting ESC in your world and pressing "Invite Friends", or via Steam. Lobbies are limited to 4 players per world.[/p][p][/p][p]The world is just as fun solo though! We've implemented a range of balancing systems to level the playing field when on a solo quest or journeying alongside friends.[/p][p][/p][h2] Explore the first island of Witchspire: Vyr's Landing[/h2][p]Witchspire begins some time after the events of the animated trailer, where a group of Witches found themselves in a new world, filled with adventure - and peril.[/p][p]You, like those before you, have been chosen by the Witchspire of Noctyria. Sent to this faraway place.
As you awaken, the journey of a lifetime befins, as you attempt to find your way back home.[/p][p]Walk in the footsteps of those who came before, and piece together their story.[/p][p]Discover the remnants of Al'uun, the mightiest of civilizations, which vanished in a moment.[/p][p]Make new friends, and battle vicious foes.[/p][p]Settle down, or keep moving.[/p][p]This journey is yours.[/p][carousel][/carousel][p][/p][h2] Customize your Difficulty[/h2][p]You'll have lots of control over server settings in the Playtest, allowing you to boost the challenge or make yourself very very powerful. Whatever you prefer, it's your world! If you're unsure, here are the preset options explained: [/p][p][/p][p]Easy: A relaxing experience where death is rare.[/p][p]Standard: A forgiving experience with occasional challenge.[/p][p]Hard: A painful experience. Be prepared to die.[/p][p]Impossible: Familiars don't respawn when killed. Drop all your items on death. Uh-oh.[/p][p][/p][h2] Bond with Familiars[/h2][p] [/p][p]After defeating a bond-able creature, you'll notice a spirit appear. Most of the time, that spirit will disappear to the stars. But if you're lucky, it'll linger. Interact with a lingering spirit to bond with it.[/p][p]Struggling to bond a Familiar? Incense is your friend. You can craft incense using a Witchcraft Circle, or acquire them throughout the world. Using Incense makes spirits far likelier to linger, though they are not a guarantee. [/p][p][/p][p]If you see no spirit after defeating a creature, that means they cannot be bonded. We're not saying they don't have spirits... You just can't see them.[/p][p][/p][h2] Chop Down Trees with Magic![/h2][p]Craft a magical Sickle to chop down trees with ease - you'll need plenty of wood whether you're cooking food, or building a home! Once you've levelled up your Logging skill a bit, try the Spirit Sickle. Trust us. We've prioritised this skill system for the demo but at Early Access there will be more resources gathering spells and skills![/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2] Character Customisation [/h2][p]Character Customization is not yet fully included in the game, this is just a taste of the full system coming at launch. You’ll see some of the unavailable features greyed out in game. For now you'll be limited to the following choices:[/p]

1. [p]Body Type (of which there are two)[/p]
2. [p]Voice (Victoria Atkin, or Matt Mercer - try pressing Z as you explore the world. Go on. Try it!)[/p]
3. [p]Outfits: We've added two new outfits and two new hats for you to discover in the world![/p]
4. [p]Coven: The Cloudpiercers (Spellblade) or The Nightscribes (Wand). This choice also determines your starting outfit & a passive boon.[/p]
5. [p]Starting Familiar: Locto or Quol [/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][h2] Use Astral Projection & Build a Home[/h2][p]Press B to enter Astral Projection, and settle down by placing a Hearth. [/p][p]Upgrading your Hearth will increase size of your base.[/p][p]Whether you want to build a cozy log cabin near a pretty lake, or an unrealistic floating tower - we're not judging, it's magic after all![/p][p][/p][p]We’ve priorities the basic building pack for this demo, this features: [/p]

• [p]The rustic cabin pack (mossy roof included)[/p]
• [p]9 new Furniture items[/p]
• [p]15 new Decoration items[/p]
• [p]Snapping & free placement options so you can design however you like![/p]

[p]We'd love to see your creations, so please share them in the Steam forums or the Witchspire Discord.[/p][p][/p][h2] Acquire Luminaries & Level up your Hearth[/h2][p]As you level up, you'll gain Luminary Points, which can be spent to unlock new items to build or craft, as well as enhance your character in various ways. Many Luminaries require that your Hearth, or a specific skill, are levelled up first. Consider each choice carefully![/p][p][/p][p]Running low on Luminary Points? Find a Luminary Shrine![/p][p][/p][h2] Bond with Familiars[/h2][p]Spoilers ahead![/p][p]The following Familiars can be bonded with in the Playtest:[/p][p] [/p][h2] Introducing Peb and the first Boss[/h2][p]Spoilers ahead![/p][p]We're really excited to introduce our first mini boss "Peb" who you might discover in the wilderness.[/p][p][/p][p]Peb is the first known Rockling to have uttered a word. That word was "Peb"...hence the name. Peb also looks a little different? Perhaps Peb is the start of the next chapter for Rocklings.. or perhaps Peb will be slaughtered by a witch... You decide![/p][p][/p][p]This early version of the game ends in dramatic fashion, with a fight against a vicious being. When you level up your Hearth to 3 and you'll be prompted to "Explore the Ancient Ruins to the West".[/p][p][/p][p]Be prepared, for what lurks within is not to be taken lightly. Good luck![/p][h2][/h2]