Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel News

[p]As we ring in the Lunar New Year, the gates of Hel are swinging wide! Join us right here on the Steam Community Hub for a developer livestream of Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel.[/p]

[h3]Hey Jotunnslayers![/h3][p][/p][h3]First off, the whole team wants to give you a massive thank you for taking part in our week-long playtest. Bringing local co-op into Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel was a big step for us, and we loved seeing you slay your way through Hel together with friends.[/h3][p][/p][p]We’ve seen a lot of questions about online co-op, and while it would definitely be cool, it’s not something we can support right now. Like many games in this genre, our systems and core game design don’t leave enough room for a stable online co-op implementation without risking the stability of the single-player experience. Since single-player has always been our top priority, that’s a risk we’re not willing to take.[/p][p][/p][p]That said, thanks to the feedback you’ve shared, we’ve been able to start finalizing and polishing local co-op for the coming weeks. Our goal was to make it as smooth, fun, and frustration-free as possible, and we think you’ll really enjoy the final version.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Why try Local Co-op if you usually play solo?[/h2][p][/p][p]If you love Jotunnslayer for its build crafting, efficiency, and those perfectly tuned runs where everything just clicks - local co-op might surprise you.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Unlock combinations you can’t run alone[/h3][p]In solo play, you’re always limited by your own slots and priorities. In local co-op, those limits shift.[/p][p]Running two characters at once opens up cross-build synergies that simply can’t exist on a single character - auras layered with crowd control, burst damage backed by area denial, or aggressive builds protected by defensive setups.[/p][p]If you enjoy experimenting, optimizing, and pushing builds to their extremes, co-op gives you a whole new sandbox to break.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]From kiting to positioning[/h3][p]Solo runs often revolve around constant movement and tight kiting. Co-op changes the moment-to-moment decision making.[/p][p]With two players on screen, positioning starts to matter more than pure evasion. One player can hold space, draw pressure, or control the flow of enemies, while the other capitalizes on openings and damage windows. It’s still fast, still dangerous - but the tactics feel different in a way that rewards coordination and trust.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Shared power, shared payoff[/h3][p]There’s something uniquely satisfying about watching a plan come together with another player.[/p][p]Leveling up together, taking turns shaping the build, and making snap decisions about upgrades adds a layer of tension and collaboration to every run. Sometimes you’ll debate the “perfect” pick. Sometimes you’ll commit instantly and deal with the consequences together.[/p][p]It’s the same brutal journey through Hel - but now every clutch moment, mistake, and victory is shared.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Local co-op doesn’t change the core of Jotunnslayer - it amplifies it.[/h3][p][/p][h2]What’s coming with the Local Co-op update?[/h2][p][/p][p]Here’s what you can expect compared to the playtest version:[/p][p][/p]

1. [p]2-player result screen [/p]

[p][/p][p]2. Short co-op tutorial pop-up [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]3. Lobby screen improvements and fixes [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]4. Character selection and customization improvements [/p][p]5. Improved controller disconnect/reconnect behavior [/p][p]6. Finalized localization in all supported languages[/p][p]7. Additional gameplay fixes and improvements [/p][p] [/p][p][/p][h2]When is Local Co-op coming?[/h2][p]In a few weeks.
We’ll be sharing the exact release date - and some other cool details - very soon.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Will it be free?[/h2][p]YES!
Local Co-op will be released as a free update.[/p][p][/p][p]----------[/p][p]Once again, it’s incredibly cool to have you all with us. Putting players at the center of development has proven to be absolutely the right choice.[/p][p]If there’s anything else you’d love to see in the co-op update, feel free to share your thoughts here or over on Discord - we’re listening.[/p][p]More good stuff coming soon.[/p][h3]
HEL is better with friends![/h3][p]



[/p]

[p]Hey everyone![/p][p][/p][p]Hotfix 1.1.3 is out! Take a look at the patch notes:[/p][p]
Gameplay Fixes[/p][p][/p]

• [p]\[Steam Deck] Hints shown at the start of each run no longer overlap with the HUD[/p]
• [p]Tricks of Trade no longer prevents Elusive Trickster from reducing dash cooldown[/p]
• [p]Improved performance when there is a large amount of projectiles[/p]
• [p]Fixed missing sounds in the Trophy Hall[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue where Alfheim objectives would sometimes spawn out of the map[/p]
• [p]Fixed German localization for achievements (the changes might take some time to appear in-game)[/p]
• [p]Other minor UI fixes[/p]

[p][/p][p]Let us know about any bugs you run into.[/p][p][/p][h3]See you in Hel! [/h3]

[p]Greetings, Jotunnslayers! [/p][p][/p][p]We know we’ve been a bit quiet about the most requested, top-rated, long-awaited feature…
But today, we finally have something concrete to share.[/p][p][/p][h2]JOTUNNSLAYER LOCAL CO-OP PLAYTEST IS NOW LIVE!  [/h2][p][/p][p]Yes - you read that right.[/p][p][/p][p]Before we roll it out publicly, we want to make sure it feels just right.
So we’re opening the doors early and inviting you to help us shape it.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Let’s do this!![/p][p]
[/p][h3]When does the playtest start and end?[/h3]

• [p]Starts: TODAY, Monday, January 19th at 7 PM CET / 10 AM PT[/p]
• [p]Ends: Monday, January 26th
  
  [/p]

[h3]The playtest runs for exactly one week. [/h3][p][/p][p][/p][h3]How do I get in?[/h3][p]To join this limited co-op playtest, all you`ll need to do is right-click on Jotunnslayer in your Steam Library, go to properties and switch your game beta to the public_playtest branch. No extra steps or passwords required.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]IMPORTANT NOTE If the public_playtest beta option doesn’t appear, try restarting Steam.

[/p][h3]How can we play?[/h3]

• [p]Couch Co-op: Play locally on a single screen with a friend[/p]
• [p]Online Co-op: Steam Remote Play is supported
  
  [/p]

[p]How to use Steam Remote Play together[/p]

1. [p]Navigate to the Co-op Screen: Launch Jotunnslayer and enter the in-game co-op menu.[/p]
2. [p]Open the Steam Overlay: Press Shift + Tab on your keyboard (the default shortcut).[/p]
3. [p]Invite your Friend: Find the friend you want to play with in your Friends List, right-click their name, and select "Remote Play Together."[/p]
4. [p]Accept the Invite: Your friend simply needs to accept the invitation to join your session.[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3][/h3][p] [/p][h3]I have opinions. What do I do with them?[/h3][p]Perfect - that’s exactly what this is for.[/p][p]Please use the in-game feedback form to share all your thoughts, impressions, and suggestions. [/p][p]Your feedback is our top priority while we tune and balance the co-op experience. [/p][p]For those who prefer sharing their thoughts freestyle, feel free to drop them in our Discord channel.    [/p][p]
[/p][h3]Can I make content from the playtest?[/h3][p]Not this time, unfortunately.[/p][p]Until the feature is fully polished, this playtest will remain confidential.[/p][p]Please don’t share videos or screenshots publicly - this is still a work-in-progress and not representative of the final version.[/p][p][/p][h3]⚠️ Known Issues (Work in Progress)[/h3][p]As this is a playtest and not a final product, you may encounter some rough edges. We are already working on fixes for the following known issues:[/p][p]Gameplay & Level Specifics[/p]

• [p]Location-specific bugs: Dying on the bridge in Jotunheim, in a gate in Svartalfheim, or gaining a revive while on the elevator in Helheim may cause bugged behavior.[/p]
• [p]Enemy Spawning: You might see enemies spawning within the camera's view, or occasionally see fewer enemies than intended.[/p]
• [p]Camera: In very specific cases, it is possible for players to move outside of the camera's boundaries.[/p]

[p]Co-op & Progression[/p]

• [p]Player 2 Unlocks: Currently, Player 2 cannot unlock weapons during co-op sessions.[/p]
• [p]Gold Collection: If one player is dead and out of revives, Gold cannot be collected.[/p]
• [p]Selection Memory: The game may not always remember your hero, skin, or weapon choices between sessions.[/p]
• [p]Control Issues: Input issues may occur after changing video settings in co-op, and gamepad controls cannot currently be reset within the Lobby Screen.[/p]

[p]UI & Visuals[/p]

• [p]Endless Timer: The timer visually counts down instead of up (this is a visual bug only).[/p]
• [p]Visual Glitches: You may notice some flickering or glitches on hero skins and weapons.[/p]
• [p]Menu Navigation: There are known navigation issues when moving through the Options menu.[/p]

[p]Note: If you encounter a bug not listed here, please report it via the in-game form, your feedback is exactly why we are running this test![/p]

[p]----------------[/p][p]Thanks for helping us test the game - we truly couldn’t do this without you. It takes two (especially against Jotunns)[/p][p][/p][h3]See you down there at 7PM CET / 10 AM PT! [/h3][p]
[/p]

[h3]Hey Jotunnslayers![/h3][p]
We’ve been listening carefully to your reports and suggestions following the latest content update - The Fall of Alfheim. Here’s the list of fixes we’ve managed to implement so far.[/p][p]Keep the reports coming![/p][h3]Gameplay Fixes[/h3]

• [p]Resolved an issue where Construct Jotunn’s lasers would continue to damage the player even after the visual effect became invisible.[/p]
• [p]The"Ear of the Elven King trophy can now be unlocked in all intended locations, fixing a bug that restricted it to Alfheim.[/p]

[h3]
Quality of Life Improvements[/h3]

• [p]Fixed the misplaced Passage of Time skill description to ensure it displays correctly and avoids confusion in the UI.[/p]

[h3][/h3][h3]See you in Hel![/h3]