Jupiter Hell Classic News

To alleviate a bit of the initial pain we made a few things easier for newcomers :)

• Spaceport ambush made a bit easier
  
• archreavers and toxic reavers deal less damage
  

This is a quick hotfix to address the SteamDeck and BigPicture mode crashes on Death. Should also fix some Proton issues.

• fixes SteamDeck/BigPicture/Proton issues due to misallocated Name entry
  
• fixes controller not working when picking core module
  

[p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][h3]We've just hit the big button - Jupiter Hell Classic is live in Early Access![/h3][p][/p][p]This is not a reskin, this is not a release, this is a game between worlds - taking the best of two games and trying to improve upon that (see the FAQ for details!). [/p][p]A huge thank you to our community for your support and enthusiasm. Your feedback has been instrumental in shaping Jupiter Hell over the years, and we're excited to continue this journey together as we work towards the 1.0 release.[/p][p]As with all our releases, the success of this launch really depends on you - yes, you. Traditional roguelikes are a niche, mostly overlooked by mainstream press and big content creators. If you enjoy what we're doing (and trust me, we have a lot more planned!), help us spread the word. Tell your friends, leave a review, share it in your communities, and let us know what you think![/p][h2]
What's next? Check out our roadmap for upcoming features:[/h2][p][/p][p]Upcoming releases (tentative)[/p]

• [p]0.5 - Early Access - August 13th![/p]
• [p]0.6 - Callisto - September 2025 - TBA[/p]
• [p]TBA[/p]
• [p]1.0 - Full Release - Q3 2026[/p]
• [p]1.1 - yes, traditional roguelikes are never "done" :)[/p]
• [p]TBA[/p]

[p]Planned features - Characters:[/p]

• [p]Heavy and Medic classes with assorted new traits[/p]
• [p]more class specific advanced traits[/p]
• [p]class kits - alternative variants for existing classes[/p]
• [p]more item traits and more complex items[/p]
• [p]hacking![/p]

[p]Planned features - Environment:[/p]

• [p]fire and smoke and related environmental interaction and trait changes[/p]
• [p]terminals and related environmental interaction[/p]
• [p]Dante special levels and branch[/p]
• [p]at least two more branches for each moon (each run will randomly pick two)[/p]
• [p]at least three more bosses[/p]
• [p]mechanical enemies[/p]

[p]Planned features - Challenges:[/p]

• [p]at least one more unlockable difficulty level[/p]
• [p]more challenges, including the much awaited Endless mode[/p]
• [p]Angelic badge set for the masochists among us[/p]

[p]Planned features - Visual:[/p]

• [p]particle emitters for more blood, chunks, special FX and general mayhem[/p]
• [p]possibly some rudimentary visual lighting[/p]
• [p]movement fluidness and animation improvements[/p]
• [p]animation ordering[/p]

[p]Planned features - Audio:[/p]

• [p]overhaul of the soundtrack! (lower fi matching JH tracks :) )[/p]
• [p]more audio variety[/p]
• [p]better 3d soundscape[/p]
• [p]better handling of multiple sounds[/p]

[p]
Possible features:[/p][p]If there's enough interest and funding - no promises.[/p]

• [p]localization and localization kit for modding[/p]
• [p]console ports (Switch confirmed feasible)[/p]

[p]
Regular updates:[/p]

• [p]more enemy types[/p]
• [p]more item variety[/p]
• [p]more exotics, uniques and assemblies[/p]
• [p]more challenges[/p]
• [p]modding tools and improvements[/p]
• [p]UI improvements[/p]
• [p]more transparent mechanics (info screens)[/p]

[h2]
Why Early Access?[/h2][p]Because we want to build it with you. Jupiter Hell Classic is fully playable, but EA is our chance to grow the game together. We're talking frequent updates, hanging out with you all on Discord, and actually building features based on what you want to see. No corporate roadmap nonsense - just us, you, and a game that evolves based on direct player feedback. if you've been with us through Jupiter Hell or DRL, you know how we roll. Open development, regular updates, and a community that actually shapes the game. That's just how we do things around here.[/p][p]Join us on the discord for Beta builds and discussions, and dive straight into the depths of Jupiter![/p][p][/p][p]Social Links:[/p]

• [p]Discord[/p]
• [p]X (Twitter)[/p]
• [p]Bluesky[/p]

[h3]We've also updated the free demo to match the launch version quality, so if you're still on the fence, go give it a try first.)[/h3][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][h3]Jupiter Hell Classic hits Early Access tomorrow! Here’s a handy round-up to get you ready before you descend into the hells of Jupiter.[/h3][p][/p][h3]Q&A[/h3]

• [p]Why Early Access?[/p]

[p]TL;DR: We want to make the game the best it can be - by building it together with the community.[/p][p]We believe traditional roguelikes are a perfect fit for Early Access, especially when developers actively engage with players. Our development thrives on frequent updates, with even more frequent BETA builds available to the community via the ChaosForge Discord.[/p][p]Player feedback shapes our roadmap, features, and balance decisions. You can already see this approach in action by looking at the update history of Jupiter Hell! Like fine wine, roguelikes tend to age well - and we want to give this one time to ferment into something truly great.[/p]

• [p]How long will the game be in Early Access? [/p]

[p]Current development plans are laid out in such a way, that the road to 1.0 launch should not take more than a year's time. After 1.0 you can also expect further updates and patches, however before we get there, you can take a look at the current roadmap here[/p]

• [p]How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?[/p]

[p]Roguelike development tends to expand horizontally - rather than changing the core, we add more depth and variety. Expect more items, enemies, level generators, branches, traits, challenges, and new playable classes. At the same time, we'll continue refining and polishing the overall experience.[/p]

• [p]What is the current state of the Early Access version?[/p]

[p]The game is fully playable from start to finish, with all major systems in place. We're now focused on expanding its breadth - more items, enemies, systems, level generators, branches, special levels, challenges, and better modding support. We're also steadily improving polish, visual variety, and the overall feel.[/p]

• [p] 4 episodes, 6 branches, 9 special levels, and 2 boss fights[/p]
• [p]Dozens of level generators, random events, and generation sets[/p]
• [p] 3 classes, 15 master traits (sub-classes), and 24 regular traits[/p]
• [p]25 unique enemies and 100+ items, including exotics and uniques[/p]
• [p]30 assembly recipes for weapon and armor crafting[/p]
• [p]5 difficulty levels, 16 challenges, and dual-challenge support[/p]
• [p] Hundreds of badges to earn [/p]

• [p]Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?[/p]

[p]Yes, we plan to slightly raise the price as we approach version 1.0 and the game reaches our target level of content and polish. Any price changes will be clearly communicated in advance, so players have plenty of time to jump in at the current price. The Early Access price will be $14.99.[/p]

• [p]Will the demo stay?[/p]

[p]Even better! The demo will be updated on EA launch day to match the quality of launch version, and kept updated during the EA period![/p]

• [p]How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?[/p]

[p]Whether it's here on the Steam forums, on the ChaosForge/Jupiter Hell Discord, X or BlueSky - we read all feedback! Players who've been part of our community over the past two decades know: we take feedback seriously, and many suggestions have directly shaped our games.[/p][p][/p][h3]That's it for today, see you tomorrow[/h3][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p]

A brand-new demo of Jupiter Hell Classic is now available as part of Steam Next Fest!

This isn't just a small update — it's a fresh, updated demo, with a proper set of character traits for the Marine, improved visuals, branches, generators and more enemy types! If you've played the old version, we strongly recommend diving in again — there's a lot that's changed, tightened, and tuned, and is more representative of what you can expect for the August Early Access launch!

[h2]How you can help[/h2]
If you enjoy the demo, please consider leaving a Steam review. It takes just a moment, and makes a huge difference during Next Fest — especially early on. Visibility is everything. Remember that Steam nowadays has separate pages for the demo - you can click the title in the box below, or go to the steampage from the demo in your library.

You can also support the game by spreading the word on social media, forums, or even poking your favorite streamer to check it out. Every bit helps!

Join our Discord for up to date information and a possibility to join expanded beta tests!

[h2]Play the demo now[/h2]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3256910/Jupiter_Hell_Classic_DEMO/

Jupiter Hell Classic is expected to land in Early Access this August, and Jupiter Hell proper (yes, we're still adding more stuff!) is expected to have update 1.9 within the next two months!

Thanks for helping us bring venerable DRL to the wider audience!

Sincerely,
Kornel Kisielewicz