Echoes of Mora News

[p]Hey hey, hope all of you are doing well! 💜[/p][p]A month ago we released the big patch that brought you the new swimming mechanic in VR along with lots of other exciting features. We hope you’ve been enjoying the game even more since then![/p][h3]Now that it’s officially Christmas season, we have some fitting news for you:[/h3][h2]Echoes of Mora is part of the ❄️ Midwinter Spirits ❄️ Event![/h2][p]Look how well the colors match 🤌✨[/p][p]Huge thanks to Ivy Juice Games for organizing this splendid event and for having our game up there alongside so many other amazing titles! 🫰

❄️ Check out the Midwinter Spirits Event here ❄️[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][h3]Besides that, here's a quick overview of everything we've been working on over the past few weeks:[/h3][p][/p][h2]🎨 Technical Art[/h2][p]Our own Midwinter Spirits got a makeover![/p][p]We updated the 3D models and VFX distribution so you can distinguish them more easily and watch their movements better! We also experimented with different colors for different characters, representing their temperament and maybe even their ancestry 👀 We still have to test everything in-game to make sure it all looks good![/p][p][/p][p]Here you can see a direct side-by-side comparison, without the colors yet, though. It still needs a bit of tweaking! (Left = new, right = old):[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]🎬 Cutscenes[/h2][p]There are still lots of cutscenes we need to implement before the full release! Right now we're placing many Echoes around the village at important locations where key moments from the past took place. Looks like a sneak peek of the entrance to the village area, still plenty of visual work to do…[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]⚖️ Choices[/h2][p]We've also made progress on the dialog system. The game now remembers choices across the entire story. For example, the name you choose for yourself, so Mora can use it anytime when talking to you.[/p][p]There will be some more important choices throughout the game that will influence the story's progression, be referenced again later on, and slightly affect what Mora thinks of you.[/p][p]Here's a little sneak peek at a dialogue tree for the ending of the first conversation between the player and Mora, which we're currently working on. It actually goes beyond what's included in the demo:[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h2]🕹️ Games Ground[/h2][p]This isn't exactly a dev update, but we exhibited the Echoes of Mora demo at Games Ground in Berlin last month! Thanks so much to everyone who visited and checked out our booth 😊[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p]That's it for our third Dev Log!
We have some major news just around the corner, so stay tuned! 🤫[/p][p]The Selkies Team 🦭[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p]Hey everyone! 👋[/p][p]The Echoes of Mora demo has finally received its very first major update and it's packed with improvements, accessibility options, and new features you've been asking for! 🎉[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][h2]🏊‍♂️ Updated VR Swimming System[/h2][p][/p][p]We've heard your feedback loud and clear: many of you found the previous swimming controls a bit tricky, so we completely overhauled the VR swimming system![/p][p]Instead of relying on gesture recognition that required precise arm movements, the system now tracks any motion you make and converts it into movement using direction and velocity vectors (based on your trigger input).[/p][h3]That means:[/h3][h3]✅ More reliable and natural swimming[/h3][h3]✅ Greater precision[/h3][h3]✅ And less motion sickness[/h3][p]On top of that, we've added a speed slider in the settings, so you can adjust your VR swimming pace to your personal comfort level.[/p][p][/p][h2]♿ Simplified Swimming Mode for Accessibility[/h2][p][/p][p]We want our game to be enjoyable for everyone. That's why we've added a simplified swimming mode for VR![/p][p]If you prefer (or need) to move without using arm motions, you can now enable joystick-based swimming in the settings menu. This mode includes its own speed slider.[/p][p][/p][h2]🌍 Localization[/h2][p][/p][p]The Echoes of Mora demo is now available in six additional languages![/p][h3]You can now experience the interface and subtitles in:[/h3][h3]🇩🇪 German[/h3][h3]🇫🇷 French[/h3][h3]🇨🇳 Simplified Chinese[/h3][h3]🇯🇵 Japanese[/h3][h3]🇧🇷 Brazilian Portuguese[/h3][h3]🇺🇦 Ukrainian[/h3][p]We want even more players to enjoy the story and world of Mora, so this is just the beginning!
Let us know which languages you'd love to see next.[/p][p][/p][h2]🕹️ Switch Between VR and PC Mode[/h2][p][/p][p]You can now switch between VR and PC mode at any time, directly in-game (no restart required)![/p][p]Simply use the button in the in-game menu or adjust the setting from the main menu.
[/p][h2]💎 Visual Updates & Bug Fixes[/h2][p]Updated first-person hand animations (PC Mode): Swimming and holding objects now feel smoother and more natural.[/p][p][/p][p]Fragments are now actual objects: We’ve replaced the purple orbs with distinctive story-driven objects. Each one now visually reflects the Echo it belongs to — making exploration more rewarding and lore-rich.[/p][p]We’ve also squashed a ton of pesky bugs.[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p]We'd love to hear what you think of these changes!
Use the in-game feedback form or join our Discord here to chat directly with us and share your thoughts.[/p][p]Your feedback helps us make Echoes of Mora even better! 💜[/p][p][/p][p]Thanks again for all your support and excitement for the demo — we can't wait to show you what's next!
Until then...[/p][p]The Selkies Team 🦭[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p]Hey everyone!

We wanted to quickly deliver this update to you as we are currently pouring heart and soul into exhibiting Echoes of Mora at gamescom this week.[/p][p]Nonetheless, we have super important news to share with you:[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]The release trailer for the demo has premiered on the FYNG showcase and the demo is now part of the FYNG Steam event as well as the gamescom Steam event: [/p][p]https://store.steampowered.com/sale/Find-Your-Next-Game-at-gamescom[/p][p]https://store.steampowered.com/sale/gamescom-2025?l=german

Check out our awesome Trailer here:[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]And if you are at gamescom, definitely come over to our booth at Home of Indies, Hall 10.2, E010 D011, to get some exclusive Echoes of Mora goodies! [/p][p][/p][p]The next steps after gamescom will be to implement all the feedback into the demo and improve the experience. You can submit any feedback through a submission form linked in the game or by joining our Discord and sharing your thoughts in the feedback and bugs channel! The bugs will be addressed and fixed in the coming weeks!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for future updates! [/p][p] - the Selkies Team 🦭 [/p]

[p]Hi, everyone! 👋
Before we proceed with updates from the game dev side, we have two big news for you! 📣[/p][h2]Echoes of Mora is part of the Debut Festival 2025!⭐[/h2][p]
Thank you so much GameDev.ist for including our game! This is the first time Echoes of Mora is part of a Steam event and we couldn't be more excited! 😊🙏[/p][p][/p][h3]And the other big news is...[/h3][h2]...the Echoes of Mora Demo will release in less than TWO weeks! 🤯[/h2][p]We're thrilled to announce that the demo will be released simultaneously with our appearance at gamescom 2025—right here on Steam! So even if you can't visit us in person, you'll still be able to experience the demo at home (in PC-VR or PC-only mode).[/p][p]Stay tuned, the Steam demo page will go live soon![/p][p]Buuut for those of you who are coming to gamescom in Cologne this year, here's where you can find us:[/p][p][/p][p]📍 Home of Indies, Hall 10.2, Booth E010 D011[/p][p]Come say hi and play the demo in VR or on PC (we've got two stations ready). Plus, we'll have some lovely merch waiting for you at our booth... 🔮🦭✨[/p][p]Make sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date with our gamescom journey, we'll definitely share some photos! 📸[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][h3]Now onto all the progress we've made since the last Dev Log:[/h3][p][/p][h2]🎨 Art[/h2][p]We've created a whole new area for you to explore—Mora's House!
It's filled with carefully placed furniture and decorations, many of which subtly tell stories through environmental details. You can actually learn a lot about Mora's family just by observing how they used to live.[/p][p]Here's a screenshot of the outside of the house (make sure to check out the inside in the demo! 👀):
[/p][p][/p][h2]🏊 Animations[/h2][p]The PC mode finally has some swimming and idle animations!
More animations, like holding and pointing at objects, will be added soon![/p][p](Oh, and we also added a magical new barrier that encloses the demo area ✨):
[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]🎬 Story & Music[/h2][p]The full story of the demo is now implemented, featuring animated cutscenes of the most important characters, all brought to life by our talented voice actors.[/p][p]Besides that, we've added beautiful background music throughout the demo, in both the game menu and the game itself![/p][p]And here's also an extra bit of exciting news:[/p][p]We've been working on a brand-new trailer for the demo! It'll be revealed soon, so keep your eyes peeled! 👀[/p][p] [/p][h2]🖥️ UI[/h2][p]You can now follow all dialogue via subtitles![/p][p]We've also added a first version of the Credits in the main menu. On top of that, the UI has been further adapted to match the specific needs of the demo.[/p][p]Here's a screenshot where you can see the subtitles:
[/p][p][/p][h2]🐞 Bug Fixing[/h2][p]We've been mercilessly purging bugs, but a few sneaky ones are still slipping through. Want to help us catch them before the demo officially launches? Join our Discord and sign up for a playtest![/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p]Beyond the game itself, the Echoes of Mora Steam page has received a visual upgrade with colorful GIFs, new screenshots, and some refined text.[/p][p][/p][p]That's it for our second Dev Log!
We're super excited to showcase the demo at gamescom, and we're incredibly grateful for your support! Stay tuned for more updates! 💜[/p][p]- the Selkies Team 🦭[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p]Hello, fellow underwater lovers! 🌊 We're kicking off this first Dev Log with huge news – something we've been quietly working toward for months...[/p][h2]A Demo Version is coming... and it's BIG! ✨[/h2][p]We're beyond excited to reveal that a public Demo of Echoes of Mora is on the way! And this isn't just a quick preview – it's a full slice of the game that offers a real feel for what's to come.[/p][p]In the Demo you'll be able to:[/p]

• [p]Explore roughly one third of the full game world, including a forest and lake environment, several points of interest, and different story locations[/p]
• [p]Play through the first Echo scenes where you'll meet the main characters[/p]
• [p]Experience the dialogue and interaction system we've been building[/p]
• [p]Get a full intro to the game's story and tone[/p]

[p]More info about the Demo release date and the Demo Steam Page will follow soon![/p][h3]
[hr][/hr]Besides that – we're thrilled to provide you with fresh updates on our journey developing Echoes of Mora! Things have been moving fast as we gear up for the Demo. Let's take a look at what we've been up to lately: [/h3][p][/p][h2]🎨 Art[/h2][p]We've been steadily improving the visuals of the world: sculpting and painting landscapes, adding erosion to make everything feel more natural, and swapping out blockout meshes for actual environment assets. That means trees, hand-placed rocks, bushes, and seaweed to make the world feel truly alive.[/p][p]Also, we officially kicked off asset production! We're currently filling the world with a mix of high-quality third-party assets and our own handmade custom meshes for individual and story-relevant elements. Here's a screenshot of a Wayside Shrine that's now fully modeled and placed in-game:
[/p][p][/p][h2]🛠️ Game Mechanics[/h2][p]We implemented an inventory system both for the VR and PC mode – now it's possible to store several items while exploring the world. See the VR inventory here:
[/p][p][/p][p]
Our interaction and player choice system, which we previously used with placeholder text for testing, is now being integrated with real scenes from the actual script. That means we've started building proper in-game moments using final dialogue and voice lines. Players can nod, shake their head, or point at objects to interact with Mora and respond to her questions. You can see the nodding in action here:
[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]🖥️ UI[/h2][p]We gave the User Interface a shiny new look by revamping the main menu, pause menu, and various interface elements:
[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]🔮 Echo Sneak Peek[/h2][p]To see how it's all starting to come together, we prepared a short sneak peek of one Echo scene. This will be one of the first places where you'll really get to know the characters and see why the story plays a big role in Echoes of Mora:[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][h2] [/h2][h2][hr][/hr]📣 Other News & Announcements[/h2]

• [p]We have an official Community Discord for Echoes of Mora! If you want early updates, behind-the-scenes peeks, or even access to future playtests, come hang out with us. It's also the best place to ask us questions directly! Join here or click the Discord icon below this post.[/p]
• [p]This August we'll be at gamescom in Cologne! We couldn't be more excited to meet players, answer questions, and see you playtest our game. So if you're there, make sure to drop by and say Hi![/p]

[p]That's it for this Dev Log. We're eager to share even more exciting updates in the weeks to come!
Thanks for your support, and stay tuned for more![/p][p] - the Selkies Team 🦭
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