Under a Desert Sun: Seekers of the Cursed Vessel News

[p]Hi there, [/p][p]Another day another round of improvements. These are focussed on the soundsystem and general settings.[/p][p]Improvements[/p]

• [p]Overhauled sound system and sound settings system, providing better control over player sound, ambient sound, and music sound volumes.[/p]
• [p]Made sure you can reach settings in the main game menu (previously only changeable in the start game area).[/p]

[p]Bugfixes[/p]

• [p]Some sound effects were not taken into account by the SoundManager and would be unaffected by volume changes. All sounds should now be accounted for.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue where the game would sometimes lose track of the FPS counter, preventing it from being turned on or off.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Kind regards,[/p][p]Raymond[/p]

[p]Bugfixes[/p]

• [p]Fix for footstepping tech sometimes leaving behind a few steps.[/p]
• [p]Fix for ghost soldiers getting hit by player hits.[/p]
• [p]Fix for small lighting issue in some dungeons.[/p]
• [p]Fix for conversation starting too early in special weapon temple.[/p]
• [p]Removed some old ladder climbing code that could interfere.[/p]

[p]Class Tweaks[/p]

• [p]Toned down Adventurer melee damage increase per level.[/p]

[p]Improvements[/p]

• [p]Added more spawn areas for Nazi enemies surrounding the Nazi base to keep things active.[/p]
• [p]Added more torches on some paths to make it easier to follow during night.[/p]

[h2][/h2][p]Hi everyone,[/p][p]I’m Raymond. About a year ago, I started Revolving Gear Studios to finally try my hand at making video games full-time. I’ve been a hobbyist developer for years, and I always dreamed of building something bigger and more focused. That’s where this new Action RPG was born: Under a Desert Sun: Seekers of the Cursed Vessel.[/p][p]The Under a Desert Sun name might sound familiar — it comes from a small VR project I made years ago. I loved the world-building so much that I realized there were still plenty of stories left to tell in that universe.[/p][p]Why an Action RPG, you might ask? Before starting anything, I thought long and hard about what my first studio project should be. I kept coming back to the games that shaped my childhood: LAN parties with friends, playing Diablo or Titan Quest until sunrise, fueled by coffee and cola. Honestly, I was always more focused on saving the world, while my friends were all about the loot… :P In the end, I couldn’t think of a better reason to make a game than to follow my heart.[/p][p]So here we are! This demo is an early, polished slice of Act 1 — a first taste of what’s to come, released a few weeks ahead of Steam Next Fest in October.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]What you’ll find in the demo:[/h3][p][/p]

• [p]Fast-paced ARPG combat with two classes: Soldier & Adventurer[/p]
• [p]Local co-op support (up to 4 players)[/p]
• [p]A first look at the game’s 1930s pulp-adventure style, story, and atmosphere[/p]

[h3]What’s not here yet (but will be in Early Access):[/h3]

• [p]The final loot & inventory systems[/p]
• [p]Online co-op[/p]
• [p]Later Acts, additional classes, and the full skill card deck[/p]

[hr][/hr][h3]Looking Ahead – Early Access & Beyond[/h3][p][/p][p]I’ve chosen Early Access very deliberately — for me it isn’t a gimmick, it’s a necessity. I want to use it as it was meant to be: to find passionate players who want to help shape the game, and in full transparency, to help fund further development.[/p]

• [p]Current status: Right now you have the demo. Later this year, the Early Access release will follow with the same two classes and the whole of Act 1.[/p]
• [p]The road ahead (next ~2 years): I’ll continue working full-time on the game, adding:[/p]
  • [p]Four more story Acts (main quest + sidequests)[/p]
  • [p]3–4 additional classes, including at least 1 magic-focused character and 2 full melee characters[/p]
  • [p]Online co-op[/p]
  • [p]Full voice acting[/p]
  • [p]And everything else you’d expect from a complete ARPG you can enjoy with friends[/p]

[p]And I want to be transparent about our studio’s stance on pricing and content. I know that when you buy Early Access, you’re spending your hard-earned money — often money you also need for essentials in a world where everything has gotten more expensive. That means when you buy Under a Desert Sun, you will get a complete game.[/p]

• [p]No paid cosmetics[/p]
• [p]No seasonal passes that demand constant reinvestment[/p]
• [p]No microtransactions hidden in the corner[/p]

[p]The only possible extra cost in the future would be for proper expansions (DLCs), and those will always add substantial content: a new story Act, at least one new class, and a new set of items for every class.[/p][hr][/hr][h3]One last thing[/h3][p]This demo is a work-in-progress, but it’s already playable and fun — and I’d really like to hear what you think. Leave feedback, tell us what parts you enjoyed, and if you feel like it, leave a review. Early impressions matter a lot as we head toward Next Fest, but most of all they help me understand what’s working and what still needs love.[/p][p]Thanks for giving this first adventure under the desert sun a try.[/p][p]– Raymond @ Revolving Gear Studios[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]Adventure is better together. Team up with up to 4 players in local co-op and fight through tombs, deserts, and cursed ruins.
Guns, skills, and strategy combine in this 1930s-inspired Action RPG where survival means sticking together.[/p][p]🧪 Demo live – September 2025
🗓️ Early Access – October 2025
🎮 Wishlist now on Steam: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]
💬 Join the community on Discord: [/p][p]https://discord.gg/g5fK7Df[/p][p][/p]

[p]Hi everyone!
With Next Fest coming up and more people discovering the game, I thought it would be a good time to put together a Frequently Asked Questions list.
We’re posting it here once for visibility, but it will be maintained and updated in the game’s forum section — it’s pinned at the top so you can always find the latest version.[/p][hr][/hr][p]Q: Is there a roadmap?
A: Yes! You can view the current development roadmap here: [/p][p]https://www.reddit.com/r/RevolvingGearStudios/comments/1m16qd3/under_a_desert_sun_seekers_of_the_cursed_vessel/[/p][p]
It will be updated as development progresses.[/p][hr][/hr][p]Q: What will the game cost?
A: Early Access will launch at a lower price to reward early supporters, with occasional discounts. The full release will see a price increase, but it will remain below the cost of most AAA titles — offering a fair price for the amount of content and the fact that this is an indie project. Even at full price, it will be more affordable than many comparable big-team ARPGs.[/p][hr][/hr][p]Q: Will there be paid cosmetics, seasons, or other types of paid services?
A: At Revolving Gear Studios, we believe players should receive a complete game and get exactly what they paid for. The only additional paid content will be story DLCs that may include new classes and extra content. (Disclaimer: The release of DLCs depends on how well the base game performs during and after Early Access.)[/p][hr][/hr][p]Q: Will there be a loot system?
A: Yes. The plan is to include a full loot system for weapons, gear, and similar items. While the complete system will not be ready for the demo or the first Early Access release, those versions will feature placed loot drops using an early version of the system.[/p][hr][/hr][p]Q: Are there difficulty settings?
A: Currently, only the normal difficulty is available. Additional difficulty options will be added during Early Access.[/p][hr][/hr][p]Q: How long will the final game be?
A: The goal is to have a four-act structure, with each act’s main story taking about 3–4 hours to complete. In addition, there will be side quests and other activities to explore throughout the world.[/p][hr][/hr][p]Q: Who is making this?
A: Hi! I’m Raymond, and I founded Revolving Gear Studios after working on a range of hobby projects and holding various interesting jobs in IT. While I’m the primary developer, I don’t really see the “solo dev” label as anything special — modern tools and collaboration with skilled artists, musicians, and other creatives make it entirely possible to build a game this way. I work with talented people on a contract basis to bring in the expertise and assets needed to bring the world of Under a Desert Sun to life.[/p][hr][/hr][p]Q: Can I beta test the game?
A: From time to time, we look for additional testers to try out early builds. Join the Discord to see when testing opportunities are available and how you can take part![/p][hr][/hr][p]Q: How does this compare to other ARPGs?
A: While I’m inspired by the classic ARPGs of the past, my focus is on a few key things. First, fun should always come before spreadsheets and extreme grinding — I want exploration and adventure to feel just as rewarding as leveling up. Second, the story should be engaging and central, not an afterthought. And finally, for me, ARPGs have always been about playing with friends — whether on LAN or online — and feeling like you’ve been somewhere else entirely. My goal is for players to finish a session thinking, “That was an adventure… let’s do it again!”[/p][hr][/hr][p]Q: How replayable will the game be?
A: In the final release, you’ll be able to carry your character into a new game, join someone else’s game, or move on to a higher difficulty level. If sales are strong, DLC will add even more content. I also plan to release updates with additional content based on the funding available — after the four acts and all core content are complete. As for the endgame, I’m still exploring what form it will take. What’s certain is that it will fit the game’s focus on immersion and fun over pure number-crunching.[/p][hr][/hr][p]Q: Will it run on Steam Deck?[/p][p]A: Yes. The Steam Deck is one of the baseline benchmarks for the game. Currently, many areas run above 60 FPS on high settings. The aim is to maintain at least 40 FPS so players can cap the framerate at 40 for a smooth and consistent experience.[/p][p][/p][p]If your question isn’t listed here yet, feel free to ask in the comments or join the Discord community: [/p][p]https://discord.gg/g5fK7Df[/p][p][/p][p]Wishlist the game on Steam:
[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p]