Helrift News

[p]Introducing James aka Vamp, the solo developer for Helrift. With testing phase approaching and early access on the horizon, it's time to meet the mind behind this project.[/p][p][/p][h3]What is your role?[/h3][p]I wear many hats. Developer, Architect, InfoSec, Artist to name a few! [/p][p][/p][h3]Where does your passion for game development come from?[/h3][p]As a gamer myself, I spent a long time being an ideas guy. I always wanted to make games, and I built the skills to put it into action over the course of my career. Now is the time for me to have a good go at realising my potential, but also putting something out there that like-minded people really enjoy.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Why Helrift?[/h3][p]I was heavily involved in the Helbreath community in my teens, building multiple successful servers and rebuilding it entirely in C# XNA. There was something exciting about a fast-paced PvP isometric game that got me hooked.[/p][p]When I went in to my career, I stopped working on serious game development but kept an eye on the community for many years. It wasn’t until I had a health scare in 2024 that I decided to do something I’ve always wanted to do, which was to create games. What better way to start than revitalising my childhood game.[/p][p][/p][h3]What makes Helrift stand out from other games in this genre?[/h3][p]I saw a gap in the market for a smaller-scale PvP-focused isometric RPG. This allows us to focus on tight balancing and group fights which lets seasoned and new players join large, exciting battles. Games like PoE and Diablo are still very popular, but don’t scratch that competitive itch.[/p][p]There is something satisfying about old-school point-and-click hack-and-slash. Its predictive and responsive, and helps level the playing field between players of varying pings.[/p][p]Since I had remade Helbreath in the past, I thought… hey, this will be easy! Spoiler alert; MMORPGs are not easy. But I am determined to finally realise my dream of publishing my first game.[/p][p][/p][h3]What is the most stressful part of being a solo game developer?[/h3][p]Time management. Scope creep can be a real killer, because there are so many ideas I want to implement and often get side-tracked. Having a family and full time job also means I need to stay focused and push through mind block without getting burned out.[/p][p]For Helrift, scalability is the biggest challenge. The infrastructure and architecture have moved on since the old days. And with a bigger distribution platform like Steam, I have to be prepared for every situation.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Tell us about a memorable moment for you so far in this game's journey[/h3][p]It was pushing the very first GIF to discord. I remember having a very basic 3D character perform the same female casting animation from Helbreath, on top of the Helbreath isometric tiles. Sharing with the community has definitely helped drive the project forward and given me the motivation to finish.[/p][p]There have been many Helbreath inspired projects rise and fall over the years, but none that have actually captured the original magic. I put a lot of effort into staying true to my vision, and a year later I am starting to see the fruits of my labour.[/p][p][/p][h3]Is there anything you like to do when you’re not working or playing games?[/h3][p]I'm an avid sailor! I have a boat moored near the Thames in the UK. Sailing is a very slow process with a lot of downtime. A complete opposite to the high-pressure world of game development and my career as a principal architect, but it really helps to put all the tech down every once in a while and just enjoy the outdoors.[/p][p][/p][h3]What is your ultimate goal for Helrift?[/h3][p]I would be lying if I said I didn’t want Helrift to become immensely popular, but I’d at least like to have a tight-night community of like-minded individuals that help grow the game and bring this style of old-school hack-and-slash to new generations of gamers.[/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p]This outlines major content and quality-of-life improvements giving the travellers of Helrift more to do, explore, fight and achieve.[/p][p][/p][p]The roadmap outlines four key areas of development and each will be accompanied by detailed patch notes, polls, and testing. Below we share some detail on what is coming and our overall direction for Helrift. [/p][p][/p][p]Thank you for being part of our journey so far.[/p][p][/p][h2]Early Access[/h2][p]Our priority is to release Helrift into early access so you, the players, can shape and enjoy the world. This is planned once development on The Crusade is complete.[/p][p][/p][h2]The Crusade; Intense PvP Warfare[/h2][p]A legendary large-scale, faction-driven PvP conflict that defines the war between Aresden and Elvine. At fixed times, both sides rally their forces to invade enemy towns and gain Enemy Kills (EK’s).[/p][p]Victory grants faction-wide buffs, exclusive titles, and access to powerful resources, but only one Town can dominate the battlefield. [/p][p]Prepare to march, fight, die, and rise again… in the Helrift era, Crusades are ritualized warfare, sanctioned by both councils. They are not random battles; they are organized, measured, and horribly efficient.[/p][p][/p][h2]Map Expansion[/h2][p]Helrift’s world grows larger as we introduce a new region and biome beyond the known borders of the Middleland. This brings new landscapes, creatures, resources, exploration challenges and somewhere new for PvP.[/p][p]Expect a biome distinct from anything in the current world: new weather patterns, unique environmental hazards, and secrets layered into the terrain. A foundation for future adventures and events.[/p][p]A new frontier is calling, are you brave enough to explore?[/p][p][/p][h2]The Rift; A Lore-Forged World Event[/h2][p]At the heart of Helrift’s mythology lies The Rift, a catastrophic tear in reality that reshaped the world and continues to pulse with unstable arcane power. Towards the end of 2026 players will witness its influence firsthand with a dynamic world event.[/p][p]The Rift opens unpredictable anomalies across the land, warping creatures, shifting magical energy, and spawning challenges that demand immediate response. Some anomalies grant rare opportunities; others threaten entire regions if left unchecked. Players must band together to stabilise the chaos or harness it.[/p][p]The Rift has never been quiet. Now, it’s awakening.[/p][p][/p][h2]Content & Improvements[/h2][p]We will continue to develop new content and meaningful improvements designed to enrich your game experience. Throughout the year, players can expect improvements and expansions to multiple systems; from fresh spells and gear options to new monster types and world interaction.[/p][p]This is part of our commitment to evolving Helrift into a more enjoyable, more dynamic world shaped by player feedback and game lore. Together, these updates strengthen the core of Helrift’s PvP experience.[/p]

[p]We are moving closer to a closed public test! Right now, we are focused on internal testing, identifying and fixing bugs, refining systems, populating maps and ensuring everything runs smoothly before opening the doors for wider testing.[/p][p][/p][h2]Internal Testing[/h2][p]During a 3-hour playtest from character creation to visiting the Dockmaster to travel to Aresden or Elvine, we identified 12 bugs and 26 feedback items. All issues are being addressed to make the game as reliable as possible, allowing for wider testing to focus on PvP and balancing. [/p][p][/p][p]Bugs need squashing![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We also added Bronze Armour to strengthen early-game balance and progression. It bridges the gap between starting gear and tougher encounters on Traveller's Island, giving new players a smoother, more rewarding path through their first quests and encounters.[/p][p][/p][h2]Making Helrift Faster and More Reliable [/h2][p]After a few 3:00am finishes Vamp has built a brand-new Gate System for Helrift! Think of it as a smart front door to the game: it handles player logins, keeps track of accounts, characters, guilds, and even cosmetics, and then guides players to the right part of the world. By separating the “front door” (Gate System) from the world itself (Game Servers), Helrift can now:[/p]

• [p]Handle lots of players logging in at once without slowing down the game[/p]
• [p]Keep player data safe, consistent, and free from duplication[/p]
• [p]Easily expand the world in the future with more game servers[/p][p][/p]

[h2]Backend and login improvements[/h2][p]We’re moving to Steam logins and work is underway to make this fully functional.[/p][p]Additionally, items are being separated from characters in the database, meaning item operations happen independently. This removes the possibility of duplication and allows us to track individual items across the world.[/p][p][/p][h2]Game Content and Features[/h2][p][/p][p]Occlusion[/p][p]In top-down combat, it’s easy for other players or mobs to become hidden behind buildings, trees, or terrain features. [/p][p]With the new occlusion system, characters that move behind objects can now be seen. This allows players to maintain situational awareness without breaking immersion, particularly during fast-paced PvP battles.[/p][p][/p][p]Clothing Dyes[/p][p]Whether you want to match your guild colours, stand out in town, or just express your style, clothing dyes give you the freedom to look the way you want.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Next Steps[/h2]

• [p]Continue internal testing and bug fixes.[/p]
• [p]Prepare for closed public testing on Steam.[/p]
• [p]Expand and refine systems based on internal feedback.[/p]