Causal Loop News

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Hey there fellow explorers,[/p][p]Sorry for the radio silence from our end over the last weeks, but we are busy working to make Causal Loop experience possible. Most recently, for example, we finished recording the English voiceovers, which we will tell you more about and show you soon. Stay tuned![/p][p][/p][p]But today we're going to focus on a different topic. If you've already tried out the Causal Loop demo, then you've got a first impression of how our puzzle mechanics around the echoes work. In terms of complexity and difficulty, the demo tends to scratch the surface, as it is rather difficult to accommodate a proper learning curve in the limited playing time of a demo.[/p][p][/p][p]This often led to the question of how complex the puzzles with maximum echo numbers would become in the endgame—and this is precisely the question answered by the following commented gameplay video. It breaks down one of the later puzzles and shows you one of several possible solutions:[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]Oh, and if you're thinking, “That's supposed to be an endgame puzzle? This looks easy!”, that's because we limited ourselves to the essential steps for this video. Naturally, we don’t reveal everything you need to understand and solve the puzzle. Discovering the rest is up to you once Causal Loop is out.[/p][p][/p][p]Do you like the video? Or do you have questions or feedback? Please reach out to us on our Discord or in the Steam Community Hub. And please consider to wishlist and follow Causal Loop here on Steam. We’d greatly appreciate it, as it helps us spread the word.[/p][p]See you on Tor Ulsat, explorers!
-Kai & the Mirebound-Team[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Happy Friday fellow explorers,[/p][p]we have some good news for you today: as off now you can try out the echo-based puzzle mechanics of Causal Loop for yourself with a demo:[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]It includes a custom tutorial that gradually teaches you the basics of the mechanics you need. Also a slice of a mid-game level to introduce some of the puzzles that will be seen in the full release.[/p][p]Overall, depending on your speed and playing style, you can spend about 20-40 minutes playing our Causal Loop demo.[/p][p]Please consider providing us feedback in the online form that's linked in the demo, on our Discord or in the Steam Community Hub. And if you liked our demo please follow and wishlist Causal Loop and leave a review. That would be really appreciated and help us spreading the word.[/p][p]See you on Tor Ulsat, explorers!
-Kai & the Mirebound-Team[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Fellow explorers,[/p][p]With only three of us working on this game, every detail you'll get to see has to earn its place in our own hearts as well. This time, we want to take you deeper into one of our worldbuilding efforts we’re especially proud of: the Tor.[/p][p][/p][p]When we began designing the Tor, we wanted to create a civilization that felt lived in. One that could have risen, thrived, and ultimately collapsed, leaving only fragments for you to uncover.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Our starting point was their homeworld: Tor-Ulsat (as humans call it). It’s true name, spoken in the tongue of the Tor, has since been lost to time. Orbiting the sixth planet of its sun in the Cygnus sector of our own galaxy, Tor-Ulsat is a desolate and ragged world. A place, scarred by an extinction event that marked the beginning of the Tor's downfall.[/p][p][/p][p]1 - Laying the Foundations[/p][p]During early sketch phases, we drew inspiration from Earth’s own vanished cultures. We looked into what made them thrive, what they believed, and what traces they left behind. The goal was to make sure that if players were going to uncover the Tor, their civilization needed to feel authentic, with enough realism woven in to make them matter.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We imagined the Tor as deeply connected to nature and our idea was to have their culture revolve around a sacred oath never to violate their world. But we knew they couldn’t just be "idealized" guardians of their home planet. Their downfall had to come from within. A single, catastrophic misstep that shattered the harmony they had struggled so hard to build.[/p][p][/p][p]2 - Design Principles[/p][p]From a design point of view, we wanted the Tor to feel advanced without falling into the usual sci-fi clichés of gleaming cities or sprawling megastructures. We wanted to create spaces that feel both alien and believable. Machines hidden in caverns, temples carved into cliffsides, structures that look less “built” and more “grown into place.” This approach also gave us a way to weave their philosophy directly into the environments players will explore.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Although their way of life might appear tribal at first glance, the Tor were anything but primitive. Their civilization was powered by a unique energy source found only on their home world, and with it, they built extraordinary devices and machines. These creations were designed to ease life’s burdens, but always in balance with their oath not to damage their own ecosystem.[/p][p][/p][p]3 - Story Considerations[/p][p]We had to make sure that the Tor aren’t simply “the ancient aliens” of Causal Loop. They shouldn't just be used as a story lever, or a MacGuffin. They work more as a way to explore ambition, reverence, and the dangers of overreaching within Causal Loops main story. We grounded them in nature and technology to make sure their presence feels authentic, but mysterious at the same time, like a people who might have truly existed somewhere in our galaxy.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Of course, their tale doesn’t end here. The terrible mistake that led to their downfall is something players will uncover for themselves, piece by piece, as they explore the ruins of the Tor. Their fate is deeply entwined with Bales’ own path and what they left behind will shape the challenges he faces and the choices he must make.[/p][p][/p][p]We hope this short sneak peek gave you an insight into how the team thinks and feels about worldbuilding in Causal Loop. There’s much more to uncover though, so stay tuned.[/p][p][/p][p]Until next time and thanks for being on this journey with us![/p][p]-Kai & the Mirebound-Team[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Fellow explorers,[/p][p]gamescom was an unforgettable week for us, and that’s thanks to all of you who stopped by our booth to play the Causal Loop gamescom demo.[/p][p][/p][p]And you didn’t just play. You experimented, discovered paths we hadn’t expected, and pushed the limits of our puzzles in ways that made us go "wait, what?". We’re humbled (and still a bit shaken) from all the positive feedback.[/p][p][/p][p]Since we didn’t have a lot of time time to post updates in the past, we’ll be making it a point to share more of our process here on Steam going forward. Expect regular check-ins, insights, and a peek behind the curtain as we get closer to the final stretch.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Right now for example, our focus is on pulling the full story together so we can finally step into the recording booth with our amazing voice actors to record the rest of the game. That means combing through every line of dialogue, tightening what feels off, cutting what no longer fits, and making sure everything flows as it should. Turns out 2 years of re-writes leave you with quite some debt that is now demanding to be paid ;)[/p][p][/p][p]Until next time and thanks for being on this journey with us![/p][p]-Kai & the Mirebound-Team[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p]

Hey everyone,

We just wrapped up a new video that gives you a closer look at how Causal Loop plays.

This deep dive showcases the core puzzle mechanics, the Echo branching system, and how you'll be interacting with the ancient alien tech left behind by the Tor. We’re also teasing some early story beats and how Bale’s role as an exo-archeologist ties directly into gameplay:

[dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]
Development is moving along as planned. We're hard at work building puzzles, refining systems, and layering in secrets we're excited for you to uncover.

The team can't wait to see the wild causality loops you'll come up with.

All the best and talk very soon!
Kai & The Mirebound Team


[dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]