Knitewings News

A new playtest patch is now live, bringing several fixes and improvements to visuals, gameplay stability, and collisions.

Thanks to everyone who has been testing the game and sharing feedback — it’s helping a lot.

Fabio

Hi everyone!
A new update is now available, introducing multiple improvements to gameplay, camera behavior, tutorial flow, UI, and several technical optimizations.

This update is the direct result of playtest feedback and a focused polish pass. Here’s what’s new:

[h2]🎥 Camera & Controls[/h2]

• Added camera FOV adjustment option
  
• Reworked Camera modes:
  
  • introduced an intelligent preset system that automatically adjusts FOV and camera distance
    
  • full manual customization is still available for advanced users
    
• Improved camera behavior near screen edges, increasing the sense of freedom of movement during action-heavy moments
  

[h2]⚔️ Gameplay & Visual Feedback[/h2]

• Added an off-screen indicator for minibosses
  
• Improved the temporary power-up selection algorithm, preventing certain power-ups from being excluded during a run
  
• Added a new contextual tip before the Meteor section
  
• Further reduced in-game stuttering, thanks to an improved resource preload system
  

[h2]📘 Tutorial & Onboarding[/h2]

• Improved tutorial, now:
  
  • more immediate
    
  • clearer
    
  • better contextualized to gameplay
    
• The tutorial now starts automatically on the very first run
  
• Added an option to skip the tutorial for experienced players
  

[h2]🧭 Menu & User Interface[/h2]

• Updated menu system:
  
  • new background screen (non-AI)
    
  • new layout for menu entries
    
  • new level selection screen (Stage Map)
    

• Difficulty selection implemented (Easy / Medium / Hard)
  
  • available at the start of every new run
    

[h2]🎵 Audio & Progression[/h2]

• New original soundtrack (non-AI):
  
  • played upon mission completion
    
  • and after defeating a miniboss
    
• Added the ability to sell (refund) upgrades in the shop
  

[h2]🔧 Final Notes[/h2]
This update significantly improves:

• overall fluidity
  
• camera control and readability
  
• new player onboarding
  
• general game feel and polish
  

As always, thank you for your continued support and feedback — it’s essential for improving the game.

Enjoy the update and see you in-game! 💪

Hi everyone!

I’ve just released a new original track from the Knitewings™ soundtrack: “A New Dawn”.

It’s a fast and energetic piece that plays after victory — not a battle theme, but the feeling of having won and flying on.

🎧 You can listen to it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YnqZI4xJZ0

Thanks for the continued support and wishlists — they really make a difference 🙏

Fabio

Hi everyone,
this is one of the most substantial updates so far, bringing a mix of new gameplay features, quality-of-life improvements, visual clarity enhancements, cutscenes, and major performance optimizations.

Below is a complete overview of what’s new.

[h2]⚔️ Gameplay & Combat Improvements[/h2]

[h3]🌙 Melee Indicator (Crescent Gauge)[/h3]

A new crescent-shaped indicator has been added to clearly communicate melee availability and timing.
This improves readability during intense combat situations and makes melee usage more precise and satisfying.

[h3]☄️ Improved Meteor Section Readability[/h3]

The meteor sequence has been refined with a clear visual reference that shows the damage radius.
This makes the danger zone immediately understandable, reducing frustration while preserving challenge.

[h2]🧠 User Interface & Quality of Life[/h2]

[h3]✅ Confirm Button in Upgrade Panel[/h3]

The upgrade screen now includes a Confirm button, alongside Skip.
This gives players full control over their choices and avoids accidental selections.

[h3]🎧 Dodge Recharge Audio Feedback[/h3]
Two new sound cues have been introduced:

• one during dodge recharge
  
• one when the dodge is fully recharged
  

This allows players to rely less on UI elements and more on audio feedback during fast-paced gameplay.

[h3]💡 Tips System[/h3]

A new Tips system has been added to help players better understand mechanics and controls.
Tips can be enabled or disabled at any time from the options menu.

[h2]🎬 Narrative & Presentation[/h2]

[h3]🎥 New Cutscenes[/h3]

Cutscenes have been introduced:

• at the start of the level
  
• before the final boss encounter
  

These additions strengthen the narrative flow and improve the overall presentation without interrupting gameplay.

[h2]🕹️ Platform Support[/h2]
[h3]✅ Steam Deck Support[/h3]

The game is now fully playable on Steam Deck, with optimizations and fixes to ensure a smooth experience on the device.

[h2]⚙️ Performance & Technical Improvements[/h2]
[h3]🚀 Level of Detail (LOD) for Heavy Models[/h3]
Heavy environment models now use proper LOD setups, reducing GPU and CPU load, especially in large scenes.

[h3]💥 Optimized Destructible Objects[/h3]
Destructible objects have been reworked using a new DestructibleKinematic system:

• fragments are loaded only when the object is hit
  
• once destroyed, the result is merged back into a single mesh
  

This significantly reuces memory usage and draw calls.

[h3]🧩 GameMachine Optimizations[/h3]
Several internal systems have been optimized to reduce unnecessary updates and improve execution efficiency.

[h2]🔧 Additional Improvements[/h2]
Alongside the changes above, this update also includes many small refinements and fixes that improve overall polish and consistency.

Thank you all for playing and for your continued support 🙏
As always, feedback is welcome!

— Fabio