Volcanoids News

[p]Appreciate all the support on the previous location preview!

Got another one this week for y'all and I think it might be my favorite one yet.

Check it out:
[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]
Before the catastrophe, Wrenchlow was a humble working-class town named after miner James Wrenchlow, whose statue stood at its center above a secret rebel base, the Lead Lanterns. The group operated under the nose of their overseer, Doc. Victor Rawensdale, gathering evidence of strange shipments, restricted mine areas, and underground structures, aided by an insider known as “Captain.” Weeks before devastating earthquakes struck, families evacuated, leaving mostly men to work. When the quakes hit, the reinforced bunker beneath the statue spared the remaining townsmen. Afterward, the Lead Lanterns revealed their findings, but Ironwealth’s power silenced any change. The town was abandoned, overgrown by nature, while the ruined bunker still lies hidden beneath the statue, guarding relics of a past few survived to remember.[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]Got a look at another location for you this week.

But first off, thank you for all the love on the Steamroller post, really glad you like it!

As far as some of the suggested features go:

Upgrades are already in process.[/p][p]

So are hands on the wheel in FP mode as far as I know.

And will make sure to include the motion blur disable option in settings.

So thanks again for all the feedback and enjoy the location preview! [/p][h2]
Darksaddle [/h2][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]
Once a quiet, ash-covered landmark known as Darksaddle, the area gained strategic importance when Ironwealth uncovered a seemingly endless supply of coal during railroad expansion. This discovery led to the rapid construction of a massive mining rig, turning the hill into a noisy industrial hub powered by steampunk engines. Despite its location in a tourist region, Ironwealth pressed on, installing sound barriers to contain the disruption. When the catastrophic earthquakes struck, chaos erupted—surface workers fled toward Rosegate Port, but many miners below were trapped as an underground lake flooded the shafts. In the aftermath, erosion and landslides steadily dismantle the once-imposing facility. Nature has begun reclaiming the site: machines rust, vines overgrow the rig, and a pond now rests beneath the structure—a quiet monument to the cost of progress.[/p]

[p]First off, thank you all so much for all the kind words under the last post, means the world![/p][p][/p][p]Second, the Steamroller got a bunch of cool updates so let's take a look: [/p][p][/p][h2]Motion Blurrrrrr[/h2][p]Gave the speed boost a bit more oomph with some motion blur and zoom out effect. Here's a comparison: [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h2]Roadkills[/h2][p]Bullying COGs has never been easier with roadkills now working. Depending on your speed, you will either stun them, or trash them into pieces hehe. [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h2]Drillship Docking[/h2][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h2]First Person?[/h2][p]Kinda chaotic, kinda like it.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]Twitter and Discord saw these first![/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[h2]Ravensdale Mansion[/h2][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]Once a remote cliffside retreat for Doc. Victor Ravensdale—founder of Ironwealth Industries and overseer of operations on Adranos Island—Ravensdale Mansion served both as a residence and a secure hub for sensitive research tied to nearby facilities like Darksaddle, Rosegate Port, and the Imperial Rose. Aware of the island’s volcanic instability and covert underground activities, Ravensdale had a hidden bunker built beneath the mansion, where he moved his office to protect vital information. During the catastrophic event, he and his family took refuge there, believing it would withstand the disaster. However, the cliff itself fractured, splitting the mansion and bunker as the land crumbled into the ocean. Now lost beneath the rubble, the shattered bunker holds crucial secrets and advanced technologies—making its recovery a key goal for any future expedition. [/p][h2]
QnA

[/h2][p]Saw a bunch of questions under the last post so going to try and address them here. [/p][p][/p][p]ETA on the update?

TLDR:

We hope to make it happen this year.

Longer version:

It's been a while and the truth is, we underestimated how much work this update would take.

Changing the island from ground up touches so many systems that the work kept piling up. However, we promised you guys, who have invested into us, to deliver the new island. And we want to keep that promise no matter how long it takes. We've never done an update of this scale and it feels like making a whole new game at times.

Another reason for the delay is that releasing this update is going to be a big opportunity for the game to catch a second wind so we don't want to half ass it. As mentioned in previous Steam posts, the plan is to release the first area in the upcoming update, and then the next areas in quick succession. Those updates won't have such big gaps in between them since the foundation will already be laid.

We completely understand that having such a long gap between updates is frustrating and we hope it's going to be worth it in the end. If you’ve stuck around this long, thank you, it means a lot.

Why do the graphics look like this?

Everything you see is either a placeholder or unfinished, lighting and textures will become a priority once the level design is set for each destination because that's the easiest part.

Are you just making a prettier island and that's it?

The island will indeed look much better, but aside from that each location will be unique and have something to offer. Be it interactable elements (such being able to repair the cannon inside the bunker), lore elements to uncover that backstory of the island (something that is completely missing right now), boss fights, or unique items.

Leaving EA?

As much as we would like to, until the island is released, we won't consider the game worthy of the 1.0 label.


If you got any more questions, let us know below! [/p]

[p]Coming at you this week with another port location!

Which is (was) the home port of the one and only Imperial Rose [/p][p][/p][p]Enjoy! [/p][p][/p][h2]ROSEGATE PORT[/h2][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h3]Origin[/h3][p]The home harbor of The Imperial Rose was Ironwealth’s crown jewel—a thriving port city perched on a cliff, purpose-built to support the massive cruise liner. Outfitted with its own train station, hotels, cafés, and restaurants, the port handled constant streams of passengers and cargo. A dead-end cargo rail track enabled quick offloading of supplies, while tugboats and cranes ensured efficient turnarounds. Every cruise began and ended here, and the port’s image became a symbol of luxury and escape, featured in posters across nearby villages.
[/p][h3]During the Catastrophic Event:[/h3][p]As earthquakes grew in strength, panicked crowds surged into the harbor hoping to board The Imperial Rose. With Orchard Port cut off by falling rocks, Rosegate Port became the island’s last hope. But when a section of the pier collapsed, access to the ship became narrow and dangerous. Despite desperate efforts by tugboats to push the vessel out, strong waves and volcanic tremors hindered escape. Ultimately, the captain made the painful decision to depart, leaving many behind. A volcanic blast struck the ship’s hull, causing it to take on water and run aground near the harbor.[/p][h3]
After the Catastrophic Event:[/h3][p]In the eruption’s aftermath, a massive landslide from the cliffs destroyed the train station, buried the roads, and severed all access routes. Large chunks of the cliff fell into the sea, further damaging infrastructure. Amid the devastation, a hidden tunnel entrance to underground caves emerged, hinting at secrets beneath the ruined harbor. Once a gateway to adventure and luxury, the port now lay in ruins—haunted by the echoes of its final, desperate voyage.


P.S.

Did a poll on our Discord asking which location has been your favorite so far, and the Stormwatch Bastion won by a mile.

[/p][p][/p][p]Curious to see what you guys think, let us know below! [/p]