Due to a major change in core cxploration, Witchfire Early Access will be delayed to 2023 to add open-world combat. The dark fantasy game was previously scheduled for a Q4 2022 release, but plans have been changed. Now the game will feature an open-world style instead of the usual roguelite arena style originally proposed for the game.
Witchfire's developer, The Astronauts, has been updating fans on the game since 2020. The first updates involved improvements to combat sessions, testing out arenas, and making sure it wasn’t too easy or difficult for players. The developers came across a snag with lighting issues, which stalled the process but managed to release some new screenshots of the game with a playtest to follow shortly after. In June of this year, they released a trailer and announced their Early Access release details at Summer Game Fest.
After its previous announcement stating that the Early Access version of Witchfire will be released in the last part of 2022, the game has now been pushed to 2023. However, it’s worth mentioning that no official date or year overall has been set, rather, the team is now aiming for an early 2023 release - no guarantees. The Astronauts made the announcement in a recent blog post that the decision came after long consideration about a new approach to game barriers. Previously, Witchfire’s world was developed in a classic rogue-lite way, meaning there were set areas where players would battle monsters and then move on to the next confined arena with limited exploration involved. This is not to say that Witchfire did not contain an immersive environment, just that most environmental objects were purely visual, and the barriers prevented players from venturing past the designated area.
Despite previously stating that the rogue-lite barriers kept Witchfire true to the game design goal, the team eventually agreed that the background visuals were wasted exploration potential. Now, The Astronauts has mentioned the open-world feature is near completely implemented without sacrificing game difficulty, such as the witch traps and locked doors. Players can now put themselves in dangerous situations if they venture too close to a boss arena they are not ready, but the world is now open to explore. The developer also has something planned in a couple of weeks to share more about the story and world. The event is called “Witchfire Halloween Week.” So, more news to come in the future.
Witchfire has come a long way in its development since it was first announced back in 2017. Initially, the announcement was all fans had to work with, as the development updates went quiet for five years. Though the blog updates have been helpful, it wasn’t until after the first sneak peek at the game’s first trailer that proved that all the waiting wasn’t for nothing. Now, with the new open-world approach, even more potential for a unique rogue-lite gaming experience has been unlocked, maybe even shaping the genre into something fresh while also maintaining the expected classic qualities.
Witchfire will launch in 2023 for PC.
Source: The Astronauts