NOTABLE CHANGES

• Added a Deployment Phase: choose which runes to bring into battle. Minimum deck size is 20. Smaller decks support match-focused builds, while larger decks grant combat bonuses. This now lets you add new runes to your deck without worrying you are diluting out your match potential.

• Banes now auto-discard at the end of your turn from your hand. They no longer cost energy to play, addressing player feedback.

• Phoenix banish mechanic has been replaced with a discard effect, addressing player feedback.

BUG FIXES

• Fixed an issue where rune tooltips in the Nexus deck view wouldn’t disable until changing scenes.

• Fixed cursor trail artifacts on non-16:9 monitors.

• Fixed Serpent’s Gift talisman not granting 3 random rare runes.

• Fixed Cleanse Sigil not clearing Paralyze grid effects after removing the bane.

• Fixed cases where paralyzed runes could still be matched.

• Fixed Bane Seer intent tooltip not displaying properly.

• Fixed Darkforge Helm not triggering on the first battle turn.

• Fixed some tooltips persisting on the reward screen.

• Fixed several controller navigation issues in the shop and battle UI.

BALANCE CHANGES

• The Scribe now allows you to duplicate a common into a three-of-a-kind.

• Gain a free Wildrune after winning the Elite encounter.

• Normal difficulty slightly easier. Hard and Extreme slightly harder.

• Hexes removed from Normal mode. They now appear only in Hard and Extreme.

• Mirkwoods enemies are now minions. Defeating the rear enemy ends the fight.

• Reduced frequency of “Lose HP” mechanics in Phoenix rune sets as they did not work well with legendary form's reduced HP.

QUALITY OF LIFE

• Added a Codex display accessible during battle, explaining all modifier terms (e.g., Fleeting).

• Replaced placeholder portal music with new tracks from our in-house composer.

• Added an Aura tag to all aura-type runes for easier identification.

• Runes ignited by Fire Banes now display a tooltip showing they deal 2 self-damage when played.

Champions, welcome to the sixth faction analysis! 

For this report, we turn our attention from the apocalyptic fury of Strife to a faction defined by its imperturbable revenge: Silence. 

Continue for crucial intel on the lore and art of the Silence faction: the calculated retribution of a shattered civilization. This nation of nomadic mystics, lethal scribes, and netherworld assassins is ready to deliver a silent strike that will be felt across the world. 

Silence

Lore

• Population: Approximately 1 million 

• Capital: None (formerly Steelgate) 

• Governing Body: None - The Viper Empress, Old Man of the Mountain, Steelgate Legacy and Amon Dusk all share control over a loose alliance of various groups. 

• Notable Locations: The Ruins of Steelgate, Bhatoun Oasis, the Royal Crèche, the Sacred Peaks 

Within the scorched deserts of Terrene Gall stands the ruins of Steelgate. Once a magnificent, shimmering metropolis, it was long revered as a neutral oasis – a city of Elven mystics, monks, and scribes whose serene existence was untouched by the campaigns of the Second Great War. The August Kin, its diligent laborers, kept the libraries and archives flourishing. 

That peace was obliterated. In a reckless, territorial clash between the forces of Eclipse and Scales, Steelgate was ground zero. When the last volley ended and the dust settled, the majestic city was reduced to ash and rubble. From that wreckage, a new hardened people emerged: The Nation of Silence.  

The transformation was absolute. Once-peaceful scribes and monks no longer pore over ancient texts; They now forge infernal contracts and bind themselves to ancient souls as a desperate means of survival. The August Kin, once gentle research assistants, have become lethal poison manufacturers and dedicated warriors. Every fiber of their old life is now a weapon. 

The treacherous tundras of the Sunken Hollows and the blighted No Man’s Land of Scales may seem a formidable barrier to most armies... but not the quiet assassins of Silence. Their strategy is not frontal war; it is calculated, surgical retribution. Will their quiet fury be felt across the entire world? 

Art/Inspiration 

With Steelgate destroyed, Silence has adopted a nomadic life in the deserts and barren lands of Terrene Gall, where they can more easily commune with the dead. Before departing, they salvaged all the knowledge they could; carrying more than seems comfortable: packs heavy with books and scrolls, water bottles, and the occasional vial of life-ending poison.  

Technology 

The overall faction, tends to wrap themselves in layers of light-colored robes, leaving very little skin exposed to protect from the sun. 

The Netherworld Warriors, summoned by the Elven scribes and monks, have visually apparent connections to the spirit world, they may have a sword in place of an arm, and their forms distort easily; especially when performing a dramatic motion of some sort. They often seem to ‘trail off’ into nothingness around the bottom half of their body, allowing them to blend seamlessly with the dust and shadows. 

The August kin, servants to the Elven members of Silence, are humanoid in shape but have pronounced lizard features (head shape, skin, tails, claws, etc.). They wear little to no clothing, relying instead on belts and harnesses that help them carry their weapons and equipment. 

Environment

Silence dwells within deserts punctuated by small oases of exotic greenery and ponds - simple displays of beauty they relish amidst the expanse. Their structures are a beautiful and haunting fusion of Middle Eastern and Asian architecture, creating a unique Elven aesthetic. This design features smooth, arcing lines that form subtle elegant patterns.  

The sky above their land is remarkably clear, bordering unnaturally on the intensity of deep nighttime, which suggests a proximity to the ethereal plan from which they draw their power. Will their quiet fury be felt across the entire world or will their calculated war of shadows remain a silent, deadly secret.

The "Museum" card will be added to MACHI KORO.

This exciting new card allows you to collect 2 coins from every player for each Landmark they own.

Don't give up if you're behind! The Museum could be the game-changer that allows you to stage a magnificent comeback and snatch victory. 🏛️💰

But hopefully your day 1 experience can be made all the smoother with our new tutorial courses! Today we've got the first in our course series, Here's Everything You Need To Know Before You Unpause Europa Universalis V, with more coming in the near future. (You'll have to excuse us, some of the more advanced in the series will come after launch)

A link to the full course can be found via: https://pdxint.at/LearnEU5

We've also got a timezone release map prepared for you so you can know exactly when EU5 goes live in your local timezone.

Lastly, and keeping in the spirit of things being short and sweet with this post, we'd encourage you to check out our pre-release stream VOD if you didn't have the chance to tune in live:

That's all for now! We can't wait to hear your stories when the game comes out on November 4th.

- Ryagi
Community Manager @ Paradox Tinto

Dear friends,

We’ve just added the first 30 exclusive witch cosplay photos inspired by Knightly Passions directly to the Bonus Pack on Steam!

The beautiful Lady Melamori brings the witch character to life in a series of elegant and sensual shots.
Expect moody, mysterious, and spicy 18+ scenes that capture the true magic of temptation.

📸 All photos are provided in high resolution (7952x5304 and 5304x7952).
✨ The content is available to all owners of the Knightly Passions — Bonus Pack (Witch Cosplay).

You can purchase it here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2933520/Knightly_Passions_Bonus_Pack/Thank you for your continued support and passion! ❤️

This is the Voice Actors Update!
For now, only some scenes have been recorded and implemented.
In every patch leading up to 1.0, new voiceovers will be added.
Some of the script will be reworked for this update series.
Other features planned for 1.0:
♦ More Companion interactions.
♦ Art and Music Galleries.
♦ New Areas.
♦ New Encounters.
♦ Blood Dungeon expansion.
♦ TRUE ENDING.

The goal is to have 1.0 released on 2026 Valentine's Day! ♥
Thank you for supporting this project!

PS: There's a Rose Bullet Survey!
Feel free to take it! Your input is very helpful for the game's development.

When we launched the Crispy Circuits Steam page, we didn’t know what to expect. But wow, your reactions have been incredible.

We’ve seen so many kind messages, wishlists, and shares… it means the world to our tiny team. And with this new wave of attention (hi, new friends! 👋), we sat down to talk about the best way to stay connected with all of you.

So here’s what we came up with — a few different ways to keep up, depending on what kind of player you are.

Right here will always be our home base.

We’ll keep posting updates, behind-the-scenes peeks, and fun stuff for everyone. It’s our little cozy clubhouse, and you’re all invited.

Join our email list:

👉 Subscribe

We’ll send one email per month, max. No spam. Just meaningful updates - the kind we’d want to receive ourselves.

Email subscribers will also get first access to future betas, sneak peeks, and other early goodies. It’s our way of saying thanks to the folks who want to go a little deeper with us.

Find us on Bluesky:

👉 + Follow

We’ll be posting little news bites, milestones, and big moments there - perfect if you just want to check in from time to time.

Does one of these match how you like to follow games?

We’d really love to make sure Crispy Circuits reaches everyone who might enjoy it - whether you want deep dives, short updates, or just want to hang out in a cozy corner of Steam.

Thanks again for all the support — it really keeps us going. More exciting stuff soon!

– Marko and the whole Crispy Circuits team 🐹✨

The doors of Arcane Merchant have finally opened on Steam!
Step into the role of a mystical shopkeeper in a medieval fantasy realm — trade magical items, sell enchanted weapons and fill your shelves with wonders.

Our goal is to create a warm immersive experience where every item tells a story and every customer shapes your journey.

Add Arcane Merchant to your Wishlist to follow the journey toward release and get notified when the demo launches!

Join our growing community:
• Discord — Share your feedback and ideas
• Twitter / X — Follow for development updates
• TikTok / Instagram — Behind-the-scenes clips and magical moments

The upcoming demo will introduce the foundation of Arcane Merchant’s world — a first taste of running your own magical store.

• Build and decorate your first shop from scratch.
• Experiment with pricing and discover how fame affects customer flow and sales.
• Explore a limited version of the Research Tree unlocking basic upgrades and new shelf types to expand your shop.

Every small action — from how you arrange your shelves to how you set your prices — will define your early success.

The world of Arcane Merchant will expand far beyond the walls of your humble shop.

As your reputation grows the quiet town around you will begin to open — revealing new opportunities, strange encounters and secrets waiting to be uncovered. You’ll step outside your store to manage and upgrade the surrounding buildings each adding new layers of depth to your growing merchant’s life.

Inside the shop things won’t stay ordinary either. You’ll be able to hire loyal assistants to help manage the flow of customers handle stock and keep your shelves in order. Yet not everything will go as planned — the world of magic has its quirks and sometimes even the most peaceful day behind the counter can turn unexpectedly... lively.

Beyond the town gates adventurers will venture into unknown lands bringing back rare treasures and legendary artifacts for you to trade.

In the full release Arcane Merchant transforms from a cozy shop simulation into a living fantasy world — where every upgrade every encounter and every strange event tells a new story in the life of a merchant bound by magic and ambition.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4086760/

Add Arcane Merchant to your Wishlist and join us on this journey to create the most enchanting merchant experience possible. Thank you for being here at the very beginning of this adventure! 🌟