Dec 23, 2024

Driveloop: Survivors - Driveloop

🚗💥 The Driveloop Playtest Has Ended! 💥🚗

Hello everyone!

We’ve officially closed the playtest, and we’re thrilled with how it went. A massive thank you to everyone who participated, tested, and provided feedback. Your input has been invaluable in shaping the future of Driveloop. Let’s dive into how it went and what’s next!

Playtest Recap

The playtest was our first opportunity to show off Driveloop in its early stages, and the reception was amazing. Here’s what we focused on and the feedback we received:

Players loved the chaotic mix of drifting, ramming, and shooting, but there’s still room for improvement in balancing and pacing.
The placeholder boss was a frequent topic of discussion, and we’re happy to confirm that more unique and challenging bosses are coming soon!
Many players highlighted the importance of better visual feedback, like making the health bar more noticeable, which we’re already addressing.
We also received feedback on the game’s sound design and pickup mechanics, and tweaks in those areas are on the way.

Your feedback was essential in identifying areas to improve, and we’ve already made several adjustments based on your input.

How We Organized the Playtest

The playtest ran over multiple weekends, with access gradually rolled out to participants. Here’s how we managed it:

Playtests were live from 00:00 GMT+1 Fridays to 23:59 GMT+1 Sundays, giving players a focused time window to engage with the game.
Players who gained access for one playtest kept their access for the subsequent sessions.
We also encouraged discussions and feedback in our Discord, creating a space for players to connect with us directly and with each other.

Feedback and Adjustments

Here are some key points we’ve already addressed or are working on, based on player feedback:

Health Bar Visibility: The health bar will be moved and resized to make it easier to spot during intense moments.
Ramming Feedback: The explosion effect for ramming will be unique in future updates, differentiating it from weapon kills.
Placeholder Boss: The Golem boss is temporary, and more exciting, polished bosses are in development.
Minimap Improvements: We’re adding extraction markers and increasing the visibility of map edges.
Vehicle Handling: We’re reviewing drifting stability and control to make it more dynamic and satisfying.
Sound Design: The car hit sound has been updated, and concurrent sounds are now limited to reduce choppiness.
XP Balancing: Progression will be adjusted to feel more rewarding as we expand the game’s content.
Manual Aiming Crosshair: A gamepad-compatible crosshair with a small aim assist is in the works.

What’s Next?

The playtest has given us a clear direction for improvements. Here’s what’s coming next:

Better feedback for pickups, including sound effects and visual indicators.
Reworking the ramming shield to make its mechanics clearer and more intuitive.
Adding map-specific mechanics and adjustments to make each area feel unique.
Refining UI navigation and controller support to ensure a smoother experience.
Introducing more content, including new cars, enemies, and abilities, to expand gameplay variety.

Thank you again for all the amazing feedback and for helping us make Driveloop the best it can be. This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to continue this journey with you.

Want to stay involved? Join our community on Discord to share your thoughts, connect with other players, and get updates on the game’s progress:

👉 https://discord.gg/YjGATbJeg9

We’re excited about what’s next and can’t wait to bring more chaos to your screens soon! 🚗🔥

Dec 23, 2024

12/26 Patch Details (Updated on 12/26 9:40 AM UTC / 1:40 AM PST)

ASTRA: Knights of Veda - es-mhyang

Masters of the Book,

A new update to ASTRA: Knights of Veda will be released on December 26, 2024!

Read below to find out more about what this update will bring to the game.

■ From the flames, rise the newest 5★ Knight of Veda, Anais

"Now, I… want to help, together with Yor"

Lady Liongray, the companion of the eternal flame bird, has always remained true to her duty as a member of the Knights of Boden. As a knight, not as the youngest daughter of House Liongray, she endeavors to rescue those in need. With a compassionate heart yearning for peace, Anais will relentlessly work towards realizing her dreams

- “Anais” is a Fire-type Ranged Healer wielding a Wand & Orb. Anais is a healer who sacrifices a portion of her HP to boost ATK while simultaneously reviving vulnerable allies during her attacks. Her Normal Skill, "Radiant Flames of Life," allows the summoned Yor to unleash fireballs that pierce enemies and deal additional DMG when they explode. Her Signature Skill, "Wings of Eternal Flames," allows the summoned Yor to fly, dealing DMG to enemies in its path while granting a healing feather that heals allies.
- During the Pickup Hero Event, when a 5★ Knight of Veda or an Exclusive Weapon is summoned, the selected Hero or Weapon will appear with a 100% chance.

* In an endlessly deep abyss lies nightmares untold. The new “Nightmare of the Abyss” will be added to the game in this update
- ”Nightmare of the Abyss” is similar to “Veda’s Nightmare,” but features stronger enemies and the “Abyssal Trials” that will present a formidable obstacle to all Masters of the Book.
- ”Nightmare of the Abyss” can be unlocked after completing the World Quest, available after clearing Adventure Zone Chapter 9, Stage 12, and accessed through Veda’s Nightmare.
- You will be able to participate Solo or through Co-Op using either Normal, and Squad Battles.
- As shown on the image below, you will be able to see the unlocked “Nightmare of the Abyss” through the button shown.

- In the “Nightmare of the Abyss,” monsters are more ferocious than those from the existing Veda’s Nightmare, and additional obstacles are introduced. The higher the Abyssal Level, the more powerful the enemies you will face and the more Abyssal Trials you will accumulate. But you’ll receive more rewards for that.
- The ”Nightmare of the Abyss,” has up to twenty (20) stages, with the available stages increasing or decreasing based on the results of the dungeon clears.
- When a “Nightmare of the Abyss” stage is cleared, a random Veda’s Nightmare stage will then be chosen to become an Abyss Nightmare.
- As a reward for clearing Nightmare of the Abyss, you can obtain the new equipment, ‘Goddess’s Armor.’ The higher the level you clear, the higher the grade of ‘Goddess’s Armor’ you can acquire.

* A new equipment type “Goddess’s Armor” will be added.
- “Goddess’s Armor” is a new equipment obtainable on the new “Nightmare Dungeon of the Deep Abyss.” By equipping this item, you will be able to enhance your Knights of Veda’s survivability. The “Goddess’s Armor” is classified according to different roles: Tank, DPS, Support, and Healer.
- The new equipment, ‘Goddess’s Armor,’ is available up to the legendary grade. Higher-grade ‘Goddess’s Armor’ can be obtained depending on the abyss level cleared in ‘Nightmare of the Deep.’
- You can equip “Goddess’s Armor” on the Equipment Tab.
- Achievements related to “Goddess’s Armor” have also been added to the game.

* “Pickup All-Out” returns, this time for good. Check out the new “Guided by the Stars” and “Weapons Awakened Under the Stars” Call of the Stars.
- On the new “Guided by the Stars” Call of the Stars, you will be able to summon Season 1 5★ Pickup Knights of Veda while on the “Weapons Awakened Under the Stars” Call of the Stars, you will be able to summon their respective Exclusive Weapons.
- The new Call of the Stars also include the Knight of Veda “Rhynara” and her Exclusive Weapon.
- The “Grace of the Holy Grail” count for these new Call of the Stars is separate from those of the Pickup Hero Event and the Fallen Wing of Veda Call of the Stars.
- Each new Call of the Stars also offer bonus rewards based on the number of summons made on them, allowing you to choose and guarantee the Season 1 5★ Pickup Knight of Veda or Exclusive Weapon of your choice.
- The Pickup All-Out Event also applies to the ‘Mark of the Sworn Loyalty’ and ‘Fragments of the Painting’ events, with all Season 1 Pickup Knights of Veda and Rynara’s Halo/El Cid included.
- The number of attempts made in the previous "Aslan's Pickup Hero Event" and "Pickup Exclusive Weapon Event" has been retroactively applied to the 'Call of the Stars Count' progress of 'Guided by the Stars' and 'Weapons Awakened Under the Stars'. (Updated 12/26 9:40 AM UTC / 1:40 AM PST)

* Improvements arrive to Portrait of Thierry this update!
- The “Sweep” feature will now also be available to Portrait of Thierry.
- At the start of a new season of Portrait of Thierry, you can select a floor range where the sweep will be applied up to the last cleared floor.
- During the sweep, all clear rewards, including Accessories, will be given.
- The “Portrait of Boden Caryen” has been improved to not only revive the selected Knights of Veda but also fully heal their wounds.
- On Floors 28 to 36 of Portrait of Thierry, the drop rate for Mythic Accessories has been increased from 10% to 15%.
- The reward for clearing Floor 36, the Legendary Set Accessory Ticket previously given as clear reward will be replaced by a Mythical Set Accessory Ticket.

* The Sweep feature will also be added to the Ancient Golden City.
- You can now perform a Sweep on Ancient Golden City stages that you have previously cleared.
- Stages cleared using Support Knights of Veda will not be Sweepable.

* We've added a new map to Arena Survival: “Faded Last Land.”
- Players will be randomly assigned to play on the existing map, “Estate of the Fallen Loser,” or the new map, “Faded Last Land.”

* A ‘Show Recommended Relics’ function will be added to guide players in selecting the most suitable Relics for each Knights of Veda.
- This new feature can be accessed by clicking the newly added icon on a currently equipped Relic.
- When you click the “Show Recommended Relics” button, a Relic that will suit the selected Knight of Veda will be displayed. By using Filters, you can sort and easily view the desired Relic with your preferred stats for easy equipping.

* We're adding the “Craft & Shop” feature to the Adventure Guide!
- You can access your desired features, such as Crafting or Enchanting, easily through the Adventure Guide without checking the map!

* Charging up your Adventurer’s Shoes will be improved.
- When charging your Adventurer’s Shoes with Rubies or Starstones, you will now be able to do so up to ten (10) times at once.
- The number of “Steps of the Journey” you can use at once has been increased from five (5) to ninety-nine (99).
- The maximum number of Adventurer’s Shoes you can obtain has been increased from 999 to 9,999.

* Missed a day? Use the “Make-up Attendance” feature to catch up on any rewards you might have missed.
- The "Make-up Attendance" function calculates the maximum number of days available from the start of the event to the current day, enabling you to claim missed rewards.
- The cost will be Starstone x160 per day of attendance.

* The purchase limit for Common-grade ingredients in the Cooking Store has been changed from unlimited to 200 items.

* The information window for the Arena Store has been improved so that it will now display the stats of Tunic.

* To celebrate the arrival of the new year, the “The Sun Rises Again" will be held.
- During “The Sun Rises Again" event you will be able to earn the new mascot “Bacon” by logging in for seven (7) days during the event period.
- “The Sun Rises Again" event will end after the regular maintenance on 1/9.

* In addition, the “New Year Mission” event will also be held.
- The “New Year Mission” event will end after the regular maintenance on 1/23

* Shattered Dimensional Rift event
- Earn Guild Kill rewards and Individual Kill rewards based on the number of Rogue One defeated with your guild members. Guild Defeat rewards include Insignias in addition to other rewards.
- The "Shattered Dimensional Rift" event will end on 1/16.

* A Double Rewards event for Adventure Zone rewards will be held.
- During the event period, you can earn double the rewards from Adventure Zone up to the daily limit.
- The double rewards event for Adventure Zone will end after the regular maintenance on 1/9.

* A new season of Portrait of Thierry will be starting.
- After the maintenance, the attributes of the monsters on each floor of Portrait of Thierry will be changed.
- The new Portrait of Thierry season will end after the regular maintenance on 1/23.

* A new season of Arena will begin.
- During Arena Season 7, you can earn rewards such as Emotes and Insignia based on your progress.
- The Season 4 Tunic rewards will also be available for purchase in the shop during Arena Season 7.
- Arena Season 7 will end after the regular maintenance on 1/23.

* A new season of “Beast Battlefront” arrives.
- For this season, the Poison-attribute “Swamp King Maneater” will be gracing us with their presence as the featured boss.
- "Beast Battlefront" content will be held twice during the season. The schedule is as follows:
- 1st Round: 12/26 to 1/7 / Settlement: 1/7 to 1/9
- 2nd Round: 1/9 to 1/21 / Settlement: 1/21 to 1/23

* A new Reward Decree season will start.
- The new Reward Decree season will begin right after January 1, 2025, and will run until January 31, 2025 6:00 AM UTC / January 30, 2025 10:00 PM PST.

* The "Journey in Memory (Anais Trial)" event will be held.
- During this Trial event, you can try out Knights of Veda: 5★ Anais, 4★ Iris, and 4★ Bjorn.
- The "Journey in Memory (Anais Trial)" event will end after the regular maintenance on 1/23.

* The “Fateful Encounter” encounter event will be held.
- Log-in for seven (7) days to earn various bountiful rewards.
- The "Fateful Encounter" event will start on ½ and will end after the regular maintenance on 1/23.

■ Improvements

* The difficulty level for the “Path of Trials” and “Path of Succession” difficulties of the Ancient Golden City will be reduced.
* The difficulty levels for “Portrait of Thierry” Floors below 25 will be lowered.
* The AI of unfocused Veda Knights will be improved for more efficient movement during Squad Battle.
* The health bonus given to Masters of the Book on PVP battles will be adjusted to reduce the chances of battles ending abruptly.

■ Bug Fixes

* An issue where the Stamina-based additional damage from Aslan’s Signature Skill ”Deadly Leap and Blow” was not applied when switching to another character after the shockwave was triggered will be resolved.

We will continue to listen to your feedback to ensure an even more enjoyable adventure in ASTRA: Knights of Veda.

Thank you.

Dec 23, 2024

Summary of the Director’s Live Broadcast and Q&A

ASTRA: Knights of Veda - es-dj

Masters of the Book,
I am Kim Young-mo, the director of ASTRA: Knights of Veda.

We have recently conducted a Live Broadcast where we were able to have an honest conversation with our Korean Masters of the Book. Unfortunately, due to circumstances, I was unable to meet and address you, our Global Masters of the Book, who have always shown their unwavering love. I would like to express my deepest apologies for this.

Due to this, we would also like to share with our Global Users the content revealed and the questions answered during the broadcast, even if it’s in writing.

Through this live broadcast, the development team had the valuable opportunity to hear various opinions that we had not considered before. As the Director, I cannot make all the decisions on my own, so we’ve arranged to review and discuss the points you shared with the development team.

We will provide clear responses on what can be answered and give specific details regarding the update schedule.

ASTRA: Knights of Veda Update Roadmap

Director’s Live Broadcast Q&A

Call of the Stars

Q: Since the 11/28 update, the Pickup All-Out event has disappeared. Does this mean that the event will never come back?
A: Starting from the 12/26 update, the Pickup All-Out event will now be available permanently and in addition, will include Rhynara. This means all of the previously released characters can now be summoned once again.

Q: The Aslan Pickup Hero Event doesn’t take advantage of the Pick-Up Draw system. Does this mean future Knights of Veda releases will also exclude the feature? If so, will there be any compensation for users who paid to take advantage of it?
A: As stated, the Pickup All-Out event that will be made permanent (and now also includes Rhynara) will feature the “Pick-Up Draw” system. Additionally, the bonus system, where you can obtain a Knight of Veda from the permanent Pick-Up event after 300 summons, will also return.

Q: Are there any plans to add Knights of Veda to the “Fallen Wing of Veda” Call of the Stars?
A: Adding Knights of Veda to the permanent “Fallen Wing of Veda” Call of the Stars may make them more difficult to obtain. For now, we plan to retain the current roster of Knights available in “Fallen Wing of Veda.” However, we aim to make Season 1 Pickup Knights of Veda easier to acquire and introduce increased rates in “Fallen Wing of Veda.” More details will be shared once finalized.

Q: Since the “Pickup All-Out” event will be made permanent, does this also mean the corresponding Halo and El Cid events will come back and be made permanent?
A: That is correct. Both the Halo and El Cid events will come back.

Q: Are there any plans to buff the Exclusive Weapons that can be obtained from “Fallen Wing of Veda?”
A: We do have plans to buff the permanent Exclusive Weapons. However, there may be users who are dissatisfied with the improvements made versus the original stats. Therefore, we are preparing a system that allows players to choose between the original and new stats. We will share more details and the update schedule once it's finalized.

Knights of Veda

Q: For Fire-attribute Knights, it’s only Edward that fills the DPS role. Anais is being introduced as another Fire-attribute Knight but she’s in the Healer role and that’s disappointing. Are there any plans to remedy this?
A: Although Anais is a healer, she is also a great damage dealer. She has a unique "Wound Healing" ability that other Healers don't have, allowing her to keep the party alive in content like the Celestial Trials, where the difficulty increases fast.

Q: Bikki’s performance is overwhelming in all content, and I am concerned about balance. Are there any plans for adjustments?
A: There are currently no plans to nerf Bikki. However, we plan to add other Knights of Veda who can provide buffs and perform on the same level as Bikki does in different content. Our goal is to ensure that all Knights are useful in various content, so we ask for your patience as we continue to improve the game.

Q: Can you tell us about any 4★ Knights of Veda that we can look forward to in Legendary Promotion?
A: While all 4★ Knights of Veda will get improved in one way or the other, we would like our Masters of the Book to take a closer look at Leon, Yanko, Rani, and Orlik, all of whom have significant roles in the story. We also have plans to buff some 5★ Knights of Veda, ensuring that all of them are viable and useful across the game.

Q: Aurora’s Fate Level 7 effect doesn’t expand the range but only does direct damage. Is there a plan to improve this?
A: We are aware of this issue and are planning to make improvements. Not only for Aurora but for all underperforming knights, we are considering overall buffs.

Q: Will there be any plans to release more Dual-Attribute Knights of Veda
A: For the 1st Anniversary update, we plan to release "White Hell," the first Dual-Attribute dealer with Lightning and Light attributes.

Q: Aslan has a high fixed damage output. Are there any plans to release a character that can counter this?
A: The fixed damage cap is not particularly high, and as stats increase, Aslan’s value will naturally decrease. We plan to consider buffs when the time comes.

Q: There seems to be an issue with Aslan’s stamina.
A: We’ve identified an error where Stamina-based additional damage from Aslan’s Signature Skill ”Deadly Leap and Blow” was not applied when switching to another character after the shockwave was triggered. This issue does not occur in Squad Battles, and we plan to fix it in the 12/26 update.

Q: Are there plans to release a non-elemental Knights of Veda?
A: Non-elemental characters would likely become all-purpose characters, so we currently do not plan to release one.

Q: I’m curious why the focused Knight deals more damage during Training Ground Squad Battles.
A: The difference in damage comes from the AI used by the focused Knight compared to the other Knights in the party. The focused Knight uses a standard AI, while the others use the Bot AI, which is the same AI used in Arena, which has a delay when using skills to ensure an appropriate level of difficulty is maintained. This delay is the cause of the difference in damage output. However, in the 12/26 Update, we have adjusted this so that the AI used in the Training Grounds will now be the same for all Knights, eliminating any discrepancies in damage.

Content

Q: Are there any plans to introduce multiplayer content such as Guild Wars and Co-Op Boss Battles?
A: With the 12/26 Update, we will be introducing a new content called “Nightmare of the Abyss.” While this content can be cleared solo, it includes mechanics that encourage users to party with other users to lower the difficulty.

Q: As F2P users tend to grind and farm for resources more, they tend to feel like chores after a certain period. To remedy this, I feel like more RPG elements being added to the game would be great.
A: We have been preparing and carefully considering new content. We hope that the "Nightmare of the Abyss" content, which will be introduced in the 12/26 Update, will quench this thirst for new content.

Q: The Celestial Trials gamemode is too difficult.
A: Celestial Trials Floors were designed to avoid feeling repetitive. However, for content like the Celestial Trials and Portrait of Thierry, we plan to adjust the difficulty of the early floors each time new ones are added.

Q: Portrait of Thierry’s playtime is too long, and the difficulty for Floors 30 and above are too high, are there any plans to adjust these?
A: In an update that will be released in January, we plan to expand the number of floors and adjust the difficulty. In addition, by equipping the new "Goddess's Armor," which can be obtained from the new "Nightmare of the Abyss" content, you can improve your survivability and make it easier to clear Floors. We also plan to lower the difficulty of the lower floors in the 12/26 update to allow more players to clear it.

Q: The drop rate of Mythic Accessories on Portrait of Thierry seems to be very low.
A: In the 12/26 Update, the drop rate for Mythic Accessories will be increased from 10% to 15%. Additionally, we will be adding a sweep function to Portrait of Thierry, making it easier to obtain Mythic Accessories.

Q: Nec and Orlik have been dominating Battlefield of the War Gods for some time now. Are there any plans to address this?
A: Since there are players who have invested in growing Nec and Orlik specifically for the "Battlefield of the War Gods" content, we do not plan to make immediate changes. As with how various metas have changed in that content, we expect a new meta to emerge that will supersede the current one in the future. Instead of artificially controlling the current meta, we aim to create new metas where different character combinations can overcome the current one.

Items

Q: There are too many currencies which increases the barrier to entry. Are there any plans to add new progression systems, and thus currency?
A: We acknowledge that the amount of currency required for improving your Knights of Veda can feel frustrating, and to alleviate this, we are introducing the "Sweep System" for each piece of content to reduce the difficulty of acquiring resources for enhancement. Although this is not part of the roadmap yet, we are preparing a system that will automatically repeat and progress dungeons, and we aim to let you know about it before the first anniversary of the game.

Q: I’m running out of Adventurer’s Shoes and would like to see more sources for Gold and Starstones.
A: We are continuously increasing the rewards given through events, but we understand that it may still feel insufficient for active players. We are monitoring this situation and will keep making improvements to ensure players can enjoy all of the content without inconvenience.

However, regarding Adventurer’s Shoes, increasing their acquisition quantity could impact overall playtime and character growth, so we ask for your understanding as we must carefully consider any changes related to this system.

Q: “Solvent of Prayer” is too expensive.
A: Relics are a core part of the game and are an integral piece of beating the highest-level content, so changing an option on a relic holds significant value. Given that there are players who have already purchased these items, it's difficult to reduce the price immediately. However, we are considering ways to improve the situation and will explore potential solutions.

System

Q: I would like a feature where I can choose to keep the old stats when Enchanting an item.
A: Thank you for your suggestion. We will be implementing this feature, using a system similar to the Relic Bloom system in the 1/23 Update.

Others

Q: How often will new maps and additions to the main story be released?
A: The Main Story for Season 2 will be expanded after approximately three more updates. The storyline and overall content have already been decided, and we are currently working on finalizing it. Rest assured that we will bring more exciting story updates to you, just as you expect.

Q: The time between updates feels too long, and the announcements are made too close to the release of said content.
A: Since we operate globally, preparing official announcements may take a significant amount of time. As a result, it’s difficult to expedite this process. However, we plan to improve communication by using all available official channels to provide more frequent updates.

Q: I miss the darker tone of Season 1’s Art Style, are there any plans to return to or improve upon it?
A: We are doing our best to match the art style from Season 1 and are working hard to bring the original aesthetic back. However, instead of reworking already released characters, we plan to address this through costumes or skins.

Q: Are there any plans to add a feature to replay the story segments or at the very least upload them to YouTube for future viewing?
A: There is already a system in the game that allows you to rewatch story cutscenes via the Journal or the Collection menu. However, we realize that cutscenes alone may not fully convey the story, so we are considering other ways to release the entire story for easier access.

Q: Are there any plans for collaborations?
A: We are currently considering collaborations with titles that align well with ASTRA: Knights of Veda’s theme and aesthetic. Our focus is not just on popular titles, but rather on ones that can generate synergy with the game and bring new experiences to our players. We apologize for not being able to announce collaborations in advance, but rest assured that once details are finalized, we will inform you as soon as possible.

Q: As updates continue, I feel the game’s performance is worsening and that optimization is not being done. Will there be plans to improve this?
A: We continuously strive to improve optimization with every update, but it’s a challenging process. We are dedicated to creating an environment where players can enjoy the game with smooth and stable gameplay. We hope for your patience as we work towards this goal.

Q: The rewards for Synchronizing with your Knights of Veda feel too low. I hope this will be improved.
A: We recognize the importance of rewards for reaching higher Sync levels. We agree that the rewards have not been sufficient compared to the difficulty of reaching those levels. Therefore, in the 1/23 Update, we plan to improve this by offering "Crystals of Fate" as rewards for certain Synchronization levels.

Q: How can I purchase the Tunic again?
A: Tunics from previous seasons are available for sale through the Arena Shop. However, to maintain fairness for players who earned the Tunic through active participation in the Arena, it is only sold after three (3) seasons have passed.

We hope that the answers provided are satisfactory to all of our Masters of the Book. In addition to the official announcement notices, we will also be engaging more with the community to address all of your feedback.

We will continue to listen and strive to make the game more enjoyable for everyone.

Thank you.