The global Alpha Test for Vindictus: Defying Fate is just around the corner!

This open test will be available to everyone on Steam, where you’ll get the chance to experience newly added characters, fresh content, and a more refined combat system following the Pre-Alpha Test.
The test will coincide with the Steam Next Fest, and we hope many of you will join us and enjoy the experience.

■ Test Schedule:

- UTC: June 9, 2025 (Mon) 02:00 – June 17, 2025 (Tue) 06:59
- PDT: June 8, 2025 (Sun) 19:00 – June 16, 2025 (Mon) 23:59
  
■ Supported Platform: Steam (PC)

■ Supported Languages:

■ How to Participate:
1. Visit the ‘Vindictus: Defying Fate’ store page on Steam [Link]
2. Download and launch the Demo

3. Play freely without restrictions
※ No prior registration is required. Anyone can participate.

■ Pre-Download Available
The game will be available for pre-download via the Steam Demo store page [Link], starting at:
- UTC: June 8th, 2025 (Sun) 02:00
- PDT: June 7th, 2025 (Sat) 19:00
We recommend pre-downloading the game in advance to ensure a smooth experience on test day.

■ Survey Participation:
To help us build a better game, we’d love to hear your thoughts through our Alpha Test surveys.
There are two types of surveys available during the test. Each survey will appear naturally at appropriate moments that won’t interrupt your gameplay, and we’d greatly appreciate your participation in both:
- A short survey that appears during gameplay
- A follow-up survey that appears later (also accessible via the top menu > User Survey)


Surveys will be available throughout the Alpha Test period.
Your responses will be invaluable to the future development of the game, so we appreciate your participation.

■ System Requirements: A 64-bit processor and operating system are required to run the game.

[Known Issue]
-An issue where the game may close unexpectedly when using a specific version of the graphics driver. This issue occurs with NVIDIA Graphic Driver version 576. If you experience this issue, we kindly ask that you download and use version 572 or earlier.
 * We apologize for this inconvenience and ask for your understanding, as this issue may not be resolved during the Alpha Test period.
  
■ Reporting Issues:
As this is a development build, some instability and performance issues may occur.
If you encounter any errors during launch or gameplay, please report them via the #│game-feedback channel on our [Official Discord].
Note that this channel is exclusively for bug reports and feedback during the Alpha Test, and individual responses may not be provided.
  
■ Additional Notes:
- All gameplay data will be reset after the test ends.
- Maintenance may occur during the test period, and any maintenance will be announced in advance.

For the latest updates and future announcements, follow us through our official channels:
- [Steam Store Page]
- [X]
- [YouTube]
- [Discord]
- [TikTok]

We look forward to seeing you in next week’s Global Alpha Test.
Thank you.

Hello Navigators!

This month has been a busy one getting ready for Game Con Canada. Nevertheless, work has continued for the first minor release for Stellar Navigator. I’m excited to get this one out to everyone as the new marker system is really shaping up and quite enjoyable to use, and of course the quality-of-life improvement, orbital period and cloud toggle are to come!


Despite the very real possibility of issues cropping up in Stellar Navigator as it makes its way to full release, I am keen to do everything feasible to ensure that the galaxies that all of you create throughout Early Access will stay with you right up to the full launch and beyond.

However, and as always, it is important for each of you to back up your data prior to any update to Stellar Navigator.

This can be done by finding the Stellar Navigator folder in My Documents/My Games and making a backup copy of it.


Well, to ensure as smooth a release as possible with each new version of Stellar Navigator coming out in Early Access, I want to get as much feedback as possible from both my internal testers, but also the community. That said, I will be introducing a new Stellar Navigator stream using Steam’s Betas. What this means for all of you Navigators is that you, at your discretion, may pull the absolute latest available version of Stellar Navigator before it’s released officially on the store and play around with it.
Due to the potential instability of the development build, access to it will come with a few expectations:

1. You only access the development build after you have copied the data folder out of My Games/Stellar Navigator.
   
2. You understand that it is possible to lose or corrupt data using these development builds, and there is nothing the developer can do to retrieve this data.
   
3. Whenever possible, you provide feedback and issues discovered while working with the development branch.

Other than that, I hope many of you decide to experience the latest updates to Stellar Navigator and join in the exploration and development of this wonderful application!


You may sign up for access to the beta through this link: https://www.stellar-navigator.com/beta-sign-up
All that will be asked for is your Discord username as it appears in the Stellar Navigator Discord server.

Well, that’s it for this month! In next month’s update I hope to share some highlights from Game Con Canada and show off more exciting things happening in the development of Stellar Navigator.

Until then, keep looking to the stars 💫

A video about how I'm designing the game for speedrunning:

Again, please note that this is the second in a series of upcoming patches. We continue working to implement player feedback, improve the game, and fix bugs!

Here are just some of the exciting changes in today's update. You can find the full patch notes below.

🍂🌸 Added Fall and Spring seasons
☀️❄️ Seasons are now 30 days long
🎣 A more forgiving fishing experience
🥳 Updated NPC birthdays
🔨 Hammer can now be used everywhere
-☘️ Dirt count removed
-🗺️ Live map



General
• Fixed bug where loading couldn’t start in certain languages after finishing the game.
• Fixed issue where some tiles were missing in the desert.
• Fixed chest sorting and exit panel causing the inventory to stop responding.
• Fixed Greek translation for stone tiles.
• Fixed shadows for some decorative trees at the map boundaries.
• Fixed issue where gifting cake on a birthday wasn’t working correctly.
• Fixed tree animations in the town area.
• Fixed issue where the player could destroy the Moonstone before using it for crafting. It can now only be destroyed in the next stage.
• Fixed blocker where saving and quitting during an objective in Dead Man's Chest caused the quest to break at the end.
• Fixed issue where completing the "Cobalt, Gold, and Ice Crystals" quest for Nina gave two blueprints.
• Fixed issue where Fig tree seeds wouldn’t stack.
• Fixed bug where planting Lemon/Fig/Apple/Cherry seeds in grass would result in an immediately fully grown tree.
• Fixed lack of tooltip when attempting to accept more than the max number of side quests.
• Fixed issue where saving into the next day during "Find Someone in Pixelshire" caused villagers to spawn outside.
• Fixed issue with replacing indoor lamps with round lamps not working properly on load.
• Fixed issue where all NPCs gathered in the Town Hall after sleeping at the end of the game.
• Fixed issue where selling items to shops gave incorrect value (now properly set to 30% less than buy price).
• Fixed issue with shop warning messages not appearing when you don’t have enough money or when stack is full.
• Fixed bug where planting twice in the same spot could result in losing seeds.
• Fixed issue where talking to Saint did not give the player the blueprint to build his house.
• Removed chair from the fishing loot table.
• Fixed issues with the Blacksmith and Scroll tutorials.
• Silvert and Iowa quests now display correctly.
• Fixed issue where exclamation marks disappeared for crafted items after passing the day.
• Fixed issue where the Rainbow Lobster disappeared after quitting the game.
• Fixed issue where the interaction button and fishing minigame button overlapped, allowing unintended fish egg collection mid-minigame.
• Removed interior and exterior conditions for fishing
• Removed seasonal conditions for fishing
• Fixed fishing animation
• Fixed rope visuals during fishing
• Changed sound when catching fish
• Fixed issue where the player's animation could get stuck after fishing
• Fixed inconsistent fishing behavior when standing above fish eggs
• Fixed Iowas and Sivert main quests
• Fixed fence doors not updating the pathfinding grid
• Fixed issue where the rubber plant given by Eva could be destroyed
• Fixed issue with two button inputs appearing near rice crops

UI & Inventory
• Enabled sorting buttons on chests.
• Added a Live Map panel of Pixelshire
• Removed dirt count display

Seasons & Time
• Added Fall and Spring seasons (WIP).
• Changed season Length to 31 days.
• Shortened daytime slightly.

Housing & Environment
• 🪧 Removed red rag from the house.

NPCs & Relationships
• Gifting cake on a birthday now boosts friendship as intended.

Plants & Seasons
• Changed plant growing seasons.
• Updated translations for plant seasons.
• Added translations for new season names: Fall and Spring.

Gameplay Changes
• Changed dialogue system so that dialogue indices are now untied from item rewards—dialogue errors will no longer block items being given.
• Quicker tool actions implemented for smoother gameplay.
• Increased the time before losing fish and decreased rotation speed for a more forgiving fishing experience.
• 🪙 Sell price grade multiplier increased from 20% to 25%.
• Reduced seed rewards from the Fertilizer quest.

Systems & Features
• Items placed on museum pedestals are now saved in the save file.
• Added tutorials for Blacksmithing and Scrolls.

Shops & Resources
• 🪙 Bron now always spawns: Stone, Iron Ores, Copper Ores, and Coal Ores.
• Changed from 4 to 10 Iron Ores given by Bron to help players upgrade their pickaxe without needing to purchase ores/bars.
• All fish eggs have been added to Cpt. Farrell’s standard shop.
• Removed the duplicate shovel from Farrell’s shop.

Farming & Tools
• Reduced water usage from 5 to 3 per use with the watering can.
• Added warning when trying to use the watering can without enough water.
• The hammer can now be used everywhere.

Quests & Objectives
• Changed several quest objectives and descriptions for clarity and consistency.
• Increased the size of quest tabs in the player menu to support longer quest names without text being cut off.


Other Known Issues:
• Berries on bushes don’t respawn during the winter.
• Can’t replace hay trough unless player exits to main menu.
• If player accepts sidequest while having the required materials, the adjacent sidequest will not be acceptable.

Hello everyone! It's me, Miyoshi Shizuka.
Here’s a continuation from Status Report #14.
Thanks to her father's rescue, Tsubaki survives what seemed like a hopeless situation.
However, her father loses his sanity and becomes a new threat.
I have uploaded the video. so please check it out.

Hello Squires!

We have just put out another hotfix for the playtest build. This build includes:

Bug Fixes:
- Fixed talking to the horses with Pandora freezing the game
- Fixed Pandora's grapple rope not appearing during her intro cutscene
- Fixed Pandora being able to shoot early during her intro cutscene
- Fixed the timing on some cutscene events in Pandora's intro cutscene to prevent the game from freezing when she tries to shoot over the pit

Improved Graphics:
- Updated several sprites around the Forest and Birden

UI Updates:
- Swapped out the old Wyshlist button found in the Settings menu in-game
- Added a dialogue window that warns players that the mouse is disabled during gameplay if they try to use it on the Main Menu

Lastly, saves are now stored in Documents/Knights Of The Island/Wyshbound. They were previously stored in the game files, which caused saves to be overwritten with each update. If you didn't install the previous update, you can retrieve your SaveData folder and place it in the new location. If you did install the previous update, unfortunately, all previous save files are lost. We apologize for the inconvenience.

We hope you continue to enjoy the playtest, and we will continue updating as we test and get more feedback!

From,
Knights of the Island

Hello,

It's a pleasure to greet you once again with this long-awaited Dev Talk.

Today, I'd like to share an overview of our character progression system.
As NAKWON is still under development, please note that everything we share here is subject to change throughout the development process.

In NAKWON, each character has a specialty, level, traits, and skills.

At the time of character creation, players will select a specialty.
Based on this selection, each character will be assigned a corresponding trait tree.



As the character progresses, you'll earn trait points, which can be spent to unlock new nodes within the tree.









Skills unlocked through the trait tree are called exclusive skills, and their types vary depending on the chosen specialty.
These exclusive skills are designed to reflect the core identity of each specialty.


Below is the trait tree for the Stealth specialty.



One exclusive skill for the Stealth specialty is "Box Tactic," which I added as an homage to the legendary Metal Gear Solid series.
Unlike many PVP games that focus on "combat against opponents," I believe that the looting-extraction genre, which emphasizes "personal survival,"
should provide players with the opportunity to explore a wide range of survival strategies beyond direct combat.

While exploring various methods of camouflage, I was inspired by the idea of using a cardboard box — a mechanic found in a legendary title and something that also exists in real life.
Through multiple rounds of internal testing, I confirmed that the skill not only fits the tone of the game, but also functions effectively for evading both infected and other players.



In addition to "Box Tactic," various other exclusive skills are available depending on the chosen specialty.

Below are several examples of special skills by specialty.
⚠️ Please note that these skills are currently under development and are subject to change.

• (Stealth) Redirect Attention: Redirects aggro attracted to the user onto another target
  
• (Defense) Guard Counter: Enables the user to attack while maintaining a defensive stance
  
• (Maneuver) Rope Setup: Installs a rope along a building wall, allowing players to climb it. The rope can be used by anyone and can be retrieved
  
• (Maneuver) Listen Mode: Temporarily enhances auditory focus to detect the position of targets behind obstacles
  
• (Assault) Rope Dart: Throws a rope dart that restricts enemy movement. If it hits equipment instead of a person, the gear is detached and drops to the ground

There are over 20 exclusive skills currently in development, each offering its own strategic value depending on how you build your character.

Beyond the skills acquired through the trait tree, players may also learn additional skills through shops or quests.
All acquired skills can be viewed and customized via the Skill Management Page.

Skills are categorized as either active or passive, and each type has its own slot limit and cost threshold.
Our goal is to give you the tools to build truly diverse strategies — so that no two expeditions ever feel the same.


That wraps up this overview of the character progression system in NAKWON.
We are still deep in development, so please keep in mind that the details shared in this Dev Talk may be subject to change.

The whole dev team is working hard on the project,
and I truly look forward to the day we can share the game with you and experience it together.
Thank you, as always, for your patience and support.

Hello, Mercenaries!

The update on June 11 will bring Tournament System where players compete against each other for rewards and Spectator Function where players can watch other players’ gameplay will be added. Also, a Team Deathmatch Map will be added where players can fall to their death for the first time. There will also be various improvements along with the update.
Please check out the details below.

1. Tournament System Update
The tournament system will be updated where players will compete against each other to acquire special rewards exclusive to the tournament. The tournament will be hosted only 1 time every month in global and in asia region. There will be exclusive title and various in-game rewards based on rank.


2. Spectator System added to Custom Mode
A system where waiting players can watch matches in Custom Mode will be added. Now, players can watch other players’ match in real-time, allowing them to check out the tactics the players use or enjoy a great gameplay.


3. New Team Deathmatch Map: Collapsed High-rise Logistics Terminal
A new skyscraper themed map: Collapsed High-rise Logistics Terminal will be added as the 3rd Team Deathmatch Map. The map has various pitfalls where players can fall to their deaths. Players can try using weapons and skills that can push to secure victory.

Greetings, Players.
This is our June Dev Log, shared ahead of the upcoming Alpha Test.

As the Alpha Test draws near, our team is putting the final touches on the build.
Today, we’d like to walk you through some of the features you’ll be able to experience during the Alpha Test.


1. Fitting Room: Customize Your Character


In this Alpha Test, you’ll be able to enter the ‘Fitting Room’ to personalize your character’s appearance in a variety of ways.
Choose your preferred Physique and combine items from the Style Shop such as Outfits, Hair, Iris, Scars, and Moles to create a look that reflects your unique personality. And of course, Outfits can be dyed using Dye Ampoules.

To help you enjoy the fun of customization, this Alpha Test includes a variety of elements such as outfits and hair. You can easily pick up all of these items as you play. So after a battle, take a moment to drop by the Fitting Room and customize your character to your liking.


2. Story: Member of the Kalbram Mercenaries


In the Alpha Test, you’ll uncover a series of events taking place in and around Colhen Village, the base of the ‘Kalbram Mercenaries’. As a member of the Kalbram Mercenaries, you’ll investigate the ‘Northern Ruins’, which are now occupied by ‘Gnolls’, under the command of ‘Gwynn’ from the Royal Knights. You'll also be deployed to ‘Hoarfrost Hollow’ on a separate mission, where you'll face an inevitable showdown.


Although the Alpha Test does not reveal a large portion of the story, we encourage you to listen closely to the voices of the Kalbram Mercenaries who guard the village and the people of Colhen. It will help you enjoy the test on a deeper level.

Subtitles will be available in Korean, English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Key story cutscenes will also be voiced in Korean and English, with language options adjustable in the settings menu. We plan to support more languages in the official release.


3. 4-Player Multiplayer: Face Even Stronger Boss Monsters


We’ve prepared multiplayer content where up to four players can take on powerful boss monsters together. Two formidable bosses await, promising intense and exhilarating battles. Multiplayer content becomes available after completing the main story. As for the bosses, we encourage you to discover them for yourself when the test begins. (Though some of you may have already spotted them in previously released footage!)

Please note that during this test, multiplayer parties will be formed through auto-matchmaking only, and selecting party members manually will not be available. We appreciate your understanding. If you prefer to fight alone, you can also take on the boss monster solo.

That’s all for the June Dev Log. Be sure to check out our Steam, X, Discord, and our official website for more guides and announcements as the test approaches.

We look forward to seeing you in the Alpha Test.

Sincerely,
Vindictus: Defying Fate Dev Team

* All system names are temporary and subject to change.

testing0604