February Update

Greetings, Seekers!

February has flown by in the blink of an eye—perhaps even faster than we would have liked. But here at Arkhtide, we’ve made incredible progress over the past month, even if you haven’t received weekly updates about every little step. So, what’s happened since our first tournament?

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A New Version is Coming

For over half a year, we’ve been collecting player feedback, preparing for a significant update that we felt was finally due in December. However, we didn’t want to introduce changes right before the scheduled tournament, so we kept things under wraps while development continued in full force. Since the tournament, we’ve been working tirelessly, and now the new version is nearly complete!

So, what’s changing? The core gameplay remains the same, but we needed to refine a fundamental mechanic—specifically, the limitations on character abilities. Instead of requiring every ability to have a drawback or risking the game’s balance by allowing them to be used repeatedly, we’ve introduced the Seal-Unseal system to enhance strategic depth while making ability usage feel even more satisfying.

The Seal-Unseal system introduces some new mechanics like Limited Abilities. When an ability with this keyword is used, it gains a Seal Token, preventing it from being used again until it is Unsealed. At the start of each Round, all Seal Tokens are automatically removed. However, players can use specific effects to Unseal abilities mid-round, allowing them to be used again. Additionally, some mechanics can impose Seals on enemy abilities, effectively silencing characters.

Refining the Seal-Unseal system led to a broader streamlining of game mechanics, making the timing and sequencing of actions clearer. Now, it’s easier to track which character is using what ability at any given moment. Since this adjustment affected virtually every card in the game, we had to review, revise, redesign, remove, or add more than 200 cards! As a result, you can expect plenty of exciting changes in the next version.

What to Expect in This Update:

• The introduction of the Seal-Unseal system
• More precise and refined Round sequencing
• Significant enhancements to Seekers, reinforcing their status as demi-gods empowered by the endless Pure Arkhé of the Arkhtide
• Redesigned Doctrines, making them a stronger reflection of their faction and Seeker theme, enhancing gameplay without making them overpowered
• Reworked and brand-new characters
• Overhauled Feat cards alongside entirely new Feat designs
• And much more!

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Pre-Release Season 2 – Tournament Schedule Update

Unfortunately, we must delay the second round of the Pre-Release Season 2 tournament from March 22 to late April. After all, none of us would want to race with an untested car, right? We want to ensure that the new version is properly fine-tuned before putting it to the test in competitive play. The exact date will be announced soon.

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Welcoming a New (Yet Familiar) Artist

We’re thrilled to announce that Gergely Nagy has joined the Arkhtide team! His incredible dark fantasy artwork will bring even more depth and atmosphere to our factions. His work will be featured primarily in the upcoming Wilderness – Amberkin Host faction, but you’ll also see some of his pieces in other factions as well.

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New Icon Set Completed!

The Arkhtide core icon set is finally complete! While we are still finalizing the icons within the game’s layout, the overall designs—crafted by Márk Mede—are now ready. These easily recognizable yet darkly atmospheric icons are designed to enhance clarity while maintaining the game’s signature aesthetic. We can’t wait to hear what you think!

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Revamped Layout & Borders

Arkhtide has gone through multiple iterations of layout and border designs—from a more old-school, Magic: The Gathering-inspired style to a sleek, modern aesthetic. Our goal has always been to create a border that complements the mood of the game, immersing players in the feel of each faction while also subtly conveying elements of the game’s lore.

That said, we’ve listened to your feedback—many of you wanted larger artwork spaces on the cards. We hear you loud and clear! Our final design balances immersive aesthetics with a clear, recognizable style. The updated layout is in its advanced stages, and we’ll be sharing it with you very soon. Thanks to your input, we believe we’ve created something truly unique—a design that is not only striking and recognizable but also fully integrates the game’s visuals, icons, and logos into a cohesive and atmospheric whole.

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The Current State of the Game

We believe Arkhtide is progressing in a fantastic direction and is now very close to the point where we can open it up to a much wider testing audience. With this in mind, preparations for test-version production have officially begun! We are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with Unicool Game Manufacturing, an amazing manufacturer known for their outstanding quality, innovative production capabilities, and fantastic team. We are confident they are the perfect partner to bring Arkhtide to life.

All of these developments are paving the way for our Gamefound campaign launch. While we still aren’t ready to announce a specific date, we can confidently say that the moment is fast approaching—and we’re far more prepared than we were just six months ago.

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What’s Next?

February may be ending, but the Arkhtide journey continues! In the coming weeks, we’ll be rolling out the new version and hosting the first test events with the updated mechanics. And of course, there’s plenty more to reveal—so stay tuned!

Thank you for being part of the journey, Seekers. The Arkhtide await…