News

Hello Fractured Online community, Duncan (Game Director) here with a recap of our latest livestream! We covered what various studio members are working on and a peak into the development journey as we move towards our first major test! Watch the livestream recording here.

Combat System Test

To start of the livestream we wanted to share our plans for the first test on the path to relaunching Fractured. The upcoming combat test in Q3 will have features wanted by the community for years:

• New Action-Oriented Combat: WASD movement, aiming for a more dynamic, skill-based experience.
• PvP Emphasis: To better collect feedback, data and how pvp feels we will focus on allowing open area combat for this test only.
• New Biome: This will give a peak into the first new biome “Steppes”.

Armor and Visual Updates

We discussed significantly upgraded armor models. These updates look better, recolor better and are more optimized!

• Updated Armors: Complete visual overhaul of existing armor sets, providing more detailed, stylized looks.
• Customizable Colors: A new robust dye system allowing extensive customization through crafted dyes.
• New Character Models: Enhanced options for hair, facial features, and overall character aesthetics.
• Character Equipment Rebuild: We needed to redesign how equipment was done to support enhanced visual effects on armor and weapons. We also improved the performance of the system putting us in a much better place for large scale battles. Better graphics, less resource usage, and more characters on the screen that sounds like a party!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Armor Color Options

• Enhanced Coloring System: Each armor supports three trims to dye. A few of the battlemage armor options are below.

Player Housing Revamp

The Player housing system will be changing to support more creativity and flexibility:

• Modular Building: Transitioning from prefabs to fully modular constructions, which will allow you to build a unique home instead of just selecting from a premade list.
• Enhanced Decorations: Homes will support many decorations, trophies from defeated enemies, and more thematic interior/exterior items. With these changes someone will need to host decoration competitions!

World and Biome Overhaul

Significant improvements are underway for the game’s environments:

• Five Distinct Biomes: Including murky wetlands, jagged peaks, lush lowlands, and expansive steppes. We shared an early look into the steppes biome meant to weave between the other four but it is filled with fluffy grass, flowers and colorful trees making this a peaceful land explore.
• Dynamic Content: More dynamic points of interest, events, and improved visual storytelling to exploration.
• Music: I am very excited to begin expanding out Fractured’s environment through audio. We are working with a fantastic composer (Jose Lebreuilly) on new adaptive soundtracks for each biome, dynamic combat music, and immersive environmental sound effects. I can’t wait for players to delve into a dungeon while the track “Curse of Babilis” haunts you.

Pets and Kickstarter Rewards

We continue to make progress on creating kickstarter assets:

• Cosmetic Pets: Development is underway for cosmetic pets, starting with a dragon hatchlings.

• Kickstarter Skins: Unique armor skins from Kickstarter campaigns have finished the concept art phase and will be in the armor creation pipeline soon. In-case you missed the kickstarter you will have the opportunity to purchase these in the cosmetic shop.

Looking Ahead – Testing Timeline:

• Q3 2025: Testing for PvP combat, networking, building, PvE, and Steppes Biome.
• Q4 2025: Testing building and territory systems, guild faction mechanics, and the remaining four biomes.
• Q1 2026: Final progression testing leading up to the official relaunch.

Supporting our community

We continue to find ways to support our vibrant discord community which has led us to testing translation bots for Discord. Stay tuned for updates in this space.

Community Questions from the Stream (with Answers):

• MainQuestt: Do you want to make the maps much larger?
  • Answer: The main continent is already expansive; the current focus is enhancing content quality rather than expanding size but we already have plans to have players explore shards of the broken world!
• splitlaneadventure: Will there be slightly more advanced housing, or will the system keep the same basics as the old Fractured?
  • Answer: Housing will be significantly more advanced, featuring modular building and extensive customization.
• MainQuestt: Do you intend to put a more attractive story in the game?
  • Answer: Yes, plans include integrating lore fragments and quests to enrich the game’s storytelling without it being linear heavily story-driven. Think region specific lore and puzzles.
• splitlaneadventure: Pets? My brain took me far away to a world where we could tame little dragons on the Fractured map.
  • Answer: Taming pets will likely be class-specific, with cosmetic pets also available, starting with the dragon hatchling.
• GalatornBR: How many tiers for each set are planned?
  • Answer: Multiple tiers planned per set, with advanced options at higher tiers allowing material-based variations to adjust tiers. If you find a armor look you like and want to keep upgrading via materials will keep you looking your best!
• splitlaneadventure: Do you have plans to add more life skills like fishing, cooking, etc., with stats?
  • Answer: Yes, these life skills will be expanded significantly, each with engaging gameplay loops and meaningful stat benefits. Is it really a game if it doesnt have fishing?
• Klakalakin: Will you bring back the counter armor types or keep plate being a true tank?
  • Answer: Armor types will reflect chosen class specializations, maintaining plate armor as an option primarily for tanks but allowing hybrid approaches with others. So in a way yes armors have their roles.
• GalatornBR: Any possibility of equipping armor on mounts, like turning a regular horse into an armored one?
  • Answer: We currently do not have plans to do this but will note this down. We are always taking feedback so thank you for sharing.
• MainQuestt: Are expansions or significant updates intended?
  • Answer: Yes, expansions and major updates are planned to continually evolve and enrich the game worlds.

Stay connected via Discord for regular updates, community interaction, exclusive sneak peeks, as well as submitting questions!

Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. See you in-game soon!