The Riven Realms have a grim reputation for the many wastelands, deserts, and cursed locations inside their confines. However, even in such inhospitable environments, life has found a way to cling on. In some cases, new life has thrived, demonstrating an almost uncanny resilience and adaptability. This, however, is not a unique trait of the Riven Realms. Quite the contrary.

In the video game industry of the last decade or so, it has become increasingly common and appealing to talk about involving players in developer decision making, though what this means exactly can vary greatly between projects. In this article, we’ll discuss some elements related to eliciting, handling, and incorporating player feedback in Vagrus, so if you are interested in how you all had an effect on this game, dive right in!

This week, we have two things to talk about that are close to our hearts: we were invited to speak on the Into the Indies podcast, and we’ve just released a brand new update! Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of both.

Into the Indies

We’ve had the pleasure of appearing on Indie Game Picks before in the form of a written interview, but this time felt different. In this Into the Indies episode, our Creative Lead Geri Mácsai and Project Lead Gábor Szutorisz had the chance to sit down and truly reflect on the journey – how it all started from humble, uncertain beginnings, and how Vagrus slowly took shape through years of persistence, experimentation, and learning.

The 'Cultured' Supporter Pack grants its owners two cosmetics for Renkailon: one for his regular look, and one for his alternative story ending that changes his look permanently. We based the new look of Ren on the Ashman tribes of the Forlorn Wastes. These nomads of the colorless, grey desert are a hardy folk, and they prefer to hide their bodies behind layers of cloth, leather, bone, and Quru shell pieces. It is not only practical as a defensive measure against the constant flow of ash and the brutal storms, but also enforces their unique cultural identity. Of course, Renkailon is not an Ashman, but the tribes are known to accept outsiders who fully embrace their ways, so one can imagine this (non-canon) version of Ren as such an individual.

Vagri!

Today, Vagrus – The Riven Realms is on Steam’s Daily Deal, a prestigious spot that games rarely get to occupy, but it also has a new release of cosmetics and a beefy update with the continuation of the Expedition storyline, as well as some extras added to our Patronage Pack and OST as well. Last but not least, scroll down for a giveaway we’re conducting to get digital keys for Vagrus or its DLCs!

This week, we're stoked to offer another glimpse at Vagrus's second cosmetic supporter pack. As discussed before, these packs help support the ongoing development of Vagrus and our studio, and include a cosmetic set for every Companion as a thank-you. Chosen by community vote on Discord, the 'Cultured' Supporter Pack reflects a diverse array of in-world cultural inspirations, offering cool alternative appearances.

Hey everyone,

Today we are excited to release part one of our Expedition updates, Journey in the Dark, which picks up Kharandar and gang’s story where we left off in the expansion: the expedition is ready to set out from Dum Garok and they are sending you ahead. Or, down below, to be exact, as the journey in the story’s continuation will take players underground first. We’ll also talk about the upcoming supporter pack, a Nintendo giveaway, and get into the patch notes.

This week we wanted to confirm that the second cosmetic supporter pack for Vagrus is coming along nicely, and also provide a little peak into said progress. These supporter packs are ways to further aid the development of Vagrus and our studio in general, and they provide a cosmetic for every Companion in the game as a “thank you”.

Today’s lore post is focused on the Dwarven kingdom of Dvendar Tharr, and it’s connected to At the Heart of Ruin’s release thematically, which has seen players venturing deep into the Mountains of Fire. A place which, long before the Calamity struck, was a bastion of brilliance, ingenuity, and innovation. Perhaps most importantly, Dvandar Tharr is not a place so easily shown in one expansion, as much as we would like to. It is an entire region with a rich history of ascendance and, subsequently, peril. Moreover, it is easily among the most difficult places to traverse due to its terrain and insane natural conditions.

We come to you this week with two pieces of media, especially for those interested in the heart behind Vagrus – our studio lead and producer Gábor Szutorisz, and our creative lead Gergely “Geri” Mácsai. Both were recently featured on the popular Hungarian gaming podcast Checkpoint, where they recorded their thoughts in Hungarian.