It’s been a while since we posted an update on the release of Sunfire and Moonshadow, and given our previous announcement in May on aiming to release the expansion in Q3 2023, it’s only fair that we share a project update.

In the last few months, the whole team has been hard at work to set up and fill the huge new region we picked for our upcoming DLC that slowly grew into an Expansion. It’s been a daunting task given the size of the Bronze Desert and our goal to keep the standards we set in the main game regarding engaging storytelling and activities. We wanted to pick a region that was not tied up by existing in-world historical events too much, so we can be more free of those constraints when designing new storylines but that freedom also meant that there were more things to expand upon and work out the finer details of – locations, NPCs, dynamics, and storylines. Overall, it has taken a lot longer to create all the content we set out to but we are finally getting there.

This week we’re excited to share one of the expansion’s most intriguing locales: the Fadhuldak Mountains. Part of the forlorn Brown Mountains spanning the western border of the Bronze Desert, the peaks, valleys, and ranges that make up these mountains are home to beastly denizens mostly, although allegedly there are some wayward people prowling these lands, too.

It’s not every week we have a chance to share something many might find out of place in the Riven Realms, but today is one such day. On that note, let’s cut right to the chase: we’re here to show you a beautiful jungle from one of our newest artists, and boy, we’re pretty stoked about it.

A beautiful place to go bird watching or have a nice picnic with your comes! Perhaps you could pick some berries, relax in the shade, or make friends with the wildlife. Or, it could be that beneath the veneer of colorful lushness lurks something darker, deep in the recesses of the thicket. As always, you shall have to find out for yourself; all in good time, naturally.

Good news, everyone: Vagrus – the Riven Realms has finally gained verified status on Steam Deck! It’s been a long haul, but we have finally reached our goal. We were originally able to attain the simple playable badge, and then, through continuous testing and grit among certain team members, we created and released a build last week that Valve was able to test and approve for verified status. We’d like to express our gratitude to you, the players, without whom we might not have made it this far. The game is already live on Steam Deck, but if you are familiar with it, you may now notice the presence of a new, shiny verified badge. Naturally, we recommend you give it a go!

This week we’re here to bring you another teaser from our upcoming Sunfire and Moonshadow expansion, and this time it is something all but unheard of in the Riven Realms – a settlement virtually saturated with sylvan hues and replete with lush and lively flora and fauna. Revered by many for its serene lakes and verdant life, the oasis of Shahsgabat is a place of wonder and beauty in the otherwise arid wasteland of the northwest.

The Bandul are desert-dwelling nomads native to the Bronze Desert. They live in so-called "sakrets": a couple of families banded together, herding their animals across the arid wastelands of northern Xeryn, between oases they hold sacred and that are integral parts of their roaming lifestyle. If you choose to venture into the northwestern part of the continent, you are bound to encounter them. Whether they will be on your side or your bitter enemies is up to you and the decisions you make in the upcoming expansion for Vagrus.

With our expansion Sunfire and Moonshadow looming ever closer on the horizon, we decided to talk a bit about the most valuable treasure the expansion region has to offer: oil. Yes, indeed. Ever wondered where denizens of the Riven Realms get their precious oil? This week's teaser showcases one of the prime locations where they are found: throughout the Bronze Desert.

Hey everyone,

With the announcement of Vagrus’s first expansion behind us, we thought that it’d be a good idea to create a short series of devlogs about certain frequently appearing topics regarding Sunfire and Moonshadow. The first of these – the one you’re reading – is about the region itself and its boundaries, with some lore tidbits sprinkled in. So, let’s get to it!

Important Note: Considering the extent of the improvements, there is little to no chance that we broke nothing in the process. Assume that we did not want to make anyone's life harder. If you see something amiss, please flag it to us using the usual channels, like the inbuilt reporting tool (F1 button), forums, and our Discord server.

This week’s post continues in the vein of teasers; we’re very excited to reveal just the right amount of information. Thus, we present to you a place you will be able to visit, one brimming with dread and decrepitude: the Dead Forest. Shrouded in perpetual darkness with a smattering of blackened, lifeless trees, the Dead Forest offers little save an eerie death to those unfortunate enough to discover its curse firsthand. That, however, does little to stop many an adventurer or vagrus from exploring its tenebrous glades – there is profit to be made here, and those in the service of the Empire or the Dragonlands are Tartaris-bent on pursuing it. As for what the place looks like? See it for yourself above.