Greetings, warriors! Most of us have, at least once, fantasised about what it would be like to be born into a rich and powerful family. Daydreamed of the power a noble's title brings, or how carefully people would choose their words around us. But to be born into Nippon's most privileged is to inherit more than wealth - it is to inherit expectations. Hiroe has never had the luxury of being judg…
Greetings, warriors! Today we take a look at the very beginning of our story: at Nippon being pulled apart by forces that seemingly cannot be reconciled, and the people caught between them - left to make do with a future they never asked for. Things rarely change because everyone agrees that they should, and war has a way of leaving questions behind, like... What is a warrior without a master?…
Greetings, warriors! The mountains were here before the first shrine was built, the forest - before the first road was cut through it. The earth was covered with grass long before it drank the first drops of spilled blood. They will remain after the last warrior drops his sword and is swallowed by the undergrowth. But the land is changing: old roads are being repaved, while the shrines that wer…
Greetings, warriors! Bringing a paintbrush to a battlefield A samurai took up a brush as often as he did a sword: the philosophy of Bunbu Ryōdō - “the one path of martial and literary ways”, - held that a warrior's education was incomplete without the arts, pairing martial discipline with artistic cultivation. So, today we're delighted to unveil our collaboration with Minibricks, an artist coll…
When metal is quenched, it either hardens into strength, or turns brittle and breaks. The fires of war that keep the forge hot are both fed by the unrelenting hand of the Shogunate and stoked by the high-tech bellows of the ENC. Neither side is able to foresee the outcome - each claims a brighter future. Japan stands at a crossroads... The two ronin our story starts with walk this heated path n…
Greetings, warriors! If you ever need an emergency barricade, simply ask Ishida to stand in the middle of the road. Broad as a gate and twice as stubborn, the Boulder is a warrior who greets danger the same way he greets a cup of sake: head-on and with enthusiasm. During the party's travels, Ishida's main job is to stand firm, drawing enemies toward him like moths to a particularly large and ve…
Greetings, warriors! Scheduled for release in 2026, a whole 158 years after the events it takes inspiration from, Shadow of the Road is set in a deliberately reimagined version of 1868 Japan. The game unfolds during a civil war echoing real historical tensions. The presence of magic and the clear-cut alignment of factions frame the conflict between the traditionalist Shogunate and the East Nipp…
Greetings, warriors! If anyone has been waiting for a chance to steal the spotlight - it is definitely Asuke, the party's most bewitching companion. Fetching and foxy, she scatters smiles like fleeting blossoms on the wind, making hearts flutter. Yet beneath this alluring facade lies a devious mind, capable of wielding both cruel jokes and subtle, deadly spells. Asuke is a master of manipulatio…
Greetings, warriors! Today, we'll acquaint ourselves with the ancient - a world where the age of steel has never begun to stir, and neither will it. The story takes us far below... Beneath the mountains, beyond the light of the sun or moon, lies Ne-no-kuni - the Land of Roots. It lies deep beneath the living world - not a hell or a place of punishment, but a wellspring of primordial power: a sh…
Greetings, warriors! It is known that samurai were not only accomplished swordsmen, but also masters of diplomacy. Studying from their wisdom, the Shadow of the Road team understands that proper communication is key to success. So, we're delighted to share some exciting news: French and German localisations have now been added to the game! If you’ve been on the fence because of the language bar…
Greetings, warriors! Not every arrow strikes with the same force. In Shadow of the Road, ranged combat is governed by Damage Zones - a system that makes positioning and distance just as important as going first. Every ranged weapon has an Attack Distance, divided into two distinct range bands: Close – the optimal range, limited by the dotted line on the combat grid. Shots landed here are most e…
Greeetings, warriors! This week, our character spotlight turns to the first companion to join Satoru on his journey along the Road - Takagi Akira: a man whose skill with a bow is matched only by his resolve. Akira is a tactician with a bowstring, defined by precision and adaptability. His effectiveness as a ranged damage dealer relies on carefully planning and executing risky delayed shots, and…
Hello warriors! Are you tired of turn-based combat growing stale by round 2, following the same routine of enemies go -> party goes -> rinse, repeat? Well then, you're in luck! Instead of rounds following a fixed pattern, Shadow of the Road keeps things fresh by offering a constantly evolving Timeline. What is the Timeline? Every character in combat, whether an ally or an enemy, has an Initiati…
Greetings, warriors! Alright, just a short announcement this time - no in-depth devlog, we'd rather you jump in and enjoy the Demo by following this link ! The Demo for Shadow of the Road will be run for at least a month, and we'll make the schedule available later. There may still be some minor changes down the line, but as our Open Alpha players have already found out - this slice of the game…
Greeetings, warriors! We’re kicking off a new series spotlighting the characters you will be playing as. That's right, they're not mere companions to your avatar - they're companions to each other, on a journey that has you, the player, as both guide and witness. Shadow of the Road is about your party, their pasts, convictions, and secrets, shaped by the politics of the era as much as the super…
Greetings, honourable warriors and wandering vagabonds! A Perspective on Players Shadow of the Road has cocluded the Open Alpha stage, and we're immensely grateful for the passion and dedication you've shown as you’ve plunged headfirst into its world. The feedback we've received from you has been invaluable . It’s exhilarating to see how players from all over the globe have taken to our game, a…
Greetings, noble warriors! We are proud to announce that the Alpha for Shadow of the Road is open and available for public. We are also happy to present you with this opportunity to try out our game for free , and would gladly accept any and all feedback. Share your impressions, speedruns, fanart, showcase your mastery of the game’s mechanics and your deep understanding of Japanese folklore and…
Greetings, warriors! We are excited to announce that the alpha of Shadow of the Road is almost here, and with it, we present you with a brand-new trailer that reveals what awaits you: a story of honor and duty, mystical yokai and unprecedented technologies, and epic battles where every choice shapes history! Music: "Hayabusa" by EXYZ , SENZO, MOMOKUSU IWATA Now is the time to prepare your weapo…
In the midst of the conflict between traditional mysticism and steampunk progress, the battlefield of Shadow of the Road is as dynamic as the warriors who tread it. For you, honorable samurai, understanding the intricacies of the destructible environment is key to mastering both strategy and surprise on the field. Unleashing Destruction Every object in the battlefield can be a tool of chaos whe…
Samurai! On the fringes of reality bordering myth live the Yokai, the enigmatic spitirs of Japanese folklore. In the new trailer, you’ll catch glimpses of the legends you’ll encounter in Shadow of the Road, but we’ll share more about each of them very soon...
Samurai! Lots of things have been happening recently, and we barely have time to share everything with you. We still have a lot of work to do, but we are so glad to see how our dreams come true and Shadow of the Road becomes what we always envisioned it to be. We hope that the final result will bring you the same delight and pleasure that we get from working on the game. We will share more news…
Samurai! Today we bring great news – we’ve found a publisher for Shadow of the Road. We recently signed a deal with Owlcat Games, who you may know as the developers behind Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. They have a lot of experience publishing their own games, and we trust that Shadow of the Road is in good hands. Owlcat Games will…
Samurai! It’s been a while since our last update, but rest assured – we’ve been fully immersed in some exciting developments that we’ll share with you in the coming weeks. And while we can't reveal everything at once, we'll be slowly spilling the beans. To back this up, here’s a glimpse into what we’ve been up to recently. Ready to dive in? Let's take a journey together ! Stealth System First o…
Samurai! We're super pumped to be back and ready to spill the beans on what we've been up to lately. Hope you're just as stoked about these new developments as we are! In today's devlog we'll be focusing on updates related to the combat system. We've poured our hearts and souls into polishing this aspect of the game because… Hey, we're gamers too , and we know how crucial it is to the whole exp…
Samurai! We are thrilled to once again connect with you and share the exciting developments happening at our studio. Lately, our plate has been full, both in terms of growing the studio and continuously refining the game itself. We've been hard at work, polishing and incorporating new ideas to enhance gameplay and provide a deeper, more enjoyable experience. Diving into the depths… Environment…
Samurai! It's been a while since we last connected, but rest assured, our silence has been filled with the bustling excitement of the holiday season and intense dedication to making Shadow of the Road the best game it can be. We're thrilled to see your ongoing interest and are eager to share the fruits of our recent labors! Volcano Let's dive into what we've been working on lately - the Volcano…
Samurai! We are thrilled to invite you to our Discord server, where you can connect with fellow warriors and stay updated on the development of Shadow of the Road – our game that promises an immersive story which will change the fate of the Empire. Why should you join? ⚔ Engage with a dynamic community of like-minded gamers; ⚔ Partake in thrilling events and get a chance to participate in upcom…
Greetings, Samurai! We're back with another exciting peek into the world of Shadow of the Road! As always, we're thrilled to have you on this journey with us, and we've got some great updates to share that we believe will make your wait for the game more enjoyable. Today, we'd like to discuss the three primary aspects we are currently focusing on. Let's dive into the first one! Combat Animation…
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Announcements are the developer’s own posts to the game’s Steam news feed: updates and their patch notes, in-game events, releases and sales. The important ones are marked on the players chart.