Under a Desert Sun: Seekers of the Cursed Vessel · published
Today is a dream come true.
After years of planning, more than a almost 2 years of development, and countless decisions both big and small, Under a Desert Sun has officially launched into Early Access. For an overview of the game please scroll down because first I will rant a bit ;)
Alright here we go..
I know there is still a long way to go. But today, we celebrate a huge milestone.
There were moments when this project felt impossible. Building an action RPG largely on my own while working alongside incredibly talented artists, musicians, voice actors and testers often felt like an insurmountable challenge.
It means we've crossed the first threshold. More importantly, it proves that this dream can become reality.
Under a Desert Sun is an action RPG inspired by the games that shaped my own childhood.
Fight alone or together with up to four players in local co-op, with online multiplayer coming later during Early Access. Explore forgotten ruins, battle the occult, Nazis and the undead, discover powerful loot, develop your character, and uncover the mystery surrounding the Cursed Vessel before the Nazis learn how to fully use it.
You can finally experience the beginning of that journey, as the first act can now be fully explored with 2 of the planned 6 classes.
Reaching Early Access represents roughly the first quarter of the adventure I want to build.
Today you'll be able to experience the opening act, but there is still so much more ahead.
Three more acts.
Several new playable classes.
New enemies, bosses, loot, skills and environments.
Entire systems still waiting to come to life, from new ways to fight to the simple things that make a world feel alive, like merchants waiting for you back in town.
The foundation is here. Now it's time to build the rest.
Over the last weeks, players of the updated demo have been sending me bug reports, suggestions and feedback. I've already been working through it, fixing issues and making improvements for the Early Access build.
This is exactly what I hope Early Access will be!
Building the remaining adventure while listening to the people actually playing it. Finding the things that don't work as well as they should, improving the things that do, and hearing ideas I might never have considered on my own.
Some things will be small. Some will take considerably more work. And of course, not every suggestion will fit the game or the direction I want to take it. But I want to listen, discuss and improve the game together with you while continuing to build toward the complete adventure.
Thankfully, that process has already started.
Thank you to everyone who played the demo, reported a bug, started a discussion or simply told me what you liked and didn't like. Please keep doing it.
This project has asked a great deal, not only of me, but also of my family.
Every step toward this moment has been a conscious choice. I chose to invest a full year and a half building the technology and foundations the game needed. I chose to fund the project myself, and later to take a part-time job so I could continue developing Under a Desert Sun while remaining its sole investor. That meant investing not only my own time, but also a part of our family's time and finances.
I am not saying this to ask for pity. The point is, none of this has been a gamble or a spur-of-the-moment decision. From the beginning, there has been a plan: build the technology, create a solid foundation, release the first act, listen to the community, and continue expanding the game into the complete adventure I have always envisioned.
I am giving this project everything I have. I want you to know that, as you will pay some of your hard-earned cash to play my game.
I am fully committed and will invest both the time and resources necessary to see this through as intended.
My goal has always been to build an ARPG that respects the player. No predatory monetization. No season passes. Just a full adventure built with care, depth and respect for your time and your purchase.
Every step of this journey has involved taking a risk, and my wife and our children have supported me unconditionally through it all. That is a beautiful thing, and I am deeply grateful for it.
I love making this game, though I admit it has sometimes turned me into a bit of a cave dweller in the attic. Thank you for believing in me, sharing in my excitement, and occasionally reminding me to come downstairs.
I also want to thank my family and friends, my testers, and the incredibly talented artists, musicians and voice actors who helped transform an idea into a world players can finally explore.
You all became part of this journey, and this milestone belongs to all of us.
Finally, thank you to everyone who chooses to begin this adventure through Early Access.
Whether you've been following the project since the first screenshots or you've only just discovered Under a Desert Sun today, thank you for believing in it.
You can finally play the story I've dreamed of telling for years.
You can set out alone, or together with friends.
You can search for the Cursed Vessel.
And maybe...
Just maybe...
Save the world.
Now let's finish the adventure together.
If you're new to Under a Desert Sun, here's an overview of the adventure you can begin today and the systems you can already play with.
Under a Desert Sun: Seekers of the Cursed Vessel is a pulp action RPG set in WWII-era Egypt, where firearms meet ancient magic. In their search for power, the Nazis have stolen the Cursed Vessel and unleashed an ancient threat. Now the dead are rising, the people of the desert need help, and you must uncover what has happened before things become much worse.
The first of four planned acts is now fully playable. Explore the desert, venture into forgotten tombs and dungeons, help the people of Tanura, and meet the mysterious Dwellers as you search for answers about the Cursed Vessel.
Along the way, you'll battle Nazi soldiers, undead hordes and bosses, speak with the people caught in the middle, and solve environmental puzzles involving the sun and moon.
Two of the six planned classes are available at the start of Early Access:
The Soldier: Having survived the attack that killed his squad, he fights to protect those still alive. His abilities include improving his gunfire and supporting nearby allies with protective and damage-boosting auras.
The Adventurer: An independent treasure hunter whose latest expedition became far more dangerous than expected. Her abilities let her combine gunfire and melee attacks, with options such as ricocheting bullets, a hookshot and dual-wielding handguns.
Each has their own introduction, personality and reactions to the events of the story, as well as their own abilities to develop as you progress.
Play solo or share the adventure with up to four players in local co-op. Online multiplayer is planned for later during Early Access.
Earn experience, gain levels and unlock skill cards that change how you fight. Choose which cards to equip as more slots become available, combining their effects with your weapons and equipment.
You'll also discover a magical weapon: a shield for the Soldier and a bow for the Adventurer. These have their own skill trees, allowing you to invest points in new abilities and effects as your character grows.
Discover weapons and wearable equipment with different rarities, bonuses and effects. Try new finds, compare them with your current gear, and look for combinations that work with your chosen skills.
This is our starting point for Early Access. Future posts will build on this overview, covering what's been added, improved and changed as the adventure grows.
Again thanks everyone, hope you stick with me and let's finish this!