Patch 1.0.9.657

This is the monthly update build for August 2026. This month I focused on the Frost Pipes and Throne Room for Niflheim. These rooms are mirrors of the Muspelheim environments with completely different characters, art, and storyline. I was planning on working on the Slums for Muspelheim this month but I think it's a better direction to keep both Niflheim and Muspelheim at the same level progression-wise. It's been a lot of fun doing design for all of this but next month is more storyline and mechanics heavy.

Known Issues

• Russian language has not been updated past Fern/Rhode in Animus.
• English is the only language past the Mossbacks.
• There are missing mini-games in the fight with The Aspects.
• There are missing visual assets in Niflheim.

New Content

• Rebuilt the Firedoors and Frostdoors environments to make sure the view into the next environment matched. Also improved the particle systems and audio levels in these places. It's important to me that in any environment where you can see through a door or portal that view matches the next environment. Stuff feels disjointed otherwise.
• Added the Frostpipes environment to Niflheim. This area is a mirror of the Firepipes environment in Muspelheim and sets the stage for your encounters with the denizens of Niflheim. I also have a good workflow now for making this mirror world which helps speed everything up for the entire chapter.
• Added the Frost Throne environment to Niflheim. This area will have your first true encounter with Snifl. We're planning to have both him and Muus in at the same time.
• Added a bunch more Niflheim machines, Greebles, and flavor doodads to use around the chapter which brings it up to par with Muspelheim.
• Due to workflow changes you can expect both Muspelheim and Niflheim environments to launch in the same monthly update. This was hard to get the hang of at first but we've got it down now.
• Added some new hints to the ARG to help teams catch up to the front running packs.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a softlock when choosing Shelly pre-picnic and treating her badly but not too badly.
• Fixed a number of softlocks during The Aspects encounter.
• Fixed piping errors in the Niflheim Frostfall environment.

Bug Reporting

• Please report any issues on our official Discord at https://discord.gg/piratesoftware
• There is a channel called #heartbound-ticket where you can report stuff!
• Include a screenshot, it makes things much easier to fix!

Upcoming Content

• Muspelheim/Niflheim Throne environment polish and storyline.
• The Aspects encounter polish.

Here are a few pieces of concept art for Niflheim and the overall feel of the differences between Niflheim and Muspelheim. Hope you enjoy them!