Hello, Explorers!
In our last development log, we shared why Terracrypt is taking PixARK’s next great adventure deep beneath the surface.
But an untouched world below raises an exciting question:
What kind of life has evolved in a place where sunlight never reaches?
Terracrypt is built around three core experiences: surviving against the odds, exploring mysterious new environments, and conquering powerful Bosses.
That vision guided one of our most important creature-design principles:
The environment shapes its inhabitants, and every creature must find a way to master its surroundings.
Rather than placing familiar wildlife underground, we wanted each region to feel like a living ecosystem—one that has developed in isolation over countless years.
Deep within the bioluminescent caverns, creatures have evolved glowing structures that help them survive in near-total darkness.
Among the dense rock layers, heavily armored species have developed tougher shells and unusual abilities that allow them to navigate the surrounding stone.
And near the remains of ancient ruins, mysterious guardians still bear the marks of a long-lost underground civilization—as though something deliberately reshaped them for a forgotten purpose.
Every creature tells part of Terracrypt’s story. Some may help guide your way through the darkness. Others will make sure your expedition ends there.
Your first descent into Terracrypt will be dangerous—but you won’t have to face it alone.
Meet the Vault Marten, one of the most useful companions an explorer can have during the early stages of the DLC.
The underground is not a flat and forgiving world. Its twisting caverns, towering rock walls, sudden drops, and hidden passages turn every journey into a test of movement and preparation.
The Vault Marten evolved to thrive in exactly this kind of environment.
Adapted to life in low light, it features a slow aerial descent ability, allowing it to move through complex vertical terrain with remarkable agility. Places that once looked unreachable may become the beginning of an entirely new route.
As your adventure progresses, the Vault Marten can take on several important roles, assisting with exploration, transportation, and support throughout your journey.
We wanted it to feel like more than another mount. Whether you’re scouting an unknown cavern, carrying supplies into hostile territory, or searching for a path through the depths, the Vault Marten is designed to become a trusted partner at your side.
It represents the kind of exploration we want Terracrypt to offer: more vertical, more unpredictable, and filled with opportunities to approach the world in new ways.
So, where do the ideas for Terracrypt’s new creatures come from?
Our designers draw inspiration from many different sources—but some of the most valuable ideas have come directly from the PixARK community.
For a long time, players have asked for companions created specifically for underground adventures: creatures that could help with mining, light the way through dark caverns, cross difficult terrain, or support an expedition into dangerous ruins.
We listened.
Many of those suggestions have now found their way into the abilities, appearances, and roles of Terracrypt’s new creatures.
That means Terracrypt is not simply a world we are building for the community. It is a world that has continued to grow with the community.
Your feedback has helped shape the life beneath the surface—and we’re still listening.
Keep sharing your ideas, theories, and wildest creature concepts in the comments. You never know where the inspiration for Terracrypt’s next underground inhabitant might come from.
Localization note: I used “Vault Marten” as the working English name for 跳跃鼬. It preserves the original meaning while sounding natural in the announcement, though it can be replaced once the official creature name is finalized.