Timehackers, welcome to our latest demo build. In this Dev Diary, we're diving into the demo, packed with new content, optimizations, and experiments we're excited to share, plus a few hidden surprises! (Easter eggs only, no spoilers—read on without worry!)
In previous diaries, we talked about our design philosophy, the thinking behind our action design, and the stories behind our characters. Now, we're finally ready to bring you a more complete look at the game, richer in content and smoother to play than the last test!
Of course, the demo is still a work in progress, so some areas may not be fully polished yet. If you have any thoughts or run into any issues during your playthrough—compliments, complaints, or suggestions—feel free to let us know anytime. Let's make SlashZero better together! We've also got plenty of community events lined up to collect your best content and ideas!
First, some good news: SlashZero had the honor of being featured at Sony's State of Play, where we also revealed a brand-new story trailer and kicked off this demo! The test period runs from September 3 at 8:15 a.m. PDT (3:15 p.m. UTC) through September 23 at 8:00 a.m. PDT (3:00 p.m. UTC). During this period, you can download and experience the game on the Steam Store and PlayStation Store
. Please refer to the test announcement for more details.
We're also officially announcing that the game will launch in spring 2027!
Event Rewards Preview
This demo brings players three different events, with rewards including Steam gift cards, and even chances to join future closed betas, earn community titles, and connect directly with the dev team! Outstanding entries will also be reposted by SlashZero's official account for more players to see! Follow our official community for full event details!
[SlashZero Sharing] Event: Share your best gameplay clips, screenshots, or fan creations on designated social platforms with the specified hashtag for a chance to win rewards. Entries will be divided into 3 categories: Action, Build, and Fan Content. Three winners will be randomly selected from each category to receive merchandise rewards.
[SlashZero Content Creator Program]: Post a long-form video, short video, or livestream, then fill out the survey to submit your entry. After the test ends, we'll rank entries by view count within each video category. The top 10 creators in each category will receive access to future internal tests, community titles, and more.
[SlashZero Speedrun Challenge]: No matter which character you play, you can share a video of yourself taking on this test's hidden boss, Erik, and see who beats him the fastest! Record your character defeating Erik on Normal difficulty with no cheats, then post the video along with your in-game log on social media. After the event ends, we'll identify the fastest clear for each character, and the winners will get a chance to speak directly with the dev team and join future internal tests.
Don't forget about our upcoming SlashZero dev team demo livestream! Follow our official Steam page for fun gameplay content and upcoming previews!
Latest Demo Build Content
New Timehacker: Hamlet
Hamlet was teased as a mysterious character in the global trailer released this June and will be playable for the first time in this test. After unlocking the second character and obtaining clues through talking to Rui at the Fortune Chip, players can trigger the related story in specific timelines to unlock Hamlet and begin an all-new Timehacker journey.
Challenge Two New Secret Bosses: Erik and Ye
Erik and Ye have already made their appearances in previous demos and trailers, but this will be the first time players can challenge them as secret bosses.
After your first clear, re-enter the timeline and complete it again to unlock the secret boss, Erik. As for the secret boss Ye, they'll only truly unlock after completing a series of story events related to Ye.
HIEROS-I, Lord of the Void, Revealed
After fighting through the challenges and loops of countless timelines, players will finally defeat the hidden boss, Erik. And it's at this moment that they will meet HIEROS-I for the very first time!
As the ultimate target of every Timehacker, HIEROS-I appears as an immense, distant figure, sending the timeline hurtling straight toward collapse.
New Authority Added—Infinity of Space
The game's roguelike systems have been further expanded. The new Authority, Infinity of Space, introduces a range of additional buffs, along with more upgradable Chips to reshape how characters play, additional Authority Codes to unlock, and other out-of-round progression systems. Together, these in-round roguelike mechanics and long-term progression systems will bring even more distinct combat builds.
Optimizations
In our first producer introduction, we mentioned the issues that came up during the test back in spring. Since then, we've continued to fine-tune and optimize the game, running several offline playtests to keep refining based on your feedback and suggestions. In this section, we'll walk you through the specific changes and improvements we've made!
Combat feels better than ever with animation optimizations!
Dodge charge mechanics revised—cooldown reduced from 1 second to 0.8 seconds
Players can now perform a Dodge at zero cost to recover from a hit-stun
Jump height is now fixed, regardless of how long you press the button
Block and Perfect Dodge are now part of the base kit
Improved early-game guidance and hints to help you get through the basics faster!
Added an early-game tutorial video
Added a Move List
Timehacker Training now unlocks earlier
Chip system optimized and enhanced for more diverse builds!
Some in-run Chips can now be Embedded, granting more build preset slots through the Embedding system
Added Tier 2 Chips, giving Basic Moves a further upgrade
Late-game builds unlocked—Explore new combat possibilities!
As you progress further into the game, more Authorities and Blessings will become available, letting you experience late-game Authority builds
Dual Blessings unlocked
Characters and story optimized for a more immersive experience!
Enhanced interactive guidance on the map, with more interactive elements unlockable as you progress
Bond Level system added to characters
Upgraded art and environments—Experience the game's various content in their more refined form!
Once again, thank you to everyone who is taking part in this demo, and to all our friends who've been following the game! We hope you'll have fun in this playtest, and we look forward to your continued support. Thank you all!