Gunny Ascend Demo Update: New Tutorial, Power-Ups & Multiplayer Improvements

Gunny Ascend Demo · published · build 25208720

Patch Notes

We’ve been working on the Gunny Ascend demo since the June 5 update, focusing on making the first experience easier to understand, runs smoother, power-ups more reliable, and online multiplayer more consistent.

Returning players: your progress and settings from the previous public demo will carry over.

New Tutorial & Introduction

We’ve rebuilt the opening tutorial to better explain Gunny Ascend’s core mechanics.

  • Added guided practice for throwing bombs, jumping, rotating and placing pieces, clearing lines, and using filler blocks.

  • Added clearer explanations for the points needed to complete each level.

  • Added visual hints to help when a placement goes wrong.

  • Fixed several intro and HUB transition issues that could interrupt dialogue, disable controls, or trigger unnecessary shop transitions.

Character Unlocks & Run Flow

Unlocking and switching characters should now feel much smoother.

  • The Trader now gives you one free character unlock after your first conversation.

  • Additional character unlocks in the demo cost one gem each.

  • Completing a demo run now sends you back to the character-unlock room if you’ve already met the Trader.

  • Fixed issues where switching characters could move them unexpectedly, break collisions, or leave them stuck near portals.

  • Fixed character unlock sequences getting stuck, including when pressing Back during the reveal.

  • Fixed Continue sometimes restoring an empty-looking inventory or losing the saved item arrangement.

  • Added assistance for players trapped in narrow pits, where incoming blocks or bombs can help create a way out.

Updated Power-Ups

We’ve added and reworked several other items:

  • Blood Skull joins the demo item pool. It doubles line-clear points at the cost of two maximum heart containers.

  • Golden Skull received an updated scoring bonus and description.

  • Pluck now activates with Down + Throw, with improved interactions and feedback.

  • Plumber Shoes now let you hold Down in midair to stomp, bounce off hazards, and break regular blocks.

  • Gunner can now fire up to three shots during a short firing window before entering cooldown.

  • Jet Pack and Airborne now require a fresh Jump press in the air, giving you more control over activation.

  • Thinker now includes an afterimage effect and music slowdown.

  • Pivot Switch no longer rotates pieces unexpectedly when changing pivots.

  • Echoes of the Saved has been renamed Filler Episode, while keeping the same filler-block scoring benefit.

We also fixed several issues involving scoring, health, stacked bonuses, heart generation, special blocks, and unintended invulnerability from abilities such as Sword, Pluck, and Sticky Hand.

Online Multiplayer Improvements

We’ve made several fixes to improve 1v1 matches and lobbies.

  • Fixed a single hit sometimes removing two hearts.

  • Fixed players receiving different power-up choices at equivalent checkpoints.

  • Improved lobby and friend-room layouts.

  • Fixed curtain, background, and character-preview issues during customization and rematches.

  • Improved Back-button behavior and rematch menu indicators.

Inventory, Visuals & General Fixes

This update also includes a large set of presentation and reliability improvements.

  • Improved inventory dragging and item swapping.

  • Fixed unusable inventory cells caused by broken default items.

  • Improved readability for longer item names and descriptions.

  • Refreshed custom item artwork and effects for demo characters including Amy, Francis, Henry, Dave, and Stanley.

  • Improved transitions, pixel alignment, scorecards, and sound effects.

  • Fixed looping footsteps and dialogue audio continuing after conversations.

  • Fixed Miasmo’s head and fists appearing behind Thinker’s visual effect.

  • Improved controller navigation when starting the game.

  • Improved save-error recovery.

  • Fixed a startup timing issue that could leave text blank.

  • Fixed several block and bomb collision issues, including thrown blocks getting stuck above the player.

Thanks for continuing to play the demo and send us your feedback.

A lot of these changes came directly from watching how you play, reading your suggestions, and improving the experience around them. We hope you enjoy the update!