Upcoming Steam Next Fest Demo - Director’s Note

Hello everyone,

This is J. Kim, Director of Ember and Blade.

It’s hard to believe two months have already passed since our last demo. Time has flown by, and once again I want to thank you for the incredible support, feedback, and enthusiasm you shared with us.

Since then, the team has been focused on building new features, expanding content, and reviewing the feedback from our initial release.

And I’m excited to share that during Steam Next Fest this October, you will be able to play a new demo of Ember and Blade, featuring deeper story content, new blessings, progression systems, and meaningful changes shaped by our community.

TL;DR

• A new demo goes live at the start of October’s Steam Next Fest.
• Play through the story and battles up to Act 2, including early progression and crafting systems.
• Two new angels, Remiel and Galiliel, join the fight with their unique blessings.
• Progression from this demo will not carry over to future demos or the final release.

Growth & Crafting

The core content included in this demo is as follows. Of course, there are many more changes than what’s listed here, but let’s start with the big ones! We’ll introduce the other updates in future posts.

The Sanctuary of Oblivion

Each time Fenrix falls, he now revives at the Sanctuary of Oblivion. Here you’ll meet guardian Ariella Ashwood, along with the gentle angel Kaliel and the witty Haniel.

🌳 Grace of the Arbor: Offer Ethereal Amber to the great tree to unlock new abilities or strengthen Fenrix’s stats.

🔨 Keke’s Magic Forge: Keke, a porcelain golem created by Ariella, forges new weapons. Wield the Twin Daggers and the Hammer, each with a distinct combat style.

⚗️Pea’s Workshop: Pea, Keke younger brother, crafts relics with powerful effects—sometimes with drawbacks. You can also unlock artifacts originally created for Lumi.

Fields & Combat

Act 2: The Forsaken Library

After defeating Baphomet in the Ashen Meadow, descend into the Forsaken Library on the second layer of the seal. Encounter new monsters, mid-bosses, and the domain’s Warden, Arcanus the Faceless. Once cleared, you can freely choose between replaying Act 1 or Act 2. (Note: Progression and unlocks in this demo will not carry over to future builds or the release version.)

New Angels: Remiel & Galiliel

Two new angels lend their strength to Fenrix’s expedition.

⚡ Remiel, Angel of Lightning and Thunder, appears in Act 1. ☠️Galiliel, Angel of Poison and Conspiracy, joins in Act 2.

Shay’s Hideout

After mid-boss encounters, portals may open to Shay’s secret hideout. This mysterious not-a-cat merchant sells items that can change the course of your run, accompanied by playful banter with Lumi.

Community Feedback & Improvements

Your feedback has always been a central consideration in building this build. We’ve made significant adjustments to improve the flow of Fenrix’s combat.

- Faster combat: Increased attack and movement speed, supported by new animations that complement the quicker pace. - Performance upgrades: Fixes and optimizations to reduce frame drops and stutters, creating a smoother and more stable gameplay experience.

Closing Thoughts

This demo includes more changes than we can cover in a single post, and we will continue sharing details in the weeks ahead.

Expect updates on additional feedback we’ve addressed, more features in development, and our roadmap leading up to release.

October’s Steam Next Fest will be an important milestone for Ember and Blade, and we are excited to finally share this step of the journey with you.

As we prepare for the event, the current Ember and Blade demo page will be temporarily unavailable until it is refreshed with a brand-new look and the upcoming demo for Steam Next Fest.

And until she extends her invitation to the Sanctuary of Oblivion…

J. Kim Director, Ember and Blade