Arc Games and Heart Machine are excited to reveal the Buried Below update, the first major content update for Hyper Light Breaker in Early Access, will launch on April 29. The content update will be a game changer, as it’ll bring a slew of new content along with major quality of life changes, including run structure changes inspired by player feedback that will change up the game in Early Access in multiple ways. In a new trailer that debuted today, Michael Clark, Hyper Light Breaker’s Lead Producer, covers everything players need to know about this major update and how it evolves the game in a whole new way.
New Content
On the content front, Buried Below will bring a new Breaker, “Rondo” – a Breaker who comes from the same region as the recently-debuted Breaker, Ravona, and has a new SyCom with two SyCom perks – a new Crown, “Maw” – the biggest and most menacing Crown yet, two new melee weapons and new environments to explore, including caves. For the new Crown, Early Access players have seen glimpses of her in a couple of ways-- as she’s shown as a Crown that’s possible to fight when readying up to enter the Overgrowth and players have entered her arena in the hostile crystalscape of the Jeweled Spire. The Heart Machine team’s been working hard on getting Maw ready, and they’re thrilled the time has come for players to face her in just a few days!
Change in Run Structure
Since Early Access launch, the Heart Machine has taken to heart all of the player feedback they’ve received across the board. Inspired by player feedback, the upcoming update will introduce the most significant feature overhaul yet with a complete rework of the game's run structure, as players will now have one life for each run and when they die they will lose items in their inventory, and the Overgrowth will reset. This change was made to balance the game around a more traditional roguelike experience, turning each run into a more consistent and rewarding “zero to hero” adventure than before. This change also allows the Heart Machine to better adjust difficulty and make the game easier to get into, but harder to master, and addresses much of the feedback the team has received from players since Early Access launch.
This shift in run structure will introduce a few gameplay loops and progression changes to make runs easier, better and ultimately more enjoyable for all players, including veterans and newcomers alike, than before.
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Extraction - More Options for Players: Instead of only one way to leave the Overgrowth (via the Telepad), players will be able to extract at any Shrine in the Overgrowth and there’ll be no waves of enemies to defeat like before. This change will make it so players can extract more often, making the game easier as a result which was one of the main requests from players to change the game’s difficulty.
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SyComs - Follows a Class-Like System, More Loadout Potential: Character customization has been redesigned giving each Breaker one assigned SyCom with fixed stats, and players have the option to equip a perk to the SyCom that gives the Breaker a new passive ability. For instance, Rondo’s SyCom has an equippable perk called “Bladedancer” that increases Rondo’s damage and attack speed. Players can upgrade their SyCom stats further at Shrines in the Overgrowth. These changes, inspired by player feedback, will make it so each Breaker is similar to a “class” making each Breaker feel different from one another, and make it so players can come up with distinct builds per Breaker.
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Inventory & Vendors - More Streamlined: The Vault system will be changed as when you die, the inventory in your Vault will no longer carry over between runs except for Golden Rations, the main meta progression currency in the game. This will allow players to focus solely on acquiring new gear during their runs instead of having to focus on managing their inventory so often like before. Additionally, vendors in the Overgrowth and Cursed Outpost will also have new roles, with Bright Blood and Materials now used for purchases and upgrades. While gear sales have been removed from hub vendors, players can still use them to enhance equipped items.
Improved Onboarding
The second major addition in the upcoming patch is a brand-new onboarding tutorial that launches automatically the first time players start the game after the update, regardless of save status. This guided experience introduces core mechanics through a structured level that leads to the Cursed Outpost hub. From there, players will gain access to a dedicated space for learning and practicing advanced combat techniques such as dash attacks and parries. Designed to align with the game’s reworked structure and expanded mechanics, this revamped introduction provides a smooth and informative entry point for both new and returning players.
ABOUT HYPER LIGHT BREAKER
From Heart Machine, the award-winning team behind critically-acclaimed titles Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash, comes Hyper Light Breaker, a new co-op rogue-lite adventure set in the beloved Hyper Light Drifter universe. Hyper Light Breaker is a brand-new entry in the Hyper Light franchise, with a unique story fully realized in 3D for the first time. Set decades prior to Drifter, Hyper Light Breaker has you take on the role of a Breaker, a mercenary tasked with entering the Overgrowth. Using a combination of fast-paced hack-and-slash combat, ranged weaponry and gadgets, players can expect to fight through and explore a wide array of procedurally-generated open worlds. Though you’ll start your journey trying to help the settlement, it’s clear that there’s something sinister in this long-forgotten land. Only through tenacity and rigorous exploration will you uncover the dark truths of the Crowns, The Abyss King and this brutal, eerie new landscape. Players can choose to play alone or with up to two fellow Breakers to explore open worlds, create new builds, rip through hordes and overcome the Crowns and the Abyss King. Get Hyper Light Breaker in Steam Early Access today: https://bit.ly/HLBSteam
ABOUT ARC GAMES
Arc Games is a leading publisher of premium and live service games in North America, Europe and Asia. The company is known for creating and publishing titles based on well-known global entertainment franchises, such as Star Trek and Dungeons & Dragons. Its product portfolio also includes beloved gaming titles: the Remnant series, Hyper Light Breaker, Have a Nice Death, Gigantic: Rampage Edition and the Torchlight series. Originally founded in 2008 as Perfect World Entertainment, the publisher was acquired by Embracer in February 2022 and was later rebranded as Arc Games. The company is headquartered in Redwood City, California, with global offices in Amsterdam and Shanghai. Arc Games is part of the Embracer Group AB, based in Karlstad, Sweden. For more information about Arc Games, please visit: www.arcgames.com.
ABOUT HEART MACHINE
Heart Machine is an award-winning development studio based in Los Angeles with team members from across the globe working on incredible projects. The team focuses on creating games with gameplay that’s engaging, fluid and fun, while also building worlds through vibrant art, great stories and incredible sound design. Heart Machine is immensely excited to be creating things they love every day.
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Media Contact
Charlotte Willis
PR Account Director (EMEA)
Diva Agency on behalf of Arc Games