- Developer Diary & Demo Update - Sept 2026 - 23 September 2026
Hello, Vikings!Closed Alpha Test #2 has officially come to an end, and we’ve been blown away by the incredible number of players eager to experience Badassgard! Throughout the test, we received a tremendous amount of feedback, giving us valuable insights into what you enjoyed and what we could improve.After reviewing your feedback and seeing how many Vikings wanted to keep playing, we’ve decided to bring back the demo with an updated build! This new version will feature a brand-new stage, alongside numerous gameplay improvements, balance adjustments, and quality-of-life updates inspired by your feedback.The new demo will be available on October 1st!In these Dev Notes, we’ll take you through some of the biggest changes coming to Badassgard, including new content and improvements shaped by your feedback. For those who want to dive into every detail, we’ll also be publishing a separate ann…
- [TEST ENDED] Badassgard CAT #2 Has Ended - 15 September 2026
Greetings, Vikings of the battlefield! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all the Vikings who joined us on Badassgard's second expedition over the past two weeks. Through CAT #2, you leaped into the fray—surviving, falling, and rising again—leaving behind countless records and pieces of feedback. Your gameplay data and opinions will be a massive driving force in shaping the future of Badassgard. Now, we are stepping back from the battlefield for a moment to carefully review every record and voice you’ve shared. We will thoroughly examine and discuss what was fun and what fell short, and we’ll let you know how Badassgard's next expedition will evolve as soon as possible.And even though the test is over, the battlefield isn't closing completely. In early October, the Badassgard demo will be re-opened. We will return with a brand-new battlefield, Theme 2, along with improvements ba…
- ⚔️ OParts Design Contest — Forge Your Idea Into Badassgard! - 11 September 2026
Hello, Vikings!First of all, thank you for all the support, feedback, and chaos you've brought to Badassgard throughout our demos and Closed Alpha Test!By now, many of you have experimented with different builds, mixed and matched OParts, and discovered increasingly ridiculous ways to blast your way through Badassgard.But maybe you've also had this thought:“What if THIS was an OPart?”Well... now's your chance to make it happen.We're excited to announce the Badassgard OParts Design Contest, where we're inviting YOU to come up with an original OPart that could one day become part of the game!Design an OPart, tell us what it does, and show us how it could make a Viking's build even more powerful, chaotic, or just plain fun.And if your idea is selected, we'll work on bringing it into Badassgard itself — with a naming homage to the Viking who created it!🔥 What Are We Looking For?We're looki…
- 🎉 Badassgard Has Surpassed 10,000 Wishlists! - 9 September 2026
Dear Vikings, ⚔️Badassgard has officially surpassed 10,000 wishlists on Steam!When we began Closed Alpha Test #2, we never expected to receive this much support from Vikings all around the world.To us, this is more than just a number. It represents thousands of players looking forward to Badassgard — and a growing community actively playing, testing, sharing feedback, and helping us make the game even better.And we’re only getting started.There’s still a long road ahead, with plenty more to improve, build, and show you.To everyone who added Badassgard to their wishlist, joined our community, or participated in CAT#2:Thank you for being the badass Vikings that you are. 🔥We’ll keep working to make Badassgard bigger, better, and more badass than ever.See you in Valhalla! ⚔️– Team THECOVE
- 🔴 Closed Alpha Test #2 — Livestream Week! - 7 September 2026
Greetings, Vikings! ⚔️We’re almost one week into Closed Alpha Test #2, and the support from players around the world has been incredible. Thank you for playing, sharing your feedback, and causing all kinds of chaos in Badassgard!As we enter Week 2, we’re hosting two special livestreams to play with the community, chat with you, and even show a little of what’s coming next. 👀🔴 THECOVE LIVE — Steam & YouTube📅 September 9 🕛 12:00 AM GMT / 9:00 AM KSTJoin us for some Badassgard runs, experimental builds, shotgun-powered chaos, and a sneak peek at content we're working on for future versions of the game!Watch us live on the Badassgard Steam page or our YouTube channel!https://www.youtube.com/@TheCove-ro5ul🔴 Developer Q&A — Discord📅 September 11 🕛 11:00 AM KST / 2:00 AM GMTCome hang out with the developers as we play Badassgard, answer your questions, and hear your CAT#2 feedback and i…
- FAQ: Badassgard 2nd Closed Alpha Test - 3 September 2026
Greetings, Vikings!As the second test for Badassgard is currently underway, we've put together a detailed guide to answer any questions you Viking warriors might have.From how to participate to the rewards, this FAQ will be continuously updated throughout the test, so please check back anytime!Q. What is the purpose of this test? This Closed Alpha Test #2 is being conducted to see how Badassgard's core combat experience, newly added Ooparts, set effects, difficulty levels, and reward structures feel in actual gameplay. After the test concludes, we will use your feedback to improve balance and quality of life, returning with an even more polished build. (Note: Due to the nature of an alpha build in active development, some content or systems may be restricted or incomplete.)Q. How can I participate? This test is a Closed Alpha with a limited number of participants. If you wish to join, p…
- Closed Alpha #2 Hotfix Patch 1 Details [Build 0.25] - 3 September 2026
⚔️ Greetings, Vikings!Before we begin, we would like to give you our heartfelt thanks for taking the time to try out the Closed Alpha Test of Badassgard. The feedback and bug reports you've sent us have been incredibly detailed and straight to the point.Our team has been constantly monitoring your feedback, and we've prepared an upcoming hotfix that addresses many of the bugs and issues players have reported during their playthroughs.We want to make the most of this opportunity to make the game run as smoothly as possible — and, of course, make it even more fun than before!🔧 – Patch Notes –Dungeon and CombatTutorial: Polished the layout of the first part of the mapTutorial: Altered surfaces to prevent players from getting stuck or colliding with invisible layersTutorial: Fixed enemy pathfinding AITutorial: Fixed an issue where enemies would not spawn after the first encounterTutorial:…
- [Announcement] Badassgard Closed Alpha Test #2 is Now Open! - 1 September 2026
⚒️ Be the first to play the newly improved Badassgard and claim your CAT #2 exclusive skin! ⚒️Greetings, Vikings! The long-awaited second Closed Alpha Test (CAT #2) for Badassgard begins today! Whether you didn't participate in CAT #1 or are playing Badassgard for the very first time, everyone is welcome to apply. The test will run until September 15th, and you can still apply at any time during the testing period. All CAT #2 participants will have their nicknames engraved on the Badassgard Hall of Fame stone slab, and those who complete the feedback survey by September 18th will receive the CAT #2 exclusive \ skin. For this CAT #2, we have improved the overall game based on the feedback you sent us during CAT #1:More diverse oparts and set opartsAddition of character-exclusive opartsNew shell types and revamped Ballistic RunesDungeon scoring systemImproved dungeon loop structureOverall…
- CAT #2 D-1 | Participation Rewards for Our Vikings Revealed! 🎁 - 31 August 2026
Greetings, Vikings! ⚔️CAT #2 is finally just one day away! Thank you so much to everyone who applied to participate.We are currently distributing Steam keys sequentially via Discord DM to those who have completed their applications. If you haven't received yours yet, please hold tight! Our team is sending them out in order, so you will receive yours soon.Please note that the demo version will be temporarily suspended. During the testing period, you will only be able to play the CAT #2 build provided via your Steam Key. We will announce the schedule for the demo update and reopening at a later date.Don't worry if you haven't applied yet! We will continue to accept 2nd round applications throughout the CAT #2 test period. Even if you're late to the news, you can apply anytime. As soon as your application is confirmed, we will send you a Steam key sequentially.Applications for CAT #2 are a…
- CAT#2 is here! - Developer Notes - 19 August 2026
August Dev Notes - CAT#2 Hello, Vikings!Thank you so much for your long wait, as well as the constant support and feedback you've shared with us even after the last test ended. Thanks to your enthusiasm, our dev team was able to gain extra energy to prepare for this upcoming test.The 2nd Closed Alpha Test (CAT#2) that many of you have been waiting for will finally begin on September 1st!We went through every valuable feedback you left, and the entire team has been constantly brainstorming and refining to present "a more immersive and seamless, thrilling combat."Before opening the gates to the new battlefield, we would like to introduce the key changes applied to the current build step-by-step so you can enjoy this Alpha Test even more thoroughly.In CAT#2, we focused most on the fun of creating a wider variety of builds and providing a seamless, immersive combat experience.To this end, w…
- ⚔️ Rally Your Comrades! Discord Invite Event & CAT #2 Guaranteed Access - 18 August 2026
Greetings, Vikings! Sign-ups for Badassgard’s second Closed Alpha Test (CAT #2) are finally open! With the real battle approaching, we have prepared a special Discord invite event to gather comrades to join us on this fierce battlefield. For those who truly enjoy our game, we promise a "Guaranteed CAT #2 Alpha Spot." Event Period: August 17 ~ September 12 🎁 \Shared Benefits: Both the person who invites a friend and the friend who joins will receive a special CAT#2 Invite event role.Priority Steam Key Delivery: Those with this role will be guaranteed participation in the test regardless of the player cap. You will also be the very first to receive your CAT #2 Steam key via Discord DM in time for the test schedule.📝 \ 1. Create and Share a Discord Invite LinkPC: Click the server name in the top left corner of the Discord screen and click \ to copy the invite link or invite a friend dire…
- You Decide the Exclusive CAT #2 Skin! - 14 August 2026
Greetings, Vikings!For the upcoming CAT #2, we will be giving out one exclusive CAT #2 costume to everyone who submits the post-play survey.And through a community vote, you will personally decide which costume gets chosen as this limited reward!Please check out the prepared candidate costumes and vote for your favorite design.Your vote determines the special reward that CAT #2 participants will receive.The costume selected through the vote will be distributed to everyone who participates in CAT #2 and submits the survey.Vote for the costume you love the most and personally decide the star of the exclusive CAT #2 reward!🛡️ Introducing the Final Candidates!In this vote, one of the two candidates below will be produced as the exclusive CAT #2 skin.First Day VikingCATastrophic VikingPlease check the concept images for each candidate and vote for the skin you like the most!🗳️ How to VoteT…
- ⚔️ Be the First to Experience a Stronger Badassgard — CAT #2 Sign-up Guide - 13 August 2026
Greetings, Vikings!We are thrilled to bring you the news of Badassgard's second Closed Alpha Test, CAT #2, returning stronger than ever.Since CAT #1, our team has carefully reviewed every piece of your valuable feedback and continuously improved the game.Especially for this CAT #2, we are preparing a more diverse range of oparts with noticeable changes, allowing you to feel the impact of your selections and combinations more vividly. Our goal is to create more fun moments through Set oparts and Character-Exclusive Ooparts, and to clearly deliver the excitement of completing your build within a single playthrough.Along with this, the following core improvements have been applied to enhance the overall quality of the game:Addition of various new opartsSet oparts and Character-Exclusive opartsPerformance optimizationDungeon scoring systemDungeon loop structureTo make Badassgard an even mor…
- Developer Game Streaming Starts Now - 7 August 2026
Developer Game Streaming Starts Now
- Meet Badassgard at BIC 2026! (Next Stop: Gamescom!) - 3 August 2026
Hello, Vikings!This is THECOVE, the development team behind Badassgard.First of all, we'd like to sincerely thank everyone who visited our booth at Unite Seoul and played Badassgard. It was an incredibly meaningful experience for our team to meet so many of you in person, hear your thoughts, and receive your valuable feedback.Now, our next stop is Busan Indie Connect Festival (BIC) 2026!Badassgard at Busan Indie Connect Festival (BIC) 2026August 14–16, 2026BEXCO, Busan, South KoreaCome visit our booth to play the latest build of Badassgard and chat directly with the developers. We'd love to hear your thoughts, answer your questions, and talk about the game with you.BIC Booth EventWe've prepared a few special gifts for everyone who stops by and play our game!All players receive: A Badassgard sticker, hand fanPlayers who clear Theme 0 receive: A limited-edition Badassgard shotgun shell ke…
- Developer Notes - July 2026 - 3 July 2026
Hello, Vikings!Since the May Demo Update, our team has spent time reading through all of the feedback you've shared with us.Some feedback highlighted things you enjoyed, while other comments offered honest criticism about areas that need improvement. There were ones that were straightforward while others sparked lengthy discussions within the team.Today, we'd like to talk about some of the topics that came up most often and share how those feedback are shaping our development plans.Badassgard is still a work in progress.That’s why your feedback matters a lot to us and is one of the most important factors influencing the decisions we make as developers. The Presence of Oparts※ Development screen testing the effects and balance of various Oparts. "The buffs may have looked good on paper, but the actual effects were hard to notice during gameplay."This was a piece of feedback that led to m…
- Demo Hotfix Patch Note 0.1.4 - 28 May 2026
Hello Vikings,A huge thank you to everyone currently participating in our Demo. We’ve been listening closely to your feedback and have pushed out a hotfix to address several animation lock issues, UI errors, and some pesky bugs that were disrupting the flow of combat.Our goal is to make sure your shotgun-blasting journey through the Nine Realms is as smooth as a fresh mug of energy drink. We’re always listening, so keep that feedback coming in the Discord! — PATCH NOTES —Animation & Control IssuesResolved issue where repeatedly using skills with 0 ammo caused all attacks and skill controls to lock upResolved issue where interacting with a chest while at 0 ammo had a low probability of locking player controls post-interactionResolved issue where aiming was not disabled when performing emotes during a reload, causing the character's arms to distortResolved issue where navigating menus at…
- [DEMO LIVE] The Raid Has Begun. Grab Your Shotguns! - 27 May 2026
The wait is over, Vikings. The official public demo is LIVE!The forge has done its work, and the first wave of chaos is ready for you. We’ve poured our hearts (and a lot of gunpowder) into this build to ensure the combat is fast, the hits are heavy, and the adrenaline never stops.\Got feedback? Found a bug? Head over to our Discord server and let us know what you think. Your input is what keeps our forge burning. We aim to keep updating and polishing the demo as we get your valuable feedback!Have fun,THECOVE Team
- [Notice] Demo Live TOMORROW - 26 May 2026
Greetings, Vikings!The forge is glowing white-hot, and the final runes are being etched into the steel. We are thrilled to announce that the public demo is just a day away!After the invaluable feedback from CAT#01, we’ve spent hours sharpening the blade to bring you this updated build. We’ve dialed up the intensity—expect faster combat, clearer visuals, and a smoother experience that keeps you focused on the fun stuff.Missed the Dev Log? Check it out now : Whether you are a returning vanguard or a new Viking stepping into the ruins for the first time, your saga begins this week.Demo Live: May 27th 02:00 UTC / May 26th 19:00 PST, 22:00 ESTDon't forget to Wishlist and join our Discord to be the first to know when the download button goes live!Go get your boomsticks.THECOVE Team
- Monthly Devlog - 2026 May - 15 May 2026
Hello Vikings,Since wrapping up CAT#01 (Closed Alpha Test), we’ve been buried in player logs and feedback. The consensus was clear: the game is fun, but it can be exhausting. We realized that some of the complex systems we implemented for depth were actually acting as friction, slowing down the experience and causing unnecessary fatigue.For Build 0.1.3, our mantra is "Flow over Friction." We’ve taken a hard look at what makes the game drag and made some bold calls to cut the noise. Our goal is a faster, more intuitive experience that lets you focus on the adrenaline of combat rather than wrestling with mechanics.Here’s the breakdown of how we’re sharpening the blade.TL;DR : Our Demo will be soon uploaded to Steam. The post is basically explaining all the things we've changed and implemented for that Demo. ⚔️ CombatThe biggest decision we made was retiring the Eitr System. While we loved…
