Hyper Light Breaker Early Access ‘Buried Below’ update launches April 29

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On the 29th of April, I’m excited to share that my favorite co-op roguelite open-world game, Hyper Light Breaker, is getting a new update called “Buried Below”. This awesome news comes straight from Arc Games and Heart Machine!

Here is an overview of the update, via Arc Games:

New Content

As an avid follower, I’m super excited to share that the upcoming content for Buried Below introduces a fresh Breaker character named “Rondo.” Hailing from the same region as our latest debut, Ravona, Rondo boasts a unique SyCom with two SyCom perks. A new Crown, “Maw,” is also making its grand entrance, promising an intimidating experience. This massive Crown will be accompanied by two brand-new melee weapons and exciting new environments to delve into, particularly caves.

In the past few days, Early Access players have caught brief glimpses of Maw in action—either during preparations to enter the Overgrowth or while navigating her arena within the hostile crystalscape of the Jeweled Spire. The dedicated Heart Machine team has been tirelessly working on Maw, and they can hardly contain their excitement as we gear up to face her in just a few short days!

Change in Run Structure

Ever since the early release of Heart Machine’s game, they have diligently considered all player feedback they’ve gathered across the board. Influenced by this feedback, an upcoming update will bring about a major overhaul to the game’s structure, particularly the run system. From now on, each run will provide one life, and when players die, they’ll lose items from their inventory. Furthermore, the Overgrowth will be reset. This alteration is aimed at aligning the game with a more conventional roguelike approach, making each run a more consistent and gratifying “rags-to-riches” journey than before. Additionally, this change enables Heart Machine to fine-tune the difficulty level and make the game easier for beginners but challenging for experts, addressing a significant portion of the feedback they’ve received since the Early Access launch.

As an enthusiastic player, I’m thrilled about this transformation in the running mechanics! It’s going to bring some fresh gameplay dynamics and advancement adjustments that will not only simplify but also enhance the gaming experience for both seasoned players and newbies. This change promises a more entertaining run than ever before!

  • 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.
  • 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 develop their SyCom stats further at Shrines in the Overgrowth with extended upgrades unlocked through meta progression. This change, 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.
  • Inventory and 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

In the next update, a fresh onboarding tutorial will be introduced as one of the main improvements. This tutorial kicks off automatically when players first launch the game post-update, regardless of their current save status. This interactive guide introduces fundamental game mechanics within a sequential level that ultimately leads to the hub area known as the Cursed Outpost.

Upon reaching the Cursed Outpost, players will unlock a special area dedicated to mastering advanced combat skills like dash attacks and parries. The revamped introduction has been tailored to match the game’s redesigned framework and enhanced mechanics, creating an effortless yet informative starting point for both newcomers and returning players alike.

Hyper Light Breaker is currently in Early Access for PC via Steam.

Watch a new trailer below. View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.

“Buried Below” Update Trailer

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2025-04-24 19:19