This is a small update enhancing playing experience, we've adjusted the camera zoom for a more action RPG feel, and enhanced sound effects to feel less repetitive.

In this update we focused on improving the games visuals and feedback to have a smoother gameplay experience. Changes:

• Updated color scheme to enhance vibrancy and improve differentiation between background and foreground elements.
• Improved visual effects feedback when picking up elements and interacting with objects.
• Implemented analog controller support for elemental leveling and scrolling through dialogues.
• Made adjustments to the controller scheme to align with PS controller controls for better clarity.
• Implemented performance enhancements for smoother gameplay experience.

• Slightly buffed the Final Boss to better align with the difficulty level of the previous map.

Changes:

• Dash now features i-frames to enhance players' ability to dodge bullets.
• Elemental Skills now have unique cooldowns, allowing for seamless switching between elements without carrying over the cooldown.
• Bosses' health has been reduced, and their attack patterns have been adjusted to increase the frequency of their attacks.
• New shrines have been added to provide temporary buffs to the player.
• The camera has been slightly zoomed in to improve the visual experience.
• Various interactions now include added sound effects for enhanced immersion.

With this update, the leveling up system has been revamped to provide a unique experience in each run. In addition, new passives have been incorporated for each element, along with the introduction of dual elemental passives and elemental switching. Moreover, we have introduced monster elemental affinity and weaknesses, among other significant enhancements. Changes:

• The leveling up system has been reworked to be elemental restricted.
• New passives have been added for all elements and certain combinations of elements.
• The level restriction on skills has been removed.
• After unlocking 3 skills in an element, no further skills will be presented.
• Elemental monsters now exhibit resistance and vulnerability to specific elements, prompting strategic element selection.
• Players will now become temporarily invisible upon entering a new zone or using a portal to prevent immediate attacks.
• A new NPC, Lady Aria of Valoria, has been introduced in the resting zone, with more NPCs to be added in the future.

• Players are now limited to 1 divine relic.
• Bosses have been bolstered and are more resilient across the board.
• Minor adjustments have been made to skills.
• Piercing abilities now have a limited number of pierces.

• Addressed a crashing issue related to how hit-boxes were handled.
• Resolved a bug where the score did not display properly at the end of the run.
• Fixed a bug that allowed for skill duplication.
• Rectified a bug causing multi shots to spread out, making aiming more challenging.

Exciting Changes Coming in the Next Update In the upcoming update, we are introducing major changes aimed at addressing the current linear feel of leveling into an element and the lack of uniqueness in each element's playstyle. To enhance the gaming experience, the following changes will be implemented: Changes:

• Players will now choose a single element at the beginning of the game.
• Unlocking skills outside of the chosen element will no longer be possible.
• A second element can be unlocked during gameplay.
• Players will have the ability to switch between their two elements during combat.
• Each element will now provide access to three unique skills in addition to a basic skill.
• New passive skills will be introduced.
• Hybrid skills and passives will be available, requiring a specific combination of elements.
• Monsters will now have elemental affinities, resulting in varying levels of damage based on the element used against them.

Changes

• Localization: You can now change to any of the following languages. (Espaol, Franais, Deutsch, Portugus, , , , , Trke)
• Maps update: Maps now feel less empty and full of monsters. So use your abilities well and dismantle the horde.
• Enemies attacks are now better telegraphed
• Light system updated for the better.
• Loading screen added when changing scenes
• UI improvements over the board.
• Projectiles now have a speed decay to feel more realistic

A lot of changes has been going on behind the scene and are coming in a series of updates very soon. What to expect:

• First and foremost localization is finally here for the following languages (Espaol, Franais, Deutsch, Portugus, , , , , Trke)
• The story of aether will start to unravel with a lot of side quests and new npcs that you'll meet in your adventure.
• The lighting system have been reworked, and looks much better now with a fantasy feel to the game.
• The map design has been altered to feel less empty and more exciting with each feeling like a unique biom hosting a special element.
• Monsters are now more abundant, so prepare for an intense fight.
• Attacks are now better telegraphed to help you deal with hord of monsters coming your way

• Elemental system rework for better elemental synergies
• Switching between elements mid combat
• unique elemental dashes

The game felt a little too easy and unrewarding, so a little bit of tweaks were made. Now it should feel a little bit harder but fairer and more rewarding when making a strong build. Changes:

• Added a new UI over the health bar to easily track cooldowns during combat
• Monsters stats adjusted (ranged monsters are now slower)
• Ice,Lava,Boss Zones scales a bit more in term of health and damage
• Relic crit chance and damage lowered across the board.

Changes:

• New meta progression system added (Meditation Circle)
• Difficulty selector removed and replaced with a new difficulty system
• Upon beating the game on a difficulty, you'll unlock the next difficulty. (Normal, Nightmare, Hell)
• Higher Difficulties increase Shard drop rate (Normal: x1, Nightmare: x2, Hell: x3)
• overall UI improvement (both visual and smoother navigation)

• Monsters Health scaling in higher stages reduced
• Charged Upgrade nerfed (area size 20% -> 10%, cast speed -15% -> 20%)
• Multi-shot nerfed (damage -35% -> 50%)

Changes:

• Skill upgrades revamped, upgrades are now more effective and diverse.
• Monsters no longer get stronger with time.
• Added a new rest area between zones where you can heal and get a reward depending on your performance. (will evolve it in later updates to contain npcs, shops, and new perks)
• Added a UI scale slider in graphic settings
• Enemy density lowered in desert and snow biome to scale more linearly.
• Adjusted fonts in the start screen and headings.
• Added biometric lights and effects to the tutorial and starting area.

Changes:

• Camera Zoomed out slightly for better visibility during combat.
• Minimap UI added on the topleft without opening the map.
• Healthbar added over the player.
• Added New Window Resolutions that supports 21:9 and 32:9 screens.
• Added "game" tab to the settings menu to hide some of the new UI changes.

• reduced health buff to enemies from 12% -> 10% per timer stack.

• Fixed a bug where some bats were not attacking.

Bug Fix:

• fixed a bug where normal bats would no longer attack.

Changes:

• Lava Zone Added as zone 4 (after ice zone)
• New Enemy type added: Fire Bat
• Elementals Spawned from higher shrines no longer spawn small elementals
• Higher shrine is now surrounded by elemental monsters
• Saber Attack is no longer interruptable.

• Fixed a bug where monsters spawned from shrines didn't get buffed correctly.
• health UI no longer display decimal points

UI Changes:

• it's now easier to navigate the UI using the controller
• you can now scroll with the controller using the right analog (aim_up , aim_down)

• Slightly buffed monster damage in later stages
• Bosses can no longer be knocked back
• Relic stats slightly lowered
• rare and above relics drop rate reduced in normal shrines and normal chests
• Final Boss no longer Moves around (making the fight less chaotic)

• Fixed a bug where you could duplicate skills

Changes:

• Time buff reduced by half (monsters won't be as tanky or as punishing as time goes on)
• Relic stats slightly buffed over the board/
• Greater Elemental lightning strike speed reduced.

Changes:

• Cast Recovery stat removed and merged with cast speed (10% cast speed will now give 10% cast recovery as well)
• New Relics Added
• Relics changed to feel more impactful
• Relic icons changed
• Special effects are now described with more details
• Adjusted Relic drop rate (higher tier relics now drop more reliably from bosses and higher ranked maps)
• Enemy skills now have a purple outline to better distinct from players skills

• Fixed a bug where after a run the timer buff would still linked for the first two minutes of the new run
• Fixed a bug where if you instantly pick a skill after leveling up the leveling UI would disapear
• Fixed a bug where healing was less than what expected

Changes:

• Adjusted Enemy Melee Attacks to be more predictable
• Adjusted some enemy projectiles Hit boxes.
• You can now exit meditation UIs (leveling,relic,skills) with the ui_cancel(O/B) command
• Changed lightning and wind element colors to be easier to distinguish from the background

Changes:

• Skills got buffed all over the board.
• Enemy Density increased

Aether - Steam Next Fest!! Join us this Wednsday, for an awesome livestream, where we explore the world of Aether together. Watch the developers of Aether run throught the game and tryout different elements to overcome the various bosses and challenges in the world. [previewyoutube=BHkyO7bMdPg;full][/previewyoutube]

Aether is on Steam Next Fest! Come join us, while we explore the world of Aether, and uncover it's secret while going through hoards of enemies and bosses. [previewyoutube=BHkyO7bMdPg;full][/previewyoutube]