- Announcement of release for 1.0, the cooperative roguelike that sold 1 million copies on Steam Early Access
- Grammy Award-winning composer Austin Wintory participates in OST · 15th Wizard added
Belgian indie studio Bolt Blaster Games announced that the official 1.0 version of the cooperative roguelike survival game ‘The Spell Brigade’ will be released simultaneously on Steam and PlayStation 5 (PS5) on April 29.
The upcoming 1.0 official version will feature a new wizard and a revamp of the core system, and the game’s quality has been further enhanced with the addition of an OST by a Grammy Award-winning composer.
1 Million Early Access Sales… Received ‘Very Positive’ Rating
Released as an Early Access title on September 16, 2024, ‘The Spell Brigade’ garnered a ‘Very Positive’ rating from over 13,000 Steam reviews and sold over 1 million copies during the Early Access period. The development team expressed gratitude to the community, stating, “We started as a small indie team, but it is an incredibly amazing experience to see so many players discover our game.”
Up to 4-player online co-op… A chaotic battle where friendly fire is acceptable
‘The Spell Brigade’ is a Survivors-like game that up to four people can play together online.
Players will cooperate to cast magic and face off against large numbers of enemies and bosses. In particular, the ‘Friendly Fire’ system, which applies damage to allies as well, is implemented, requiring constant judgment and cooperation as battles progress.
Another feature is a unique system that allows you to bring teammates back to the battlefield using ‘Revive Tokens’ even if they die in combat. You can create various synergy builds by combining spell enhancements, elemental infusions, enchantments, quests, scrolls, and more.
The highlights of the 1.0 update are the new Wizard, Ascension System, and Original OST
The 1.0 update signals the addition of a large amount of content. New enemies in the form of resource-stealing bandits, powerful elite variant enemies acting as mini-bosses, and new boss battles will be added.
With the newly introduced Ascension system, you can obtain enhanced rewards instead of resetting your Wizard Rank, and an optional difficulty adjustment mode is also provided. In particular, the addition of a 15th new Wizard is one of the key features.
In the OST sector, Grammy Award-winning composer Austin Wintory participated to complete the original soundtracks featured in every realm and boss battle. Wintory has already built a high reputation in the field of game music through his work on the soundtracks for titles such as ‘Journey’, ‘ABZÛ’, ‘Assassin’s Creed’, and ‘Hades 2’. The OST album is also scheduled to be released separately on Steam alongside the launch.
Supports Steam and PS5 cross-play… Produced with the support of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund
With the official launch, cross-play between Steam and PS5 is supported, allowing you to play with friends regardless of platform. Meanwhile, ahead of the 1.0 release, the price has been increased from the existing $9.99 to $12.99.
The development team stated, “This reflects the scale of the game, which has grown significantly through 13 updates, and the content planned for the future,” adding, “We are also preparing special benefits for existing players who have been with us since Early Access.” ‘The Spell Brigade’ is operated with the support of the Audiovisual Fund of Flanders (VAF) in Belgium and is active as part of the Flanders Game Hub.
The Growth of a 6-Person Belgian Indie Studio… Community-Centric Development Strategy Hits the Jackpot
Bolt Blaster Games is a six-person indie game studio founded in Belgium in 2020. They debuted in 2023 with the cartoon-style VR roguelike shooter ‘GAZZLERS’ and personally experienced the value of community feedback during the development phase, including a unique weapon crafting system and stunning visuals.
In the subsequent second title, ‘The Spell Brigade’, a community-centric development approach involving players from the early stages of development was adopted as a core strategy. Game Director Hans Jacobs stated that when sales surpassed 125,000 copies shortly after launch, it was “an achievement that far exceeded expectations.”
“Successful Differentiation Amidst a Crowded Genre”… Anticipation for the 1.0 Launch
Industry and media evaluations are generally positive. One media outlet commented, “By combining online cooperation and a friendly fire system in a unique way reminiscent of ‘Magic Cars,’ it has succeeded in differentiating itself in a highly competitive genre.”
However, although there were criticisms that the initial version lacked diversity in content such as enemies, bosses, maps, and spells, it is evaluated that it has been significantly improved through 13 subsequent updates.
The community is also showing great anticipation for the 1.0 release. As the development team expressed their gratitude, stating, “1 million people have played it. That is truly amazing,” fans have been expressing their eagerness for the release date on Steam forums and Discord. In particular, the news of cross-play support between Steam and PS5 is being received positively by users on both platforms.
Ahead of its official launch, ‘The Spell Brigade’ has significantly improved its quality based on content accumulated during the Early Access period and community feedback. With its unique cooperative combat system, large-scale updates, and added cross-play support, attention is focused on whether it can further solidify its position within the genre.
The game is on April 29th It is scheduled to be released simultaneously on Steam and PlayStation 5 (PS5).
Information regarding The Spell Brigade
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developers and Publishers | Bolt Blaster Games (Belgium) |
| Genre | Co-op Bullet Heaven Roguelite / Survivors-like |
| Release platform | PC (Steam), PS5 |
| Official release date | April 29, 2026 |
| Early Access Release | September 16, 2024 |
| Number of players | 1-4 Player Online Co-op |
| Steam rating | Very positive (13,000+) |
| Early Access Sales | Over 1 million copies |
| OST | Austin Wintory (Grammy Award Winner) |
| Crossplay | Steam and PS5 support |
| 1.0 New Content | New Wizards, Enemies, and Bosses, Ascension System, Original OST |
| Steam Page | https://store.steampowered.com/app/2904000 |
