- Positive reviews continue at Steam Next Fest… Proving its presence with 8,846 demo downloads.
- The evolution of a space-themed bullet-hell roguelike… Survival strategies expanded with new bosses and weapon revamps.
Sublight, a space-themed bullet-hell roguelike currently under development by Codebrew Software, an indie developer from Nottingham, UK, is garnering attention after recording 8,846 demo downloads at the recent Steam Next Fest.
Sublight is a game where you become the captain of a massive battleship, deploy turrets, adjust firing angles, and fight your way through increasingly fierce waves of enemies. The developers applied a major 0.18.0 update on July 15 (local time), reflecting user feedback collected during Next Fest.
This update stands out for significantly enhancing the strategic depth of the game through the addition of a complete overhaul of the weapon system, balance adjustments, and a new ultimate threat, the ‘Hunter Flagship’.
A new survival battle begins after 30 minutes… The Hunter flagship appears
The biggest change in the update is the Hunter flagship that appears when the playtime exceeds 30 minutes.
The Hunter flagship is a special enemy that relentlessly pursues the player. It possesses the characteristic that its movement speed and attack power increase as the player’s survival time increases. Beyond simply defeating the enemy, the key strategy in the later stages is to evade pursuit by properly utilizing defensive equipment and mobility.
The weapon system has also been extensively revamped. Chain guns have been modified to penetrate multiple enemies in a straight line, and autocannons have been improved to deal explosive damage. Barrage-type weapons have been changed to predictive firing, significantly improving accuracy. Additionally, the system has been changed so that weapons can be mounted on class-specific hardpoints on each ship, enabling diverse build configurations that leverage the unique characteristics of each vessel.
The status effect system has also been deepened. The Ignite effect applies up to 5 stacks and a related passive ability has been added, while the Cold effect can stack up to 20 times to completely freeze enemies and deal additional damage.
Strategy shaped by firing angles… Free ship customization
The setting of Sublight is a hostile galaxy. Players command a massive battleship and must break through dangerous zones occupied by rebel fleets and alien life forms.
The key to combat is equipping turrets and combining upgrades to complete your own unique battleship. You can reinforce your ship with wreckage acquired from defeated enemies and freely choose from a variety of weapons, ranging from cutting autocannons to penetrating railguns.
In addition, while attack characteristics can be finely designed by combining dozens of passive upgrades, simply equipping powerful weapons is not enough. Since maximum firepower can be achieved by positioning each turret considering its firing arc, strategic design plays a crucial role.
A variety of ships is also a feature of the game. You can activate ships equipped with different armaments and unique abilities, and experience new combat methods tailored to your play style. Completing in-game challenges sequentially unlocks additional ships, weapons, and upgrades.
Actively incorporating user feedback… Early Access launch in Q4 2026
Codebrew Software, the developer of Sublight, is a small indie development studio based in Nottingham, UK. Since the release of the demo, the development team has been actively incorporating community feedback to rapidly update weapon balance and new content, continuing user-centric development.
Currently, the Steam demo is receiving a ‘very positive’ response, with an overall rating of 88% (35 reviews) and a recent rating of 86% (23 reviews).
The official version is currently under development with the goal of a Steam Early Access release in the fourth quarter of 2026. The developers plan to continue improving content and balance based on user feedback.
Information regarding ‘Sublight’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Codebrew Software (Nottingham, UK) |
| Publisher | Codebrew Software (Self-publishing) |
| Genre | Space Bullet Heaven / Roguelike |
| Release platform | PC (Steam) |
| Scheduled for release | Early Access, Q4 2026 |
| Demo Review | Total 88% (35 cases), recent 86% (23 cases) |
| Next Fest Demo Download | 8,846 cases |
| Latest demo patch | 0.18.0 (Hunter Flagship, Weapon Overhaul, Status Effect Stacking) |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
