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[DEV] Shattered Pixel Dungeon in 2026 (shatteredpixel.com)
submitted 7 months ago by [M] to c/pixeldungeon@lemmy.world
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Hey Rat Punchers, Happy New Year!

As always, I like to write a blog post at the start of the year to recap, summarize my current plans for Shattered, and share what my main priorities are for the coming year. This post starts with a year in review, and then lists the major changes and additions that I have planned for Shattered Pixel Dungeon in 2026 and beyond!

Read The Full Post Here

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[–] 1 point 7 months ago* (2 children)

The character splash art update is a straight downgrade. Lost all of its charm. Looks like somebody's amateur attempt to digitally airbrush their facebook profile pic with a blur tool.

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  • [–] [S] 4 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    That's a pretty extreme position. I do agree that Alek's style has gotten a bit softer over time (Warrior is the clearest example of this), and that's fairly subjective. But there are other details such as overall lighting, Warrior proportions (think about how skinny he would need to be to fit into his armor), and facial details (Huntress in particular) that I would say are objective improvements.

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  • [–] 4 points 7 months ago*

    It's Pixel Dungeon, not Incrementally Edging Toward Realism Dungeon.

    It's the same feeling of complete wtf I get when I see companies like Blizzard update their games with "improved" graphics that completely miss the soul and aesthetic of the original.

    It's your game in the end, just sharing my impression.

    Also, the fact that the warrior was not a standard fantasy beefcake stereotype was something I particularly liked.

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  • [–] 2 points 7 months ago (4 children)

    I'm not keen on the new stones, scrolls or runes either. Making them more 3d makes the symbols harder to read, especially on a smaller screen. I'd vote to keep them simple.

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  • [–] 4 points 7 months ago (2 children)

    I agree. I don't like the new scroll art at all, or the stones, or the dart tips (fletching looks good, though). Nor do I like the new crystal chest. It looks like a face.

    The runes on the stones look too bold, and the enhanced scrolls look too glossy or faded. The dart tips are too fat.

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  • [–] 4 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    @Quibblekrust
    Agreed. What disturbs me about the scrolls is that symbols have moved from clear and legible to wiggled and harder to recognize.

    For enemies, wands, or potion bottles a little more 3d is ok and looks good, but for the scrolls and runestones it is a downgrade. The symbols are their distinguishing feature, so they should be kept clear.

    Also, bottles and seeds have their colors to tell them apart, wands have different colors and shapes, so tweaking their 3d does n
    @notabot

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  • [–] 2 points 7 months ago

    The new scrolls do seem harder to read. I only just realized that the lightning wand is supposed to look like a taser because of the new art though, so there's that. I always interpreted that as some kind of teal gem on the end.

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 7 months ago (1 child)

    Yeah that is something I've considered, there is actually an earlier iteration where the symbols were even harder to read. I do think it's not as big of an issue as you might think initially, given that we're used to the extremely flat scrolls. There would also still be extra info such as item names and inventory icons.

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  • [–] 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 child)

    This reminds my of the verse from "The Roguelet's ABC" about the original, text mode, rogue:

    U: There's a U -- a Unicorn!

    Run right up and rub its horn.

    Look at all those points you're losing!

    UMBER HULKS are so confusing.

    I think favouring clear and unambiguous design over one that is, perhaps, more aestetically pleasing but less clear, is quite important. You don't want to make a mistake and end up losing a run just because you thought you were looking at one thing and it turned out to be another.

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago (1 child)

    You know I didn't even get that far in the post, I got to the character art and commented then had to go for a bit.

    The new art for items and enemies is a such a blurry low-contrast mess. I'm even more baffled now.

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago

    Honestly, I don't mind the rest of the proposed changes. To my eye the weapons and items actually look a little clearer, and there enemys are slightly better differentiated too. I like the teeth on the blob.

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