Wildermyth: Console Edition is out now!
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It’s time to create your party and embark on an exciting and epic journey through the Yondering Lands in Wildermyth: Console Edition.
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Hoist the Canvas: Sea of Thieves Case Study
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Two years ago, Rare approached our team at Auroch Digital to support the upcoming Seasons of their action-adventure pirate game, Sea of Thieves.
Read MoreUnpacking the physical edition of Wildermyth: Console Edition
/Are you an adventurer who likes delving deep into dungeons and ancient ruins in search of powerful items and vast treasures? Well, we have just the thing for an esteemed collector such as yourself!
Behold, the physical edition of Wildermyth: Console Edition!
Pick up the physical edition for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch, and not only will you receive the game but your very own physical copy of the Monster Compendium, a trusty tome of information about the game’s many monsters.
Wildermyth: Console Edition is available now for pre-order from major retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart.
We also wanted to take the opportunity to provide you a few updates from our physical release partner:
The new release date for the physical edition in the United States is now 9th November 2024.
The new release date for the physical edition in Europe is now 26th November 2024.
PLEASE NOTE: These changes to the release date only affect the physical edition. The digital edition of Wildermyth: Console Edition launches on 22nd October on Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch
Update: we made an error previously that mentioned that the Off-hand Item Skin Pack (DLC) was also available in the physical retail edition. This was a miscommunication on our part and the Off-hand Item Skin Pack is only available as a separate digital product at launch. We have now updated this across the website to avoid any confusion and thank you for your understanding.
Behold the Monster Compendium in Wildermyth: Console Edition
/Have you heard the news?
Wildermyth: Console Edition launches on PlayStation 4 / 5, Xbox One / Series X|S and Nintendo Switch on 22nd October 2024. While the original experience of the Steam version is preserved, the console edition comes with some exciting new additional features.
Today, we’re going to learn about one of them: the trusty tactical tome known as... the Monster Compendium!
During your journeys throughout the Yondering Lands, you’ll encounter a menagerie of malevolent monsters. As you face these foes, their stats will be added to the Monster Compendium providing you with important intel about their health, speed, armour and warding.
That’s not all, though! Each entry contains enchanting excerpts of background information which will have your inner loremaster relishing the chance to gain a deeper understanding of these creatures, and the factions they serve.
Pick up the physical edition of Wildermyth: Console Edition and you’ll receive your very own physical copy of the Monster Compendium.
Stay tuned for more news and updates and be ready to begin your Wildermyth adventure on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on 22nd October.
Paws and Crafts with Bristol Animal Rescue Centre
/Every year at Auroch Digital, our team has one volunteer day that they can spend however they’d like, whether that’s volunteering for a local charity or at an event.
This year several members of our senior management team used their volunteering day to help out at the Bristol Animal Rescue Centre!
What is BARC?
Bristol Animal Rescue Centre or BARC is a registered charity that aims to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome vulnerable animals in the Bristol area.
Each year, they provide essential services such as emergency medical treatment, behavioural training, and safe shelter for countless animals in need and they care for thousands of sick, injured and stray animals every year.
Since the opening of the “The Bristol Home for Lost and Starving Dogs” in 1887, Bristol Animal Rescue Centre has been providing food, shelter and care for animals in need and it all started with a puppy on a snowy Winter’s evening.
They have also expanded the list of animals they care for to include dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, wildlife, and more!
To help the centre continue to support injured or abandoned animals, you can donate here! And here are some of the animals who are currently looking for a new home:
But they can only care for all of these animals thanks to the help of a dedicated team of volunteers, which is where the Herd came in.
What did we do as Volunteers?
This year, the senior management team from Auroch Digital descended on Bristol Animal Rescue Centre armed with bags of old clothes, cardboard boxes, and treats for all of the animals.
Our first step was to greet all the current residents living in the shelter, and there was no shortage of feline friends to meet.
Nina Adams (Studio Director of Auroch Digital) stroking loki.
Then it was time to get to work!
We started by shredding our old T-shirts into long strips of fabric that would be used to make our tug toys. Then we knotted them together and began interweaving the strips to make them tough and durable before tying them off.
Shelters can be quite scary as they’re loud and confusing. So, toys like these tuggers are a great distraction and perfect for chewing on!
Nina Adams (Studio Director of Auroch Digital) is so proud of her creation!
We also had the opportunity to cut up some old cardboard boxes to create cat scratchers for some of the cats in residence! These are great enrichment for the cats and allow them to maintain their claws.
Creating our DIY Cat SCratchers
How to make your own pet toys!
If you want to try your hand at creating some new enrichment toys for your pets and help the environment at the same time, the full instructions for both are below as well as video demonstrations!
DIY Dog Tugger Toys
Cut 4 lengths of fleece fabric. About 2” wide and 45” long.
Tie a regular overhand knot at one end, leaving a few inches of fabric as a tail. Pull the knot tight.
Tie your square knots:
Open your 4 strips into a plus sign shape.
Fold the top strip towards the bottom, a little to one side and always the same side as you progress.
Fold the bottom strip towards the top, a little to the other side and always the same side as you progress.
Fold the right strip toward the right. Pass over the first strip then under the second.
Fold the left strip toward the right. Pass over the first strip, then under the second.
Pull all of the strips nice and tight.
DIY Cat Scratchers
Collect cardboard boxes and cut them up into strips of the same width and length to fit the length of your main box.
Use glue to stick them all together and then fit them snugly into the box.
Once the box is full, ensure that they’re glued tight into the box frame.
Other ways to volunteer and support
With so many animals to look after, Bristol Animal Rescue Centre is always on the look for new volunteers to help at the shelter. Whether that’s one of opportunities like our volunteer day or a more regular volunteer role helping out on a regular basis.
They have two roles up now on the volunteering page of their website for a Collection Tin Champion and an Animal Transfer and Facilities Volunteer. Make sure to check out their website for more information on how to volunteer!
But what if you don’t live locally or can’t volunteer?
The great news is that the shelter does several virtual events like their Mutt Strut, which is going on right now! Throughout August, they’re encouraging their community to walk 100km and raise money for the shelter by doing so.
Or of course if you are able to make a donation this helps a huge amount, you can donate directly onto the page (link here).
Where else can I keep in touch?
Keep up with everything that’s going on at the Bristol Animal Rescue Centre like the Mutt Strut, Cat Cabin Lock-In and Kennel Break 2024 by signing up to their mailing list!
Simply navigate to their website and scroll to the bottom of the page to find the sign-up form.
Establish a pantheon of heroes in Wildermyth: Console Edition
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At its heart, Wildermyth is a game about its characters and the adventures that they go on together. From their pitchfork days to their powerful primes, and on into old age and memory, you’ll witness their entire journey from beginning to end.
Upon starting Wildermyth: Console Edition, the first thing you’ll be asked to do is to customise the name, appearance, and backstory of your characters. From there, the choices you make will influence their appearance, abilities, and interactions, crafting their destinies amidst stories of sacrifice and humor.
Every battle offers new weapons and equipment that you can equip to boost your characters’ stats and each level up brings with it new abilities to improve their fighting prowess. Every conversation, a new opportunity to fall in love, become friends, or start a devastating rivalry with your allies, each of which comes with its own benefits.
While on your adventures, there are also unique events you can encounter that can modify your abilities, or stats, which can also sometimes change your character's appearance. They say curiosity killed the cat, but this time it gave you feathers instead…
As time passes, heroes grow old and may retire, or else might fall in combat—and yes, some will survive all the way to the end. But that doesn’t have to be the last you see of them! Heroes who survive or those who die and are given a proper burial, can be called upon in later playthroughs to take up the mantle again.
Or why not create new heroes and start writing their legendary tale?
Wildermyth: Console Edition launches on the 22nd of October on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
A tale for all platforms – we’re bringing the critically acclaimed Wildermyth to console!
/Happy July everyone!
Today, we have some very exciting news to share!
We are delighted to announce that Auroch Digital has teamed up with Worldwalker Games to bring the critically acclaimed Wildermyth to new audiences on Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox on 22nd October 2024.
You can pre-order Wildermyth: Console Edition on Nintendo Switch now, pre-orders for Xbox and PlayStation coming soon!
About Wildermyth: Console Edition
Embark on epic journeys in Wildermyth: Console Edition, a character-driven tactical RPG where your choices shape the destiny of your heroes. Lead a band of unique heroes as they evolve from humble beginnings to legendary warriors in a rich 2D fantasy world. With procedural storytelling, dynamic character development, and strategic combat, Wildermyth offers endless replayability and the opportunity to create your own legendary tales.
Choices that matter are at the heart of Wildermyth, and as you explore, your heroes will face many circumstances where choices must be made - some of which can have everlasting, character-defining effects.
What’s new in Wildermyth: Console Edition?
We’ve been meticulous in ensuring that much loved experience from Wildermyth’s original release isn’t lost when optimising it for consoles. With that in mind, we’ve redesigned the UI and controls with gamepad in mind, ensuring that in-game elements are easily readable and the controls feel intuitive for the best gaming experience.
Two new features:
Monster Compendium - This in-game tactical tome provides an insight into the creatures you’ll face on your journeys through the Yondering Lands, as well as enchanting excerpts of lore and background information about the game’s various factions.
Local Cooperative Multiplayer - We’re also introducing local cooperative multiplayer, allowing up to four players to take command of multiple characters and share in an unfolding story together.
If all of that wasn’t enough to get you excited, we have even more news to share!
Pick up the physical edition of Wildermyth: Console Edition on PlayStation or Nintendo Switch and you’ll receive your very own Monster Compendium, the trusty tome made physical!
Wildermyth: Console Edition launches on the 22nd of October on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
How to Increase Social Capital in a Remote-First Team
/Game development is a long road which be full of twists and turns, and usually requires teams of developers to work in harmony, coordinate and to trust one another. Whether you’re working on beautiful brewing sims, transforming thrilling tabletops or popular porting projects – the need for your team to communicate and perform is essential. The answer? Social Capital.
John Kennedy, Auroch Digital Producer
Defined as the value gained from the web of relationships you grow, Social Capital can be increased through social interactions and engagements within a team, and has the potential to elevate the productivity and trust of your team to new heights.
Recently, Producer John Kennedy set out on a mission to increase Social Capital within his team and documented his findings… and how a Brew at 2 became relationships that grew.
So pop the kettle on, and read the below article by John to discover how even the smallest interaction can impact the wellbeing and trust in a game development team…
What is Social Capital in Game Development
The concept of Social Capital is the accumulation of every day social habits which can sustain and improve a team’s performance and productivity. Think of it as if every team member is acting as a brick in the wall, and social capital is the mortar in-between those bricks. In Game Development, the success of a project is closely linked to the performance of the team as a whole and not of individually high-performing members, and Social Capital is a great way to bring a team together, unite them on a journey towards a common goal and improve performance in times of crisis or high pressure (like Milestone Deliverables).
But Social Capital is not a tick-box exercise, it’s something that needs to be maintained and tended to throughout the lifespan of that team through events and interactions. All social interactions add to the Social Capital pot – whether that’s small interactions like chatting to a colleague in the office kitchen or catching up on the commute to-and-from the office, or bigger events like a team lunch or after-work event. Every single interaction between team members can help to form and strengthen relationships, and boost the bonds between the team.
Seems simple enough, right?
Some of the auroch digital herd saying a remote “good morning!”
How do you increase your social capital in a team?
All social interactions add to the social capital pot. From after work events or chatting to a colleague in the office kitchen whilst the kettle boils. From having lunch together at work or catching up on the commute to and from the office. All these social interactions help to form relationships and improves bonds between team members.
So how can we increase social capital when we work remotely?
This is the question that I’ve been asking myself. I work with a team that work in various locations in around the UK and outside too. Therefore, this high frequency daily face to face social interactions that I’ve mentioned aren’t possible. There’s no bumping into someone in the kitchen when you’re making a brew, no passing conversation within earshot that you can join, no commute to have a chat with a colleague on the train about the weekend. So, what can we do to allow these kinds of interactions to happen and help cultivate this important Social Capital? Furthermore, how do we know and assess what we do is actually having an impact?
I had an idea… ☕
What was immediately apparent was that we needed to create the space and the opportunity for people to have those more personal, non-work related conversations. So the first thing I did was to introduce an optional weekly “Brew at 2” 30min meeting on Friday afternoons where the team could chat about anything, preferably non-work related.
We have lots of meetings throughout the week, but all these meetings revolve around work and therefore the conversations are often non-personal as they are limited to work related challenges, solutions and project planning. Therefore people don’t get much opportunity to talk about other interests / events going on in their lives. I wanted to create a space where people could chat about anything mimicking the conversations we’d have whilst making a tea or coffee in the office kitchen for example. The key thing was to highlight that work chat can happen outside this space and maintain a relaxed environment so that people felt comfortable to chat about what was going on in their lives.
I monitored the attendance of these social gatherings. At the same time, I introduced an optional team survey and requested they completed each month to see if there was any correlation between the survey results and the attendance of the weekly social get together. The survey was focused on confidence, support, isolation and general wellbeing whilst on the project. Each question gave the team the ability to score on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 = negative, 5 = positive). At the end there was also an opportunity for them to add any notes on how they were feeling in themselves and the project.
putting the tea in team ☕
Analysis
By monitoring the Brew at 2 attendance and cross referencing the team survey results I was wanting to see if any patterns immerged that I could draw conclusions from. I picked 3 team members that were the most consistent in both attending the Brew at 2 and completing the survey. I then compared the data on these 3 individuals against the overall team average data. These were my key noticeable trends:
As time went on the individuals who attended more brew at 2s felt less isolated than the team average
Their happiness with the project over time was on a more positive trajectory compared to the overall team.
On average they ended up feeling more confident in supporting others
The individuals were more likely to ask for help compared to the team average.
The last 2 points are the most relatable to the Social Capital theory. However, there are some other points that should be considered when drawing any form of conclusions. The average attendance for Brew at 2 was 31.3% each week. The average participation of the survey was 54.4%. These numbers do reduce the validity of the data as we are not seeing the complete picture. However, if I had forced these contributions, there was a risk that the data given would be impacted by the mandatory nature of these requests, therefore reducing the validity of any data that was given.
It’s worth noting that over time within the studio we have an increasing number of other social interaction opportunities. We have many online communication channels for non-work related chats; Pets, Food, Boardgames etc. We have virtual get togethers after work such as Creative Club where people can chat whilst doing anything… creative! This has been highly successful to the point where people would join just to hang around for a chat. There are also the less infrequent face to face get togethers; dog walking, boardgame nights, developer conferences. These extra social interactions / events are announced each week within our company wide meeting, ensuring everyone is aware and given the opportunity to join in / contribute. Many of these have risen out of other organised catch-ups and have organically grown by the team members themselves.
So by not being in a closed environment, having so many outside factors that ultimately affect team survey results, it is difficult to attribute one piece of data to another. But the data gathered are promising indicators that this social Brew at 2 interaction did have a positive impact and added to the Social Capital.
My final thought is this; we are by nature social creatures, therefore the more social interactions and communication opportunities within the work place the better. Forums, Playtesting, lunchtime and evening gaming catch ups all contribute to the bonds that a team creates, strengthening the bricks in the wall. Which in turn should improve their wellbeing, reducing their stress levels and combat the feeling of isolation. There are limitless social opportunities for us to help our teams, we’ve just got to give it our time and attention and then to action them.
One last note:
The very nature of asking the team to complete a wellbeing survey and to allow them to write notes on how they were feeling had an unforeseen effect. I had comments from different team members saying, “Thank you for asking”, “…it’s a good idea to ask” and “…it nice to know you care”. So, whilst the brew at 2 was the interaction platform I was focusing on, it totally bypassed me that the very act of asking them to complete the survey was a social interaction itself and it was also adding to the accumulating Social Capital pot.
It’s all these habits and practices that we do at work that generate and sustain Social Capital, every single interaction no matter how small, they all count.
John and the team at a rare in person meet up at our annual company conference Moocon
Forges of Corruption, the new Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun DLC, is out now!
/Hello, Space Marines!
We’re very excited to share that the DLC for Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is available now on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch! It brings with it:
✨ 5 new levels to explore
👿 Brand new enemies
💥 New weapons
🗻 New environments!
Play as your favorite ultramarine and go on a rampage through brand new content, inspired by the lore of Warhammer 40,000! Load your Missile Launcher and plunge headfirst onto the Graia Battlefields 💥
Check out our explosive new trailer to see a glimpse of the action 👇
There is also be a free update for everyone who owns Boltgun, including the long-awaited Horde Mode, which comes with 4 difficulty levels and its own achievements!
This free update will also add a guide to help players navigate through the levels, as well as numerous bug fixes and other improvements 🔥
Where can you find out more about Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun - Forges of Corruption?
💻 Watch the Let’s Play on YouTube: Following an exclusive premiere in Discord, we released a Let’s Play of our devs going head-to-head playing through the first level of the DLC to see who is the Emperor’s mightiest weapon!
💬 Look Through the Reddit AMA: On Friday 7th of June, we hosted a Reddit AMA on the r/Games subreddit to give the community time to ask any questions they had about the launch of Boltgun DLC. Find it here.
🤫 Discord Saw it First: Where possible, we announced everything first in our Discord as a thank you to our wonderful and supportive community. This included showcasing the exclusive gameplay there before it was released publicly and hosting our own private Q&A with the developers. Our Discord is the best place to stay up to date with all the latest news about our titles: https://discord.gg/AurochDigital
🖋 Read our Xbox Wire article – One of our devs has written a great Xbox Wire article looking into the art of Boltgun and the pipeline for creating some of the enemies in the game 👿 You can read it here.
📰 Check out the Coverage:
“Forges of Corruption” DLC for ‘Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun’ Is Out Today - Bloody Disgusting
Get another look at Warhammer 40K: Boltgun’s “Forges of Corruption” DLC - Go Nintendo
Warhammer 40k Boltgun’s new DLC adds the mode you asked for - PCGamesN
Forget Darktide, I’m hyped for Warhammer 40k Boltgun DLC - Wargamer
Warhammer 40K: Boltgun - Forges of Corruption guide: what’s new in the DLC - Epic Games Store
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun gets ‘Forges of Corruption’ expansion: adding new enemies, weapons, levels, navigation guide, and horde mode! - Gaming Trend
Boltgun: Forges of Corruption is a must-have for fans of the retro shooter - Gaming Spew
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun: Forges of Corruption DLC Review - Now with bigger guns - Cog Connected
Reviewing Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun - Forges of Corruption DLC
As a small game developer and publisher, any reviews we get for our games make the world of difference. No matter if you are playing Forges of Corruption on PlayStation or Xbox, a review of the game would be greatly appreciated.
Click here to learn more about why reviews are important and to get more information on how to leave a review for either platform.
How and where to report bugs
If you encounter any bugs while playing Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun - Forges of Corruption DLC, it helps us out a lot if you report them in a proper way!
We have a whole section in our official Discord, where our community members can discuss Boltgun and its DLC. You can also submit any bugs you find via email to Marketing@aurochdigital.com, with a detailed description including the platform and current update you’re playing on. It helps a lot of you can include what the issue was, when in the game you encountered it, and what actions you took before experiencing it. Screenshots and clips can also help here.
👋🏻 Get involved with the community on our Discord or Twitter channels!
Democracy 4: Console Edition is out now!
/The long-running political simulator makes its console debut today on Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. 🗳️
The votes are in, and we are pleased to announce that Democracy 4: Console Edition is out today for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
It’s time to take the reins and lead one of several countries to prosperity in this political simulation game. Choose policies, enact laws, and take other actions which will impact your country, both positively and negatively. The goal? Impress the will of the people and win your next election!
Buy now!
Content Creators
If you’re interested in a key for review, please get in touch with Simon at Auroch Digital – marketing@aurochdigital.com
Reviewing Democracy 4: Console Edition
As a small game developer and publisher, any reviews we get for our games make the world of difference. No matter if you are playing Democracy 4: Console Edition on PlayStation or Xbox, a review of the game would be greatly appreciated.
Click here to learn more about why reviews are important and to get more information on how to leave a review for either platform.
How and where to report bugs
If you encounter any bugs while playing Democracy 4: Console Edition on Nintendo Switch, Xbox, or PlayStation, it helps us out a lot if you report them in a proper way!
We have a whole section in our official Discord where community members can discuss ways in which they’ve governed their chosen country and any issues they’ve faced along the way, whether that be by design or not.
You can also submit any bugs you find via email to Marketing@aurochdigital.com, with a detailed description including the platform and current update you’re playing on. It helps a lot of you can include what the issue was, when in the game you encountered it, and what actions you took before experiencing it. Screenshots and clips can also help here.
👋🏻 Get involved with the community on our Discord or Twitter channels!