Dev-log #34 - Big Optimizations and Demo announcement - 15/07/2026
Hello everyone,
Welcome back to another Valmora development update!
This has been a particularly intense period on the programming side. We have been working extensively on lighting optimization, PCG systems, character performance, and the overall smoothness of the game.
As Valmora is the first project of this scope that we have developed, some aspects have proven more important and complex than we initially anticipated. We have learned a great deal throughout development, and that experience has helped us better understand where our approach needed to evolve. We apologize for any issues this may have caused.
These areas are already in a much better state. There is still more work to be done, but development is progressing well, and the overall experience has improved significantly.
Over the next few days, we also plan to release an updated build focused on optimization and bug fixes, including the issues that were preventing save games from working correctly. This should make the current playable version much more enjoyable and give you a better opportunity to share your feedback, which is always greatly appreciated.
We have also revised the sword combat animations. The new moveset is still a work in progress, and we will be testing it to see whether it feels more natural and works better than the previous spinning attacks.
Here is an early preview of the new moveset:
You may also have noticed a small floating light in the preview. This is another feature currently in development, designed to provide the player with a dynamic source of illumination while keeping both hands free.
The light reacts to the day and night cycle and can also activate or adjust itself in specific areas where additional visibility is needed. It is still a work in progress, but its main purpose is to offer a practical alternative to carrying a torch during exploration and combat. Honestly,
That said, we also have some exciting news today: the Valmora demo is almost ready!
We are currently aiming to release it on Steam by the end of the month, which means it should be available in roughly two weeks.
You can wishlist Valmora on Steam to be notified when the demo becomes available:
We are also planning a general revamp of the Steam store page, along with several visual improvements, so that it better represents the progress the game has made so far.
We hope you enjoyed today’s update. Stay tuned, as we will have more news to share over the coming days!
Have a great day!
Alex