We are absolutely blown away by the support we've received from all of you. Reaching 120K Wishlists 📈 is an incredible milestone that we couldn’t even dream of when we started this journey. It's a testament to the amazing community that has rallied around Macabre, and we are beyond grateful.

As a small indie team from Down Under 🦘, We're eternally grateful for the incredible support of our community, and we want to thank each and every one of you for helping us reach this monumental milestone! Your belief in Macabre fuels our passion and drives us to make the best game possible. 

Our progress on our Kickstarter has been amazing! 🎉🎉 We’re close to reaching our next stretch goal, and the excitement is real. Your contributions are making a big difference, helping us bring more content, new maps, and terrifying monsters to life in Macabre.
 
For those who haven't yet, there’s still time to grab early access alpha packs and be among the first to experience the fear and thrill of Macabre. Check out our Kickstarter page and join us on this incredible journey.


Please share this message far and wide, and let's keep this momentum going strong! Spread the word, across socials and let's make sure Macabre reaches its full potential. 👏👏

Want to stay up-to-date and help build a strong community of Rift enthusiasts? Follow our socials [www.macabregame.com] and add "Macabre" to your Steam Wishlist. Your engagement is crucial—it helps spread the word, attracts more supporters, and signals to platforms the strong interest in our game.Every follow, like, and wishlist addition is a step towards making "Macabre" a terrifying success.

BACK ON KICKSTARTER

Today, we want to shine a light on the man behind the stunning and spine-chilling art of Macabre—industry veteran Jake Hempson. Jake has a long history with sci-fi horror, starting with his work on the "Aliens vs Predator" game. Inspired by films and games like Alien, Dead Space, and Event Horizon, Jake aims to evoke those same spine-tingling feelings through the design of creatures, costumes, and environments in our game.

Over to Jake:

Soooo… an industry veteran, eh? (Yes, yes, I have been around the block.) I'm a bit of a mixed bag. I originally studied graphic design in South Africa, then moved to the UK, aiming to get into comics illustration and concept art. I wound up teaching myself 3D animation, eventually working on the "Aliens vs Predator" game for Rebellion.

Several games later, I came to OZ and worked for Krome Studios in Brisbane. Eventually, I transitioned into a 3D generalist for VFX/TVC, working at Cutting Edge, where I first met Jay.

A few years and several films later, I reconnected with Jay and was excited to learn he'd been working on a multiplayer horror game (Macabre). I wanted in as I love horror and creature design, as well as some of the nerd-core sci-tech aesthetics we have in mind (more on that later). —Jake Hempson

READ MORE

Be one of the first to plunge into the eerie world of Macabre. Gain exclusive Alpha Access and experience the game before its official release. Navigate through chilling environments and uncover dark secrets ahead of the general public.

Kickstarter backers have the unique opportunity to claim exclusive rewards that won’t be available on release. From bespoke character skins, Walking Trails, in-game titles, and even leaving your mark within the game world!

Macabre is a testament to creative freedom and innovation in gaming. By backing this project, you are directly supporting indie game development and helping us bring unique, immersive experiences to life. Your support enables us to maintain creative control and ensure that Macabre is as terrifying and engaging as envisioned.

Join a community of like-minded horror and gaming enthusiasts. As a backer, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback, participate in discussions, and even influence future developments of the game.

 
 
Be one of the first to plunge into the eerie world of Macabre. Gain exclusive Alpha Access and experience the game before its official release. Navigate through chilling environments and uncover dark secrets ahead of the general public.

Kickstarter backers have the unique opportunity to claim exclusive rewards that won’t be available on release. From bespoke character skins, Walking Trails, in-game titles, and even leaving your mark within the game world!
 
Macabre is a testament to creative freedom and innovation in gaming. By backing this project, you are directly supporting indie game development and helping us bring unique, immersive experiences to life. Your support enables us to maintain creative control and ensure that Macabre is as terrifying and engaging as envisioned.
 
Join a community of like-minded horror and gaming enthusiasts. As a backer, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback, participate in discussions, and even influence future developments of the game.

Hello!

We're excited to bring you our very first Weforge Studio podcast episode! Join Jay and Jake, the creative forces behind Macabre and Co-Fonders of Weforge Studio, as they guide you through the inception, development, and vision of their debut game, Macabre.

🎧LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE[www.patreon.com]

• Birth of Weforge Studio: Learn how Jay and Jake's shared passion for gaming and creativity blossomed into the establishment of Weforge Studio amidst extensive lockdowns of the pandemic.
  
• Crafting the World of Macabre: Delve into the creation of Banjo, a character intricately designed to balance mystery and guidance, and how he fits into the broader narrative of Macabre.
  
• Gameplay Dynamics and Vision: Explore the core gameplay of Macabre, focusing on player agency, stealth, and a multiplayer experience that fosters both teamwork and strategy.
  
• Overcoming Challenges: Gain insights into the initial challenges of founding a game studio, from establishing legal frameworks to assembling a dedicated team, and how perseverance and community support have been instrumental in our journey.
  
• Looking Ahead: Get a glimpse of our aspirations for Macabre as we discuss our ambition to evolve it from a game into a universe rich with diverse narratives and gameplay possibilities.

If you have questions you'd like us to answer next time, drop them in the comments.

Thank you all for your support. We hope you enjoy the first episode!

As a small indie team[www.macabregame.com] from Down Under, words can't describe the euphoria we felt when the Wishlist counter ticked over. We're eternally grateful for the incredible support of our community, and we want to thank each and every one of you for helping us reach this monumental milestone!
Wishlists help forecast our future player base, allowing us to tailor our launch strategy. They also shed light on the language preferences for localising Macabre. Beyond that, they affirm our direction and fuel our drive to continually refine Macabre. If you're new here, make sure you Wishlist and Follow Macabre on Steam.

In celebration of hitting 100K Wishlists, we're running a giveaway! Entries close soon, so head over to our giveaway page to discover how you can get your hands on some exclusive Macabre Merch!


Keep in touch
Help Spread the word and stay in the loop on everything, Macabe.

• Discord[discord.gg]
  
• X
  
• Instagram[www.instagram.com]
  
• Facebook[www.facebook.com]
  
• Tiktok[www.tiktok.com]
  
• Reddit

Once again, we extend our deepest thanks for being the cornerstone of our journey. Your support and excitement for Macabre make every late night and every line of code utterly worthwhile. We're buzzing with anticipation for the year ahead and are eager to unveil more of what we've been crafting in Macabre.

Spread the word, share the love, and let's make this year unforgettable!

Cheers with immense gratitude,

Team Macabre.

Greetings, Macabre community! We'd like to start by extending our heartfelt apologies for the four-month gap since our last communication. It's been a whirlwind of activity here at Macabre, and we can't wait to share all the exciting developments that have been taking place.

My mates and I have sacrificed more than just our social lives for the past two years to develop our dream game. To our amazement, Macabre is almost the 300th most wishlisted game on Steam. It's been a wild ride for our small team, and every message, wishlist, like and share has been like a high-five from you to us.

As you can imagine, we've had a lot of interest from publishers, but the terms? They don't make sense. We believe in a fair go, and more than that, we believe in the power of our community. So, we're taking a stand and keeping our independence—because Macabre isn't just our game, it's yours. And we won't let anyone hinder our vision.

We've just launched the Macabre community INSIDER program, where you can show your support with our first exclusive limited edition skin inspired by our Dev shirts. You will also receive INSIDER-only news like playtest opportunities and giveaways. Not to mention a custom INSIDER badge marking you as a founding member of our community.

As a token of our appreciation for your unwavering support, we're excited to introduce the Macabre Community INSIDER Program on our website[www.macabregame.com]. By becoming an INSIDER, you'll gain access to a world of exclusive benefits, including:

• Exclusive Skin: A unique in-game skin that's not just a limited rare item, but a symbol of your influence and a thank you for your support.
  
• Exclusive Updates: INSIDER information on Macabre's development, playtests and giveaways!
  
• INSIDER Badge: Wear the "INSIDER" tag in Discord, marking you as a founding member of our community.

This program is our way of saying thank you for being part of the Macabre family and helping shape the game's future. Check out our website for more info on how to join.

We're gearing up for a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, where you'll have the opportunity to support the development of Macabre and unlock exclusive rewards like early bird prices. Signup [www.macabregame.com]to our mailing list for more details on how you can get involved and help us bring this game to life.

We're thrilled to announce that we've been incredibly busy preparing for our demo showcase at SXSW Sydney, and the event went off without a hitch! It was a fantastic opportunity to give players a taste of the eerie world of Macabre. We received invaluable feedback and had the chance to connect with others who share our passion for the game.

In case you missed it, Macabre was proudly featured in the Realms Deep indie game showcase! We're honored to have been part of this incredible event and grateful for the opportunity to share our progress with a global audience. The positive feedback and support from the gaming community have been motivating and inspiring.

Now, let's dive into the exciting developments that have been taking place within the game:

In July, we worked diligently on several key features, including animation cues for the enigmatic Crawler, a Rural Pack update featuring Smart Splines and a PCG Forest overhaul, and the implementation of various gameplay abilities and UI enhancements. We also fine-tuned gamepad controls and iterated on the demo Flowgraph. Under the hood, we enhanced various Python scripts and made directory overrides for smoother debugging. We addressed a few bug fixes, made various audio mix changes and converted scripts to Python to facilitate debugging.

August brought a fresh wave of features and improvements to Macabre. We introduced a Key Card System, along with power breaker assets and environmental updates. Reception doors received Level Sequence additions for added suspense, and we updated PCG Tools while adding new content to the Demonstration map. We also made significant updates to the equipment and inventory systems and addressed Metahuman-related issues.

One of the major changes involved converting the crafting system to use prerequisites to streamline the gameplay experience. Additionally, we fixed equipment inspect tags and resolved head/hair mesh visibility issues. We also took care of a few animation sequences, blood trail, and lighting updates. Lastly, we implemented TrueFPS rig anim nodes for smoother animations.

August was also dedicated to addressing bug fixes, including reception dressing updates and exterior stone wall spline additions. We optimized the PCG Forest and made material updates while fixing CarPark Vehicles' materials and adding menacing thorn bushes. We also improved CarParks' snow shader and PCG Graph while working on PCG Foliage, Snow footprints, and optimizations.

The master material for the Rural Pack & Lodges received optimization work, and we implemented a prerequisite system for conditional interactions. Additionally, we introduced the FCTween plugin and updated the subtitle displays to create a more immersive experience.

September introduced a wide range of features and improvements. We implemented various UI updates to make the user experience more intuitive. Animation improvements and bug fixes enhanced the overall game feel, while audio enhancements intensified the immersive soundscape.

Inventory and loot container setup fixes ensured smooth gameplay, and we added initial extract flow effects and audio sublevel additions to ramp up the suspense. New meshes for lootboxes, torch adjustments, and additional lighting improved the overall visual experience. Backpack items now load in loot containers, and frontend UI elements received crucial updates.

The ambient music got a boost with the addition of a dynamic Flow Graph Node, and we added dynamic time of day changes. We also worked on crafting system updates and introduced UI buttons from our style guide.
On the gameplay front, we introduced Seeker B and other features, along with adding the Space Shifter BP to the forest camp area. We also integrated the UMG RADAR Plugin and updated loot systems for a more streamlined experience.

As with previous updates, we tackled various bug fixes related to gameplay, UI, and audio. We smoothed out bottlenecks in the gameplay flow, addressed issues with crafting, loot indicators, and material updates, and fixed a few crashes. Various collision issues and audio-related problems were also resolved, along with issues related to the main menu and loading screens.

In addition to bug fixes, we reorganized assets and fine-tuned lighting and environmental dressing. We continued to implement various gameplay improvements and polish, adjusting timings and animations. We added more assets and environmental elements to enrich the game world and continued to work on UI and dialogue. Prerequisites were introduced to loot containers and world pickups, and we integrated death sequences and animations for added immersion. Various visual and audio elements were updated for maximum impact.

October was a month of continuous progress. We implemented various gameplay features and improvements, including the introduction of Seeker C and Space Shifter functionality. The Space Shifter UI was introduced to enhance your gaming experience, and we continued our work on crafting and inventory systems.

Audio played a significant role in creating atmosphere, with the addition of various audio assets and effects. Death sequences and animations were further integrated, and gameplay tag notifies and interaction enhancements were implemented for smoother gameplay.

As always, we addressed various bug fixes to ensure the experience remains smooth. We sorted out collision and interaction issues, focused on crafting and looting, and resolved various animation and visual glitches.

On the artistic front, we continued environmental dressing and lighting improvements. We added various assets and elements to enrich the game world and improved audio mixing and effects for added immersion. UI elements and animations were added and updated, and various aspects of the game received that extra layer of polish.

November marks another milestone in Macabre's development journey. We've introduced localization support, making Macabre accessible to a wider audience. Various gameplay features and improvements continued to shape the game, and work on UI and dialogue progressed steadily.

A noteworthy addition to Macabre in November is the hardware benchmarking functionality, ensuring optimal performance and visuals on a wide range of systems.

Bug fixes remained a priority, ensuring that your gaming experience is as smooth as possible. Collision and interaction issues were sorted out, crafting and looting received further fine-tuning, and various animation and visual glitches were resolved.

In addition to bug fixes, environmental dressing and lighting improvements continued. More assets and elements were added to enhance the game world, and audio mixing and effects were refined for a more immersive soundscape. UI elements and animations were added and updated, and various aspects of the game received that extra layer of polish.

We hope you're as excited as we are about the progress we've made on Macabre. The game is taking shape and becoming more immersive with each passing day.

Thank you for your patience and unwavering support. We couldn't do it without you!

Be sure to join our mailing list for updates and information about our upcoming Kickstarter campaign and the Macabre Community INSIDER Program.

Thank you all for your continued support,

The Macabre Development Team

• Animation Cues for Crawler.
  
• Added gum trees, Smart Splines, and PCG Forest Update.
  
• Implementation of various gameplay abilities and UI updates.
  
• PCG Forest implentaion.
  
• Gamepad control adjustments and demo Flowgraph iterations.
  
• Implementation of various Python script enhancements and engine directory override.

• Various small bug fixes.

• Audio Volumes and various audio mix changes.
  
• Conversion of scripts to Python for easier debugging.

• Key Card System, power breaker assets, and various environmental updates.
  
• Level Sequence additions for Reception doors.
  
• PCG Tools Update and Demonstration map additions.
  
• Equipment and inventory system updates.
  
• Metahuman updates and fixes.
  
• Crafting system conversion to use prerequisites.
  
• Equipment inspect tags added and head/hair mesh visibility fixes.
  
• Added various level sequences, blood trail, and lighting updates.
  
• Added TrueFPS rig anim nodes.
  
• Reception dressing updates and exterior stone wall spline addition.
  
• Optimization work on Master material for Rural Pack & Lodges.
  
• PCG Foliage, Snow footprints, and optimizations.
  
• Prerequisite system for conditional interactions and Python package script updates.
  
• FCTween plugin addition and subtitle display updates.

• PCG Forest performance fix and material updates.
  
• CarPark Vehicles Material Fix and new thorn bushes.
  
• Carparks snow shader & PCG Graph fixes.

• Various UI updates.
  
• Audio enhancements.
  
• Initial extract flow effects and audio sublevel additions.
  
• New Meshes for lootboxes, Torch Adjustments, and additional lighting.
  
• Backpack items now loading in loot containers and frontend UI rerouting.
  
• Ambient Music Flow Graph Node and time of day changes.
  
• Crafting system updates.
  
• Added UI buttons from style guide.
  
• Added Seeker B and other gameplay features.
  
• Added forest camp area.
  
• Added Radar system and updated loot systems.
  
• Integrated death sequences and animations.

• Various bug fixes related to gameplay, UI, and audio.
  
• Inventory and loot container setup fixes.
  
• Fixed bottlenecks in gameplay flow.
  
• Fixed issues with crafting, loot indicators, and material updates.
  
• Fixed a crash on interaction.
  
• Fixed various collision issues.
  
• Fixed various audio-related issues.
  
• Fixed issues with the main menu and loading screens.

• Moved assets, lighting, and environmental dressing.
  
• Implemented various gameplay improvements and polish.
  
• Adjusted timings and animations.
  
• Added additional assets and environmental elements.
  
• Continued work on UI and dialogue.
  
• updated prerequisites to loot containers and world pickups.
  
• Updated various visual and audio elements.

• Implementation of various gameplay features and improvements.
  
• Added Seeker C and Space Shifter functionality.
  
• Implemented Space Shifter UI.
  
• Added and updated UI elements and animations.
  
• Continued work on crafting and inventory systems.
  
• Added various audio assets and effects.
  
• Integrated death sequences and animations.
  
• Implemented gameplay tag notifies and interaction enhancements.

• Fixed various bugs and issues related to gameplay, UI, and audio.
  
• Fixed collision and interaction issues.
  
• Fixed issues with crafting and looting.
  
• Fixed various animation and visual glitches.

• Continued environmental dressing and lighting improvements.
  
• Added various assets and elements to enhance the game experience.
  
• Improved audio mixing and effects.
  
• Polished various aspects of the game.

• Added localisation support.
  
• Implemented various gameplay features and improvements.
  
• Continued work on UI and dialogue.
  
• Added hardware benchmarking functionality.
  
• Optimised performance and visuals.

• Fixed various bugs and issues related to gameplay, UI, and audio.
  
• Fixed collision and interaction issues.
  
• Fixed issues with crafting and looting.
  
• Fixed various animation and visual glitches.

• Continued environmental dressing and lighting improvements.
  
• Added various assets and elements to enhance the game experience.
  
• Improved audio mixing and effects.
  
• Added and updated UI elements and animations.
  
• Polished various aspects of the game.

Macabre has been nominated for the SXSW Sydney Games People's Choice Award! This is a testament to our shared passion, dedication, and the countless hours we've poured into the game.

But we need YOUR help to clinch the title! 🏆


Every single vote counts. There are only a few days to get your vote in. Spread the word, rally the troops. Let's get Macabre to Number #1!

This Week in Macabre
As we gear up for Macabre's first public debut at SXSW Sydney, our team is putting in tireless efforts to ensure all systems work together seamlessly. We're now on the cusp of our first build, a significant milestone, showcasing our ability to create a cohesive experience by integrating all our systems.

Following this, our focus will shift towards rigorous testing to ensure engaging gameplay and identifying potential improvements. This stage also allows us to conduct comprehensive QA testing, pushing the boundaries to uncover edge cases and game-breaking bugs.

With SXSW on the horizon, we are buzzing with excitement and can't wait for you to experience our demo. Stay tuned for more updates as the event approaches. Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm for Macabre!

Features

• Added an inventory item notify flow node, and prototype stub nodes for voice over, UI and ability activation
  
• Started a Flowgraph Sequence "demo"
  
• Implemented OnAbilityActivated, unifying behaviour of OnNotifyFromInventory
  
• Implemented OnNotifyFromEquipment flow node
  
• Updated OnAbilityEvent to capture ended and cancelled events
  
• Implemented voice cue flow node
  
• Implemented AddToHUD flow node
  
• Added profiling cameras to Profiling sublevel
  
• Added AbilitySystemInitialized notify
  
• Added WaitForBackpackItems and OnNotifyFromBackpack node, and fixed equipment notify issue
  
• Implemented PushUI flow node
  
• Updated first round of Toast Icons
  
• Added Key Card 3D asset
  
• Added radio gameplay ability
  
• Added animation audio cues for Crawler
  
• Added audio Volumes and revised audio mix
  
• Added first pass audio for Bottle Throw
  
• Assigned Phys Materials to gameplay tags for triggering audio for footsteps

Bug Fixes

• Made changes to Master level blueprint sublevel loading
  
• Ensured stub flow nodes pass through execution
  
• Fixed packaging in 5.2
  
• Fixed linter errors
  
• Fixed looting bug
  
• Fixed atomic space shifter extraction issue

Other

• Removed some redundant triggers
  
• Enhanced python script directory handling for robustness
  
• Converted most scripts to python for easier debugging
  
• Conducted more asset cleanup
  
• Added engine dir override file
  
• First pass of PCG Forest implementation
  
• Made small changes to master materials
  
• Gamepad control adjustments