Welcome to the April Edition of Hexonine News!
🌸Hello Hexonine Community! 🌸
Spring has officially arrived, and with it comes a fresh wave of creativity, progress, and behind-the-scenes magic from the Hexonine team. We're blooming with updates this month from exciting game development news to nostalgic memories and community spotlights.
Let’s jump into what’s been growing behind the curtain and what you can look forward to next!
✨ Game Spotlight: Updates on Soulscape: Episode 2
🎬 Meet Drayson, Soulscapes smooth talking Bard here
⚔️ Sneak peek at our Voice Actors in action! here
💡 Hexonine Updates from the Founders We’re excited to bring you this month’s updates, sneak peeks, and highlights. Let’s dive into what’s been happening behind the scenes and what’s coming next!
⚔️ Polishing the Fight – From Mohammad
This month has been all about visual power and combat flow.
I’ve been focused on enhancing the graphics for both gameplay and cutscene footage in preparation for the upcoming trailer, while also giving extra polish to the UI and VFX in the turn-based combat system. You’ll notice a sharper, smoother look as we continue refining SoulScape’s visual identity.
There’s also been deep work behind the scenes on improving skills and fight mechanics, all grounded in community feedback, expert insights, and research into JRPG battle systems. Our goal? Make every fight feel meaningful, strategic, and satisfying.
🎮 Dev Updates: Soulscape Episode 2
The team has been hard at work bringing the world of Soulscape to life for our upcoming trailer! Here’s a look at what’s been cooking behind the scenes:
🔥 The Demon’s Whisper Scene
Implemented Blake & Berith blueprints (including glowing effects, clothing, and animations)
Enhanced the environment and eye reflections for immersive detail
Added glowing, camera-tracking eyes for Berith 👁️
Dialogue widgets now activate with the scene
🏙️ Erik’s Office
Erik’s model complete with mocap animations and armor
Set the mood with improved lighting and a panoramic Neon City skyline view
Dialogue and cinematic cutscenes created to build tension
⚙️ Cyberpulse Facility
Added Blake, Saul, Maya, Drayson, Alexandra, and robot goons with facial/body animations
Upgraded lighting with emissive effects and volumetric fog
Created dynamic cutscenes and dialogue for all key characters
⚔️ Blake vs. Erik Showdown
Epic duel scene in place: glowing swords, katana stances, and high-impact effects
Created a dramatic cutscene with blade clash FX and cinematic tension
🔥 We can’t wait to share more combat footage with you soon! Stay tuned!
🎬 A New Chapter Begins — From Ahmed
We’re excited to finally release our official trailer for Soulscape: Fragments of the Present (Episode 2) at the end of the month and that’s not all. We’re also preparing the grand opening the doors to our brand new fan Discord server! This space will be dedicated to hearing your thoughts and gathering valuable feedback as we prepare to release our test build.
Even more exciting: our Steam page is finally going live by the end of April! We’ve been working hard behind the scenes, and it’s been incredible to feel the support pouring in from everyone. Seriously, we’re beyond grateful 💜. Your encouragement is helping bring this game to life.
Plus, we’re rolling out an updated Hexonine Newsletter to keep you in the loop with everything happening behind the scenes. Make sure you subscribe here to receive those exclusive updates!
Hexo Highlights: Employee Spotlight
This month, we're shining the spotlight on one of the voices behind Soulscape’s magic — Andre Canada, our incredibly talented Voice Actor!
🎭 Andre is currently bringing our lead character Blake to life in the SoulScape series, and we couldn’t be more excited for players to hear his powerful performance. His range, emotion, and delivery truly elevate the narrative.
💬 When asked what he loves most about working with Hexonine, Andre shared:
“Everyone is friendly, chill, and energetic.”
(We agree — the vibes are unmatched!) 😎
🎮 Fun fact? Before stepping into the booth, Andre was deep in the world of competitive Counter Strike, nearly going pro! That gamer edge definitely carries over into his dedication as a performer.
🕹️ His nostalgia pick? Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, a true classic that shaped many a childhood (and maybe even inspired a few voice lines 👀).
🎶 And if you catch him vibing to our Hexo Hits playlist, there’s a good chance he’s belting out “Take On Me” by a-ha, and now it’s stuck in our heads too.
🙏 Andre closes with a heartfelt shoutout to “all the extremely talented people working to make some awesome games at Hexonine.” Right back at you, Andre, we’re lucky to have you on this journey!
Nostalgia Corner: A Journey Through Mario & Beyond with Jonathan Holowka
For many gamers, certain titles hold a special place in their hearts, transporting them back to the excitement of childhood. For Jonathan Holowka, Project Manager at Hexonine Games, two games stand out above the rest: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and Banjo-Kazooie. These classics encapsulate the golden era of platforming and RPG adventure, each leaving a lasting impression.
One of Jonathan’s most cherished gaming memories comes from a holiday gift he received just a few years ago, Super Mario Odyssey, a present from his dad. “It had been a long time since I had received a gaming gift from my parents (they wouldn't know what to get me), and this was a game I really wanted to play,” he recalls. Having grown up with Super Mario World as his first-ever game, his love for both 2D and 3D Mario platformers made Odyssey a perfect addition to his collection.
Of course, not all gaming memories come easy. One of Jonathan’s toughest challenges was conquering a Kaizo-level difficulty stage in Super Mario Maker 2. Kaizo levels, known for their brutally unforgiving mechanics, demand pixel-perfect precision and relentless determination. Though not a Kaizo player by nature, Jonathan took on the challenge after seeing a streamer complete the level. “I spent a couple of weeks working on it until I finally mastered it,” he says. “It felt incredibly rewarding after finally getting through it.”
As someone deeply immersed in game design, Jonathan doesn’t just play, he creates. If he could implement one dream feature into a game, it would be based on the barrel-blasting mechanics from Donkey Kong. But rather than just dreaming about it, he’s making it a reality! His project, Zombie Barrel Blast, is currently in the works and available to check out on Steam.
Jonathan’s story is a testament to how games shape not just our childhoods, but also our aspirations. From nostalgic favorites to personal game development, his passion for gaming continues to evolve one level at a time.
Here’s what our team is listening to while creating the magic!
Want to learn more about the team behind Hexonine? Join the conversation on our socials, share your favorite games, and stay up to date with our latest projects! 🚀✨
Thank you for being part of the Hexonine journey. Your support and enthusiasm mean the world to us. Stay tuned for more updates next month!
