Arc conclusion soon?

[Beefalo Smoker]

When the Walter Wendy Wortox skill tree update dropped, Klei announced the arc finale would arrive in September. Now it’s nearly January, and there’s still no sign of it. Outside of the Warbot update and a minor Archive expansion, the arc has barely moved forward. At this point, when is the arc actually going to conclude? Also, was this past beta an actual "major" update, or is it a placeholder to buy more time?

[gaymime]

.......uh, what are you expecting exactly? new bosses, a new biome a whole pile of new mechanics, items and mobs......what could a "finale" even mean outside of maybe credits if none of that counts???

[Milordo]

Tecnically the lunar arc has finished 😕

The shadow one will be on January circa.

[Kacpert25]

51 minutes ago, Milordo said:

The shadow one will be on January circa.

Nope, it'll be even later. Klei said on the stream from the last update that they'll be working on the next skill trees after the new lunar year. So we'll have to wait a while longer XD.

[Nikki Darks]

I love how people went from being mlidly excited about the lunar/shadow arcs, and now everyone's just asking when is it going to end, lol.

 

Edited December 29, 2025 by Nikki Darks

[Milordo]

30 minutes ago, Kacpert25 said:

Nope, it'll be even later. Klei said on the stream from the last update that they'll be working on the next skill trees after the new lunar year. So we'll have to wait a while longer XD.

AH.

AH.

AH.

I mean, good for them, because it means better quality in the long run, but I didn't knew at all. It means all my plans have changed. Great. Thanks!

Because you know why I'm hyped and waiting so much for the shadow arc...

Spoiler

1) Ruins reworks

2) Changes I and others are waiting since we gave feedback on Ancient Echoes part 1

3) Finally play and see these Rifts since I want to enjoy them when they're completed.

 

28 minutes ago, Nikki Darks said:

I love how people went from being mlidly excited about the lunar/shadow arcs, and now everyone's just asking when is it going to end, lol.

 

You know WHY.

1) Skilltrees (bleah).

2) Rifts.

[Dr. Safety]

1 hour ago, Nikki Darks said:

I love how people went from being mlidly excited about the lunar/shadow arcs, and now everyone's just asking when is it going to end, lol.

 

I think people just want the story to progress. IIRC, before Wagstaff's disappearance, the last lore advancement was Charlie talking to Maxwell and him deciding to be her spy, which hasn't done anything besides him sneaking away once and her whispering in his ear.

With how long there's been no movement in the story, I definitely just want them to end it. Looks like we are getting close with the conclusion of the Wagstaff arc, and Charlie taking on some different form that we will inevitably need to fight. I still want content updates, but they don't need to be driven by lore anymore. I want the story to start paying off

[Nikki Darks]

2 hours ago, Dr. Safety said:

I think people just want the story to progress. IIRC, before Wagstaff's disappearance, the last lore advancement was Charlie talking to Maxwell and him deciding to be her spy, which hasn't done anything besides him sneaking away once and her whispering in his ear.

With how long there's been no movement in the story, I definitely just want them to end it. Looks like we are getting close with the conclusion of the Wagstaff arc, and Charlie taking on some different form that we will inevitably need to fight. I still want content updates, but they don't need to be driven by lore anymore. I want the story to start paying off

Honestly, that makes sense. They kinda just cut off the story at one point and shifted focus onto r*ft content.

I am one of the people who just want them to work on base game before adding meaningless late game content.

More biomes in caves, more mobs/threats, more tools/gear (base, not r*fts), finishing skill trees, etc, etc.

[user1464576869]

I've always have had a gripe with the story not progressing towards anything. The most notable storybeats in my eyes have been Maxwell and Wilson starting the whole game's basic premise, the reveal of Maxwell's true place in the matter with his past and the ancients, the lunar counterpart to shadows, and in a way Wagstaff's recent return to prominence but, it's kind of half and half on the last two since it hasn't really contributed anything meaningful, we've already known his name for a very long time. So that's about 3 and a half storybeats and one of them is just the starting premise. And the lunar arc feels more and more like just an extended tangent upon the ancients arc that we can't move on from. From 2012 to 2025. Thirteen years. I won't count Maxwell and Charlie seemingly plotting or Willow being led by shadows as storybeats as I personally feel like it's too minor, it hasn't led to anything, and I wouldn't be surprised if what it's setting up would also just feel like a plotting tangent to more so delay the story with detail rather than to move it towards some sort of conclusion upon anything larger.

But that's talking about arcs in terms of story, not gameplay.

I agree with Nikki on content, and personally I'd be happy with more basic variation content using assets we're already familiar with, I'm really unhappy with map generation as it is, too stale and predictable.

[Nikki Darks]

13 minutes ago, user1464576869 said:

I've always have had a gripe with the story not progressing towards anything. The most notable storybeats in my eyes have been Maxwell and Wilson starting the whole game's basic premise, the reveal of Maxwell's true place in the matter with his past and the ancients, the lunar counterpart to shadows, and in a way Wagstaff's recent return to prominence but, it's kind of half and half on the last two since it hasn't really contributed anything meaningful, we've already known his name for a very long time. So that's about 3 and a half storybeats and one of them is just the starting premise. And the lunar arc feels more and more like just an extended tangent upon the ancients arc that we can't move on from. From 2012 to 2025. Thirteen years. I won't count Maxwell and Charlie seemingly plotting or Willow being led by shadows as storybeats as I personally feel like it's too minor, it hasn't led to anything, and I wouldn't be surprised if what it's setting up would also just feel like a plotting tangent to more so delay the story with detail rather than to move it towards some sort of conclusion upon anything larger.

But that's talking about arcs in terms of story, not gameplay.

I agree with Nikki on content, and personally I'd be happy with more basic variation content using assets we're already familiar with, I'm really unhappy with map generation as it is, too stale and predictable.

I'd kill for visual updated/additions to world gen and biomes. 

You know those pond plants, pond grass?? More of that around the world, scattered through biomes to make them more alive.

Even different reskins of grass, saplings and berry bushes would make the world feel better. 

Just no more late game content I'll never interact with please.

[user1464576869]

22 minutes ago, Nikki Darks said:

I'd kill for visual updated/additions to world gen and biomes. 

You know those pond plants, pond grass?? More of that around the world, scattered through biomes to make them more alive.

Even different reskins of grass, saplings and berry bushes would make the world feel better. 

Just no more late game content I'll never interact with please.

If I may indulge, even if I'm straying away from the topic. I'd be happy with a new layout algorithm, making new biomes using old turfs and props, less "rivers" tearing the mainland apart into the linear branches we always see, and biome blending to really synthesize unique combinations of terrain generation. Not to mention more "set pieces" in a more general sense, like a tiny series of flower islands in the ocean would peak my interest, nothing special, as long as it generates far from all other land masses as to not cause traffic..

[demon3000]

I really want the biome and map generation to become more random and diverse, in particular alternative biomes and seasons.

[Nikki Darks]

10 minutes ago, user1464576869 said:

If I may indulge, even if I'm straying away from the topic. I'd be happy with a new layout algorithm, making new biomes using old turfs and props, less "rivers" tearing the mainland apart into the linear branches we always see, and biome blending to really synthesize unique combinations of terrain generation. Not to mention more "set pieces" in a more general sense, like a tiny series of flower islands in the ocean would peak my interest, nothing special, as long as it generates far from all other land masses as to not cause traffic..

Idk why setpieces are as rare as they are.... I can't even enjoy them because I almost never get them.

Also, a config that lets you pick which configs spawn would be a Godsend.

[Waywarbler]

9 hours ago, Nikki Darks said:

I love how people went from being mlidly excited about the lunar/shadow arcs, and now everyone's just asking when is it going to end, lol.

I don't think it's in a "UGHH JUST LET IT END" kind of way so much as a "waiting on a series finale that keeps getting delayed" kind of way.

We're right there. Ancient Echoes set the foundation for the shadow rift ending, but it feels like the grand finale keeps getting further and further away. I'm getting antsy.

[Nikki Darks]

1 hour ago, Waywarbler said:

I don't think it's in a "UGHH JUST LET IT END" kind of way so much as a "waiting on a series finale that keeps getting delayed" kind of way.

We're right there. Ancient Echoes set the foundation for the shadow rift ending, but it feels like the grand finale keeps getting further and further away. I'm getting antsy.

I'm personally in the "UGHH JUST LET IT END" group. Nothing about the rift content has been remotely good (IMO).

Planar weapons are only good for rift content. Rift mobs can only be efficiently dealt with with planar weapons.

All the rift content is, is creating problems and the solutions to those new problems. No creativity, no player freedom to choose a different yet efficient way of dealing with the problems.

And it put the rest of the game (90% of the game) on pause just because they started it in the middle of unfinished plot points and updates. Hell world we live in.

Planar defense and damage were a mistake.

[gaymime]

5 hours ago, Nikki Darks said:

I'd kill for visual updated/additions to world gen and biomes. 

You know those pond plants, pond grass?? More of that around the world, scattered through biomes to make them more alive.

Even different reskins of grass, saplings and berry bushes would make the world feel better. 

Just no more late game content I'll never interact with please.

technically we did get new basic berry skins not too long ago

[Nikki Darks]

1 minute ago, gaymime said:

technically we did get new basic berry skins not too long ago

I do not have the vocabulary to express how much I love these skins.

All I can tell you is that I am not much of a base builder, but I LOVE building plant areas and gardens.

[gaymime]

Just now, Nikki Darks said:

I do not have the vocabulary to express how much I love these skins.

All I can tell you is that I am not much of a base builder, but I LOVE building plant areas and gardens.

RIGHT???. i have been hoping for more swampy decor since the nightberry update and i've gone from doing everything i can to force juicy berries in my world to preferring regular berries just to have biome variants<3

 

for sure though if you ever wanna share a little spot of greeenery you'd be welcome in the shrines n' bases thread(my favourite place on this site to go);

 

[Beefalo Smoker]

6 hours ago, Waywarbler said:

I don't think it's in a "UGHH JUST LET IT END" kind of way so much as a "waiting on a series finale that keeps getting delayed" kind of way.

We're right there. Ancient Echoes set the foundation for the shadow rift ending, but it feels like the grand finale keeps getting further and further away. I'm getting antsy.

This ^^^^ ty brozzer well said we better fight charlie soon gangatron

16 hours ago, Kacpert25 said:

Nope, it'll be even later. Klei said on the stream from the last update that they'll be working on the next skill trees after the new lunar year. So we'll have to wait a while longer XD.

ty for answering the question big guy do yk what stream this was said on? gg tgotta wait 4 more years

21 hours ago, gaymime said:

.......uh, what are you expecting exactly? new bosses, a new biome a whole pile of new mechanics, items and mobs......what could a "finale" even mean outside of maybe credits if none of that counts???

?????? a boss bro a new reign added fw return of them added cc etc

[gaymime]

2 hours ago, Beefalo Smoker said:

?????? a boss bro a new reign added fw return of them added cc etc

bro, you are only talking personal perceived value if that is your argument. it was double the length and has had double the content and like the other arcs had a big-boss and further moved the timeline. mentioning other content existing is not the same as a counter. the current arc is concluded aside from(probably) some more hotfixing, the new ark wont start for a couple months.

[NSAiswatchingus]

It all started going downhill with the Tencent deal. I personally am ready to see this game get finished after so many years. It's kind of feeling like one of those forever in beta games that never actually finishes and strings their remaining playerbase along for as long as possible with no actual payoff. Gaming has been GOOD this year. Has the DST content matched the quality of product other studios are putting out? If not, let's wrap this up and get to something great shall we? 

[Jakepeng99]

This arc was meant to last only two years.

5 years of these updates it seems. 😕

4 hours ago, NSAiswatchingus said:

It all started going downhill with the Tencent deal. I personally am ready to see this game get finished after so many years. It's kind of feeling like one of those forever in beta games that never actually finishes and strings their remaining playerbase along for as long as possible with no actual payoff. Gaming has been GOOD this year. Has the DST content matched the quality of product other studios are putting out? If not, let's wrap this up and get to something great shall we? 

The game doesnt feel finished for me.

They just started riffs and made the game feel more unfinished. There are lots of stuff in the game that feels so unfinished like the caves and the ocean, yet more things are being added to be left unfinished.

[Uedo]

This has been the same pattern every single time. It's over, it won't change. Skin money go brrrrrrr

[user1464576869]

I'm just speculating but to me it just seems to lack a bit of confidence and vision, the effort and regularity of updates are fairly strong, they just come off as a bit aimless and lacking ambition, the effort isn't channeled into something strong. Doesn't synergize with previous ambience, it's not as bad as minecraft where new content is strictly isolated and superfluous, but you get what I mean, maybe leaning a bit towards it.

I have no idea what goes on behind scenes but going on that complete speculation I'd think the game has changed hands around. When you inherit a project to run do you really dare to build upon it in a large meaningful way, evolve it and risk changing it so much it could be considered killing what was? Or do you just keep adding tangential detail? In an never ending limbo.

Personally I think anyone who would mourn the game's identity already have. I'd for wish someone who has great understanding and respect for the history of the game to direct it's future. But, that feels implausible to happen. I wouldn't be surprised if anyone who thinks they're the one to take helm would just cause more damage. As much as I hate the identity death of any medium maybe just embracing whatever comes next in better confidence is at least better than to be an uncanny stalemate.

[Nikki Darks]

Just now, user1464576869 said:

I'm just speculating but to me it just seems to lack a bit of confidence and vision, the effort and regularity of updates are fairly strong, they just come off as a bit aimless and lacking ambition, the effort isn't channeled into something strong. Doesn't synergize with previous ambience, it's not as bad as minecraft where new content is strictly isolated and superfluous, but you get what I mean, maybe leaning a bit towards it.

I have no idea what goes on behind scenes but going on that complete speculation I'd think the game has changed hands around. When you inherit a project to run do you really dare to build upon it in a large meaningful way, evolve it and risk changing it so much it could be considered killing what was? Or do you just keep adding tangential detail? In an never ending limbo.

Personally I think anyone who would mourn the game's identity already have. I'd for wish someone who has great understanding and respect for the history of the game to direct it's future. But, that feels implausible to happen. I wouldn't be surprised if anyone who thinks they're the one to take helm would just cause more damage. As much as I hate the identity death of any medium maybe just embracing whatever comes next in better confidence is at least better than to be an uncanny stalemate.

If one day all rift content got removed, the game would not be affected. That is just how much it is completely disconnected from base game. Almost all of the gear that came with rifts is almost strictly tied to rift content...

And what's the most strange, before this was even announced (the rift content), the community has been begging for more cave biomes, more overworld biomes, more ocean content, and yet we got this, content that's beyond disconnected from the game and ignoring the flaws people wanted fixed.