The moment is here – our inaugural new content update patch is OFFICIALLY LIVE!
In the world of roguelites, keeping things fresh is paramount, and that's exactly what we've focused on for AK-xolotl's first new content update. Featuring a new boss, alternate enemies, and an array of weapons and items, our goal is to add that extra spice to your runs!
For the seasoned players seeking a challenge, we will soon introduce a new way to customize your gameplay and crank up the difficulty, in exchange for some enticing extra rewards. Increase enemy damage output, max HP, wave size, bid farewell to healing effects, and much more – dive into true Chaos!
With this update, we aim to reinforce your trust in our dedication to enhancing the game and provide a glimpse of the exciting future of AK-xolotl. The journey is far from over, and we already have more thrilling updates in the pipeline, including one before the close of 2023 and more planned for 2024!
To our loyal players from the start, thank you for your unwavering support. And to those just embarking on this adventure with us, welcome aboard – we're delighted to have you!
Here’s a summary of all the new content awaiting your exploration:
New content already available:
A brand-new Boss: tired of crab cakes for dinner? Give Pond Pincer a break and brace yourself for the possibility of encountering a brand new alternate boss in Biome 1 - the Mine-Gast! This one's guaranteed to take you on a wild ride.
New Enemies: tales of your havoc have spread throughout the Pond, and 6 new creature types have joined the battle against...well, you.
New Weapons: over 20 new weapons, ranging from classics like the Nail Gun, Boomerang, and Peacekeeper to more unusual firearms like the Tentacle, Elephant Gun, and Toadally Tosser. Things are about to get crazy!
New Items: while new weapons are fantastic, let's take the fun to the next level with 20 new items to fully customize your builds. Get ready for some truly insane combinations!
In-run Shop Redesign: say goodbye to unclear marketing tactics - the Hyena shop now provides a comprehensive description of all the available goodies. Become the informed buyer you deserve to be!
New Room Layouts: as always, we've sprinkled in some new room layouts to enhance the visual diversity of your runs.
Kickstarter axolittles: the two axolittles unlocked during our Kickstarter campaign are now available to catch during your runs.
New content unlocking on November 28th:
Run Modifiers: dive into the ultimate AK-xolotl challenge with Chaos Trials, available after conquering the final boss. Activate various Run Modifiers at different ranks, increasing your Chaos level. Triumph over bosses at designated Chaos levels to harvest extra rewards.
Holiday Spice:
Prepare to spread some holiday cheer! Four new holiday-themed axolittles are now available to catch, and from December 1st, The Pond will undergo a festive makeover with new decorations to get you into the holiday spirit. Picture gingerbread men, Christmas presents, and a magical snowy landscape covering almost everything! Be sure to check out the in-game winter wonderland!
Trading Cards are live:
We are thrilled to announce that AK-xolotl Steam community items are now available! Hope you enjoy these treats! - New profile badges - Ten new trading cards - Three profile backgrounds - Five emoticons
Aside from all the new content, we also introduced some new balance changes and bug fixes to further enhance your gameplay experience.
Here's the rundown of changes and improvements included in this update:
Bug Fixes
Fixed the bug where clicking out of focus during the confirmation screen in the pause menu will cause the game to “soft lock”.
Droppin’ Doggo and Small Paws Dealer shops refresh button will no longer work after all items/weapons have been bought
Fixed the issue where navigation was being lost in the Journal menu
Balance
Weapons:
Tactic Gun: Fire rate decreased from 0.1 to 0.12
Wingers: Fire mode changed to Auto
Big AK: Damage increase from 85 to 95
Abilities:
Lotzilla size increased from 100% to 200%
Melee weapons redesign
Melee weapons now only destroy normal enemy attacks. Elite enemies and bosses attacks (pink projectiles), will no longer be destroyed by melee weapon swings.
Quality of life
Implemented proper mouse navigation support for all game menus
Other
Implemented status effects on enemies
Enjoy 20% OFF in Bullet Heaven Fest
Hey guys,
Now you can enjoy AK-xolotl 20% OFF during Bullet Heaven Fest!!🔥🔥
If you have a passion for bullet hell games and other similar genres, make sure to explore the event!
Stay connected 💚
AK-xolotl Quality of Life Update #3 - Halloween Edition
Hey there!
We're excited to present to you Quality of Life Update #3 with a hint of Halloween magic! As always, we've sorted out crucial bugs and tweaked the game balance, but guess what? The Pond has received a festive makeover, giving it a spooky new look! Embrace the Halloween spirit with eerie decorations and seek out the thrilling Halloween-themed axolittles!
And because we believe there's no such thing as too many axolittles, we've brought you a special treat in the form of collaboration axolittles from Revita, Moonlighter, Blasphemous, and Odinfall. Also, in response to popular demand, both Twitch drops axolittles are now available to all players! All of these new axolittles can be encountered during your runs.
Remember, our first major content update is on the way in late November, and we're eager to unveil all the fantastic new features we've been working on. So, stay tuned for that! You can also check our updated roadmap here.
In the meantime, we invite you to join our Discord server and be a part of the coolest Pond Residents. Also, If you've been having a great time with AK-xolotl, we would be extremely grateful if you could take a moment to share your thoughts by leaving a review on our Steam store page!
Here's the rundown of changes and improvements included in this update:
Bug Fixes
Fixed the issue where applying a weapon specialization to an axolotl would only take effect when swapping it for another one
Fixed the bug with the Moosequeteer enemy where it would get stuck in corners and take a long time to attach the player
Fixed the issue where HP items and HP increase from HP room would apply to axolotls with the Chaotic class. HP related items are now excluded from the Chaotic class item pool
Remapping a keybind to B on gamepad will no longer cause the settings menu to close
Fixed the bug where restarting a run while the clear room reward chest is spawning would cause it to transition to the new run
Fixed visual bugs with both Twitch and Chadlotl axolotls
Sharpener item bullets now properly applies to snipers as well
Additional, the sharpener item bullets will no longer travel across obstacles
Fixed issue where rebinding the ability button would cause the original bind to still be active as well (AZERTY keyboard players will now have a better experience)
Fixed a visual bug with the Big Heart item description in the item shop
Astronaut Axolotl now has a proper eating animation
Fixed the issue with dart traps hitting the walls when they activate
Fixed collider issues in tutorial room walls
Fixed the issue with some item effects transitioning to a fresh run when using the restart option
Fixed the issue where restarting/abandoning a run while in a Shop Room or Challenge Room would give an error or start the new run with the player on a Challenge Room
Fixed the HP cap for Axolotl mode so it doesn’t go above the intended 10 HP
Balance
Weapons:
Phaser: damage increased from 36 to 55
Scatterer: damage increased from 35 to 38 and magazine size increased from 4 to 6
Pond Eagle: damage increased from 44 to 54 and accuracy improved from -5 to -4
AK: damage increased from 44 to 60, fire rate increased from 0.3 to 0.28 and accuracy improved from 7 to 5
Hoggen: damage increased from 190 to 195
U.Z.1: damage increased from 35 to 45, accuracy improved from 12 to 10 and magazine size increased from 20 to 25
Vermintor: max ammo increased from 250 to 300
Regulator & Blaster: damage increased from 55 to 60
All snipers: removed default piercing effect (it can still be obtained via Items)
Time Based Rounds: growing overtime changed from 10% to 25%
Other
Items will now automatically equip after selecting them from the chest, instead of dropping on the floor
Twitch drops axolittles are now available for all players, no matter if they participated in the event
Halloween Hub decorations + new Halloween axolittles are now available
New collaboration axolittles from the following games are now available: Revita, Moonlighter, Blasphemous and Odinfall
AK-xolotl Quality of Life Update #2
Hey there!
We're thrilled to bring you Quality of Life Update #2. This time, we're diving into some high-priority bug fixes and making a few balance tweaks to keep things fresh. We'd like to remind you that we're already cooking up some exciting new content for a big update coming your way in November. But in the meantime, we're determined to keep refining your experience with regular Quality of Life and Bug Fixes patches to solidify the already released content in preparation for the new things coming.
As always, we want to invite you to join our Discord server and be a part of the close-knit community we have fostered there! Additionally, it will also be the best place to report any bugs you may encounter or leave your heartfelt feedback and suggestions.
Thanks for your unwavering support. We can't wait to share more with you soon!
So, here’s the list of changes and improvements coming in this update:
Bug Fixes
Fixed the issue where hazards (spikes, acid barrels, etc.) could damage the player multiple times and invulnerability time wasn’t being applied
Fixed the issue where re-rolling items in the shops made them appear without a price, so players could get them for free
Eldritch Meat recipes should no longer be displayed in red in the Cooking menu if the player has enough currency
Damage items should now properly apply to explosive weapons
Boony death explosions will now properly display below the enemy and should no longer chase the player
Total save slot playtime will no longer reset
When swapping weapons while using a gamepad, crosshair should no longer randomly change direction
When swapping weapons while using the “Player” focused camera, the camera will no longer do a snap animation
Fixed the issue where reloading the main weapon and then swapping to the secondary weapon would grant players with additional ammo
The “pet” prompt should now be properly displayed when approaching your Axolittles
The “black screen” issue that was happening to some players should now be fixed
QoL (Quality of Life)
Big Paws (bear enemy):
Big Paws has taken a breather and decided to stop the nonstop firing frenzy!
Other:
Chest no longer have collision (this will avoid bosses/enemies getting stuck in chests or doorways being blocked by chests as well)
Added a confirmation window before deleting a save file (say goodbye to those accidental deletions!)
Balance
Weapons:
Unlock price for Epic Weapons has been reduced
Items:
Mutant Fish: from -50% dmg and -7 accuracy to -50% dmg and -5 accuracy (bullets will go in a more straight pattern)
Beer: from -40% dmg and -4 accuracy to -30% dmg and -2 accuracy (bullets will go in a more straight pattern)
Glutton Bullets: from +80% dmg to +50% dmg
Battery: from 75 dmg to 100 dmg
Pendant: from 20-150 dmg to 60-150 dmg
Shops:
Hyena shop will now show higher rarity Items and Weapons
Enemy Adjustments:
More Caterkillah spawns during biome 1 and 2
AK-xolotl is on SHMUP Fest!
We are excited to share that we are participating in Steam SHUMP Fest! It's time to pick up your weapon and blast your way through the animal kingdom in AK-xolotl!
We would also like to use this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to the community for your unwavering support. Be sure to stay tuned, as we have even more exciting updates planned for later this year!
Stay connected 💚
AK-xolotl Quality of Life Update #1
Hello Pond Residents,
To begin, we'd like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who have supported our game throughout its development journey, and even now, following its official launch. The positive feedback has reinforced our confidence in this project, and the constructive criticism has only fueled our passion to continue to work and make it even better.
Since launch, we've been collecting feedback from various sources, including Steam, our community Discord server, and other social media platforms. This "Quality of Life Update" arrives just one week after launch and primarily focuses on addressing bugs and making immediate quality of life improvements. But rest assured, this is just the beginning. We're committed to our promise of delivering regular updates, not only to address bugs but also to introduce new content and refine existing systems, all based on your invaluable feedback.
To each and every person who has purchased the game or supported us in any way, we extend our heartfelt appreciation. On behalf of the entire 2Awesome Studio team, we want to say: THANK YOU! <3
Lastly, we want to invite all of you to join our Discord server, where you'll find dedicated channels for feedback, bug reports, game discussions, and more. Become part of our extended family; we'd love to have you with us!
So, here’s the list of changes and improvements coming in this update:
Bug Fixes
Faith ability now deals damage to bosses
Fixed the issue of players taking damage during boss execution cutscenes
Fixed the issue where sometimes picking up the same weapon was decreasing your ammo
Items picked up during runs will now properly display on the left side of the screen
Ghost Bullets item will no longer make bullets go through the 5th boss wall tentacle attack (so you will now be able to damage them)
Fixed Capitalism item issue where your damage would drop drastically after buying something from the Hyena shop room
Helmet item will now properly protect against all kinds of explosions
Fixed the issue where older saves were not unlocking shops in the HUB
Snake boss projectiles no longer push the player away
Fixed the issue where players couldn’t buy from the Hyena shop room even when having enough Doraditos
Fixed the issue with the Devil Croakker flame hitting the player after 2 extra seconds after disappearing
Fixed the issue with the level report screen showing wrong information and the game not saving the currency that the player got during the run (no more crocodile has killed you in level report after beating the boss)
Reduced the size of spikes hitboxes
Fish axolittle is now properly evolving (was evolving to Mud Whooper axolotl previously)
Fixed the issue where flying enemies weren’t being hit by explosions
After finishing a run, buttsliding across the hub and talking to an NPC will no longer block the dialogues
QoL (Quality of Life)
Blisstaker:
Moved Blisstaker closer to the axolittles area
Reduced Blisstaker time to appear condition (from 3 runs after hatching a baby to 1 run)
But that's not all! We're thrilled to announce a Twitch drop event to unlock EXCLUSIVE axolotls! Simply watching for one hour will grant you Axolotl_TTV, and after an additional two hours of viewing, you'll unlock Gigalotl. Hurry, as this event concludes on September 21st, so don't miss out!
☀️Post Launch Roadmap☀️
Wait, there's more! The launch is just the beginning of our journey together. We've unveiled the post-launch roadmap, and there are A'LOTL exciting things on the horizon. Expect new rooms, challenging bosses, and limited-time only Axolotls for you to unlock! We're bursting with excitement to reveal all the amazing surprises!
💚AMA💚
Any questions that you want answered about AK-xolotl? Hop onto our Reddit AMA session that will be hosted on:
We genuinely hope you enjoy AK-xolotl, and we eagerly await your feedback and suggestions for the game. If you haven't already, please join our Discord community and share your AK-xolotl experiences with us!
Thanks for the support, and let's dive into this adventure together!
Stay connected 💚
FINALLY! 💚 AK-xolotl is coming September 14!🎉
Calling all Pond Residents,
The moment you've been waiting for is finally here! We're excited to announce that AK-xolotl is set to launch on September 14 on Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox. 🌟 Get ready to mark your calendars and gear up!
Watch our Release Date Trailer now to see lotl lotl lotl lotl Axoltol! 🎶🎶
And that's not all – the release date comes with a treat that's sure to thrill.
Experience the Extended Demo Now!
We have published an extended demo on Steam! The extended demo allows you to get a taste of AK-xolotl world. Shoot the enemies down, cook meals for your axolittles and grow them into your next warrior! We have also added some new axolotls in this demo!🎮
In the demo you should love and nurture your axolittles to your heart’s content, but at launch, we have a devious new feature where the Blisstaker can harvest their happiness for permanent powerups! I mean…you don’t HAVE to use it…if you don’t like firepower…it’s totally up to you…obviously.
Play the demo now!
Stay connected with us on our social media channels for the latest updates, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and more. The excitement is building, and we can't wait to embark on this journey with you.💚💚
💚 New Trailer has arrived! 💚
Hello Pond Residents,
We are so excited to share our brand-new official gameplay trailer with you!
In this new trailer, we focus on the roguelite elements in the game, including the adorable Axolotl nurturing system. Whether through nature or nurture, you will be able to raise their own, extremely violent axolittles. 💚🖤
This trailer provides a glimpse of some unique abilities your Axolittles can inherit from the food you cook for them following different recipes, ranging from a quick self-heal to destroying all your enemies in the ultimate sacrifice. With over 100 new Axolittles to unlock and raise, you will find your own powerful combinations that suit your playstyle.
You want to see some abilities? WE’LL SHOW YOU ABILITIES!
Snack
Beginning players might appreciate the standard healing ability early on. While you are still learning the ropes and expanding your arsenal, being able to heal yourself will come in clutch during that first boss fight. You’ll still have to manage and plan your heals as the ability, like all abilities, requires a certain amount of damage dealt to enemies before you can use it again.
Summon
More experienced players might be more inclined to max out their special items by embracing their inner Greed Demon, an ability that allows them to summon power-ups from the netherrealms. Don’t expect to spam this ability though! The more you use it, the longer it will take to charge.
Lotzilla
When collecting certain materials from certain biomes, sometimes you just want to be able to STOMP your enemies and get it over with. In those cases, nothing beats the Lotzilla skill. You think an axolotl with a gun is a problem? Try facing a GIANT axolotl with a GIANT gun!
Faith
The powerful “all or nothing” ability “Faith” should be reserved for only the fiercest players. When death is imminent, this type of axolotl can go full Super Saiy…lotl and overcharge their killing power to destroy everything on screen, including themselves. Why would anyone do that? Well, remember the regenerative power of the axolotls! Everytime they burn it all down, there is a small chance of surviving the explosion. A great way to either get out of a terrible situation, or go out in style!
AK-xolotl is coming this Fall 🍁on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. More information will be revealed later this Summer, so keep an eye out for more news!
Brand-New Demo Available! 🐸
Hello Pond Residents,
We are thrilled to bring you a very special update and today is the day we can finally share it with you! Get ready because we have alotl news!
What that means is we have got more resources to make the game even bigger and better!
You want a taste of what’s to come? We have you covered!
🎮 NEW DEMO 🎮
There’s a brand new demo live on Steam right now featuring stunning visuals upgrades, exciting new gameplay features, amazing new enemies to obliterate and, of course, axolittles, a lotl of axolittles for you to nurture and grow!
Check out the demo and be sure to give us feedback on our Discord!
🧔 BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! 🧔
We also have just launched a brand new reveal trailer during the Future Games Show! Take a look:
