Spiritfarer dropped last Summer and pulled at our heartstrings with a riveting score, vivid artwork, and heart-warming animations (hugging your spirit shipmates continues to be a legitimate form of self-care). Despite being a true hidden gem, the game is still getting support from its small studio, Thunder Lotus Games. Today, the team posted a 2021 development roadmap that showcased the many new features that players can look forward to throughout the year. 

Three free content drops are coming to Spiritfarer, starting with the Spring Update that will introduce a new spirit named Lily (Stella’s younger sister!), extra story content revolving around the game’s magnanimous main character, gameplay tweaks designed to improve cooperative play with much-needed UI changes and coop fishing, and quality of life changes which the post did not specifically elaborate on. Lily is the literal and metaphorical light in Stella’s life and her presence allows players to travel around the world even at night. You can see an animation of Lily below.

The second update launches over the Summer and comes with another character. Beverly is an old neighbor of Stella’s and is the second bird spirit in the game (you'll read about the third winged cast member in a few seconds). Alongside her, Thunder Lotus Games is bringing new boat buildings for players to add to their schooner, more collectibles hidden throughout the world, and some new recipes for those of us that like to surprise our spiritual guests with hearty meals. Check out Beverly below.

Finally, the last update arrives in Fall. Stella will venture to a new island that houses an old hospital where Jackie (the caretaker) and his patient, Daria, will be living. In addition to more boat buildings, new resources will be implemented into the Fall Update. You can get a good idea of Jackie and Daria’s looks and personalities in the gifs below. 

Jackie looks like a lovable beast, doesn't he?

I loved my time with Spiritfarer and 2021 looks to be a strong year for the future of its emotional gameplay loop. For those of you that haven't played it yet, be sure to read about Why Spiritfarer Is A Different Kind Of Sim. 

3BLACKDOT revealed a new animated TV series called Alpha Betas that will star some of the biggest names in YouTube Gaming alongside major talent associated with shows like Futurama, SNL, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and more. The new show is being helmed by the studio behind Rick & Morty and aims to achieve the same comedic style that the series that gave us "Pickle Rick" offered.

According to the reveal, Alpha Betas is set in a world where video games are powering life as we know it thanks to a massive, top-secret CIA program. According to the studio, "the show follows an elite virtual strike force of four top gamers as they drop into the virtual realms of video games to fix potentially world-ending issues. Known as the Alpha Team, these four willfully reckless and dangerously arrogant guys are the tip of a five-hundred billion-dollar US Government spear sent to be heroes in high-octane pixelated worlds."

The upcoming series is a collaboration of YouTubers in the gaming space such as VanossGaming (Even Fong), BasicallyIDoWrk (Marcel Cunningham), I AM WILDCAT (Tyler Wine), and Terroriser (Brian Hanby). Take a look at the trailer for our first look at the upcoming show: 

3BLACKDOT is the production company working on this alongside Starburns Industries, the company behind Rick & Morty. Other talent involved includes Paget Brewster (Friends), Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Chris Parnell (SNL), Brent Morin (Chelsea Lately), and John DiMaggio (Futurama). 

Alpha Betas is a story about friendship and the camaraderie that gaming offers. 

What are your thoughts on the upcoming Alpha Betas show? Excited to see more from this studio and more about the gaming space, or just not your style? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below!