[p]Our Dearest Defenders,
[/p][p]It has been quite some time since we have crossed paths in the realms of etheria, July of 2024[/p][p]to be exact, with the addition of cross saves. Across all social media platforms there have been[/p][p]lots of questions about content for Dungeon Defenders: Awakened, seemingly met with silence[/p][p]until now. During the July 2025 Dev Stream, it was announced that Chromatic Games brought in[/p][p]members of the Dungeon Defenders community to restart updates for the game. We have been[/p][p]hard at work learning the systems by looking under the hood of the game. We proudly mark with[/p][p]today's update the initiation of the Dungeon Defenders: Awakened Renaissance.[/p][p]Who's behind the Community Development Team?
[/p][p]Coolgamer:[/p][p]Hi everyone,[/p][p]“It is an honor to be working under Chromatic to bring updates to DDA. I am a long- time[/p][p]player of the Dungeon Defenders Franchise. Starting with DD1 on the xbox 360 at the age of 11,[/p][p]I played off and on from the launch of DD1 on the Xbox 360 until 2018 accumulating around[/p][p]3000 hours of gametime over the years, spending a lot of that time in the tavern connecting with[/p][p]many other players within the dungeon defenders community, where I made many friends, some[/p][p]to which I still talk to today. I'm also a player of both DD2 and DDA on the xbox, and I played a[/p][p]lot of DD1 and DD1 Redux on pc throughout the pandemic. I played dd2 for a total of about 500[/p][p]hours across various platforms and DDA for about 475 hours. 250 of which I played from the[/p][p]launch of the xbox port of DDA up until the stat overhaul shortly after the keep came out, then[/p][p]took a break until January of this year. Outside of the dungeon defenders franchise I have[/p][p]played a wide variety of games ranging from Call of Duty to Kingdom Hearts, to Terraria, to[/p][p]MMO RPGS such as dungeons and dragons neverwinter. I have a Bachelors Degree in physics[/p][p]and I am in pursuit of a master’s degree in Physics with an emphasis on Computational Physics.[/p][p]I fell in love with the dungeon defenders franchise because of the loot grind aspect, playing this[/p][p]hard map, or beating this hard boss and seeing if you can get a better piece of gear. Each gear[/p][p]felt unique, and more importantly it felt like mine. I also loved the wide variety of pets there were[/p][p]in the game to collect, each unique. My goal while working on the cdt is to bring that feeling[/p][p]back into dda, while offering many more hours of fun and memorable moments within this game.[/p][p]I look forward to working with you all to make an amazing experience from start to finish.”[/p][p]Best,[/p][p]Coolgamer[/p][p]
Tato:[/p][p]“Greetings Defenders of Etheria! A little backstory on myself: I have grown up playing all[/p][p]types of games, ranging from Pokemon on the Gameboy, to Wii Sports, to Fruit Ninja using a[/p][p]Kinect, all the way to shooters like Halo, the list could go on for forever. Having played all these[/p][p]different types of games, on all these different consoles, and yet… DD:A holds me near and[/p][p]dear. Due to peer pressure long ago, I now own a PC that I probably spent too much money on[/p][p]for the sake of playing games, so I make good use of it by streaming as well. In doing so, I[/p][p]managed to build a strong connection with some of you Players, as well as our Developers,[/p][p]giving the opportunity for Dungeon Defenders: Awakened to show its true potential.PS: I have 2[/p][p]adorable little animals, Sirloin Corgi/Pitbull Mix (Black & White) and Mouse: ShortHair Kitty,[/p][p](White & Grey).”[/p][p]What Can you Expect From Us:[/p][p]Before we get into the bulk of today’s update and roadmap, there is an elephant in the room we[/p][p]want to address. Throughout the original life cycle of DDA, there were many frustrations with the[/p][p]handling of the development. We want to assure you that we hear you and we are voicing what[/p][p]you say on social media, youtube comments, twitch chats, and on the Official Dungeon[/p][p]Defenders Discord Server. Some of you may be skeptical about returning to the game or to trust[/p][p]that the game we all love isn't mistreated again, which is understandable. The Community[/p][p]Development Team is a brand new team working on DDA, and we were players just like you[/p][p]during those times. As we enter this period of Renaissance for Dungeon Defenders: Awakened,[/p][p]the Community Development Team pledges to communicate with you about what's being[/p][p]worked on in the game. With every update you can expect patch notes detailing the changes[/p][p]and our thought processes behind each major change. We will interact in the discord server[/p][p]posting teaser and posting polls/surveys; we want to hear from you. We can't promise every[/p][p]suggestion will make it to the game but we can promise to be open minded and hear you out.[/p][p]With this pledge we hope you all will continue to provide us with feedback in any way you see[/p][p]fit. If you haven’t already, join the Dungeon defenders discord server to directly interact with us[/p][p]during the development cycle. Lastly, we hope you guys put your faith in us and show patience[/p][p]as we continue to learn the systems within DD:A[/p][p]Dungeon Defenders: Awakened Renaissance Roadmap:[/p][p]It is no secret that everyone involved went through a roller coaster throughout the original[/p][p]development cycle of Dungeon Defenders: Awakened. From the developers putting their heart[/p][p]and soul into the creation of the game’s content throughout the development cycle to the player[/p][p]base enduring multiple system reworks to communication issues amongst all parties, we can all[/p][p]agree that Dungeon Defenders: Awakened is a special game despite its flaws and has much[/p][p]potential to keep players coming back for years down the road. Our goal as the community[/p][p]development team is to exploit that potential.[/p][p]A common feedback we encountered was about the game being too easy in its current state,[/p][p]and that its rewards pacing was really fast. We heard you loud and clear. Throughout the 5[/p][p]phases listed on the road map we have the vision of making the game much harder and more[/p][p]rewarding as you guys play through all of the content offered in DD:A before we can add new[/p][p]maps and other content. We also need to preface that our current focus is on the Steam port of[/p][p]the game to give us a solid foundation for the game to work with. Console versions of the game,[/p][p]specifically Xbox and Playstation, will be investigated and worked on at a later date, if possible.[/p][p]For those that play on the Nintendo Switch, we are truly sorry but there isn’t a big enough player[/p][p]base to justify the immense task of updating this version of the game. Add to it that DD:A is a[/p][p]REALLY intense game to run on most platforms and due to the limitations on the Switch[/p][p]console, we have decided for now we won’t be bringing any updates for the foreseeable future[/p][p]to said console. Please note this is the current plan; as we work through the roadmap things[/p][p]may change but we will make sure to let you know.[/p][p]Phase 1 - Critical Bug fixes and rebalancing:[/p][p]With our design vision guiding this first phase of the Dungeon Defenders: Awakened[/p][p]Renaissance project, we are focusing on eliminating the most critical game-breaking issues[/p][p]that disrupt progression, trading, and the overall flow of the game. Right now, several factors[/p][p]make the experience feel too easy and unbalanced, and Phase One is all about restoring[/p][p]challenge, stability, and integrity to the core gameplay. Today’s update marks a big step forward[/p][p]in that effort, as we have made meaningful progress in fixing major glitches and improving[/p][p]overall stability. While many issues have been resolved, a few key bugs remain on our radar[/p][p]and are currently being worked on for the next update. It has come to our attention that there[/p][p]may be a duplication glitch related to trading, and we are moving quickly to investigate and[/p][p]resolve it since it has a major impact on progression and the in-game economy. We are also[/p][p]aware of a crash related to dropping runes; while the crash itself has been resolved, rune loot[/p][p]drops from enemies will stay temporarily disabled until we can safely restore them in a future[/p][p]update. Phase One lays the groundwork for the rest of this project, ensuring the game feels[/p][p]stable, fair, and rewarding again. Once these core issues are fully addressed, we will move on[/p][p]to Phase Two, where we will begin building on that foundation with new systems and balance[/p][p]improvements.[/p][p]Phase 2: Further Investigation into game rebalances:[/p][p]In phase 2 we will look into rebalancing the game almost entirely, adjusting all heroes,[/p][p]towers, gear, and pets as needed to improve the game’s overall health. We will also focus on[/p][p]quality of life changes to improve the experience for players.[/p][p]Phase 3: Game Mode rework:[/p][p]In the current state there is little to no incentive to play the other modes outside of[/p][p]survival and mixmode. In this phase we would like to focus on each of the game modes and dial[/p][p]them in and give them a purpose and a reason to be played. Enemy scaling, better rewards,[/p][p]and quality of life improvements to the modes are all potential changes.[/p][p]Phase 4: Dev Promises, Tavern Updates, Console Updates, & adding steam deck support[/p][p]Once we improve DD:A’s experience, we can look into fulfilling promises made by the[/p][p]previous development team, bringing Xbox & Playstation console versions, and looking into[/p][p]4-player splitscreen and updating the tavern to allow more customization. This Phase will be the[/p][p]final phase before adding new maps and DLC content.[/p][p]Phase 5: New Content[/p][p]As most will remember, new content for Dungeon Defenders: Awakened was promised[/p][p]for free. While this was a good-spirited monetization model, to support future updates DD:A will[/p][p]have to move towards a paid monetization model inline with DD1, following your suggestions in[/p][p]the Dungeon Defenders Discord server. The base game will include all things currently released[/p][p]and future updates will be purchasable.[/p][p]Patch Notes:[/p][p]General Updates:[/p][p]With today’s update, we’ve made significant progress toward fixing several[/p][p]game-breaking glitches and improving gameplay balance. Sand Keepers on Forsaken Temple[/p][p]now have a minimum movement speed of 6, allowing them to move much faster and provide a[/p][p]more dynamic challenge. Forsaken Temple Rifted Boss Weapons now have a much higher stat[/p][p]quality bound of 60, increasing their potential rolls and overall[/p][p]Armor, Weapon, and Accessory changes:[/p][p]We’ve adjusted gear bonuses to make early-game progression more meaningful and[/p][p]late-game loot feel special. Bonus Item Effects on gear of rarities Rare - Transcendent have[/p][p]been removed. Early on, these effects were giving players too much power, making the game[/p][p]feel too easy with so many stats and effects stacked early. Godly equipment now gets 1 bonus[/p][p]instead of 2, Supreme equipment gets 2 bonus instead of 3, and rarities beyond Supreme[/p][p](when added) will roll with 3 item effects. Set bonuses on main-hand and off-hand weapons will[/p][p]follow a similar progression, dropping at Godly and higher. Pets are not affected by this change[/p][p]at the moment.[/p][p]Stat changes:[/p][p]The total number of skill points has been decreased to 1385, with the last 10 levels[/p][p]granting 40 skill points per level. This aligns the maximum base stat value more closely with[/p][p]DD1, lowering the overall early-game power and making progression feel more balanced.
[/p][p]Boss Changes:[/p][p]1. Demon lord:[/p][p]The Demon Lord has been too punishing early in the game due to low health.[/p][p]We’ve adjusted him as follows:[/p][p]● Base attack power decreased from 63 to 40[/p][p]● Shockwave damage decreased from 53 to 50[/p][p]2. Goblin Mech:[/p][p]Players were able to cheese the Goblin Mech by standing on its spawn point. To[/p][p]fix this:[/p][p]● Added a killbox beneath the boss to prevent players from exploiting the[/p][p]spawn point[/p][p]3. Ancient Dragon:[/p][p]Mannabomb now hits the Ancient Dragon.[/p][p]4. Lycan King:[/p][p]The Lycan King fight has been reworked to feel challenging and rewarding for the[/p][p]first piece of Arcanist gear and some of the best weapons in the game. Changes[/p][p]include:[/p][p]● Fixed the “stuck and killed” exploit[/p][p]● Increased damage reduction during Howling state by 500%[/p][p]● Disabled player collision with the boss to prevent throwing him under the[/p][p]map[/p][p]● Increased movement speed in lured state from 1.25 to 5 and in fleeing[/p][p]state from 1 to 8[/p][p]● Increased damage resistance while fleeing from -75 to -0.95[/p][p]● AoE Howl changes:[/p][p]● Damage is now multiplicative (scalar 2.5)[/p][p]● Attack rate buff increased by 50%[/p][p]● Buff duration increased from 5s to 17.5s[/p][p]● Damage reduction from player attacks 50%[/p][p]● Movement speed buff 1000%[/p][p]● Boss stun mechanics now allow the player to deal 50% more damage[/p][p]● Stalking mode adjustments:[/p][p]● Movement speed increased by 50%[/p][p]● Stalking swipe cooldown reduced from 3s to 2s[/p][p]● Single swipe cooldown coefficient decreased from 1 to 0.95[/p][p]● Howling state now applies Poison DoT that disappears in lured state[/p][p]● Bomb timer increased from 15s to 25s and updated in UI[/p][p]● Added Laspis Gemstone pet to Act 4 Survival reward[/p][p]5. Dune Eater:[/p][p]The Forsaken Temple map has been reworked for a more rewarding experience:[/p][p]● Added Arcanist Gloves to the end loot chest of Survival and Mixed Mode[/p][p]● Added Topaz Gemstone pet to Survival reward loot table[/p][p]● Players can no longer target Dune Eater while it is under the lake, forcing[/p][p]proper gameplay[/p][p]Defense Changes:[/p][p]Healing Aura:[/p][p]The Healing Aura has been significantly improved. Healing output increased by a[/p][p]factor of 8, making it a much stronger choice for the Lycan King fight and other[/p][p]challenging encounters.[/p][p]Guardian changes:[/p][p]The Guardian has been rebalanced to make Divine Protection more tactical and engaging.[/p][p]● Cooldown on Divine Protection increased to 7 seconds (up from 1)[/p][p]● Divine Protection now consumes 25 ability mana per second (up from 16)[/p][p]● While active, the Guardian now takes 25% of the damage that allies[/p][p]inside the circle receive[/p][p]● Shield Slam maximum range increased from 500 to 1000[/p][p]● Shield Slam maximum charge time is now 0.5 seconds[/p][p]● Shield Slam cooldown set to 2 seconds[/p][p]● Shield Slam scalar increased from 1 to 2.5[/p][p]● Shield Slam now applies a 4-second stun[/p][p]Warden Changes:[/p][p]The Warden has received a series of improvements to make their abilities feel faster and more[/p][p]rewarding.[/p][p]● Sprout cooldown reduced from 5s to 3s[/p][p]● Sprout damage coefficient increased from 1 to 2.5[/p][p]● Sprout pickup range increased from 300 to 750[/p][p]● Sprout cast time reduced from 3s to 1.5s[/p][p]● Pure Sprout now applies a 15% buff to the player when picked up[/p][p]● Wrath Sprout now doubles player speed, increases damage by 35%, and[/p][p]adds 15% damage resistance[/p][p]● Shroom Circle max range increased from 1000 to 5000[/p][p]● Shroom Circle cooldown reduced to 7 seconds[/p][p]● Shroom Circle Wrath damage coefficient increased from 1 to 1.5[/p][p]● Coefficient doubled when Wrath Stun is active[/p][p]● Sludge damage coefficient increased to 1[/p][p]● Sludge Slow duration increased to 3.5 seconds[/p][p]Summoner Changes:[/p][p]● Petboost had its coefficient increased from 1 to 1.5.[/p][p]Rouge Changes:[/p][p]● Stealth buff post-multiplicative additive bonus decreased to 0.1 (down[/p][p]from 0.2)[/p][p]● Rip State damage coefficient decreased from 1 to 0.75[/p][p]Pets:[/p][p]A major focus of this update is pets. Many new pets have been added for players to[/p][p]collect, and existing pets will be rebalanced in a future update. Highlights include:[/p][p]● Laspis Gemstone: Added to the Act 4 Survival reward upon defeating the[/p][p]Lycan King. This buff pet is similar to the Obsidian Gemstone but provides[/p][p]a small reduction to enemy damage for a short duration on your next[/p][p]attack, making it a strategic addition for tougher fights.[/p][p]● Topaz Gemstone: Added to the Forsaken Temple Survival and Mixed[/p][p]Mode end loot chest after defeating the Dune Eater. This pet functions[/p][p]similarly to other buff pets, giving nearby allies a temporary boost to[/p][p]movement speed and attack rate, helping players navigate the[/p][p]challenging fight more effectively.[/p][p]Additional updates:[/p][p]● New drops in Lost Metropolis, Alchemical Laboratory, Ancient Mines,[/p][p]Ramparts, Throne Room, Royal Guardians, Promenade, Arcane Library,[/p][p]Tornado Valley, Tornado Highlands, and The Mill[/p][p]● Golden pets now drop on all maps at wave 100 of Rifted Survival[/p][p]● Rifted and Golden pets have been rebalanced with updated Hero Point[/p][p]scalars, Pet Ability Damage, Vitality, and Attack Rates[/p][p]● Notable additions: Gold Griffin, Gold MistaMine, Gold SteamBot, Gold[/p][p]Little Wizard, Gold Etherian Ancient, Gold Genie, Gold Lycan Prince,[/p][p]Gold Demi Demon Lord, and many more[/p][p]● The Golden Ramster Can and Rifted Ramster Can each have a 10%[/p][p]chance to drop from Halloween Ramparts.[/p][p]● The Obsidian Gemstone has been improved to apply its Sunder Armor[/p][p]effect for 6 seconds (up from 3), with a cooldown of 4 seconds (down[/p][p]from 8).[/p][p]● All fairies heal for much more[/p][p]Note: Some tooltips are incorrect for new pets; this will be fixed in the next[/p][p]patch[/p][p]Tower and Defense Changes:[/p][p]We’ve rebalanced defenses to better reflect their intended cost and power levels. Please note[/p][p]that these reordering and DU adjustments do not currently reflect in the UI and will be updated[/p][p]in a later patch.[/p][p]● Empowering Shrine is now Defense 5[/p][p]● Holy Cannon is now Defense 2[/p][p]● Obelisk is now Defense 3[/p][p]● Owl is now Defense 4, costing 4 DU[/p][p]● Holy Bulwark is now 3 DU[/p][p]● Poison Dart Tower is now 3 DU and costs 80 mana[/p][p]● Spider Minion Webbed Effect now applies 1.25× damage (down from 2×)[/p][p]● Siren Minion now costs 90 mana and is Defense 4[/p][p]● Dark Mage Minion is now Defense 4, costs 80 mana, and uses 3 DU[/p][p]● Ogre Minion DU cost reduced to 120 DU[/p][p]● Squire Blockade is now 2 DU[/p][p]● Sniper Cannon is now Defense 2, costs 80 mana, and uses 4 DU[/p][p]● Harpoon Tower is now Defense 4[/p][p]● Bowling Ball Tower is now Defense 3, costs 70 mana, and uses 4 DU[/p][p]● Shroomy Pet is now Defense 2, costs 60 mana, and uses 1 DU[/p][p]● Whisp Den is now Defense 3, using 3 DU[/p][p]● Beaming Blossom is now Defense 4, using 4 DU[/p][p]● Sludge Launcher is now Defense 5, costing 100 mana[/p][p]● Overclock Beam Rune coefficient decreased to 0.5, reducing the bonus[/p][p]damage from the rune by half
[/p][p]note: the U.I has not been reordered to fit the tower changes, this will be fixed next patch.[/p][p]Conclusion:[/p][p]With today’s update, we’re excited to introduce the developers behind the Community[/p][p]Development Team and share a glimpse of what’s ahead for Dungeon Defenders: Awakened.[/p][p]This update marks the first of many and serves as a “how-to” for pushing a build live, officially[/p][p]beginning a new era for the game, the DD:A Renaissance. We hope this update excites you and[/p][p]invites you to join us on this journey by cheering us on, sharing your feedback, and helping us[/p][p]shape the future of the game. Thank you for trusting us to deliver meaningful updates and[/p][p]improvements. If you would like to support the Community Development Team directly, consider[/p][p]purchasing existing cosmetic costumes and joining the official Dungeon Defenders Discord[/p][p]server, where you can connect with us and the wider community as we continue building the[/p][p]DD:A Renaissance together.[/p][p]Until Next Time,[/p][p]The Community Development team[/p]