{"id":55379,"date":"2025-12-25T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=55379"},"modified":"2025-12-24T18:25:05","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T09:25:05","slug":"there-were-many-lessons-learned-and-were-grateful-for-the-criticism-duet-night-abyss-producer-discusses-the-action-rpgs-major-overhaul-and-new","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/interviews\/there-were-many-lessons-learned-and-were-grateful-for-the-criticism-duet-night-abyss-producer-discusses-the-action-rpgs-major-overhaul-and-new\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThere were many lessons learned, and we\u2019re\u00a0grateful\u00a0for the criticism.\u201d Duet Night Abyss producer discusses\u00a0the\u00a0action RPG\u2019s major overhaul and new features\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Hong Kong&nbsp;Spiral Rising Technology&nbsp;is gearing up to release the&nbsp;Steam version of&nbsp;free-to-play&nbsp;action RPG&nbsp;<strong>Duet Night Abyss<\/strong>.&nbsp;Although the&nbsp;release date&nbsp;has been postponed from the originally planned December 23 due to launch procedures, the game\u2019s content is fully ready.&nbsp;This includes&nbsp;a major update that&nbsp;introduces&nbsp;the&nbsp;new&nbsp;map&nbsp;of&nbsp;Huaxu,&nbsp;as well as new playable characters.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ahead of the big launch, AUTOMATON&nbsp;conducted an email interview with&nbsp;Duet Night Abyss&nbsp;producer&nbsp;Deca Bear,&nbsp;who told us more about&nbsp;the update,&nbsp;as well as how the&nbsp;game&nbsp;and its monetization model have been received so far.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1472\" height=\"828\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1472px) 100vw, 1472px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-007.jpg\" alt=\"Duet Night Abyss Fushu\" class=\"wp-image-55383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-007.jpg 1472w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-007-380x214.jpg 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-007-768x432.jpg 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"we-want-to-offer-players-great-content\">We want to offer players great content&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014Please introduce yourself.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Deca Bear:<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>Hello everyone.&nbsp;I&#8217;m&nbsp;Deca Bear, producer of Duet Night Abyss.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The studio I currently oversee, Pan Studio, is based in Hangzhou,\u00a0China\u00a0and\u00a0it&#8217;s\u00a0a team of people from\u00a0around the world who share a love for games and\u00a0Japanese pop culture. At present, we are focused on developing and publishing\u00a0games, chief of which is\u00a0Duet\u00a0Night Abyss.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014You unveiled the trailer for your new update at The Game Awards. How did it feel to debut on a major stage that attracts attention from all over the&nbsp;world?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Deca Bear:<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Our team was incredibly excited to be able to\u00a0showcase\u00a0Duet Night Abyss\u2019s\u00a0world of\u00a0Huaxu\u00a0for the first time on the global stage of TGA.\u00a0It&#8217;s\u00a0an honor, but it also feels like an incredibly heavy responsibility. For us,\u00a0it\u00a0wasn&#8217;t\u00a0just a trailer release;\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0also our \u201cintroduction\u201d to the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Duet Night Abyss | Huaxu Version Trailer \u2014 Sailing Into a New Chapter (Featured at TGA 2025)\" width=\"1160\" height=\"653\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GOU47aBcOv4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>\u00a0Players across the globe experienced, at the same moment,\u00a0our realistic landscapes, crafted with Eastern aesthetics, listened to our music, and glimpsed the story unfolding under the theme of\u00a0\u201cThe Wind Awakening.\u201d\u00a0In that instant, it felt as though we ourselves were standing before the world. We\u00a0were\u00a0nervous, yet filled with anticipation,\u00a0awaiting everyone\u2019s judgment.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;experience&nbsp;greatly motivated&nbsp;us and reaffirmed our determination to refine the update and all future content to even higher quality standards, including visual presentation, gameplay design, and cultural authenticity. At the same time, we strongly felt the enthusiasm and expectations of the community, which has become a major driving force behind accelerating development of localized versions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, the TGA stage was a milestone for us, reminding us once again that truly\u00a0\u201cgood\u00a0content has the power to transcend language and culture.\u201d\u00a0Using this as a new starting point, we will continue striving so that\u00a0Phoxhunters\u00a0around the world can experience\u00a0the unique appeal of\u00a0Duet Night Abyss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-005.webp\" alt=\"Duet Night Abyss The Wind Awakening\" class=\"wp-image-55384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-005.webp 1200w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-005-380x214.webp 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-005-768x432.webp 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"taking-feedback-seriously\">Taking&nbsp;feedback&nbsp;seriously&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014Looking back on Duet Night Abyss since launch, how do you view the reception so far? Please tell us&nbsp;about what has been well received vs what&nbsp;hasn&#8217;t.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Deca Bear:<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>Since launch,&nbsp;we\u2019ve&nbsp;received&nbsp;support and praise from many players, but also a wide range of feedback and concerns&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;gameplay and monetization.&nbsp;In response,&nbsp;we\u2019ve&nbsp;consistently communicated with players through&nbsp;Luno\u2019s Bulletin,&nbsp;sharing&nbsp;our&nbsp;improvement plans. We&nbsp;sincerely acknowledge&nbsp;that the official release version had many shortcomings, and we would like to&nbsp;once again offer our apologies&nbsp;to all players.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every member of&nbsp;our&nbsp;team has approached&nbsp;the&nbsp;feedback with the utmost sincerity, making continuous improvements wherever possible. The results of&nbsp;our efforts&nbsp;should be clearly felt in the upcoming&nbsp;\u201cThe Wind&nbsp;Awakening\u201d&nbsp;update.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1472\" height=\"828\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1472px) 100vw, 1472px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-006.jpg\" alt=\"Duet Night Abyss The Wind Awakening\" class=\"wp-image-55385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-006.jpg 1472w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-006-380x214.jpg 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-006-768x432.jpg 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Our greatest takeaway has been seeing players\u00a0embrace\u00a0Duet Night Abyss as a game they can\u00a0play long term. From in-depth discussions about gameplay and content, to passionate fanart and thoughtful feedback on story pacing and performance, we can feel a lively, proactive\u00a0community\u00a0forming.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frank criticism born from\u00a0players\u2019\u00a0high expectations\u00a0is not\u00a0pressure\u00a0to us. Rather, we see it as a\u00a0valuable\u00a0guide for setting our priorities and\u00a0allocating\u00a0resources.\u00a0The\u00a0current\u00a0DNA community has matured beyond our expectations, and\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0truly grateful\u00a0for players\u2019 willingness to engage in dialogue and grant us the time\u00a0we\u00a0need to\u00a0polish\u00a0the game. We will continue to\u00a0cherish\u00a0this by\u00a0optimizing\u00a0across all\u00a0platforms and further improving\u00a0the game\u2019s quality, delivering a\u00a0more comfortable\u00a0and satisfying experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014What&nbsp;specific&nbsp;improvements are being made in the&nbsp;new version?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Deca Bear:<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>With the official release of&nbsp;&#8220;The Wind Awakening\u201d&nbsp;update, Duet Night Abyss will undergo&nbsp;a major overhaul&nbsp;across controls, visuals, gameplay, and systems. The most&nbsp;immediately&nbsp;noticeable changes for players will be greater&nbsp;control&nbsp;flexibility, refined visuals, improved&nbsp;playability, and&nbsp;an&nbsp;overall&nbsp;more user-friendly&nbsp;experience.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1512\" height=\"854\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1512px) 100vw, 1512px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-008.jpg\" alt=\"Duet Night Abyss optimization\" class=\"wp-image-55387\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-008.jpg 1512w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-008-380x215.jpg 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-008-768x434.jpg 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of&nbsp;controls,&nbsp;we\u2019ve&nbsp;achieved an unprecedented level of freedom and smoothness. For mobile, we\u2019ve significantly improved usability by introducing&nbsp;an&nbsp;independent&nbsp;Helix Leap button&nbsp;and customizable&nbsp;input&nbsp;layouts.&nbsp;The&nbsp;logic has also been simplified,&nbsp;for example, pushing the directional input forward now automatically&nbsp;initiates&nbsp;a dash.&nbsp;We\u2019ve&nbsp;also rebuilt the multiplayer foundation, enabling smoother co-op&nbsp;play&nbsp;in major content such as&nbsp;the&nbsp;Nocturnal Echoes&nbsp;and&nbsp;Noctoyager&nbsp;Manual.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Visually, we addressed complaints about blurriness&nbsp;by&nbsp;optimizing&nbsp;anti-aliasing and&nbsp;rendering&nbsp;resolution,&nbsp;greatly improving&nbsp;clarity. All&nbsp;Huaxu&nbsp;areas have been recreated with new realistic rendering, including more lifelike materials and lighting. Character models have been completely overhauled, with redesigned hair, skin, and outfits. At the same time, memory usage has been reduced to alleviate overheating and stuttering.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The game\u2019s progression has also become clearer and more\u00a0user-friendly. A pity exchange system has been added to bounty requests, allowing direct exchange for Gold Demon Wedge blueprints.\u00a0There are\u00a0new items\u00a0which\u00a0make progression paths easier to understand.\u00a0We\u2019ve\u00a0also increased\u00a0the number of\u00a0free skins, added a login reward skin\u00a0(Serenity Character Skin Selection \u2013 Dark Jade), and introduced a more rewarding monthly pass.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1198\" height=\"672\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1198px) 100vw, 1198px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-009.jpg\" alt=\"Duet Night Abyss free Dark Jade skins\" class=\"wp-image-55389\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-009.jpg 1198w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-009-380x213.jpg 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-009-768x431.jpg 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Operations and monetization have likewise been adjusted to be more transparent and considerate\u00a0towards the user. Improvements include a revamped\u00a0shop\u00a0UI, longer discount periods, high-value character acquisition\u00a0chests, and advanced sharing of version plans. This is\u00a0all part of our commitment to\u00a0making\u00a0continuous improvements\u00a0and\u00a0offering\u00a0an\u00a0honest\u00a0service.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014You mentioned that visuals have&nbsp;also&nbsp;been overhauled in&nbsp;The Wind Awakening.&nbsp;Could you tell us more about the new art style?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Deca Bear:<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>This update&nbsp;marks&nbsp;the largest visual and gameplay overhaul since launch. With the introduction of&nbsp;Huaxu, the overall art direction has shifted decisively toward ultra-realistic Eastern fantasy. Material detail and lighting have been significantly enhanced, resulting in far more delicate expression and a clear improvement in overall quality. This is&nbsp;something we previously promised our players.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond simply offering a contrast to&nbsp;Icelake&nbsp;Environs\u2019 Western-style&nbsp;fantasy aesthetic, we want to show that Duet Night Abyss is not confined to Western fantasy, but also carries a distinctly Eastern cultural&nbsp;background, and to convey that appeal through&nbsp;our&nbsp;designs. This&nbsp;change in art style&nbsp;is a challenge we embraced to further refine the game\u2019s overall expression.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-011-1080x608-1.webp\" alt=\"Duet Night Abyss Huaxu\" class=\"wp-image-55390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-011-1080x608-1.webp 1080w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-011-1080x608-1-380x214.webp 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-011-1080x608-1-768x432.webp 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We will continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;deliver&nbsp;high-quality content and&nbsp;improve&nbsp;the experience, and we always welcome player feedback and suggestions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"new-characters-debuting-in-the-wind-awakening\">New characters debuting in The Wind Awakening&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014Please tell us about the new characters being introduced in the update. What kind of character is&nbsp;Fushu, the first&nbsp;in line&nbsp;to be released?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-014-1080x608-1.webp\" alt=\"Duet Night Abyss Fushu\" class=\"wp-image-55391\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-014-1080x608-1.webp 1080w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-014-1080x608-1-380x214.webp 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-014-1080x608-1-768x432.webp 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Deca Bear:<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>Six new characters will&nbsp;be appearing&nbsp;in this&nbsp;update.&nbsp;Among them,&nbsp;Fushu\u2019s&nbsp;character design is particularly striking. Her&nbsp;appearance is based on dragons: she has the tail of a white dragon, and her design combines elements such as a qipao-inspired dress, a folding fan, and ornamental hairpins to evoke a gentle, serene image of an Eastern woman. In addition, a&nbsp;swimsuit&nbsp;skin will be released as a limited costume exclusive to&nbsp;Fushu.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-015-1080x608-1.webp\" alt=\"Duet Night Abyss Fushu swimsuit skin\" class=\"wp-image-55392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-015-1080x608-1.webp 1080w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-015-1080x608-1-380x214.webp 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-015-1080x608-1-768x432.webp 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>From a gameplay perspective,\u00a0Fushu\u2019s\u00a0skills revolve around summoning\u00a0a dragon\u00a0to support combat, dealing Hydro-elemental\u00a0damage to nearby enemies. She can heal allies and restore Sanity, and her ultimate\u00a0deals\u00a0area-of-effect damage while granting shields to herself and\u00a0her\u00a0allies, increasing skill power\u00a0and accelerating Sanity recovery. As a result, she plays\u00a0a highly important\u00a0role\u00a0in\u00a0party compositions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new characters debuting in\u00a0Huaxu\u00a0were designed around\u00a0three\u00a0principles: depth of cultural identity, precision of visual expression, and\u00a0unique gameplay mechanics. They are the first group of characters born from the cultural foundation of the new region,\u00a0Huaxu, and\u00a0they\u00a0incorporate classical Eastern aesthetics and philosophical concepts throughout their designs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-016-1080x608-1.webp\" alt=\"Duet Night Abyss Fushu\" class=\"wp-image-55393\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-016-1080x608-1.webp 1080w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-016-1080x608-1-380x214.webp 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-016-1080x608-1-768x432.webp 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Visually, these characters&nbsp;represent&nbsp;the first fully realized results of our&nbsp;upgrades&nbsp;in technology&nbsp;art-wise. Polygon counts have increased, and&nbsp;thanks to our&nbsp;advances in hair physics and material rendering,&nbsp;hair&nbsp;will&nbsp;move more naturally,&nbsp;and&nbsp;fabrics and metallic ornaments&nbsp;will&nbsp;appear far more realistic.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In combat,\u00a0we&#8217;ve\u00a0also introduced more distinctive mechanics.\u00a0Fushu\u00a0contributes not\u00a0only to\u00a0HP recovery but\u00a0also\u00a0Sanity regeneration, fundamentally altering the structure of prolonged battles. Meanwhile,\u00a0Kezhou\u00a0is the very embodiment of a \u201cweapon master\u201d:\u00a0his ultimate randomly switches between multiple melee weapons, each with its own unique animations. These are not simple numerical variations, but mechanics\u00a0designed\u00a0to meaningfully expand\u00a0the\u00a0game\u2019s\u00a0depth.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"major-enhancements-to-multiplayer\">Major&nbsp;enhancements to&nbsp;multiplayer&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014Can you tell us more about how&nbsp;you\u2019ve&nbsp;expanded multiplayer in&nbsp;Huaxu?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Deca Bear:<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Multiplayer,\u00a0particularly in boss\u00a0battles,\u00a0has long been one of the most requested features from players. In this\u00a0update, we have evolved\u00a0multiplayer\u00a0in a systematic way, based directly on player feedback. First,\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0expanded multiplayer-enabled areas to cover the entirety of\u00a0Mistwharf, and\u00a0we\u2019ve\u00a0added new free\u00a0emotes\u00a0obtainable through shops.\u00a0We\u2019ve\u00a0also implemented new multiplayer-exclusive dungeons, enabling\u00a0natural\u00a0cooperative\u00a0play from story\u00a0sections\u00a0to everyday\u00a0content.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Second,&nbsp;we\u2019ve&nbsp;addressed issues with the multiplayer experience itself. By rebuilding the system\u2019s foundations, we can now offer clearer role&nbsp;assignments&nbsp;and more&nbsp;interaction value. The&nbsp;team system&nbsp;remains&nbsp;available, of course, allowing players to freely choose between AI companions and multiplayer co-op.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this version, we believe players will truly be able to \u201cmeet\u201d one another\u00a0and\u00a0experience\u00a0the game\u2019s unique pacing and\u00a0depth.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"reception-to-changes-in-monetization\">Reception to changes in monetization&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014You announced two months\u00a0before\u00a0the game\u2019s\u00a0launch that\u00a0you\u2019d\u00a0abolish\u00a0character\u00a0gacha, which\u00a0was quite\u00a0surprising. How has the monetization model been received since then?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Deca Bear:<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>Through player feedback, we clearly recognized that some&nbsp;previous&nbsp;paid content fell short of expectations in terms of design sincerity, perceived value, and flexibility in acquisition. Key issues included insufficient quantity and design quality of cosmetic items, a mismatch between pricing and perceived value, and discount periods that were too short.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, starting with\u00a0The Wind Awakening\u00a0update, we will introduce more carefully crafted cosmetic items,\u00a0as well as high-cost-performance acquisition options like the\u00a0Thoughts\u00a0Chest.\u00a0Going forward, we aim to\u00a0provide\u00a0a broader range of high-quality, value-oriented direct-purchase content, while increasing transparency around version\u00a0plans\u00a0and commercial information.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-017-1080x608-1.webp\" alt=\"Duet Night Abyss Dark Jade skin\" class=\"wp-image-55394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-017-1080x608-1.webp 1080w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-017-1080x608-1-380x214.webp 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-017-1080x608-1-768x432.webp 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-018-1080x608-1.webp\" alt=\"Duet Night Abyss Dark Jade skin\" class=\"wp-image-55395\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-018-1080x608-1.webp 1080w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-018-1080x608-1-380x214.webp 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-018-1080x608-1-768x432.webp 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014Could you tell us about&nbsp;your&nbsp;future direction&nbsp;for&nbsp;Duet Night Abyss?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Deca Bear:<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Our future development is guided by two major\u00a0themes.\u00a0The first is to further reinforce the core strengths that Duet Night Abyss has already\u00a0established. The second is to continuously improve the issues players feel most strongly about.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of gameplay,\u00a0we will\u00a0remain\u00a0committed to our original philosophy of fairness and meaningful choices,\u00a0optimizing\u00a0content and experience with each\u00a0new version.\u00a0In particular, we\u00a0will focus on multi-platform\u00a0optimization to ensure a smoother and more exhilarating experience. For this,\u00a0the\u00a0continued support\u00a0of our players\u00a0is essential.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" src=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-019-1080x608-1.webp\" alt=\"Duet Night Abyss Huaxu\" class=\"wp-image-55396\" srcset=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-019-1080x608-1.webp 1080w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-019-1080x608-1-380x214.webp 380w, https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-019-1080x608-1-768x432.webp 768w\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of visual expansion,\u00a0Huaxu\u00a0serves as the key that opens a new chapter, and we intend to continue developing culturally distinctive regions going forward. On the improvement front, we will keep collecting player feedback and\u00a0prioritize\u00a0\u00a0frequently\u00a0requested systems, such as multiplayer functionality and control responsiveness. With every update, we aim to\u00a0ensure\u00a0players feel that the development team and the community are\u00a0walking\u00a0towards\u00a0the same goals.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2014Thank you very much.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Duet Night Abyss is currently available on PC (<a href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/dna1222hp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">official&nbsp;homepage<\/a>\/<a href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/dna1222egs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Epic Games Store<\/a>),&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/dna1222ios\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">iOS<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/dna1222and\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Android<\/a>. The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/dna1222steam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Steam<\/a>&nbsp;version&nbsp;is planned to launch soon.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We talk to Deca Bear, producer of Duet Night Abyss, ahead of the game&#8217;s Steam launch and major &#8220;The Wind Awakening&#8221; update.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":55382,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[18],"class_list":["post-55379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interviews","tag-global-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u201cThere were many lessons learned, and we\u2019re\u00a0grateful\u00a0for the criticism.\u201d Duet Night Abyss producer discusses\u00a0the\u00a0action RPG\u2019s major overhaul and new features\u00a0 - AUTOMATON WEST<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We talk to Deca Bear, producer of Duet Night Abyss, ahead of the game&#039;s Steam launch and major &quot;The Wind Awakening&quot; update.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/interviews\/there-were-many-lessons-learned-and-were-grateful-for-the-criticism-duet-night-abyss-producer-discusses-the-action-rpgs-major-overhaul-and-new\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u201cThere were many lessons learned, and we\u2019re\u00a0grateful\u00a0for the criticism.\u201d Duet Night Abyss producer discusses\u00a0the\u00a0action RPG\u2019s major overhaul and new features\u00a0 - AUTOMATON WEST\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We talk to Deca Bear, producer of Duet Night Abyss, ahead of the game&#039;s Steam launch and major &quot;The Wind Awakening&quot; update.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/interviews\/there-were-many-lessons-learned-and-were-grateful-for-the-criticism-duet-night-abyss-producer-discusses-the-action-rpgs-major-overhaul-and-new\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"AUTOMATON WEST\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-24T16:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dna-20251222-384957-header-1080x607-1.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"607\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"AUTOMATON WEST\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@AUTOMATON_ENG\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@AUTOMATON_ENG\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"AUTOMATON WEST\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"\u201cThere were many lessons learned, and we\u2019re\u00a0grateful\u00a0for the criticism.\u201d Duet Night Abyss producer discusses\u00a0the\u00a0action RPG\u2019s major overhaul and new features\u00a0 - 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