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Full Steam announcements and update articles for this title.
Skirmish missions are now repeatable!
Battle of the Borg
Fixed crash when killing Haukr's bodyguards via Rampage during the final combat encounter in Battle of the Borg.
Fixed abnormal AI behavior during the final Battle of the Borg encounter, where Jarl Haukr could be attacked prematurely and his bodyguards moved to unintended locations.
Miscellaneous
Fixed an issue where interactable items (chests, runestones, objects to investigate, lootable corpses) were not highlighted during inspection mode.
Fixed lootable corpses highlighting during combat.
Added highlight refresh for interactable objects when moving in inspection mode.
Various minor fixes to the Polish translation
Fixed issue where Rampage ability would only strike once when there are more units around the unit
Rampage ability now displays the damage it causes correctly in tooltip
Improved how animation looks when executing Rampage ability
Fixed bad looking LOD on "Common Borg" clothing worn by enemy units (Farspear Hersir, Thorvald Eriksson and some Spearman units and Gripr units) as well as the default clothing for Havardr Hirdman
A new set of missions have been added to the game via Skirmish maps! These are smaller, optional combat-focused missions that appear throughout the game that have no deadline; these new missions will allow you to further level up any characters of your choice. Skirmish missions can be encountered like any other missions, by unlocking them on the map. By progressing through turns on the map via either new or pre-existing save(s), mission markers will periodically drop onto the map and the player can then launch into them at any point during the campaign. A new game is not needed to access these missions, unless it's a late-game save, since there would not be enough turns before A Debt of Blood to access Skirmish mission(s). *Please note, these new missions are not repeatable. The new maps/missions names are the following:
The Wolf Wood
Silver and Shadows
Blood Soaked
The Beast Men
The Eagle's Challenge
Greybeards
An example of what this new mission marker looks like can be seen below:
By popular demand, NORSE: Oath of Blood has been translated to Polish (Text only) a big shoutout to DrSkillzDeficit for his contribution in this endeavour!
PLEASE NOTE: Steam, Epic, and GOG achievements have not yet been translated \ Polish Achievements are now translated. No client update was needed for this. Thank you for your patience!
Fixed formatting mistake in the crafting entry in the points list of changes for Huntsman worksite construction
Fixed 'At the Gates' state being written as one word in the tutorial explanation
Fixed text not being localized on some project complete sequences (Ritual Circle, Makeshift Camp, Master Loomhall, Lumber Camp)
Improved enemy highlighting when hovering mouse over enemy alert tiles, now all enemies that cover that specific tile will get highlighted
Alert tiles will now be displayed for enemies that start the encounter with alert active
Highlights on units now clear reliably when you stop hovering the mouse over units
Updated description on Glima and Sound of Death abilities
Improved tooltip when targeting units that are out of range
Improved info text above ability bar when hovering units
Tutorials can no longer be triggered while screen is black
Fixed issue where the game could get stuck if mission is restarted just when a tutorial starts
Added notifications message about not enough AP to do action or move, and notification about not being able to switch to other player units
Fixed tooltip on Wolf Fang ability displaying incorrect number
Fixed tooltip for explanation when lacking AP, which used the incorrect term
Fixed damage preview not taking armor piercing into account
Hovering units in the turn order now behave the same as hovering the unit in the scene
Fixed issue where you were unable to select unit by clicking on them when standing outside combat areas outside of combat
Changed how Turn Slots look when selecting a unit for open slots to indicate that the unit's turn has not started yet.
Added New Turn Start announcement when the turn starts to clarify when this happens
The turn order slot now displays a flash animation when a unit starts its turn
Made the mission difficulty icon more high quality and look consistent between the different screens that uses it
Fixed issue where ability tooltip did not update properly when inspecting passive abilities retaining the range and cooldown information, this is now cleared when displaying passive abilities
Fixed Trade Item slot price layout issue
When save file types exceed the limit, it now deletes the oldest file instead of the newest
Save files that are automatically generated no longer reuse files that don't follow the naming convention if the save file got renamed at some point and will instead delete the file and make a new one
Fixed issue where village events that are meant to trigger during turn progression would trigger early if loading a save made after the event was queued to execute on next turn progression
Dead enemies now keep the elevation they were saved at when loading a save
Adjusted optimization logic to not interfere with primary cutscene characters, fixing cloth animation issues
Removed some redundant enemy AI calculations
Fixed an issue where the "No Escape, No Mercy" achievement would not be granted when killing a unit held via Meat Shield ability
Made "The Warlord's Sight" achievement increment every time the Vulnerable status effect is inflicted on any enemy by any hirdman
Made "Rend and Ruin" now only trigger when attacking people and animals, not inanimate objects
Made achievements not count individually for each Hirdman, but instead use the sum of all of them
Achievements that have been changed will convert the data from individual to shared amount on load
AI now handles abilities that combine push with other forms of damage better, as it won't avoid performing attacks that also pushes if it isn't colliding with anything
Fixed AI actions for Outcast Shieldbearer and Svein Bloodhammer so they don't engage already
engaged units
The Great Market project now actually reduces the price of trading once completed
You can now send less units than there are slots available if you so choose as empty slots won't be filled up automatically once mission starts
Ingebjorn no longer have the Bruiser trait and have his initial rank reduced from 3 to 2
Wolf Fang now inflicts 1 Rend
Made Rend status effect work the way it was intended
Fixed flee status effect so it behaves as intended
Death's Kiss ability now only resets the cooldown when an enemy is killed
Fixed issue where Warden status effect would trigger a counterattack, even when the attacker was out of range
Fixed issues with fleeing status effect
Player actions are now blocked while performing delayed abilities
When player knocks enemy into ally with active alert, they now targets the enemy correctly when performing the combo attack
Fixed issue where in some particular circumstances, the player's turn could end when an turn enemy begins
Fixed issue where sometimes you would be unable to move the unit
Fixed softlock when there are multiple player units available but all of them have a charged delayed ability
Fixed issue where player would be unable to perform actions when starting the turn of a unit with a delayed ability active that couldn't be performed
Added Injured status effect which is now inflicted when health reaches the injury threshold
This effect has two levels, when you reach At The Gates the level increases At the lowest level it blocks the health from going past 50% and at the highest it blocks it at 33%
Fixed issue where you would start in the same area regardless of where you approached the encounter that was intended to have multiple options, you now get different starting area on supported encounters
Charge ability is now interrupted if killed or somehow gain the special effect where you can't move during a charge
Fixed issues with charge that would sometimes result in units ending on top of each other
Fixed issue where On New Turn events would sometimes trigger on incorrect unit when using fixed player turns
Fixed issue where turn would lock when unit is selected if you had cripple status effect
Ram ability is now restricted from targeting units at different elevation than yourself
Fixed issue with Wild Boar which had a range of 0 preventing it from performing attacks, this is now set to 1
Fixed issue with Enrage ability where two units could end up on the same grid position
Fixed issue where boars would face the wrong direction when striking after the charge
Updated Boar's Charge ability - now boar can't use charge ability when it is in engagement
Fixed glitching issues during movement which in some cases when moving down from high ground could cause issues where the unit disappears and can't be used anymore
Fixed rare cases where units are inexplicably unable to move during combat
Alert is now interrupted if the unit is constrained by a status effect
High ground tiles now blocks line of sight when standing at non high ground tiles
High ground now cause full cover on all non high ground neighboring tiles
Fixed issue where units not yet spawned would occupy tiles within combat area
Fixed issue where soundscape volume did not activate if camera starts inside the volume
Updated the physics colliders for Arn's cape so it follows his body better
Fixed deforming mesh issue on the legs on Wildborn Coat model
Tuned animation settings on all basic attacks, dodges, and hits
Tuned animation settings on knockbacks
Tuned all ability animation settings to make them blend better and be more responsive
Adjusted some animations when needed to play well with the adjusted settings
Fixed shield flipping issue on one of the Ram attacks
Fixed issue where movement animation would interfere with attack animation when attacking diagonally
Updated particle effects and animation speed on Hail of Arrows animations so the actions and outcome seems more plausible
Adjusted arrow shoot and attach logic to be able to handle multiple shots (as well as none) in a single animation
Fixed issue where if a unit was prone while at the gates he would stand up when prone buff ended
Fixed animation issue when animals are targeted by Enrage ability
Added support for playing additive animations
Made additive animations for Take Hit and Dodge that is played when alert attack deals damage or misses while the target moves
Fixed issue where Berserkr enemies would slide towards the target when using charge
Fixed issue where unit held by Meat Shield could change animation pose when inflicted with prone, now the unit remains in the meat shield animation until released
General
Fixed issue where you would not receive any items or resources after a mission if you had failed the mission and complete it after choosing the retry mission option
Fixed issue where the game would get into a bad state if you retry mission after losing
Increased the size of the deployment area in appropriate encounters in Battle of the Borg, Blood in the Water, Tides of War, Into the Lair of the Beast and Iron Will
Battle of the Borg
Fixed last stand cutscene where Arn was invisible
The mission will now end if Ivarr Whalerider falls in battle
Wild Hunt
Fixed runestone not activating the first time you click it
Fixed behavior of the Alpha Wolf in the wolf encounter, now it waits until the second turn before moving down
Night Terrors
The mission will now end if Karl Gudmundson falls in battle
Utlagi Camp
Removed a fallen tree that was laying unnaturally on the ground and moved a nearby one to make it lay more naturally
Fixed issue where difficulty setting was not changed to the setting saved when loading a save file
Open turn is now saved so when saving after starting an open turn you will now be able to switch unit after loading that game
Fixed issue where the incorrect combat area outlines could display when loading a game
The system that adds footprints in the snow is now only being processed during the winter season
AI is now able to judge the outcome of pushing targets and will aim to push units into walls or allied targets
AI is now able to detect that pushing someone off from high ground or into fire cause damage
AI now penalizes pushing units needlessly and recognizes that pushing unit against combat area border doesn't cause damage
AI now avoids just pushing units to a different tile without hitting something or pushing them off high ground
Fixed issue where sometimes the AI would not evaluate all options and miss out on possible actions
Now, AI is able to use Alert actively based on the situation
Increased the maximum range AI considers enemies relevant for alert on ranged units from 6 to 15
Abilities that affect units along its path is now taking those effects into consideration when AI estimates the outcome of abilities
Attacks that damage allies is now considered enemy damage when AI estimate ability outcomes
Enemy damage now reduce the ability estimate rating properly
Fixed issue where healing allies was interpreted as causing harm by the AI rating calculation, now is adds to benefit instead
When calculating rating for healing abilities the AI now rounds to closest whole instead of always down when healing by percentage amount so it matches the actual outcome when the ability is used
AI now culls away all actions that have a negative rating on the action itself (disregarding positioning) so it doesn't perform idiotic actions just to do something
Fixed issue where AI failed to detect that ability would end turn and end up trying to use abilities it in wrong order resulting in turn ending before it could use the last ability
AI is now able to judge if engaging would benefit it
AI now takes into account that engaged target reflex is nullified when calculating attack rating, making it realize it is more likely to deal damage to engaged targets
AI now correctly disregards dead units and no longer avoid moving to tiles of dead units
Fixed issue where sometimes unit would be placed outside the combat area when released from Meat Shield
Fixed being able to switch units during locked turns
Fixed a softlock that could occur if the last enemy unit dies during their turn
Fixed reinforcements not arriving if last enemy dies from bleed
The camera no longer changes zoom when deploying units
Fixed Rend status effect so it works as intended
Fixed turn getting skipped if you use Trance ability and end your previous turn with 0 AP while having a buff that is removed when the turn ends
The following list of enemy types have been given the abilities listed under each
Bandage
Alert
Mighty Shot
Shield Slam
Chopper (passive)
Bandage
Shield Slam
Bandage
Alert
Blood Seeker
Gnawing Wounds
Bandage
Alert
Defend
Bandage
Defend
Alert
Skullsplitter
Embolden
Expose Weakness (passive)
Alert
Defend
Dead Leg
Brawler (passive)
Fixed the Wolf-Hood Pelter to not have their AP reduced to 2 on story mode difficulty which caused them to not afford any ability and therefore couldn't do anything besides moving"
Fixed the difficulty modification for basic units that reduced skill by 10 on hard difficulty vs normal, now it is increased by 10 instead
Arch Type was removed from SoTW Djarfr and SoTW Ulfhednar allied units so they don't get nerfed/boosted based on difficulty
Story mode has had the stats of many enemy arch types adjusted
Added Health -25%
Added Reflex -20
Added Critical hit chance -100%
Changed Health from -1 to -25%
Kept Reflex at -20
Added Critical hit chance -100%
Changed Health from -2 to -25%
Kept Reflex at -20
Added Critical hit chance -100%
Added Health -25%
Changed Reflex from -20 to -50%
Added Critical hit chance -100%
Changed Health from -20% to -25%
Added Reflex at -20
Added Critical hit chance -100%
Fixed a few instances where lootable corpses would fail to display the sheen effect on the face
Added new camera shake effect that occurs when taking damage, this can be turned off in the game options if it is not to your liking
Critical Hit Chance is now displayed in the attack preview
Adjusted the Hit Announcements Look and feel
Low health red vignette indicator now has been refined and flashes when taking damage in addition to displaying when low on health
Now Status Effects that are replaced don't show a remove indicator and the buff icon in the unit list show an animation to indicate that it was updated
Fixed issue where using highlighting feature within a combat encounter would highlight units outside of that encounter
Removed unintended dark gradient from Guard icon
Removed Hide Screen Messages from Interface Options as this is not usable in release builds
Borre
Fixed issue where you could end up in a bad state and get stuck during the combat tutorial
Night Terrors
Fixed issue where intro sequence played when loading a save made during the mission
Tides of War
Fixed an issue where loading the mission's first autosave caused the first combat encounter to be skipped
Debt of Blood
Blocked navigation on the left side so units can't move past the shield wall
Changed the No Movement setup on the shield wall in the first encounter so they start moving if attacked or they attack you
Added a combat event when player moves past the shield wall that remove the AI logic that makes them stationary from all enemy units
Adjusted the turn order of the first encounter to give an archer the turn earlier so it signals to the player that they can't just remain passive
Made archers on first encounter able to use attack so they aren't forced to hurt the shield wall to damage the player
Fixed an issue where the alert indicator for players disappeared when set
Decreased hitching when enemies spawn
Enemy AI no longer move away when using an ability other than attacking
Enemy AI units will now avoid moving into bog tiles
Enemy AI for defensive archers are now much less defensive and won’t just move away
Enemies that start with alert enabled now have the affected tiles marked when you enter combat
When hovering alert tiles, all enemies that are targeting that tile now get highlighted
Disabled feature that would sometimes block unit placement based on where other units were already placed
Fixed an issue where combat encounters got additional empty slots when an allied team was the active team
Fixed an issue that would sometimes cause auto-deployment to fail
Fixed a crash that could sometimes happen when a status effect ends and the unit changes idle animation
Fixed issue where the unit orientation was not updated during deployment initialization, which lead to various elements displaying incorrectly
Fixed a rare crash that could occur during loading of missions
Fixed Steinarr Warrior enemy type sometimes missing a head model
Fixed an issue where a previously highlighted unit would remain highlighted when changing to hover a different unit
Improved the layout on Mission end screen, so the height of graphical element stays consistent when earning medals or losing hirdmen
Medals now display a tooltip when hovered over
Version number is now displayed on save slots created in version 1.0.7 or newer
Fixed spelling errors (The Little Magpie message and Hammer Time mission objectives)
Removed <> from Utlagi Camp title in french translation
Removed from Map tutorial text
Removed duplicated words in Utlagi Camp message
Fixed “under attack” dialog in No Lamb for Lazy Wolf mission not being translated
The Runestone tooltip in Hammer Time mission now displays the correct translated description
Increased deployment area size
The enemies in tower encounter no longer remain passive during their first turn
You can no longer see dead bodies on the ground during the a late game cinematic
Updated the cinematic sequence to better match the final deploy locations
Made Svala Short-Tongue wait until next turn before escaping the second encounter to better communicate what is happening As always, thanks for your continued support!
Reduced hitching during deployment
Reduced hitching when loading combat idle animations
Reduced hitching during AI calculations
Reduced hitching when unit reaches its destination when moving during combat
Reduced hitching when changing hovered grid tile
Reduced hitching when hovering units during combat
Fixed an issue where triggering the ‘Frustration’ status effect ability from Frida's Club would crash the game
Recovering AP/MP on executions is now limited to once per turn via Adrenaline Rush Status effect to prevent endless execution chains
Enabled alert attacks during charge abilities
Removed Shield Slam from all AI units. This is a temporary measure until AI fixes allow them to use it more intelligently
Increased range from 1 to 2 and now get extended range (+3) when on high ground
Increased range from 2 to 3
Increased range from 1 to 3
Fixed bald player units after loading saves in missions that use default clothing, such as "Ullr's Arrow" and "No Lamb For The Lazy Wolf”
Fixed issue where player units would wear helmets during some cutscenes
Fixed high ground tooltip showing incorrect numbers and missing a letter
Updated all languages to reflect changes applied to the game since release
Equipment worn by hirdmen who fall in battle is now returned to the village
Ulfsgap settlement no longer appears on the map until after Into the Lair of the Beast has been completed.
Removed Sacrifice requirement from Freysblot project
Fixed an issue that prevented saving the game in this mission
Buffed allied Sons of the Wolf units across the board
Fixed issue where you could end up stuck on the roof if leaping inside the warehouse
Reduced mission party size from 6 to 5 as the mission only uses 5 units from the village
Reinforcements for warehouse encounter is no longer standing outside before the fight
Baldur now joins your village if freed in the mission
Removed a horn from held by one of the nithing warriors in the pre-boss cutscene as it caused the character to be offset from the tile center
Removed passive behavior from reinforcement axemen
The credits section has been updated As always, thanks for your continued support!
Fixed an issue that would cause a crash during AI turn calculations in certain scenarios. This should address the most common crash users have reported.
The development team will continue to monitor for feedback from the community on this issue. As always, please report on the forums and in a support ticket if you are still experiencing this issue with as much detail as possible, including crash zips and game save files.
With patch 1.0.5 comes some significant optimizations (Up to 38% performance improvements under certain conditions) for both gameplay, combat and cinematics. Players can expect a lot less hitching/stuttering overall, along with frame rate increases across the board. This of course comes from data from internal testing on various hardware configurations, so the team will continue to monitor player feedback to ensure the community is seeing similar results. Optimization work will continue with future updates, as needed.
Optimized animations during cinematics and gameplay
Optimized movement calculations during combat
Optimized the facial animation system
Fixed stalls that happened when switching between units during combat which got worse the more units had been moving
View distance optimizations are now more aggressively applied to dead enemies
Disabled facial animations for characters looking away from the camera
Made adjustments to AI calculations to minimize framerate impact
Animations are now synchronized when loading a save
Pre-mission autosaves are no longer made for missions that automatically start which made saves that, when loaded, would leave the game in a bad state
Fixed a crash that could occur during combat. Players experiencing this would receive a ‘Fatal Error’ message.
Fixed a crash at the beginning of deployment on some maps after the first encounter
Fixed issue where alert would fail to trigger
Fixed alert indicator marking tiles outside the actual range diagonally, leading to ineffective tiles being indicated
Fixed alert range sometimes not taking passive abilities into account
Units using the Meat Shield ability now turn towards approaching enemies
Death animations from the meat shield ability are no longer played twice
Fixed attack animations not playing when performed right after a missed attack or an execution animation
Status effects now get checked for condition changes after performing actions as well as during movement
Added fail safe when reinforcement fails to move into position, it will teleport to destination if not making any progress
Fixed Piercing Shot ability sometimes failing to damage all units in its path and not applying bleed like it should
Removed Shield Slam ability from allied Drengr in the first encounter
Made changes to the level to improve character pathfinding
Optimized collision in the level
Set up a fade effect for all buildings that the camera may intersect with while exploring the environment
Fixed Baldur model breaking when loading a game save made during mission
Fixed bad spawn point placement on the reinforcement group entering the gate at final encounter
Fixed so intro sequence doesn't play when loading a save made during the mission
Fixed navigation being allowed too close to the climbable stone building in the final encounter
There is now a camera pan sequence shown after completing village expansion projects
Save Issues Fixes (Many of the in-game options would not save properly. These have been addressed):
The ‘Upscaler Type’ Intel XeSS is now saved correctly when selected
The chosen ‘Upscaler Quality’ option is now saved correctly
The chosen ‘Motion Blur’ option is now saved correctly
The chosen ‘Cover Indicator’ option is now saved correctly
The chosen ‘Play Audio in Background’ option is now saved correctly
The ‘Frame Rate Limiter’ option is now saved correctly
Fixed an issue where the selected ‘Upscaler Quality’ option would not appear in the selection box
Fixed the ‘Full Screen’ option not working correctly at game startup when disabled
The ‘Combat Animation Speed’ option has been removed, as it was never functional. The development team is reviewing whether this will make a return in a future update
We have removed the ‘Hardware’ Ray Tracing setting for the moment as it was a source of crashes. For now, the game will utilize ‘Software’ Ray Tracing by default
Item listings no longer gets reduced when out of action points
Fixed unassigned skills notifier. Now, it is correctly shown on the village from the start
Fixed an issue where highlighted ability rank would sometimes display incorrectly when switching between units on the Hirdmen screen
Added support for scrolling while hovering over clickable items inside the scroll area
The cursor now appears while the ‘Unit Details’ screen is open when using a controller
The ‘Unit Details’ screen now allows for turning the character around using the right analog stick
Removed vignette from post-process
Added missing background elements to final cutscene
Fixed issue where there were two sets of faces on the village workers, causing issues
Fixed an issue where characters in cutscenes could sometimes jitter
Added missing cutscene translations and various small fixes to translations for several languages
Fixed an issue where saving the game would be blocked after interacting with a health interactable
Fixed wrong amount of attack hits after loading a game during a mission - the bug was present only when a unit had identical weapons in both hands
Removed hitching when targeting enemies
PLEASE NOTE: We are actively working on improving performance in the game and will continue this going forward
Ranged AI units now knows it has additional skill and range while in high ground and attacking targets not in high ground
Fixed an issue where AI would not get all valid options when targeting specific targets
Fixed an issue where AI would fail to use push abilities
Hirdmen that join during a mission can now be injured during that same mission
Hirdmen that join during a mission will now gain experience during that same mission
All abilities that don't require selecting a target can now be used by double clicking the ability
Pushing a unit within an alert area now triggers an attack of opportunity
Guardian - This ability sometimes did not negate incoming damage correctly, this is now fixed
Odin's Chosen - This now allows you to redeploy units correctly
Whirlwind - AP cost in description of ability now reflect its correct cost
Shield Wall - Added filter to shield wall ability so it can't affect units already affected by meat shield
Fixed some tiles being inaccessible during the battle on the bridge
Moved boss shield wall ability to start of encounter
The party will no longer automatically heal after finishing encounters
Blocked area between bridges that should be possible to walk in
Fixed rare bug with wrong behavior of Woodcarver Chisel deployment, where it sometimes started a manual deployment instead of the intended auto deployment
Fixed an issue where some items that were crafted by the Seamstress, Blacksmith, and Huntsman were duplicated
Added the completion sequences for Northern, Western, and Eastern Reach
Fixed a small gap on Gunnar's armor caused by wrong armor mask settings
Fixed a bug with the resource list occasionally getting filled with items instead of resources
Added support for different keyboard layouts (Azerty, Dvorak, etc.). The keyboard layout is detected automatically
Mission count and kill count now apply for hirdmen. These counts will not update retroactively
Resolved an issue where you were unable to confirm an untargeted ability using a controller while the cursor was positioned on a different tile than the selected unit was located in
Fixed a problem with the Overall Quality setting in the video options menu, when clicking very fast made a button caption desync from the actual game setting
Fixed problems with changing resolution and Full Screen in the video option menu. Now when switching the screen mode the game selects the closest resolution to current scale or it will scale to current resolution
A Land of Men and Gods - Fixed lighting glitches
Turn-Based Thursday fest is in full swing and we're here for it! join the Tripwire and Arctic Hazard teams as we dive back into NORSE: Oath of Blood!
Saving is now blocked while actions triggered by interactions is carried out to prevent issues that could occur if loading a save made during the activities
Fixed wrong blocker in Borre when player save and load during ability tutorials
Fixed issue where engagement indicators remain stuck after loading a save during combat with engaged units.
Fixed A Debt Of Blood bug when Volva's party is replaced with the main party after loading the first autosave made during the first mission cutscene
Replaced all smoke effects with an optimized version in Borre
Collision optimizations in Borre
Collision optimizations in Stealing the Show
LOD Bias updates on several assets
PLEASE NOTE: We are actively working on improving performance in the game and will continue this going forward.
Removed underutilized feature of deployment, where placing a Hirdman would block earlier available tiles used for deployment. You can now freely place Hirdmen in the deployment grid without any restrictions!
A character will now transition properly when leaping between different elevations
Fixed issue where game crashes when changing level while doing certain actions.
Fixed Second Wind ability not removing negative status effects
Added check during Ram ability that interrupts it if your unit is unable to move up to the target after pushing it backwards.
Fixed issue where Odin's Chosen ability did not display the deployment visuals
Fixed issue where you would be unable to move after ending Meat Shield ability by selecting the unit
Pushing a unit within an alert area now triggers attack of opportunity
Fixed issue where end turn triggered twice when using the keyboard shortcut which would skip your extra turn when using Trance ability.
Turn order entry: Fixed RMB (right mouse button) targeting not working
Added check during Ram ability that interrupts it if your unit is unable to move up to the target after pushing it backwards.
Added Bogmathr execution animation and fixed bow mesh UVs
Drunk: Now being applied correctly at the start of combat
Ran's Wave: Are now correctly set as a delayed ability
Engage: Added disengage and rotation before engaging to make sure the characters face each other
Engage anim: Added EngageAttack_owner animation, with a unique variation of the spear attack to better fit other engage animation and fixed the spear engage animation not being timed correctly
Grit: Changed from being temporary armor to armor stat change and added "At the gates" to the list of trigger buffs
Gjallarhorn: Fixed heal amount adding the intended 25% heal.
Death's kiss: Reduced damage from 200% to 150%
Wrath: Fixed lifetime not accumulating
Ullr's arrow: Reduced damage from 400% to 300%
Cat's Tail: Fixed so the "Swift" effect are not being removed immediately
Fixed an issue where under some circumstances the mission wouldn't end once you reached the boat.
Fixed an issue where the game would freeze if paused shortly after the longhouse video sequence.
Fixed minor navigation issues
Replaced all smoke effects with an optimized versions in Borre (Also listed under Optimization)
Collision optimizations in Borre (Also listed under Optimization)
Lighting pass
Fixed boar boss starting out the fight too passively
made sure the reinforcement archer keeps their position
Fixed positions of some ground decals that were projecting on characters
Fixed Sigrid's duplicate bow in a cutscene
Ulfhedinn reinforcement now skips his first turn as intended
It is no longer possible to deploy on the high ground area in the first encounter
Fixed reinforcements not joining if you kill all the enemies before reinforcements arrive
Collision optimization
Fixed some navigation issues.
Fixed softlock when reinforcements arrived in last encounter
Fixed some ground decals
Fixed unit that was mistakenly lootable despite not having any loot
Fixed a unit that dropped the wrong item
Added additional invisible walls on the sides of the bridge so enemies don't walk, charge or get pushed off it.
Fixed cutscene not appearing after loading a save
Fixed so the intro camera pan don’t block input and it can now be skipped
Fixed navigation issues
Fixed minor bugs with foliage
Eliminated more hidden underground navmesh areas that caused issues when playing with controller
Turn order disappearing in some instances is now fixed
Polished transitions when switching teams and areas throughout the mission
Changed transitions at the gate after the second and fourth encounter
Fixed a bug when Steinarr uses enrage on Hardsteinn
Changed the turn order insertion method on second encounter from "Deployment" to "Every turn"
Fixed positions of some NPCs that were misplaced
Collision optimization (Also listed under Optimization)
Fixed some collisions that were blocking a pass to healing resources near the final encounter
Fixed some errors on some units in 2nd and 3rd encounters.
Fixed a blocker after completing Large Dock project
Modified the events for Volva's Den so the project starts automatically after the Lair of the Beast mission, granted that you have created the project before the cutscene where Gunnar visits the Volva
Uncraftable items will no longer appear in the itemlist
When acquiring Masterwork items via trade that can't be unlocked you are able to craft them
Drakkrship is now added as "New Village Standing", not "New Project" as intended
Added lighting to Blacksmith 1 Upgrade phase when in process of building Master Smithy
Removed a Blacksmith light from Village correctly placed it in Master Smithy
Fixed issue where camera clips through Shipbuilder building
Fixed an issue where the game would crash when retrying a mission, returning to the title screen or loading a save while certain actions are taking place
Boar Horn: Fixed wrong icon on effect for
Rune-etched drinking horn: Fixed knockback effect not being applied consistently
Fenrir Tunic: Fixed graphical issues
Armor Display: Added an update event for buff change to compensate for "armor changed" not being called in every instance
Ability preview: Hit chance is now hidden when target is invalid
Action Point Tooltip: Made it more visually in-line with the rest of the tooltips
Fixed issue where the pause logic in Tutorial was running even when the tutorial window wasn't open, resulting in time being slowed down leading to practical soft locks when time (almost) stops. Now it only runs the logic while the tutorial is visible so this doesn't happen anymore.
Help: Fixed empty entries (they were gathering description from the wrong place)
Video: Added gamma slider
Video: Added gamma name and description
Hirdman presentation: Added fade out for "New Hirdman Text"
Added relevant soundscapes for the weather early in the level of a Longshot for a Longship
Made the weather audio in the covered section attenuate more consistently when the camera moves under cover.
Several audio tweaks within the village
Adjusted level visibility tracks in Sequencer to stop incorrect levels being show
Lighting pass
Fixed an issue where Dual Shock controller detection caused major hitches in-game
PLEASE NOTE: We continue to actively work on improving performance in the game and appreciate everyone’s continued feedback on this topic
Fixed detection of DLC. Now, the game is able to detect whether or not it is enabled in store settings
Added further changes to increase the robustness of the loading system
Players experiencing loading into ‘black screens’ has been greatly reduced based on internal testing. The team will continue to monitor community feedback on this topic
Fixed an issue where the loading screen showed that it had completed immediately and wouldn't start the game
Loading screens have seen improvements where it won’t end prematurely allowing the player to begin interacting with the game before it is ready and potentially causing issues
Fixed an issue where the save button wasn't blocked during events when saving isn't supported, such as during cutscenes and combat moves. Saves made during these kinds of events are likely to run into issues when loaded and it is therefore important to be prevented from being made
Fixed an issue where sometimes characters end up invisible after loading a save during a mission
Fixed an issue where movement events failed to trigger when loading a save during a mission
Fixed an issue where the game would start without any unit placeable if loading a save made during deployment with no unit placed
Fixed an issue where multiple copies of units where visible when loading a save made during deployment
Added a ‘Reset Ability’ button. You can now reset abilities on your Hirdmen at no cost and as often as you’d like!
Cycling units during deployment now skips already placed units
Fixed a bug where two units could end up occupying the same tile after being pushed when one of the units were in a prone state
Made vaulting over obstacles follow the movement path more closely preventing units from ending up at unintended locations at the end of the vault and sometimes even outside the combat area
Fixed an issue where missions would stop becoming available on the map
Added a fail safe system that adds back missions that have somehow gone past the deadline and gotten removed
Removed the reinforcement event during the second encounter. Additionally, we have removed the accompanying reinforcement horn
It is no longer possible to deploy on the high ground area in the first encounter
Fixed issue where the game could soft lock on second encounter waiting for reinforcement that never came
Fixed an issue where the second encounter would not end after killing all enemies, soft locking the game
Fixed a bug where some boars became invisible
Fixed cutscene not appearing after loading a save
Fixed an issue where Village UI elements would sometimes disappear after playing cutscenes
Removed empty wait time between events while progressing to next turn
Fixed Einherjar row not flashing when level is reached and path is not yet selected
Added localization for the newly added "Reset abilities" button A Message for Content Creators Streaming or Recording Content for NORSE: Oath of Blood:
We are aware of an issue affecting a small subset of creators where the game's music is improperly triggering YouTube's ContentID system on behalf of Tunecore, causing videos to be demonetized. We have identified why this is happening and are working to correct it. If you plan to create YouTube content for NORSE, the ContentID flag can be avoided by utilizing the volume slider within the game's settings to turn the music volume down. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
If your video has been demonetized by Tunecore, please contact Tripwire on social media or Discord so we can gather information and resolve the issue.
Optimized texture memory and Level of Detail (LOD) settings across multiple environment, character, and lighting assets to improve overall performance
Enabled Nanite rendering for specific weapon types
Fixed multiple crashes and soft-locks associated with loading save files, particularly in "A Debt Of Blood" and "Battle of the Borg"
Introduced a dedicated Pre-Mission Save system that triggers upon deployment and will not be overwritten by standard auto-saves or quick saves
Disabled the ability to save during video playback to prevent file corruption and progression blockers
Rebalanced damage, action point (AP) costs, and cooldowns for several abilities (including Bear Swipe, Death's Kiss, and Ullr's Arrow)
Adjusted the ability paths and loadouts for Gunnar and Sigrid
Fixed an issue where identical utility items or abilities would incorrectly share a cooldown and be consumed simultaneously
Corrected the calculation and display of Momentum and Action Point (AP) previews during combat
Refined the "At The Gates" mechanic to prevent targeting errors, unintended double-tapping, and animation glitches
Updated and motion-captured several combat animations to prevent clipping and improve visual fidelity
Improved enemy AI behavior, targeting, and encounter pacing across multiple missions (including "Training With a View", "Into the Lair of the Beast", and "Battle of the Borg")
Resolved various navigation mesh and collision issues that caused units to float, clip through terrain, or move outside the intended grid
Fixed encounter triggers and objective states that previously led to progression blockers or missing enemies
Smoothed transitions between gameplay, real-time cutscenes, and pre-rendered videos to improve mission flow
Adjusted village economy balancing: Adjusted specific worksite resource requirements
Fixed pathing and clipping issues within the village hub, specifically around the docks.
Added and refined idle animations for characters at various village worksites (e.g., Blacksmith, Seamstress)
Fixed a logic error in the tutorial that caused the game time to slow down or soft-lock when the tutorial window was closed
Resolved an issue where graphics settings (like gore preferences) were not saving correctly upon startup
Cleaned up UI tooltips, ability previews, and button prompts for both mouse/keyboard and controller inputs
Applied widespread localization fixes, translating missing text strings and correcting inconsistencies in German and Norwegian
Rebalanced audio mixing across several missions, adjusting the volume of environmental effects (wind, water, weather) relative to dialogue and music
Added missing audio triggers for combat actions, cutscene events, and environmental interactions
Polished lighting, camera angles, and depth of field in multiple cinematics
Adjusted cutscene animations to ensure the correct player-selected weapons are displayed visually
Fixed wrongly displayed value on the unit health bar during “At The Gates”
Fixed crash that could occur if loading a different map during camera transition
Fixed wrong move AP preview after hovering a unit
Tweaked spearman animations
Re-baked several animations to help counter some glitching
Fixed Fenrir Tunic stretching while using “Body Slam”
Fixed identical abilities sharing cooldown, as an example if a Hirdman had two throwing axe utility items equipped both were consumed on one use. Now they should work as intended where you use one at a time
AtTheGates
Removed double tap protection as it was causing issues
Improved target selection for voice line
Added temporary "CantBeTargeted" effect to prevent double tap when units enter at the gates
Fixed a problem where units would stand up when being missed by an attack while “At The Gates”
Added trigger for AllyAtTheGates audio event
Armor display and Ability Preview
Fixed inconsistent armor gathering method
Clamped hit chance calculation reflex to 0
Fixed Ability Preview showing up unintended sometimes
Focus
Changed icon so it's no longer a duplicate of "Hawk's Eye"
Boar passive
Fixed small boar passive missing name/description
Momentum
Made a fix where momentum bar wasn’t resetting on new deployment
Fixed momentum not being saved
Bear Swipe
Updated to match being an einherjar ability
Damage increased from 50% to 150%
Ap cost increased from 4 to 5
Cooldown increased from 4 to 5
Slayer
Fixed Ferocity being removed early
Bloodseeker
Fixed additional damage not being multiplied with status effect lifetime
Death's kiss
Reduced damage from 300% to 200%
Ullr's arrow
Increased damage from 300% to 400%
Trading Blows
Added missing audio event trigger for OrderAllySwap
Meat Shield
Updated supported abilities to only include damaging single target attacks
Added proper cooldown
Now changes weapon visibility of target on start and end to prevent clipping
Thor's Roar
Reduced shaken turns inflicted from 2 to 1 (previously compensated for status effect countdown)
Included origin when inflicting focus status effect
Improved timing of effects
Tactical exchange
Replaced animation with motion captured version
Added Audio event trigger for OrderAlly
Flyting
Fixed unintended single target configuration
Order Attack
Replaced animation with motion captured version
Added Audio event trigger for OrderAlly
Warcry
Fixed inflict status effect applying different settings on the owner
Fixed Ferocity status effect not being added for the intended amount of turns
Gunnar - Prowman Path
Bondi ability changed to "Trading Blows"
Raider ability changed to “Glima”
Housecarl ability changed to “Ram”
Gunnar - Leader Path
Housecarl ability changed from "Chopper" to "Brawler"
Sigrid
Swapped "Death's kiss" and "Blood seeker" (from trickster to sharpeyed)
Replaced duplicate "Death's kiss" with Ullr's arrow
Steinarr Drengr status effect
Removed stability (was meant for rekkr status effect)
Improved Lighting on the Hirdman Screen after a mission ends so it’s in line with the other End Screens
Replaced the button shown for highlighting interactables to be the Highlight Interactible button instead of Show Details
Options Tab: Fixed gore setting being unchecked on startup
Tutorial: Changed the button icon in interactable tutorial from ShowDetails button to HighlightTargets button
Fixed issue where the pause logic in Tutorial was run even when the tutorial window wasn't open resulting in time being slowed down leading to practical soft locks when time (almost) stops. Now it only runs the logic while the tutorial is visible so this doesn't happen anymore
Blocker button: Fixed progression animation not working
Fixed wrong highlighted interactables during combat. Now players in combat can not highlight interactables from exploration mode
Combat HUD: Fixed wrong button prompt for inspection mode
Mission preparation: Fixed back button being unusable during mission deadline while using a controller
Ability preview: Changed sort order so this is always shown on top
Mission end screen: Added failsafe for transform policy failing on title
Ability Tooltip: Added failsafe for transform policy failing on title
Armor Keyword: Added icon
General Tooltip: Added override when used on map so it still triggers the extended tooltip
Stopped the input action from consuming lower level inputs
Updated ability listings to use the ability tooltip
Enabled nanite for axes and spears
Food items
Farmer, Fisherman and Sons of The Wolf Drums
Ground, Ground cover, Roads,Mountains and surfaces
Docks and Drapes
Cooking and Corpses
Carpets
Blacksmith and Tools
Mushrooms, Bones
Boots and bracers
Vehicles
Structures
Lights
Decals
All armor textures.
Containers
Modular Assets
Banners
Some Modular assets
PLEASE NOTE: We are actively working on improving performance in the game and will continue this going forward.
Added Retry Mission button to the pause menu during combat
Fixed issue where you got stuck when loading saves made during combat in A Debt Of Blood
A Debt Of Blood blocker - Fixed a bug where players were unable to progress after the first turn when loading a save that was made in the final encounter of the mission
Fixed a bug when a player is able to save game during a soft cut scene
Fixed crash that could happen when loading a save made during a mission
Fixed a softlock when reinforcements arrived in last encounter in Iron Will
Fixed wrong hirdman data sometimes being loaded after restarting a mission
Fixed issue where retrying mission on the second part of a multilevel mission it would reset progress data from first part of the mission, now it returns to the state you were in at the beginning of the second part
You are now blocked from saving during video cutscenes
Added pre mission save that is triggered when departing for a mission. This save is a separate type and will not be overwritten by auto or quick saves. It gets overwritten when departing to a different mission
Modified loading system to prevent loading complete triggering early which can lead to issues when the player starts performing actions in the game and triggering events before everything is ready
Updated Arnsteinn Profile Picture to match his current Haircolor
Fixed a minor typo (Birgr and Birgir)
Profiles fix
Replaced some hirdmen profiles
Deleted an NPC armor that used an old Hersir armor with a false description
Fixed missing Gunnar bracers in cutscenes
Added slight delay to Alert tutorial
Fixed broken burning haypile, should now inflict burning as intended
Fixed some of Steinarr's reinforcement units being controllable by the player in the final encounter
Modified AI behaviour of allied units in final encounter to make sure they stay aggressive and moved their starting positions so they are a bit more centered in the encounter
Increased the accuracy of the boat interaction area
Increased interactivity range on runestone
Removed superfluous encounter triggers for encounter 2
Forced second encounter to require enemies to be active
Cleaned up unused events and simplified setup
Fixed issue where the autosave would fire before last objective was complete, but after the encounter, causing a blocked state when loading that autosave
Polished transitions when switching teams and areas throughout the mission
Removed unnecessary level streaming before final cutscene
Removed some assets that were floating in the air when the longhouse wall fades during final combat
Added missing dialogue to final encounter
Enabled missing archer in final encounter that had negative consequences for the encounter's balance
Added - Destructible combat barricade
Changed turn order, and replaced barricades
Removed evac point for 1st encounter
Fixed minor navigation bugs
Fixed unit that seemingly had no movement restrictions
Fixed rock thrower that only wanted to retreat and use defensive stance
Fixed wolf warriors using alert every turn for too many rounds
Removed some underground navmeshes
Made sure it's not possible to walk off the rock bridge
Grounded characters that were floating on the bridge at the start of the mission
Eliminated underground NavMesh that seemed to cause issues for navigation, particularly for controllers / WASD
Fixed second encounter being invisible after loading a save before the encounter
Expanded fading wall collision
Updated enemy enemy formations and status effect timings on the bridge so they join the fight much quicker
Changed enemy types on the bridge to adjust difficulty of the encounter
Made change to enemy alert timing
Switched out archer that was unable to shoot past obstructions with a spearman
Moved flanking berserker enemy closer in first encounter so he can reach a target easier
Restricted navigation on parts of the bridge to avoid AI units going outside of the grid
Removed empty interactable volume
Added new camera to boss intro level sequence, Ambush pathway
Added activity to move navigation volume
Added collision to the jarl and guard
Update navigation near the longhouse to avoid characters going through the stones
Fixed Health decrease displayed as Gunnar equips the boar spear over the shield
Replaced an archer that spawned too far away with an outcast spearman
Added the correct campfire combat actor
Fixed and flattened a departing area in the docks to prevent units from clipping into the ground
Fixed issue where you would get stuck if clicking on the blocker button to start mission preparation from the map screen
Fixed a wrong input context after timeline progress is ended - probably it could block a player from progression
Fixed mission info not displaying difficulty consistently between map and mission preparation
Higher provision consumption, 2->3 pr hirdman
Higher tier 2 project costs + more spend of riches
Sigrid is hunter instead of seamstress
No key item for docks
No key item for makeshift camp (hirdmen can be injured)
Drakkrship higher woodworker cost 1 -> 3
Jol, instead of +1, outdoor worksites receive -2
Higher cost of housing
Added idles for Blacksmith and Seamstress when state machine starts
General Localization fixes:
Applied widespread localization fixes, translating missing text strings and correcting inconsistencies
Tutorials
Removed duplicate mention of leather in the resources tutorial
Updated Character Bio text
Added missing German Translation for No Lamb for the Lazy Wolf cinematic
Rewrite of all loading screen text
Fixed several flavor quotes
Fixed some translation inconsistencies
Additional fixes
Concurrency tweak to menu components that may stop a bug, soundset update for menu components that may fix another
Updated Unit Component so it is compatible with saves made in Norse 1.0.0
Resave of core audio components controlling menu sounds as these are different in the build to the editor
Added sound for untying prisoner to the animations used for these
Assigned physics materials to wooden bridge components so correct footsteps play
Borre
Fixed redundant music triggers in Training section
Into the Lair
Added audio to Grimlingr in his first appearance
New Beginning
Removed a bit of the dialogue lane to stop the ducking compressor blowing a music crescendo
Promise of Slaughter
Set the correct mix control on the cutscene
Brothers Again
Updated atmosphere stem to add the fire properly
Swapped the control mix for the sequence
Reinstated the audio for Drengr blocking arrows with a deflected condition attached.
Added audio for opening gates to the BP
Combat Voice
Balanced DissJorunn voice select lines
Altered Berserkr charge ability so charge doesn't play off the target and it has some audio for impact
Settling In: Swapped one of the prisoner poles to the correct voice on freeing them (Hardsteinn's)
Stealing The Show
Rebalanced level env vs music, added a proper treescape, removed some things that were a bit odd, added several missing details
Iron Will
Made the river audio coverage less omnipresent and aggressive, and more in keeping with what the water now looks like
Fixed a number of general environmental audio issues, overbearing windage etc.
Balanced out Bog Lord's dialogue
Balanced the music for combat better
Into The Lair Exterior
Balanced out the rain sound, sorted out weirdness with water audio, set physics components on the wooden bridges
No Lamb for the Lazy Wolf
Dialogue stem for prerendered section for sub/loc
Hammer Time
Deactivated dynamic weather audio, balanced environment out a little better
A Karl Comes Begging
Rebalanced explore music vs weather, deactivated dynamic weather audio component as this is unnecessary
Night Terrors
Environment: calmed the wind audio down, switched off weather sound from dynamic weather audio as this is unnecessary
A Debt of Blood
Fix for last cutscene inside Longhouse
Updated longhouse interior lighting to improve readability
Updated cutscene lighting to reflect new changes
Camera polish on Debt Of Blood 02
Adjusted fire VFX for the close up shot
Extended duration of firelight to cover end credits roll
A Promise Of Slaughter
Lighting pass
Village - Fisherman Worksite
Adjusted position of Fisherman Worksite actor so that the character is standing in a better position for the shot
Adjusted position of Camera_Fisherman
Added lights to Camera_Fisherman
Training With A View, Little Magpie 2, Ullr's Arrow
Polished camera and made adjustments to depth of field
Fixed frame boundary issues causing lighting glitches
Longhot for a Longship
The animations were reworked to ensure that all possible weapons selected by the player appear correctly in the cutscene
Blacksmith - Master Smithy
Adjusted camera and blacksmith position in master smithy to be consistent with other worksites
Updated lighting in master smithy
Known Issue
Some users are experiencing a black screen on loading a previous save. If this happens to you, as a work around please try the following:
Start a new game
Once you're in the first mission (training with a view), you can quit that game and
Load the save you want to resume your campaign on
Vikings, A HUGE thank you to all of those who have started their NORSE: Oath of Blood adventure with Gunnar and us here at Arctic Hazard and Tripwire Presents! It has been exciting to see so many of you take up arms and begin your journey. The team is actively working on items that can be resolved more quickly and hope to get a first update out, potentially, by the end of the week if all goes well. As that work happens, we are diving into your feedback and reports and are already working to resolve issues as quickly as possible! Some key areas we are addressing in the next few updates:
Performance and Stability
You can help by participating in one of our performance investigation threads in the Tripwire Forums or Steam
In-game settings not saving
Progression Issues (black screen, soft locks, etc)
We plan to target items that will take a bit longer to resolve in the following days via a HOTFIX, before once again targeting a larger third update. Keep in mind that development is always subject to change and items may move around depending on how quickly they can be addressed. Another item we want to call out is that we have seen a few users who have continued the game from the Demo build, and this will cause problems. We strongly recommend players who played the demo start a new game. Once again, thank you for joining us on this journey and keep the feedback and reports coming!
Join us along with Phil Stevens from Arctic Hazard to chat about NORSE: Oath of Blood!
The third and final Developer Diary, focused on "Battle and Combat", delves into how the development team embraced the Viking culture of war, in designing the turn-based combat and encounters. Throughout Gunnar's story players will encounter dangerous foes ranging from the beasts of the wild and bandits to trained and experienced warriors capable of advanced tactics like forming shield walls, requiring players to adapt and evolve their strategies for each battle. Maintaining and improving Gunnar's settlement will play a key role in victory, ensuring that even freshly recruited warriors can be equipped with powerful gear allowing them to jump straight into battle.
🌐 Official Website ▶
The Arctic Hazard Dev team are back with another developer diary. This time they're taking an inside look at the process of building the game's historically grounded world. 🛒 Pre-Purchase Today! ▶ Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/30... 🌐 Official Website ▶ https://www.norsethegame.com/
Tripwire Presents, the publishing division of Tripwire Interactive, and developer Arctic Hazard today revealed a new gameplay trailer for their upcoming Viking-era turn-based tactical game set in Dark Age Norway, NORSE: Oath of Blood.
We are also happy to announce the start of digital pre-purchase on Windows PC via Steam ahead of release on Feb. 17. The standard edition is available for $34.99 and a Special Edition, including the in-game Kievan War armor set and unique Ulfberht sword, available for $44.99. All PC pre-purchases will be discounted by 15% until launch, and will also include Brokkr’s Bearded Axe, a powerful weapon capable of smiting enemies and turning the tide of battle. After launch, the discount will remain until February 24th but the pre-purchase items will no longer be available after launch.
Find out more about NORSE: Oath of Blood on the game’s official website, and follow the game on X, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Discord. This game has not been rated for PC, and expects a rating of 17+ on consoles by the ESRB and 18+ PEGI.
To learn more about Arctic Hazard visit their official website, and follow them on X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
For more information about Tripwire Interactive visit their official website and follow them on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Tripwire Presents, the publishing division of Tripwire Interactive, and developer Arctic Hazard today announced that their upcoming Viking-era tactical turn-based title, NORSE: Oath of Blood, will launch for Windows PC via Steam and other supported platforms on Feb. 3, 2026. Delve into the first video Developer Diary from Arctic Hazard, where key members of the development team, actors, and writer Giles Kristian discuss their parts in bringing a Viking-era, playable historical epic to life. The team provides a look behind the shield wall at topics including the use of motion capture to heighten the sense of realism, detailing their approach to telling an archetypal Viking story of revenge while remaining grounded in reality, and more.
The NORSE: Oath of Blood PC demo, released during last month’s Steam Next Fest, remains available to download here. Players can try their swordhand at taking Gunnar’s first steps on his epic quest for vengeance, and leading his people to prosperity.
Step into the rugged, untamed beauty of dark age Norway in NORSE: Oath of Blood, a turn-based tactics game that plunges players into the heart of the Viking Age. Embark on an epic quest for vengeance as Gunnar, a young warrior whose destiny is forged in blood and betrayal. After the treacherous Steinarr Far-Spear murders his father, Jarl Gripr, and usurps his high seat, Gunnar's path is clear: rebuild, ally, and rise to reclaim honor and justice. Craft a settlement from the ground up, gather allies from far and wide, and train a formidable warband to stand by his side. Every decision shapes the world around Gunnar, as he navigates a landscape teeming with both danger and opportunity. Face off against rival clans, forge unbreakable bonds, and outmaneuver his enemies in tactical, turn-based battles that test players' strategic prowess. Find out more about NORSE: Oath of Blood on the game’s official website, and follow the game on X, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Discord. This game has not been rated for PC, and expects a rating of 17+ on consoles by the ESRB and 18+ PEGI. To learn more about Arctic Hazard visit their official website, and follow them on X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. For more information about Tripwire Interactive visit their official website and follow them on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.As we’ve explored the lands of NORSE: Oath of Blood in our recent Steam Community posts, from the demo’s rugged shores to the bonds of Sword Brothers, the land itself now takes center stage. We venture into the diverse environments that shape Gunnar’s exile. These battlegrounds are teeming with unique foes, dangerous wildlife, and treacherous hazards that test your tactical prowess.
From farms and villages to dense forests and iron filled bogs, each landscape offers its own challenges and opportunities. Hunt wildlife like boars and wolves. Battle rival Vikings, bandits, and cultists. Navigate challenging terrain such as slippery mud, deep river currents, and raging fires. With the right strategic approach, you can use these hazards to gain an advantage over your enemies.
Villages and their outlying farms become battlegrounds as raiding Vikings descend upon farmers, traveling merchants, and settlements. These ruthless invaders strike with ferocity, forcing you to protect the innocent with your hirdmen’s blades.
Fire pits, scattered across villages, campsites, and farmsteads, offer a deadly edge or hazard. By positioning correctly, you can use these to deadly effect pushing foes in and setting them ablaze giving your warriors the upper hand.
The misty fjords, snow-choked forests, and iron-rich bogs form a rugged tapestry of Sudrvik’s wilds. Rival Vikings and bandits roam the fjords, while wolves and boars prowl the frozen forests, and the Sons of the Wolf, devotees of Fenrir under Volva’s command, lurk in the bogs.
Mud in the forests and bogs can cause anyone to slip and fall prone, leaving foes vulnerable to attack and forcing them to stand on their next turn, effectively skipping it.
Swift waters carve through the land. Careful navigation of deep currents can push characters over during battles fought in the river. Scattered rocks provide cover to brace against the flow, while rival Vikings patrol the banks. Use the terrain to outmaneuver foes, turning the river’s chaos to your advantage.
Extended Story Trailer: Dive into the epic tale of NORSE: Oath of Blood with our new extended story trailer!
Gameplay Teaser Trailer: Get a thrilling glimpse of the action in NORSE: Oath of Blood with our Gameplay Teaser Trailer. Watch hirdmen clash in visceral battles, wield crafted gear from Sudrvik’s artisans, and shape the battlefield with strategic mastery.
Head to the NORSE: Oath of Blood demo page now, check it out! Test your combat strategies and lay the groundwork for Sudrvik’s rise. Join the discord to give feedback and discuss Norse with fellow fans!
Your feedback will shape the full release!
Brave warriors,
Thank you for playing our NORSE: Oath of Blood demo. Your time, attention, and feedback have been invaluable to us.
Every report, suggestion, and playthrough helps refine systems, polish the experience, and guide iterative design decisions as we move toward release. You’ve helped shape the world, the tactics, and the feel of the game more than you might imagine.
We’d also like to thank all of the amazing content creators who took the time to show our demo to their fans. With special thanks to AshleighEmilia, kormakrtv, Rizorty, Toxidius78, and Renfail for allowing us to stream their VODs on our Steam page.
With deep gratitude,
— The Arctic Hazard and Tripwire teams
We have one last request, take a moment to fill out our Demo Survey, so we can continue to improve as we sail towards launch!
The time has come to step into the saga yourself.
We're excited to announce the launch of our demo during Steam Next Fest! You can download this free taste of the brutal Viking world on Steam and prepare for the full release.
The demo drops you into the story just after your crew washes ashore in the rugged lands of Sudrvik, where you'll meet Holti, the steadfast farmer, and his sharp-witted wife Geirlaug. Their warm welcome sets the stage as you guide young Gunnar, exiled after his father Jarl Gripr’s murder by Steinnar Far-Spear. You’ll also cross paths with Torsten, the boisterous blacksmith, whose forge looms large in Sudrvik’s future.
Dive into the core systems of NORSE: Oath of Blood: lead your hirdmen in tense, tactical combat against rival foes; gather resources to sustain the village; and build Sudrvik’s foundations through strategic decisions. Every choice, from clashing axes in the wilds to investing resources into building Sudrvik, reveals the depth of this turn-based Viking epic.
Head to the NORSE: Oath of Blood Steam page now, download the demo, and join the Next Fest festivities. Play at your own pace, test your combat strategies, and lay the groundwork for Sudrvik’s rise. Your feedback will shape the full release—share your battles and village plans!
After some time in the demo, we'd love to hear your thoughts! We have provided a survey to collect all your feedback! To help shape the full release, make sure to take some time to fill out the brief survey!
New Extended Story Trailer: Dive into the epic tale of NORSE: Oath of Blood with our latest Extended Story Trailer!
Sword Brothers Free eBook: Ready to uncover the roots of Sudrvik’s saga? Sword Brothers written by international bestselling author Giles Kristian, is available as a free EBook download below and is also available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Immerse yourself in the Viking world of NORSE: Oath of Blood today!
Listen to Sword Brothers on Spotify
Listen to Sword Brothers on Apple Podcasts
Get Sword Brothers Free EBook Here
What’s your first move in Sudrvik? Will you strengthen the village with food from Holti's fields, or charge headlong into combat? How did meeting Torsten heighten your excitement for his crafting role in the full game? Drop your thoughts, tactics, and enthusiasm in the comments below—let’s rally the community for this Next Fest adventure!
Haven’t added NORSE: Oath of Blood to your Steam Wishlist yet? Experience the demo, join the saga, and wishlist it now on the Steam Store!
Be sure to join Tripwire Presents and Arctic Hazard for the first NORSE: Oath of Blood live stream! We will be joined by Narrative Director Philip Stevens who will guide us to become Viking legends! It's time to become our fiercest Viking selves in combat, build a warband, and grow a settlement as we rule as a Jarl!
Along with gameplay, we will have a question and answers segment to answer as many of your burning questions as possible! Post your questions here and there is a chance that yours will be answered on stream.
When: Monday, October 13, 2025 1:00 PM ET
Where: ,
In the windswept fjords of NORSE: Oath of Blood, the saga of Sudrvik is forged in blood, loyalty, and betrayal. This week, we’re thrilled to unveil Sword Brothers, a gripping short story by prizewinning and Sunday Times bestselling author Giles Kristian, who also serves as the writer for the game. Also available is an audio book version on Spotify; Narrated by Philip Stevens, the Narrative Director of Norse: Oath of Blood. Both are available now for free, this tale sets the stage for the epic struggles you’ll face.
Dive into the world of 8th-century Norway, where Jarl Gripr and Steinnar, two sworn sword brothers bound by camaraderie and the fury of battle, lead a daring raid across the fjord. Their unbreakable bond, forged in the clash of steel and the thrill of the fight, shines through in this prequel, brimming with bone-crunching battles and Kristian’s lyrical prose that has made his Raven and The Rise of Sigurd series favorites among Viking fans worldwide. Sword Brothers explores the roots of the tragedy that unfolds in the game, where Steinnar Far-Spear's ruthless ambition leads to Jarl Gripr’s murder, casting young Gunnar into exile on a quest for vengeance. Ready to uncover the roots of Sudrvik’s saga? Sword Brothers is available as a free EBook download below and is also available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Immerse yourself in the Viking world of NORSE: Oath of Blood today!
Listen to Sword Brothers on Spotify
Listen to Sword Brothers on Apple Podcasts
Get Sword Brothers Free EBook Here
What did you think of Jarl Gripr and Steinnar’s tale of brotherhood in Sword Brothers? How does their story of loyalty amid battle shape your anticipation for NORSE: Oath of Blood? Share your thoughts and favorite moments from the story in the comments below—let’s hear how this prequel fuels your Viking adventure!
Haven’t added NORSE: Oath of Blood to your Steam Wishlist yet? Join the saga and wishlist it now on the Steam Store!
In our last post, we shared how Sudrvik, your Viking settlement, stands at the heart of NORSE: Oath of Blood. But every village is part of a larger story. This week, we journey beyond Sudrvik’s borders to explore the Map Screen – your key to alliances, trade, and recruiting the warriors who will fight by your side.
The Map Screen is your window into the world of NORSE, revealing neighbouring villages, the passing of time, and the voices of your people. From here, you create trade networks, bring warriors to your banner, and mark the path of Sudrvik’s future. Let us step into the map and uncover the elements that bring this vibrant world to life.
The timeline is your tool to manage Sudrvik’s progress, displayed on the Map Screen as a dynamic ribbon of time. It tracks vital projects, such as Torsten’s forge upgrades or Geirlaug’s weaving tasks. It also marks upcoming missions with pressing deadlines. Advance the timeline turn by turn to complete tasks and unlock new paths for Sudrvik.
As time flows, hearsay from your villagers provides the beating pulse of Sudrvik. Gertrud, the grumbling fisherwoman, might mutter about dwindling fish stocks, urging you to prioritize her nets or trade for resources to bolster the catch. Holti, the hapless farmer, may share news of his crops, or fret over low grain stores, guiding your focus to his fields. These voices provide critical insight, but new events will arise too, demanding your leadership to keep Sudrvik strong.
As Sudrvik grows and you uncover nearby villages on the Map Screen, the art of trade becomes a cornerstone of your leadership. Trading with neighboring settlements lets you exchange surplus resources for those things you need most, tailoring Sudrvik’s growth to your strategy. Swap excess meat for bog iron to fuel Torsten’s forge, or barter riches for finely-crafted war gear to arm your hirdmen.
Pay close attention to each village’s demands. Some may prize furs, others weapons. Strategic trades can bolster Sudrvik’s stores, unlock new crafting options, or strengthen alliances, ensuring your settlement thrives in a world of scarcity and ambition.
Sudrvik’s strength lies in its warriors, and the Map Screen opens the door to recruiting hirdmen from neighboring villages. As you build relations through trade, or complete missions, new recruits – Berserkrs, Rekkr, Drengr, Hirsir, or Bogmathr – become available, each bringing unique skills to your warband. A grizzled Berserkr might join from a battle-hardened clan, or a keen-eyed Bogmathr could arrive from a distant valley, drawn by Sudrvik’s growing renown.
Recruiting requires careful choices: will you spend resources to entice a seasoned warrior, or keep your wealth to bolster your village? Each hirdman you bring to Sudrvik strengthens your forces, ready to wield the gear crafted by your workers and carve your legend in battle.
How will you guide Sudrvik’s interactions with the world? Will you master the timeline to balance projects and events, or focus on cunning trades to amass resources? Which hirdman are you most excited to recruit for your warband? Share your strategies and ideas in the comments below and let us hear how you’ll shape Sudrvik’s destiny!
Story Teaser Trailer: Dive into the epic tale of NORSE: Oath of Blood with our Story Teaser Trailer, released during IGN Live, and witness the saga of Sudrvik unfold through its craftsmen and warriors.
Gameplay Teaser Trailer: Get a thrilling glimpse of the action in NORSE: Oath of Blood with our Gameplay Teaser Trailer. Watch hirdmen clash in visceral battles, wield crafted gear from Sudrvik’s artisans, and dominate the battlefield with strategic mastery.
Haven’t added NORSE: Oath of Blood to your Steam Wishlist yet? Join the saga and wishlist it now on the Steam Store!
As explored in our recent Steam Community post, Building a Viking Settlement, the village of Sudrvik thrives as the beating heart of NORSE: Oath of Blood. Yet, a settlement’s strength lies not only in its warriors but in the skilled hands that craft their tools and armaments. This week, we delve into the lives of Sudrvik’s craftspeople, whose artistry shapes both the village and the warband you lead to glory.
In this update, we spotlight three key craftspeople—Geirlaug, Torsten, and Hallbjorn—whose talents, alongside other artisans, transform raw resources into vital equipment and infrastructure. Gather materials from missions, harvest them through village progression, or trade with neighboring settlements to fuel their work. With every resource, you’ll enhance Sudrvik and forge powerful gear for your hirdmen, ensuring they’re ready for the battles ahead.
With a needle as sharp as her tongue, Geirlaug weaves cloth and gossip with equal mastery. This gifted seamstress rules her household with iron resolve cloaked in silken charm. Her flirtatious demeanor and commanding presence make her a cornerstone of Sudrvik’s spirit.
Geirlaug crafts clothing and armor for your hirdmen, from sturdy tunics to reinforced leathers, while supplying woven materials that strengthen the village’s growth. Her work clothes warriors, warms children, and keeps Sudrvik’s morale high with every perfectly placed stitch.
Torsten, a wandering blacksmith who found a home in Sudrvik, brings humor, heart, and a touch of chaos to his forge. Quick with a jest or a hammer, he revels in strong ale and louder songs, though the shadow of his past and his father’s death lingers, pulling him into bouts of melancholy.
Torsten’s true genius shines in crafting high-quality weapons and armor—swords, axes, heavy axes, spears, and shields—that arm your hirdmen for war. As his forge grows, so does his ability to create masterful gear, fortifying Sudrvik’s defenses and its future.
Hardened by years of survival in the harshest reaches of the land, Hallbjorn is a solitary huntsman whose skill in tracking and hunting is unmatched. Not one for conversation, his quiet presence commands respect. Bound by a mutual pact with Gunnar, he dwells near Sudrvik, trading his prowess for protection while ensuring the village never hungers.
Hallbjorn crafts fine bows for your Bogmathr, alongside useful items to turn the tide of battle. As both huntsman and artisan, his creations and keen instincts keep Sudrvik’s warband agile and sustained, striking fear into foes from the wilds beyond.
The craftspeople of Sudrvik are more than their skills—they are the soul of the settlement. By guiding Geirlaug, Torsten, and Hallbjorn to work in harmony, you unlock their true potential, weaving their talents together to elevate Sudrvik and equip your hirdmen for victory. Every choice you make shapes the village’s growth and the saga you forge.
Which craftsperson will you prioritize to strengthen Sudrvik? Are you eager to wield Torsten’s masterfully forged axes or outfit your Bogmathr with Hallbjorn’s deadly bows? Share your crafting plans and dream gear in the comments below—let’s hear how you’re building Sudrvik’s legacy!
Story Teaser Trailer: Dive into the epic tale of NORSE: Oath of Blood with our latest Story Teaser Trailer.
Gameplay Teaser Trailer: Get a thrilling glimpse of the action in NORSE: Oath of Blood with our Gameplay Teaser Trailer.
For a deeper look into the game, watch the IGN Rewind Theater interview featuring NORSE: Oath of Blood developers Terje Lundberg (Creative Director) and Philip Stevens (Narrative Director).
Haven’t added NORSE: Oath of Blood to your Steam Wishlist yet? Join the saga and wishlist it now on the Steam Store!
Check out the store page and wishlist NORSE: Oath of Blood today!
The Hirdmen of Sudrvik: Classes & Abilities in NORSE: Oath of Blood As detailed in our recent Steam Community post, Building a Viking Settlement, constructing the thriving village of Sudrvik is central to NORSE: Oath of Blood. But a settlement is only as strong as its warriors. This week, we’re charging into the fray to introduce the fierce hirdmen who fight under your command.
In this overview, we unveil the classes and abilities that shape your warband. Each hirdman uses a distinct fighting style and two paths to mastery, letting you train warriors who will help you dominate the battlefield. forged to your vision. As they grow in power, your hirdmen earn skill points to draw from either path, offering unique ways to hone their prowess for the fights ahead.
These are the heroes who will carve your legend in blood and glory.
Brandishing dual axes or swords, the Berserkr is a whirlwind of steel, charging into battle with reckless abandon. With their Leap ability, they vault over obstacles or enemies to shatter formations, untouched by Opportunity Attacks. Whether driven by primal rage or the spirit of the gods, Berserkers are unstoppable vanguards.
Bear: Warriors that bring these skills draw strength from each kill, growing tougher with every foe felled, perfect for enduring the longest battles.
Wolf: Swift and deadly, Wolf skills are about precision, avoiding Opportunity Attacks and leaving enemies bleeding and broken in their wake.
Wielding massive two-handed axes, Rekkr are the embodiment of raw power, wading into the fray to crush all in their path. Their Hew ability cleaves through up to three foes with devastating force. Their war cries echo as a warning to any who dare challenge the settlement.
Champion: Masters of control, Champions cripple enemies with debuffs like Prone, redirect enemy attacks, and bolster their own defenses to hold the line.
Slayer: Relentless destroyers, Slayers unleash area attacks, enrage foes to draw their focus, and use their skills to guarantee execution of enemies to refresh their Action Points for unending carnage.
Armed with a sword or axe in one hand and a sturdy shield in the other, Drengr are the stalwart protectors of the warband, mastering battlefield control. Their Shield Slam hurls enemies into hazards or allies, triggering Opportunity Attacks that turn defense into offense.
Warrior: Experts in tactical disruption, Warriors use knockbacks to trigger Opportunity Attacks to dominate positioning.
Protector: Selfless guardians, Protectors draw enemy attention and shrug off blows to keep their allies safe.
Gripping long spears, the Hersir can strike from two tiles away, piercing through foes and bolstering nearby allies with buffs to inspire extra attacks. They weave teamwork and precision into every thrust, ensuring no warrior fights alone.
Warchief: Leaders who debilitate foes and rally allies with coordinated strikes of extra attacks.
Skald: Bards of battle, Skalds lift allies’ spirits, buffing allies, and debuffing enemies to tip the scales of war.
Aiming their bows with deadly precision, Bogmathr command the battlefield from afar, striking with pinpoint accuracy or devastating volleys. Their Lay Low ability lets them slip away, avoid targeting, and pin foes with immobilizing shots or bleeds.
Hunter: Masters of attrition, Hunters pin enemies and inflict bleeds to weaken them over time.
Marksman: Lethal snipers, Marksmen pierce armor and enemies, land critical hits, and deliver heavy hits that can reset its cooldown for relentless barrages.
Which warrior will lead your warband to glory? Are you drawn to the Berserkr’s fury, or the Drengr’s unbreakable resolve? Share your favorite class builds and strategies in the comments below and let us hear how you’re shaping Sudrvik’s legend!
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About
This page aggregates Steam news feeds, patch notes, and developer announcements for NORSE: Oath of Blood, sourced from official Steam community posts.
Major updates, balance changes, and seasonal events often correlate with player-count spikes — cross-reference announcements here with the live charts on the main NORSE: Oath of Blood statistics page.
Articles link back to Steam for full changelogs. SteamScope refreshes news entries as new posts are published to the game's Steam hub.