- Update to Demo Release Date! - 25 February 2026
Hey everyone! We are just waiting for Steam to approve the demo store page and we can release the combat playtest.. It will be over the coming few days! Will keep you posted once ready! Thanks for everyones patience!
- Playtest in 1 week for 30 days! - 12 February 2026
Hello all,The time is almost here!In just one week, the playtest will go live free for everyone for 30 days on the 19/02/2026. Mark the date!!Bite off heads. Rip off legs. Devour your enemies. Climb, fight, and master brutal insect combat in this early slice of the experience.This is just a taste of what’s to come. Later this year, we’ll be revealing more details about character creation and the full campaign mode.NOW WHO'S EXCITED?? Mee! Take care out there everyone,Will.
- Hotfix 1.01 - 10 February 2026
Hey all, A minor hotfix with some small improvementsRemoved invisble legs bug on damageAdjusted the jumping spider eating animationSmall UI changesThanks for testing!
- Patch 1.01 - Minor fixes - 4 February 2026
Hello testers! In this patch we have fixed the following:Bites now remove fleshFixed typos in the Tips menuFixed minor typos throughout the gameJumping spider aim dot now appears when targeting an NPCReduced settings tab sizes to fit more options on one screenFixed insect leg animation stopping during the eatingWe are aware of several othe rbugs that we are already working on.
- Counting down now!!! - 12 January 2026
Counting down now!!! We’re getting super close — I reckon the test build is dropping this week for our top Patreon supporters! We also just dropped a brand-new post on Patreon with some juicy updates, sneak peeks, and a deeper dive into one of the more gruesome systems we're testing out: 👉 Check it out here 👈This is a big moment for For The Hive — after this combat playtest, it’s full speed ahead on building out the core survival gameplay loop. That means gathering, building, surviving, and thriving with your hive.We’re going to need more resources (time, testers, and yep — funds) to push through this next phase, so any support on Patreon is massively appreciated. One of the coolest perks? Our Patrons directly shape the game. I’m constantly posting concepts, polling features, and asking for feedback — so if you want your voice heard in the dev process, this is the way in. Alright... r…
- 🐜 For The Hive – Combat Playtest Incoming! - 6 January 2026
Hey everyone,It’s been a little while since our last update, but we’ve got some exciting news to share!We’ve been hard at work on For The Hive, and we’re finally approaching a major milestone: our first public combat playtest. This build is a huge step forward, and while it’s still a bit rough around the edges (expect a few bugs 🐛), it’s ready enough for us to put it into players' hands and start gathering feedback.Why This MattersThis playtest isn’t just about showcasing progress – it’s a crucial learning moment for us. Our goal is to better understand how the game feels in actual player hands, especially the combat, before we move forward with building out the core campaign mechanics this year.What Took So Long?In short: jumping spiders.One enemy type caused more delays than we expected due to issues with its jump attack logic. It took a fair bit of debugging and design iteration to…
- Playtest Delayed by About One Month - 29 April 2025
Hey everyone, We’re announcing a short delay to the free For the Hive playtest. (about one month) There are a few final things that still need work before we’re ready, including: UI improvements Animation implementation General bug fixing We’re really close, and we appreciate your patience. As this is our first time releasing anything publicly, it’s been a huge learning experience—and we want to make sure it’s something we’re proud to share. We’ll be posting a video update soon to show the current state of the game. It’s looking good, and we’re nearly there. Thanks again for hanging in there with us. —The For the Hive Team
- Wolf Spider Announcement - 18 April 2025
New Character Reveal – The Wolf Spider Has Entered the Hive! We’re excited to introduce a brand-new fighter in For the Hive: the Wolf Spider! Forget webs—this fierce predator doesn’t wait for prey. The Wolf Spider chases it down, pouncing with lethal force. With a terrifying blend of speed, venom, and aggression, it’s built for pure hunt-style combat. 🕸️ Key traits: No webs. No mercy. Wolf spiders chase and strike—fast and brutal. Venomous attacks wear down opponents even after the initial blow. Low armor, but incredibly agile. Dodge, flank, and go for the kill. A nightmare for slower bugs trying to flee. We can’t wait to see how you use this relentless hunter in the upcoming playtest. 👀 Take a look at their species page in the Insectarium : https://www.arcaneworlds.com/inspectarium-detail?beeId=68023c263112db0e4e99f1f8 Tag us and share your thoughts on socials—we're always watching……
- April 30th Combat Playtest – Still on Track! - 3 April 2025
Announcement Content 🛡️ Combat Playtest Incoming – April 30th! The For the Hive playtest is almost here, and yes—it’s still on track! This early test is all about combat and gives us crucial feedback to help shape the future of the game. Whether you sting, slice, or strike, every move you make will help us refine the experience. ✅ Free to join ✅ Open to all registered players ✅ No strings attached – just bring your swarm energy 👾 Available characters for this test: 🐝 Honeybee 🕷️ Jumping Spider 🐜 Black Ant 🛠️ Termite To get access, head over to www.arcaneworlds.com and scroll down to the Beta Test section to register. We’re looking forward to seeing you in the hive! 💥
- Reminder - April 30th Free combat playtest!! - 14 February 2025
Hey everyone! Just a quick reminder that our FREE Playtest goes live on April 30th! This is your chance to jump in and experience the combat we've been crafting. 🔥 Play as: ✅ Black Ant ✅ Termite ✅ Honey Bee ✅ Jumping Spider Try out each character’s unique abilities and get a feel for the battles ahead! Later this year, we’ll be adding even more playable creatures as we continue developing the sandbox campaign mode. Your feedback is invaluable, so let us know what you think! See you in the fight on April 30th! 🏆 See you all there, Arcane Worlds.
- DEVLOG #8 PLAYTEST ANNOUNCEMENT - APRIL 30TH - 2 February 2025
Hey everyone! It’s time for For The Hive Devlog #8, and we’ve got some exciting updates to share! 🔥 Combat Overhaul – Dismemberment, part disablement, blood effects, and a much more skill-based combat system. Every encounter is now more tactical, intense, and rewarding. 🦠 New Attacks & Skill System – We’ve introduced light and heavy attacks for each species! Right now, all insects share a bite as their light attack, while heavy attacks are unique: 🐝 Bee – Sting for high close-range damage. 🦠 Termite – Acid spray to corrode enemies from a distance. 🐜 Ant – Charge to knock enemies back. 🕷️ Jumping Spider (WIP) – Soon to be able to leap into combat with deadly precision. 🎮 UI Upgrades – A new minimap, health & armor tracking, stamina & special resource systems, and an improved combat HUD. 🏡 Bases & Digging – We’ve added partial voxel technology, meaning you can dig tunnels, build m…
- Next Devlog Coming Soon - 17 August 2024
Hey everyone! We've been working hard on the game since our last update, and we're excited to share that we're on track for the playable combat test later this year. In the next 1-2 months, we plan to release our next devlog (#8), where we'll showcase the revamped UI, the new combat system—complete with dismemberment, disabling of parts, and plenty of gore! As always, stay tuned and feel free to connect with us on our socials, Discord, or through our website. We love hearing from you! Join us on Discord: https://discord.com/invite/forthehive Game Website: www.forthehivegame.com Steam Wishlist: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1747630/For_The_Hive/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArcaneWorldsGaming/
- Updated Bee Flight Controller! - 7 June 2024
Hi everyone, prior to our next update on the new combat please take a look at the new flight controls. Don't they look great?
- Dev Diary #2 Family, Mating & Bases - 10 May 2024
In today's video, we're diving deeper into the intriguing dynamics of family structures, mating rituals, and the strategic elements of base management within our game. We'll explore how these systems interconnect to enhance your gameplay experience, providing you with more immersive and tactical layers to enjoy. We've worked hard to develop these features with depth and realism, and we're eager to share the intricacies with you. Please share your thoughts in the comments below—what do you think about these new additions? Are you looking forward to testing them out? Let us know if there are other aspects you’re excited to see us cover in future discussions. Your feedback is invaluable as we continue to refine and expand our game. Feel free to join us in Discord or Facebook for direct access & updates.. Facebook page https://discord.com/invite/forthehive Game Website
- Updates on development & Alpha News! - 10 March 2024
Updates on development & Alpha News! Game Development Milestones Last time we checked in, "For the Hive" was already shaping up to be an immersive experience, with core mechanics like movement, climbing, flying, and the beginnings of a complex life system firmly in place. Since then, we've been hard at work refining the game's physics, allowing players to interact with their environment and foes in more dynamic ways, such as grabbing opponents' legs—a feature we're still perfecting. We've laid down the groundwork for bee colonies and hives, cleaned up our codebase for better scalability, and polished many existing systems. It's safe to say the game is evolving in ways we're incredibly proud of. Some major improvements to the environment have also taken place. Including 2 brand new characters - The Fly & The Rhino beetle. Learn more about their playstyles here https://www.forthehivegame.…
- New Character : Wheel Bug (Assassin Bug) - 6 August 2023
Hi For The Hivers! Today we would like to introduce you to a new character we've been working on. The Wheel Bug! The wheel bug (Arilus cristatus) is a unique assassin bug species. With its unique coloration it stands out in the insect world. One of its most distinguishing features is the wheel-like structure present on its thorax, from which it gets its name. As skilled predators, wheel bugs use their pointed beak to inject venom into their prey, primarily targeting other insects. This venom helps immobilize and digest their victims. When a wheel bug bites an insect, the injected venom quickly immobilizes and begins to digest the prey. This venom is potent and effective, making the wheel bug a formidable predator. The prey is often killed swiftly, allowing the wheel bug to feed on its liquefied tissues. Wheel bugs can communicate with each other through vibrations created by drumming t…
- Devlog 6: To Bee or not to Bee - 7 December 2022
Hello Hivers! Welcome to the 6th installment of our game updates, we’re excited to share our progress with you once again. We’re in the middle of working on a lot of exciting new additions to the game, which include inventory, harvesting system, metamorphosis and life stages. We’re also going to show you some cool new insect models that we’re working on, one of them is fully operational, it is, as you might have guessed: the honeybee. So why don’t your pour favorite hot beverage into your trusty FTH mug and let’s get started. (For mugs and other merch, you can go to https://www.arcaneworlds.com/shop.) 1) New Models In the previous devlog, we announced that we were going into a more HD and realistic art direction for the game. We’re gradually replacing our placeholder models with more detailed ones, in the meantime, we’ve also worked on some cool new characters that are going to populate…
- Devlog 5: Call of the Forest - 1 July 2022
Hello, For the Hive fans, and welcome to our fifth installment of game updates. We’ve been working incredibly hard on some major changes to the game, it has taken us a while to get back to you since our last devlog, but we’re sure you’ll love it, and we’re excited to share our progress with you today. Overview Game development is full of trial and error, failures and frustrations. However, there is a lot of excitement to be had, and today, we’re so excited to share some amazing results with you. We’ve improved the visuals, especially regarding lighting and fog effects. We made a more visually appealing sky and clouds, and more detailed models and textures. If you've checked out our video update, you'll notice some of our low-poly models in it; these are simply placeholders for the time being and will be updated with more detailed models very soon. We’ve also spent some time on our gamep…
- DEVLOG #4 - It's A Big World! - 20 February 2022
Hello For The Hive fans! Thanks for hopping on to read the fourth instalment of updates in our continuing series. We’ve got some exciting news to share, with new characters and cool advancements on the FTH procedural world. We’re pleased to share our continued progress, and we hope you are enjoying the journey, as we creep closer and closer to having a completed game for you to love and cherish. So, without further ado, let's move on to our latest progress updates. Let’s Make A Big Open World! Today we’re going to talk about some really cool mechanics and features related to surviving in For The Hive. The goal, of course, is not only to survive but also to make the most of your time navigating the FTH world, hopefully coming out on top as king or queen of the hive. If you've been following along on our YouTube devlog, you may have noticed that the gameplay footage up to this point took…
- DEVLOG #3 - Stayin’ Alive - 4 January 2022
Happy 2022, For the Hive fans. We made a lot of fantastic progress on the game in 2021, and 2022 promises to be even more exciting. We hope you're excited about what we've done so far because we are! And we think you'll like what we have to share in our latest update. The name of today’s game is survival and combat mechanics, so buckle up and enjoy the ride. Don’t Just Survive, Thrive Today we’re going to talk about some really cool mechanics and features related to surviving in For The Hive. The goal, of course, is not only to survive but also to make the most of your time navigating the FTH world, hopefully coming out on top as king or queen of the hive. Two challenges you'll face in the game are combat and fending off hunger. Engaging in battle can mean injury or death, so it's vital to fight smart. And, of course, you want to make sure your character stays fuelled up, so you don't s…
