DragonSword: Awakening Roadmap — 2026 Update Plan

DragonSword: Awakening's post-launch roadmap for the second half of 2026 centers on four new heroes, new story content, a brand-new Rift system, and quality-of-life improvements. The developers (Hound13) shared these plans in their post-launch Stream #4 recap, and confirmed the new heroes are included in the full version — they are not paid DLC. Here's what's coming. ## 4 New Heroes in H2 2026 The biggest headline is a lineup of **four new heroes** rolling out over the second half of 2026. The developers were explicit that these four are part of the full version and will be developed regardless of sales — so there's no paywall on the roster. **Ryza** is the first to arrive. She's a shock-specialized character who throws her spear, then teleports to its landing spot to keep the assault going — fast, stylish combat designed around mobility. **Jerome** is a knockdown specialist. He's small in stature but wields a massive greatsword, and he was prioritized right after Ryza because the current roster lacks a dedicated knockdown hero. He can unleash various skills on Super Armor destruction and uniquely uses a three-stage Grab. **Veronica** fights with a combination of bare-handed martial arts and a gun. She was inspired by forum posts asking for a fist-fighting character. Stun is her primary attribute: she fires at range and engages in hand-to-hand combat up close. **Logan** is a tank-type character who attacks with a massive shield and protects allies. The developers plan to make him more versatile before his debut. ## Hero Quests: More Story Content Alongside the new heroes, Hound13 is adding **Hero Quests** — story content exploring the untold stories of heroes not covered in the main campaign. The first Hero Quest being prepared is **Othello's**, followed by one tied to **Ryza**. This is part of the team's broader commitment to expanding the narrative beyond the current "Part 1" ending. ## The Rift System A new **Rift System** is in development. Rifts will appear across the world and let you travel to other dimensions for combat. The developers are keeping details close to the chest — they note it "contains slight spoilers" — and will share more as the system takes shape. It's positioned as a major new gameplay mode rather than a small event. ## Quality-of-Life Improvements Quality-of-life changes are listed as a top priority for the second half of the year. The team has said they're reading player feedback from the Steam Next Fest demo and launch carefully and actively checking what can be incorporated. Specific QoL items haven't all been detailed yet, but they sit above new content in priority. ## What This Means for Players The roadmap reinforces the game's core promise: buy once, get everything. All four new heroes are free updates, story continues through Hero Quests, and the Rift system adds a new combat dimension. For players who were worried the story ending at "Part 1" meant the game was abandoned, this is a strong signal that the developers are committed to long-term support. It's worth noting the roadmap is ambitious and dates are rolling rather than pinned to specific days — expect heroes and systems to arrive in sequence through H2 2026 rather than all at once. We'll keep this page updated as official announcements land. ## Related Guides Want to know which of the current 19 heroes are strongest before the new ones drop? See our [Tier List](/tier-list/). For a full look at the current roster, check the [Characters page](/characters/).