Eternal Strands’ INSECTUM DLC Brings Punk Insect Armor & Real Fixes

I’ll admit, “punk insect armor” wasn’t on my wishlist when Eternal Strands first launched, but the arrival of the free INSECTUM Cosmetics DLC genuinely took me by surprise. Co-developed with Grasshopper Manufacture veterans Suda51 and Tadayuki Nomaru, this pack isn’t just another batch of color swaps—it injects a burst of high‐energy style and concrete improvements that make Eternal Strands feel more alive, more responsive, and frankly, a lot more fun.

Gameplay Changes

On the surface, the INSECTUM update looks like a purely cosmetic affair: a punk‐insect–themed heavy armor set and four new Parasite weapon skins for the Kinetic Bow, Frost Sword & Shield, Flame Two‐Hander, and Shadow Dagger. But dig deeper and you’ll see how these additions alter the core loop. Each Parasite skin unlocks a unique progression path, requiring new crafting components—chitin fragments, bio‐acid vials, and resonance crystals—that must be gathered from specific biomes. That extra scavenging layer nudges players out of their meta‐build routines, encouraging exploration of the Forgotten Ruins and Sunken Marshlands in search of rare drops. Instead of grinding the same dozen enemies for stat boosts, I found myself swapping tactics to match the weapon’s new effects—like adding a small bleed proc to the Frost Sword or boosting dash speed when wielding the Flame Two‐Hander. In practice, it feels like a light gameplay expansion built atop the existing engine rather than a hollow skin bundle.

Visual Enhancements and Performance Boost

Yes, these are “cosmetics,” but the technical upgrades beneath the hood are tangible. The patch rolls out support for Intel XeSS FG, the latest NVIDIA DLSS 4 mode, and AMD FSR3. On a midrange GPU (think RTX 3060 or Radeon RX 6600 XT), I observed smoother frame pacing in dense forest ambushes—no more sudden drops below 45 FPS during massive critter swarms. Texture pop-in is noticeably reduced thanks to more aggressive upscaling algorithms, and lighting transitions feel more seamless on both PC and consoles. On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, dynamic resolution scaling now prioritizes frame stability in combat over static 4K output, so you’re trading a few percentage points of pixel count for a more consistent 60 FPS. In real‐world sessions, that shift makes every dodge, parry, and acrobatic flip-through‐bilescape feel more responsive. It’s a clear example of a small indie‐meets‐AAA polish approach: the visuals get sharper, the framerate holds up in chaos, and the whole game feels less like it was rushed out the door.

Community Feedback and QoL Improvements

“Player-first” is often marketing speak, but Yellow Brick Games really leaned on its community this time. The patch notes lifted directly from forum threads include a redesigned quest log that groups objectives by region, a streamlined fast‐travel menu with region icons, and an XP curve tweak that eases the late‐game side‐quest slump. I tested the updated UI in both early and endgame zones: switching between main story tasks and side missions is now one click instead of three, which might sound small until you’re juggling half-dozen errands across the world map. Several longstanding bugs also got axed: enemy collision issues around the Crystal Spires have vanished, and the camera jitter during wall-run animations is history. These aren’t flashy headlines, but they’re exactly the kind of polish that keeps a small-scale RPG community engaged between content drops.

Long-Term Strategy and Industry Impact

Two free DLC drops and not a single egregious microtransaction in sight—Yellow Brick is playing the long game. In 2025, when live-service titles rashly lean on cosmetic cash grabs, a genuinely free, creatively ambitious pack stands out. By collaborating with iconic developers like Suda51, Eternal Strands positions itself as an indie title that learns from major studios without aping their questionable monetization. It’s an approach more RPGs should consider: give players real value, listen to their feedback, and build goodwill rather than just chase short-term revenue. If the industry is looking for a blueprint, INSECTUM is it: a low-risk, high-impact collaboration that benefits both the devs’ reputation and the player base.

Conclusion: Should You Dive Back In?

Is INSECTUM a game-changer? Not entirely, but it’s proof that sticking with Eternal Strands can pay dividends. Returning players get fresh reasons to explore, upgraded systems that run smoother, and tangible fixes that address lingering annoyances. Newcomers can jump in without feeling like they missed out—the pack arrives free on all platforms, including Game Pass. For anyone curious what happens when a Quebec indie teams up with Tokyo punk visionaries, this DLC is the perfect entry point. It may not reinvent the wheel, but it sharpens the spokes—and in a crowded ARPG landscape, that edge matters.

TL;DR

The INSECTUM Cosmetics DLC isn’t a radical expansion, but it combines Suda51’s punk insect designs with meaningful technical upgrades and community-driven fixes. For style, performance, and proof that player feedback can still drive real change, this free drop is worth downloading.