On July 28, 2025, The Astronauts rolled out the long-awaited Webgrave update for Witchfire in Early Access on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Far from a routine patch, this release drops players into Velmorne—a multi-layered, gothic cityscape brimming with secrets, deadly foes, and oppressive atmosphere. On top of the new region, you’ll find a full tutorial map, richer Rosary Beads customization, and Gnosis VI, a difficulty tier designed to shred the unprepared. Ready your weapons: Velmorne won’t wait.
Velmorne rewrites the rules of exploration with its dizzying height and depth. Narrow alleys give way to shaky rooftop walkways, rusted fire escapes, and suspended beams that groan underfoot. Every shadow might hide a grotesque former villager turned witchspawn, ready to ambush you from below or rain attacks from above. Environmental storytelling is woven into every corner: shattered stained glass, blood-smeared graffiti, and broken votive altars whisper of the curse that consumed this once-thriving town. To survive, you must think—and fight—in three dimensions.
Velmorne rewards the curious. Beneath toppled statues, you’ll unearth crafting runes that let you forge better weapons. A collapsed tower hides a powerful shotgun upgrade, while a flooded cellar reveals arcane fragments unlocking new lore entries. Your traversal toolkit—grapple hooks, ethereal leaps, and tension webs—lets you scale walls and vault between ledges in pursuit of hidden alcoves. Keep an eye out for faintly glowing rune clusters or half-open grates: these subtle markers often lead to rare gear that can turn a lethal encounter into a narrowly won fight.
Responding to player feedback, Webgrave introduces a standalone tutorial area you can revisit at any time. Instead of an abrupt trial by fire, this map guides newcomers through basic gunplay, cover and dodge mechanics, and the core Rosary Beads system. Interactive prompts illustrate precise timing for dodge rolls, ideal angles for headshots, and step-by-step bead attachment. Mistakes here feel like lessons, not punishments—giving you confidence before storming Velmorne’s unforgiving streets.
The hallmark Rosary Beads system gains fresh depth with new effects and a leveling mechanic. Equip beads that unleash explosive rounds, summon life-stealing orbs, cast frost auras that slow enemies, or chain lightning between foes. Two standout additions, “Bloodbound” and “Hex Weaver,” let you siphon health into armor or amplify status ailments on contact. The more you use a bead, the stronger it becomes—so specialize in one deadly build or mix wildly different effects to discover unexpected synergies.
If Gnosis V felt punishing, Gnosis VI is outright sadistic. Enemies wear reinforced armor, inflict bleeding and poison, and flood arenas in relentless waves. Healing items respawn at a crawl, checkpoints are few and far between, and environmental traps—cursed pools, collapsing balconies—demand perfect timing. Only those who master bead synergies, conserve every round of ammunition, and adapt tactics on the fly will emerge victorious from this merciless crucible.
Under the hood, Webgrave smooths nearly every rough edge. Ammo counters and inventory menus get a cleaner look, and bead tooltips now offer instant clarity. Performance optimizations reduce stutter in Velmorne’s dense districts, while faster zone loading keeps you in the action. Weapon recoil feels more predictable, spread-reduction perks display real-time feedback, and aim assist has been fine-tuned for both mouse and controller. A host of bugs—missing HUD icons, respawn hiccups, and odd collision glitches—have also been banished.
Early impressions from the Witchfire community have skewed positive. Forums buzz with innovative bead combos and rooftop screenshots that highlight Velmorne’s vertigo-inducing design. Seasoned Preyers are already racing through Gnosis VI speedruns, while newcomers praise the tutorial’s patient pacing. Many agree that Webgrave feels like a major milestone, bringing fresh thrills without losing the core brutality that defines Witchfire.
With Velmorne’s labyrinthine verticality, a friendly onboarding experience, deep bead customization, and a ferocious new difficulty tier, Webgrave strikes a rare balance between approachability and hardcore challenge. Whether you’re back for more or braving Witchfire for the first time, this update offers something for every playstyle. It’s time to light your candles, adjust your beads, and step into the gloom—Velmorne awaits.
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