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Survival title Soulmask is set for 1.0 launch next spring alongside Shifting Sands, an Ancient Egypt-themed expansion that aims to blend mythology with alien technology. The survival sandbox trailer showcased during PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted gave us a glimpse of Egyptian god masks, customisable solar airships, and desert environments with dynamic day-night cycles.
New Masks
Shifting Sands introduces masks inspired by Egyptian deities, each granting unique powers. Horus Mask provides celestial wings for aerial combat and dive-bombing attacks. Anubis Mask channels underworld guardian abilities - inflicting curses, balancing life force between player and enemies, and resurrecting fallen foes as temporary allies. Sobek Mask generates protective water torrents that imprison enemies. Amun-Ra Mask commands sunlight and flames for devastating solar attacks.
Whether these abilities genuinely alter gameplay or just provide flashy visual effects remains unclear without hands-on testing. The trailer focuses heavily on spectacle rather than mechanical depth.
Mobile fortress ship construction
The expansion's core mechanic centres on customisable vessels ranging from small wooden boats to Falcon-Class solar airships. Ships support modular construction - installing anti-gravity engines for flight, sand skids for desert traversal, ballistas, deck cannons, and heavy artillery for floating fortresses.
Tribesmen can board and work on ships, enabling mid-air production bases. Players essentially build mobile headquarters that sail, glide, and fly across scorching landscapes. It's an ambitious concept that could revolutionise survival gameplay or become tedious resource management depending on execution balance.
Harsher survival and new biomes
Ancient Egypt-inspired biomes feature dynamic day-night cycles with intensified survival challenges compared to base game regions. The trailer shows pyramids, rivers winding through desert canyons, and ruins dotting harsh terrain. New boss encounters include Soulcall Hound, Onyx Scarab, and Savagehorn Tribe Leader, though their mechanical complexity beyond visual design wasn't demonstrated.
Early access success and pricing changes
Soulmask was a major success during early access, attracting over 750,000 players with 80% positive Steam reviews. The previous Sanxingdui DLC earned a 95% positive reception. Spring 2026's version 1.0 launch brings a price increase - current owners benefit from final promotional pricing with a 35% discount running December 4th through January 5th.
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