The new MENACE dev diary covers the Perk Overhaul and how each character now mixes shared perks with four unique ones to give them clearer roles. It also shows the updated perk trees for Pike, Lim, and Rewa. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/603047407120286649

The full cinematic trailer for MENACE is out now. https://youtu.be/xC0tctsGquI

MENACE Demo Update #6 (v0.5.10) is live. This patch fixes several UI and combat issues, improves stability, and adjusts AI threat levels for Skybots. Read more here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/655961606822299810

Dev Diary #37 looks at how enemy armies are built in MENACE, moving from manually crafted lists to a new dynamic system that scales with campaign progress and supply limits. Check it out: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/655961606822297826

MENACE's demo gets a major update for Steam Next Fest. Adding a second Pirate operation with 10 new missions, new items like the Light Walker & Autocannon, and a new difficulty slider with Normal, Challenging, and Expert modes. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/542244996316660201

Dev Diary #36 looks back on two weeks since the MENACE demo launch with over 100,000 downloads, and previews Monday’s Next Fest update featuring the new Pirate “Thwart Invasion” Operation. Find out more here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/542244996316659949?l=english

Jan & Paul have joined HandOfBlood for a live playthrough of MENACE. They'll talk him through a few early missions and provide some additional insights about the game. Join the livestream on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/handofblood

The embargo on MENACE content from our Gamescom sessions lifts tomorrow, and you all will be able to get a closer look what the game has in store. To celebrate, Jan and Paul will be joining streamer Hand Of Blood on September 1 at 2:00 PM CEST for a live playthrough of MENACE.

Here's good news in lieu of a Dev Diary today. A playable MENACE demo is coming out in September. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/515218958901575960?l=english

MENACE uses a chassis-based modular system. Each vehicle chassis defines armor, hit points, and a selection of Light, Medium, and Heavy weapon slots that can be equipped with a vehicle-mounted weapon of the appropriate size in any combination

Dev Diary #31 looks at infantry armor in MENACE. Classes I–VI mirror real-world ratings with higher supply cost for more protection. With variants as sidegrades and tiers as upgrades. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/581646514275746037

Dev Diary #30 covers Strategic Assets in Operations, mission rewards that can be temporary or permanent, and Enemy Assets that trigger when their missions are skipped, affecting the rest of the operation. https://steamcommunity.com/games/2432860/announcements/detail/515217690428702979

Dev Diary #29 looks at how to kill a tank in MENACE. From heavy weapons and flanking shots to ambushes and EMP tools, each method has tradeoffs, and every tank has a weakness. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/515217056009814339?l=english

Dev Diary #28 covers the vehicle weapon system in MENACE. Chassis come with light, medium, or heavy weapon slots. What you equip changes how each vehicle looks and operates. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/515216422280888584

Dev Diary #27 introduces the Squaddie System in MENACE. Squad hitpoints are now represented by individual soldiers with names, stats, and backgrounds. Squad sizes are flexible, losses are permanent & manpower matters. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/515215878272319678?l=english

Dev Diary #26 covers how vehicles take damage and suffer defects in MENACE. Different hitpoint thresholds trigger light, medium, and heavy defects, with some vehicles and weapons causing unique effects when destroyed. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/518593034576723975

Dev Diary #24 covers how accessories can unlock new abilities, buffs, and tactical options for your squads in MENACE. From frag grenades to combat drugs, accessories can reinforce strengths or patch up weak spots. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/515213251425861913?l=english

MENACE squads can bring a single special weapon into battle — from flamethrowers to mortars to sniper rifles. Dev Diary #23 showcases a mix of options, each with its own tradeoffs in mobility, range, and suppression. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/578263105990033547?l=english

Call in missile strikes, strafing runs, or supply drops — off-map abilities offer powerful support but require planning. Dev Diary #22 breaks down how they work, how to get them, and what makes them risky to use. Read more: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/515211974718521922

Would you like to learn more about MENACE? For Dev Diary #21, we answer several questions from the community. Check it out here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/515210714689831539

Dev Diary #20: Work in Progress is live and highlights in-progress work across the board – UI, character art, biome concepts, procedural map chunks, and a modular weapon system for vehicles. Check it out here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/541105873081073858

Dev Diary #19 is live and covers concealment, detection, and line of sight — from how units stay hidden, to how vision and terrain affect what they can see and shoot. Learn how to avoid enemy fire, set up ambushes, and more. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/515209445812209258

Dev Diary #18 is live! This post introduces Operations—a new system connecting missions into branching campaigns. Learn how mission choices affect rewards, how assets influence difficulty, and more. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/515208181997109523

Dev Diary #17 is live. A look behind the curtain at MENACE in development: new armor variants, tactical obstacles, modular vehicles, and the updated combat UI. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/515207543396499581

Dev Diary #16 is live. This one covers how to prep for combat in MENACE: reading the map, evaluating intel, balancing supplies, and deploying squads where it counts. Victory starts before the first shot is fired. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/642433677808108043?l=english

Dev Diary #15 is live! This faction preview introduces the Rogue Armies, decentralized human forces pursuing independent agendas throughout the Wayback System. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/515206275424846334?l=english

In MENACE, Space Pirates hit fast and hard, favoring reckless assaults over precision. Their weapons are scavenged and barely reliable, but when fired in bursts, they deliver raw firepower. Light jeeps and heavy trucks get them into combat quickly, though they’re exposed while disembarking.

In MENACE, Scavengers are the backbone of any pirate raid. They rely on sheer numbers and makeshift rifles to pin down enemies, tossing frag grenades to clear defenses. They resort to improvised RPGs when facing armor, trusting raw firepower over precision.

Dev Diary #14 - Lighting and Weather is live! A first look at how shifting light and weather shape the battlefield in MENACE — fog hides threats, storms cut vision, and night fights turn deadly fast. Check it out here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/515205641165341678

In MENACE, the Pirates’ Flame Truck brings destruction up close, covering wide areas in fire to flush out entrenched infantry. Durable but lightly armored, it carries a dangerous weakness—if hit hard enough, the flammable liquid inside can set off a catastrophic explosion.

In MENACE, Boarding Commandos are frontline bruisers built for brutal, close-quarters combat. Trained to storm ships and overwhelm defenders, they favor sheer force over finesse. Equipped with Corridor Sweeper Shotguns, Thermite Grenades, and Stun Grenades, they aren’t suited for open battle.

In MENACE, the Pirates’ Laser Truck turns salvaged spaceship tech into a battlefield weapon. Its mounted laser cannon can punch through armored targets with ease but generates extreme heat, forcing it to vent between shots.

In MENACE, EMP Gunners specialize in disabling tech, turning the tide against mechanized forces. Originally trained to neutralize ship defenses, they bring the same expertise to the battlefield, using EMP guns to shut down mechs and vehicles.

Dev Diary #13 is live! In MENACE, discipline and morale shape every battle. A unit’s discipline resists suppression, while morale determines if they stand their ground or break under pressure. Read it here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/577128955243397809

In MENACE, the Pirates’ Chain Gun Truck delivers mobile suppressive firepower. Built on the same chassis as the Rocket Truck, it mounts a heavier chain gun that deals more damage but is still prone to jamming. While unreliable, its sheer volume of fire keeps enemies pinned down.

In MENACE, Chain Gun Teams bring raw suppressive power to pirate assaults. Their portable chain gun is unreliable and prone to jamming, but when it works, it tears through defenses with sheer volume of fire. These pirates focus on pinning enemies down while the rest close in.

Dev Diary #12 is live! In MENACE, missions are turn-based battles with specific objectives. Each mission is part of a larger Operation, where players choose their next engagement. Learn more about the mission types https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/500567043120038945?l=english

In MENACE, Pirate vehicles favor firepower over precision, and the Rocket Truck is no exception. This fast but fragile artillery platform blankets large areas with missile barrages, forcing enemies out of cover. It must reload every other round and relies on speed to stay in the fight.

In MENACE, piracy is rampant in the Wayback, and the Planetary Jingwei has lost its grip on the sector. Once a rare nuisance, pirate bands now raid freely, plundering colonies and hoarding rare off-world trinkets. However, the real danger lies in whoever’s running the show behind the scenes.

Dev Diary #11 is here! This entry covers the fundamentals of combat in MENACE, including the action point system, attack mechanics, and how hit chance, armor, and suppression interact on the battlefield. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/515203109058773565

Dev Diary #10 is live and takes a look at the Space Pirates, a chaotic faction of looters and outlaws in MENACE. Learn about their lore, reckless combat tactics, vehicles, and weapons they bring to the battlefield. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/534342772300185778?l=english

Each Squadleader and Pilot has a unique Perk Tree with exclusive and shared perks. There are four tiers, unlocked by acquiring perks. Some require more investment, but higher tiers aren’t always stronger. With over 40 perks and more planned, the system allows flexible builds and varied playstyles.

Promotions in MENACE are manual, not automatic. Ranks range from Lance Corporal to Master Gunnery Sergeant, with each promotion costing more. Investing in one leader is expensive, but new hires can catch up. Demotions refund some points, though the leader won’t be pleased.

Promotion Points in MENACE are earned per mission by completing objectives, exceeding requirements, or completing events. Ratings factor in logistics, casualties, difficulty, speed, and collateral damage. Higher ratings grant more points, which can be spent after each mission.

Dev Diary #9 is live! This entry covers how Squadleaders and Pilots improve in MENACE. Instead of XP, promotions are deliberate, using points earned from missions. Ranking up unlocks perks, with over 40 available. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/512950040394727467?l=english

Offmap abilities in MENACE provide tactical support during combat. Call in airstrikes, supply drops, or area scans — but plan ahead, as most take a turn to land. Each ability is tied to an installed OCI, and stacking upgrades allows for multiple uses.

Unlocking OCIs in MENACE requires availability and installation. Basic upgrades like missile strikes and med bays are unlocked from the start. Advanced OCIs are gained by building trust with factions. Components for installation are earned by completing full operations.

The Operational Capability Improvement (OCI) system lets you upgrade the TCRN Impetus while it’s active. With 10 slots across Armament, Electronics, and Hull, you can install med bays to heal squads or sensor arrays to reveal enemy intel — stacking upgrades for stronger results.

Dev Diary #8 is live! This Dev Diary covers how the OCI system upgrades the TCRN Impetus mid-operation and the impact of off-map abilities like airstrikes and supply drops. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2432860/view/535466769966436074?l=english

MENACE includes vehicles, like walkers, piloted by a single operator instead of a squad leader. Vehicles occupy one tile and have a health pool. Damage causes “defects,” from overloaded systems to a disabled engine — or even a catastrophic explosion destroying the vehicle.