Tag: Netmarble

  • Seven Deadly Sins Origin Update: Merlin & Sealed Sanctuary

    Seven Deadly Sins Origin Update: Merlin & Sealed Sanctuary

    Key Takeaway

    – Merlin is a multi-weapon SSR mage who changes her element (ice, lightning, or fire) based on her equipped weapon.
    – Version 1.5 adds the Sealed Sanctuary zone and Malachite crafting items to advance character mastery.
    – Engraved Equipment can now be stacked with standard armor, preserving set bonuses while adding unique traits.
    – The five-player raid “Taranis’s Sanctuary” offers top-tier armor drops twice a week, focusing on fire and wind weaknesses.
    – Cube Keys are no longer required to collect standard elite boss drops.


    Netmarble Dropped a Massive Content Patch for The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin

    The big new thing is Merlin, shes a multi-weapon SSR battlemage that changes how players think about magic squads. Her inclusion is rewriting endgame strategies for upcoming boss content, letting you optimize in ways not posible before. Its a game changer for those who like to min-max.

    The Version 1.5 Update and Sealed Sanctuary Zone

    Version 1.5 also expands the map with a zone called the Sealed Sanctuary, hidden behind aggressive desert sandstorms. This mysterious region holds specialized crafting items like Malachite needed to advance character mastery ranks, so players can jump straight into the zone by progressing through the main campaign update. Its a direct path to better gear.

    Unlike traditional characters locked to a single combat style, Merlin shifts her entire elements matrix based on her weapon choice. Equipping a Grimoire focuses her build around ice attacks, freezing opponents after stacking up passive status marks. Swapping over to a Wand transitions her into a fast lightning damage dealer built around quick ability cooldowns.

    Burst Performance with Staff Configuration

    Players looking for massive burst performance can run her with a Staff instead. This fire attribute configuration lets Merlin summon active mirror clones to distract enemies while building a massive burst gauge. Activating this mechanic allows her to fire off ultimate abilities without spending a single point of mana, which is huge for resource management.

    Overhauled Gearing and Progression Systems

    Netmarble used this update to overhaul high-tier character gearing and progression limitations. The new system architecture allows players to stack Engraved Equipment alongside standard tier armor pieces simultaneously. This tweak ensures players preserve vital five-piece set bonuses while still inheriting unique standalone Engraved traits, making builds more flexible.

    The update introduces a five-player raid dungeon named Taranis’s Sanctuary to test these newly configured builds. The zone offers top-tier armor drops twice a week for teams capable of exploiting fire and wind elemental weaknesses. Netmarble also removed the old requirement that forced players to spend Cube Keys just to collect standard elite boss drops, which streamlines the grind enormously.

    Other Updates and Netmarble’s Focus

    Netmarble isnt just focusing on open-world fantasy tweaks right now. The studio is running a parallel meta shakeup in its other major action game, which you can track by reading our breakdown of how the Solo Leveling Arise June update introduces Buster class mechanics. Its a busy time for the publisher.

     

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  • Solo Leveling Arise June Update: Buster Class

    Solo Leveling Arise June Update: Buster Class

    Key Takeaway

    – Liu Zhigang, a Fire-attribute SSR, is now in the gacha and changes endgame team building.
    – New “Buster” class replaces shields with stored damage for burst attacks.
    – Surtur’s Flame artifact set boosts offensive stats and is exclusive to Buster units.
    – Shadow companions no longer cost resources to summon, fixing a progression issue.
    – Chapters 32-34 and a new dungeon, The First Land, are now available for endgame players.


    Netmarble just dropped a massive balance patch for Solo Leveling: Arise. The headline addition is Liu Zhigang, China’s top hunter, who enters the gacha pool as a Fire-attribute SSR unit. His arrival completely upends how endgame players build teams for high-level raids.

    The patch also introduces the Buster class to break up a stale combat meta. This specific archetype drops traditional shields and defensive breaks entirely. Busters store up damage metrics while an enemy stays immune, releasing a massive burst payload right when the phase ends.

    Liu Zhigang weapon mastery and special moves

    Netmarble built Liu Zhigang to match his weapon-master identity in the original webtoon. He switches between twin blades, spears, bows, and greatswords right in the middle of an attack chain. Special moves like Hidden Dragon provide heavy forward momentum while swatting away incoming ranged attacks.

    New artifact set and exclusive perks

    A dedicated artifact set called Surtur’s Flame drops alongside the banner to maximize this raw offensive power. Running the full eight-piece set gives a massive passive lift to attack and defense stats while multiplying elemental weakness damage. Sung Jinwoo gets no benefit from this gear because the perks lock exclusively to the Buster role.

    The update completely removes resource costs for calling in shadow companions during active matches. Players no longer have to carefully ration rare upgrade tokens just to maintain a baseline level of damage output. This single tweak fixes an annoying progression hurdle that slowed down the daily loop.

    Story progression and new zones

    Story progression scales up with the arrival of chapters 32 through 34 on both hard and reverse hard modes. Players sitting at battle class 85 can jump straight into a high-tier workshop dungeon named The First Land. Sung Jinwoo also picks up two fresh wind-attribute weapons to fill out his elemental coverage for these brutal endgame zones.

    Netmarble’s patch strategy and comunity response

    Netmarble relies heavily on this rapid patch cadence to keep mobile players hooked on the daily grind. Constant character drops and sweeping mechanical reworks show how the studio manages its top-earning properties over time.

  • Seven Deadly Sins: Origin March 22 Hotfix Fixes Sound Issues

    Seven Deadly Sins: Origin March 22 Hotfix Fixes Sound Issues

    Key Takeaways

    1. Sound Issue Resolved: A bug causing improper sound playback has been fixed shortly after being identified.

    2. Gameplay Improvements: The patch addresses several gameplay issues, including shortcut settings, progress loss during boss fights, and tutorial problems.

    3. Patch Details and Compensation: Players will receive rewards (Star Fragment x300 and Large Cube Key Bundle x1) for the inconveniences caused by the issues.

    4. Timing and Importance: The hotfix is released just before the game’s grand launch on March 23, focusing on stability and gameplay issues rather than new content.

    5. In-game Announcement: An in-game notice will offer updates and experiences for players regarding the maintenance.


    Netmarble has announced a temporary maintenance update on March 22 for The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, which is more than just a simple backend update. The official statement indicates that this hotfix resolves a bug that caused sound issues in specific situations, modifies the [New Clothes, New Beginnings] quest to allow completion after engraving equipment, even if the earlier equip mission wasn’t finished, and corrects a problem where Cube Keys could recharge after being used if players rejoined the game. Additionally, Netmarble mentioned they are looking into data related to the repeated misuse of the Cube Key error and will provide more information later.

    Sound Issue Resolved

    The sound fix is particularly noteworthy because Netmarble had previously identified improper sound playback as a known problem on March 20. Just two days later, this issue is reported as resolved in the March 22 maintenance update, suggesting that the team quickly addressed at least some of the audio concerns raised by players after the game’s launch.

    Focus on Gameplay Improvements

    The remainder of the patch primarily targets gameplay progression, controls, and event logic. According to Netmarble, they have fixed the resetting of shortcut settings after reconnecting on PC, an issue where progress could be lost if a player died during the Orgot boss fight and the encounter didn’t reset, problems with tutorial character switch key recognition, and two Albion-related concerns regarding respawn locations and boss behavior in areas with restricted movement.

    Patch Details and Compensation

    Furthermore, the update corrects Elaine’s Wand Skill Special Attack “Whirlwind Veil” to ensure its damage-over-time effect activates every second as expected, alongside a Knighthood approval bug and an error with purchasing the Meliodas Growth Mission Bundle for PlayStation 5 controllers.

    To compensate for the inconveniences, players will receive Star Fragment x300 and an additional Large Cube Key Bundle x1, both available for collection from the in-game mailbox until April 5 at 14:59 UTC. Netmarble also cautions that PlayStation 5 users might encounter a large update file following maintenance, which aligns with the significant patch sizes reported by some users during the release week.

    Timing and Importance

    The timing of this hotfix is significant as it arrives just before the game’s grand launch window on March 23. Netmarble previously stated in Developer Notes #6 that they were focusing on crashes, gameplay blockers, and other player-related issues for prompt resolution. Therefore, the March 22 patch appears to be another update aimed at improving stability rather than introducing new content.

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  • Seven Deadly Sins: Origin Launch Faces Major Audio Issues

    Seven Deadly Sins: Origin Launch Faces Major Audio Issues

    Key Takeaways

    1. Netmarble acknowledges various issues with The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin during Early Play on PS5 and Steam and is actively working on solutions.
    2. The game’s Early Play began on March 16, 2026, with a full Grand Launch for mobile platforms set for March 23, 2026.
    3. Audio issues are a significant problem, with players reporting unclear voices and sound effects, despite background music functioning.
    4. Other known issues include difficulties joining parties, and players are advised to contact customer support if problems persist after reconnecting.
    5. Netmarble will regularly update the Version 1.0 known-issues post as they work to stabilize the game before the mobile launch.


    Netmarble has released an official notice regarding Version 1.0 Known Issues for The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, acknowledging that the newly launched game is facing various issues as Early Play continues on PS5 and Steam. In the Steam announcement, the company mentioned that it is looking into the reasons behind these problems, working on solutions, and will keep updating the notice as more issues are found or fixed.

    Launch Window Details

    The official launch timeline is still staggered across different platforms. Netmarble began Early Play for PlayStation 5 and Steam on March 16, 2026, while the full Grand Launch for iOS, Android, and Google Play Games is set for March 23, 2026. This indicates that the present bug reports are coming in during the game’s initial playable week on console and PC, rather than after the complete mobile launch.

    Audio Issues

    One of the more prominent problems involves sound. A screenshot captured within the game displays a notice stating that “sound may not play properly in certain situations.” This aligns with user complaints that have started to emerge in Steam discussions regarding the launch version.

    In a particular Steam thread, one player noted that while background music was functional, voices and sound effects were unclear, and another mentioned that the game had no audio after the company intro. While these reports do not provide a complete technical analysis, they correlate with the in-game warning and suggest that the audio issue is impacting more than just a single setup.

    Other Known Issues

    Netmarble’s notice on Steam confirms that the list of known issues goes beyond audio problems. The currently indexed version of the announcement reveals that the company is aware of at least one issue where joining a party might fail under specific circumstances. Netmarble advises players who still cannot proceed after reconnecting to reach out to customer support, emphasizing that some issues may not be fixed just by restarting.

    For the moment, Netmarble’s official statement indicates that fixes are underway, and the Version 1.0 known-issues post will serve as the primary source of updates. With the mobile launch only a few days away, the studio has a brief timeframe to stabilize the release before The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin expands to platforms beyond PS5 and Steam.

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  • Free RPG Inspired by Anime Tops Steam’s Trending Chart Before Launch

    Free RPG Inspired by Anime Tops Steam’s Trending Chart Before Launch

    Key Takeaways

    1. Well-Known Franchise: The game is based on the popular anime and manga series, The Seven Deadly Sins, enhancing its appeal.

    2. Original Storyline: The narrative centers on Prince Tristan, the child of Meliodas and Elizabeth, set after a major disruption in time and space.

    3. Open-World Exploration: The game features a fully open-world format, allowing players to explore a reimagined Britannia with various activities beyond combat.

    4. Engaging Combat System: It includes real-time action combat with character switching and strategic “Tag Skills,” moving away from traditional turn-based mechanics.

    5. Launch Strategy: The game will be available on PC and PlayStation 5 on March 16, 2026, with mobile versions following on March 23, aiming for a smooth launch experience.


    Anime-themed open-world RPGs have been popping up frequently on Steam lately, but only a handful boast a well-known global franchise backing them. One such game is The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, which is currently trending high on Steam’s “Trending and Upcoming” lists right alongside titles like Crystalfall as its release in March draws near.

    Development and Storyline

    Developed and published by Netmarble, this game is set within the realm of The Seven Deadly Sins. It features an original storyline centered on Prince Tristan of Liones, who is the offspring of Meliodas and Elizabeth. The story kicks off after a significant disruption in time and space, allowing the game to showcase familiar characters while introducing new friends and foes.

    Open-World Exploration

    In a departure from previous game adaptations in the franchise, Origin is set to launch with a completely open-world format. Gamers can explore a creatively reimagined Britannia, filled with forests, mountains, and coastal areas, all enriched by dynamic weather and a day-night cycle that constantly alters the surroundings. Players can engage in various activities beyond mere combat, including fishing, cooking, and gathering resources to level up their character.

    Engaging Combat System

    The combat is real-time and action-oriented. Players have the ability to switch between characters during fights, activating coordinated “Tag Skills” that rely heavily on team strategy and timing. The gameplay features intense encounters, emphasizing skill management over traditional turn-based mechanics. Additionally, optional multiplayer mode accommodates up to four players for shared dungeon explorations and cooperative adventures.

    Netmarble has adjusted its launch strategy slightly from previous announcements: Origin will initially be available on PC (Steam) and PlayStation 5 starting March 16, 2026, with iOS and Android versions set to follow on March 23. The company aims to provide players with a smooth launch experience, especially after improvements were made following last year’s closed beta tests.

    Looking Ahead

    The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin holds a considerable amount of promise—it’s essentially a free-to-play venture based on a widely recognized manga and anime franchise. It will be fascinating to observe how this title is received next month. For more details, you can visit the game’s Steam store page here.

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