Hello, everyone! This is KIWIWALKS.

Thank you all for waiting! Our new title is Shade of the Marionette, a story-driven 3D action RPG that carries on the world of WitchSpring while opening a new chapter with a brand-new protagonist.

Some of you may remember Shadow of Witch Marionette, which we briefly showed in a prototype video many years ago. This isn't exactly the same game, but we did promise that we would show you what it could become someday—and now, we've finally been able to bring it to life.

Piyorita's name was inspired by the sounds newly hatched chicks make and the way they look. Piyorita, the protagonist doll known as the "little bird," begins her exploration guided by the voice of the dollmaker who awakened her—much like a newly hatched chick instinctively sees the first being before it as its mother and follows wherever it leads.

From the White Nest Room, Piyorita can travel to many different areas through a large mirror. In certain stages tied to the story, scenes may change slightly depending on the order in which you unlock them. The room has the mirror, of course, but it also has a plush sofa, spellbooks, and a table where Piyorita can assemble dolls.

The world beyond the mirror is home to countless dolls created by the dollmaker. There is only one goal to pursue through this exploration: to become the one and only Masterpiece. How you reach that goal is up to you.

And the dangerous yet captivating "Failures" you meet along the way... will they stand with Piyorita, or against her?

The biggest difference from previous WitchSpring titles is, of course, the shift to action. This time, we're developing the game with a focus not only on raising and strengthening your character, but also on making combat and moment-to-moment action genuinely fun.

With fully 3D action, you can make strategic use of the surrounding terrain and the space above, below, and around you. Alongside magic, Piyorita's mastery of the sword brings an elegant yet varied combat style that we hope will be just as captivating to watch as it is to play.

Shade of the Marionette isn't the kind of action game that requires complex command inputs or keeps your hands constantly busy. Targeting assistance allows anyone to enjoy intense, stylish action, while unlimited dashes and fast-paced, swordplay-driven combat make every encounter even more thrilling.

This is the first full-fledged action game we've shown you... and honestly, we're having a lot of fun making it! 😃

Shade of the Marionette is currently expected to launch in the second half of next year. Release timing may vary by platform, but the game is planned for both PC and consoles.

Because this is the story of a new protagonist, we've wanted to show it to you as soon as possible, and we're so glad the time has finally come. Development is progressing very smoothly, and we're having a great time building the game together with our new team members.

We're always grateful that so many of you still love Pieberry, Luna, Eirudy, Moccamori, and all their friends.

We'll be back soon with another development note!

Our next development note is planned for 2-3 weeks from now. We'll share the official trailer, along with more screenshots focused on combat.

Add Shade of the Marionette to your Steam wishlist and stay tuned, so you can be among the first to hear the latest news!💗