Blades of Fire is making a comeback, not that it ever really went away. At the very start of Loot Level Chill’s life, we spoke to Enric Alvarez, CEO & Founder of MercurySteam about the game. So what better time than to speak to Enric again about the big 2.0 update.
Not only is Blades of Fire getting a new game plus mode, extra challenge level, new weapons and parts, but this 2.0 mode also adds a photo mode, boss revival mode, and even more. On top of that, the game is coming to Steam now as well, which yes, means Steam Deck support. So without further ado, let’s get to the man in question and find out more.
Enric Alvarez, CEO & Founder of MercurySteam
How are you doing, we last spoke over a year ago, right in the middle of the preview run. How’s life treating you now? I hope you’re warmer than when we were that blacksmith’s house by the fire!
Hi! I remember that -seriously-, and I’m glad to hear from you. Life—well, you know how it is—sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you, but I can’t complain.
At what stage did you start to think about this 2.0 version, and what it might entail?
2 things: First, we always wanted to do something very special for the Steam launch. And second, Some things were always in us—systems, ideas, directions we hadn’t pushed far enough. Others came from watching players engage with the world, where they leaned in, where they pulled away.
Version 2.0 is the result of that reflection.
A lot of the new contents seem to focus on difficulty (reviving bosses, new game plus, challenge level), is that based on community feedback? Did you ever think about a “super easy” mode, for story lovers as well?
We already have an “easy” mode for those who prefer enjoying progression over challenge. And I should say that some of the most significant additions will allow players to imbue their weapons with spells that Adso will read from his book—provided you’ve earned them beforehand. It’s not so much about increasing difficulty as it is about re-parameterizing the level of challenge involved in progressing through the story.
Just how hard is “Titanium Mode”, then? Are we going to pull our hair out? Back in early 2025 you told us “this is not a pure souls-like”, does it get closer to that with this difficulty mode?
Blades of Fire has never been a Souls game. I see why some people label it that way, but it’s my duty to tell you all the truth. And the truth is that the only thing Blades borrows from Souls games are the bonfires—which in our case are anvils. Everything else—the narrative, aesthetic, and gameplay—draws from other sources, among which our Blade of Darkness stands out. That was the first game the founders of MercurySteam developed before creating the studio, back in the year 2000.
Blade of Darkness was already devilishly difficult. It already had tactical combat with swords, axes, hammers… lock on enemies, wild mutilations and a dark story that was barely spelled out and had to be uncovered by the player. And all that 9 years before the first Souls game came out. Those are our roots as a studio, and Blades of Fire is our heartfelt homage to the game that gave us our start in the industry.
How in depth with the photo mode have you gone? Guessing there will be filters and the like. Any specific features you’d like to call out for that mode?
We’ve gone very, very deep with Photo Mode. You’ll be able to do incredible things and give any scene you want to craft a fully cinematic finish. Seriously—you’re going to be blown away.
Can you go into any details on the rewards you might get from Boss Revival Mode?
I love that you’re asking that! Basically, Boss Revival Mode will let you earn spells for your weapons. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but it’s worth playing Blades 2.0 just for that—it adds a really fun tactical layer that completely changes the experience.
Given how the combat feels deliberate in Blades of Fire, does changing the animation transitions affect that at all? Did it require a lot of careful testing to ensure it stays smooth and responsive?
It won’t affect it at all. We’ve been very careful with that, and the feel of combat hasn’t been compromised in the slightest. It took us too much time and effort to achieve that balance to mess it up now. Don’t worry!
Are the new achievements tied to the new modes, or are they just new things you’ve come up with for the existing game as well?
You’ll have both.
Steam Deck support is a fantastic thing to hear. How difficult is it to tune for a portable PC like that?
Let’s say it was “challenging”. But it works fine!
On that note, what sort of fidelity and frame rate can Steam Deck players expect to see when the Steam version comes out? Can you give us numbers, even if it’s a rough idea. 30fps, 60fps, etc?
The game runs at a solid 30 FPS for most of the time.
Thanks to Enric for taking time to speak to us.
Blades of Fire is out now for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. The new 2.0 update launches alongside the Steam release on May 14th.
