HellSign will be released in Q2 2021:

As many of you have been asking for years, we’re pleased to finally announce the release of HellSign!

Thank you!
It’s been 5 years since the conception of HellSign, a labor of love, with countless sleepless nights and the help of an amazing community, it has transformed into the game you see today!
Honestly, HellSign wouldn’t be half the game it is without the community, so first and foremost just wanted to give a huge shout out and massive thanks to every one of you who have supported the game!

Why now?
There’s always the dreaded time when a game development has run its course. Like every aspiring indie developer, we wish we could have kept working on it and adding content & new chapters endlessly, but as such this is also our day job, and we need to pay the bills ;)
To be transparent the game hasn’t been profitable for quite a while now, which signals the time to wrap things up. We are very glad to have even been able to get this far past launch and add so much stuff thanks to your support, and only humbly hope you had a fun ride too in the Early Access!

Launch Specifics
HellSign is due to launch Q2 2021, as mentioned above there won’t be any new post-endgame content added (eg: additional chapters) from this point on, nor any major reverts, as we have our hands full preparing for launch and tying up loose ends (e.g. bugs, QoL, a couple of goodies etc).

It’s been a wild ride, hope you enjoy your holidays and stoked to move to full release next year!

-Ballistic

A new update for HellSign brings combat improvements.

HellSign v1.0.1.0 Update

15 Mar @ 7:03pm - Ballistic

Greetings hunters, the first combat update is upon us!

Surface Bullet Penetration System
Bullets now pierce light surfaces such as chairs, cabinets and the majority of the interior furniture, but stops at hard surfaces such as floor and wall foundations.
This was added to address the issue of furniture ‘consuming’ shots and adding artificial difficulty to target enemies.

Precision Toggle
Precision aim mode can now be toggled via a single click, and will stay in that mode until you holster/switch that gun.
This allows for smoother play as you can now focus on other things like dodging, reload, etc.
This setting is on by default, and we highly recommend veteran players to give it a few minutes to get used to it, however we’ve included an option in settings to change it back to the old “hold” mode.

Crosshair Revamp
The crosshair is now more distinct (previously was hard to see on white surfaces).
It also has its own size options in the settings. (to prevent tiny crosshairs in hardware mode).

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A new update from HellSign lets us know what is coming next.

Roadmap News

30 Jan @ 3:25pm - Ballistic

We had a blast working on HellSign in 2018, but we’re just getting started!

Aside from the critical fixes released last week (e.g. savegame safewrite, cabinet blocking room, etc), we have been listening to and watching the community play HellSign, and isolated what needs to be tackled next.
We have some amazing stuff planned for you guys, and the first step is to lay some strong foundations!

Quest log & Operation Manual
We will be adding the much requested quest log & operational manual. This will allow you to keep track of your current contracts, as well as gain a deeper understanding into the inner mechanics of HellSign.

Combat & Optimization
You asked for it, and you’re gonna get it!
Although we do enjoy seeing people die, we imagine getting lag raped by a kelpie can be frustrating at times!
So it’s imperative to improve combat & optimization as a stepping stone, before we can begin adding new enemies in ;)

Localization Workshop Support
There have been numerous offers to help translate the game, and based on suggestions on the forum, we’re planning to add workshop support for fan translations.

New Stuff
Once those are in we can really start rolling with the good stuff, but we don’t wanna spoil the surprise just yet :P

We’re pumped & super excited for the year ahead, with every patch we will make hellsign bigger, better, and thicker!
Thank you for being part of what we think is the best community on Early Access! You rock - and looking forward to your continued involvement with HellSign in 2019!

Cheers!
Ballistic

A new update for HellSign announces a new tutorial mission called Forensics, to ease newcomers into the game.

HellSign v1.0.0.7 Update

5 December - Ballistic

Greetings hunters,

For this update we're releasing a job we’ve been working on the last couple of weeks, Forensics!
This is a beginner mission, which is sort of an extended replayable tutorial, to allow new players to the genre to practice their skills and make a bit of cash.

We hope it will ease the difficulty curve for new players .... and hey if you're struggling even in this new job, remember there's always King Street ;)

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This might be the last patch before the holidays, but stay tuned as we’ll release an announcement soon.

And until then, happy hunting!

A preview of HellSign by Cultured Vultures finds the game promising but unfinished.

But this preparation is nothing without the firepower and wherewithal to back it up, and this is where HellSign’s fantastic concept becomes marred by its clunky controls and combat mechanics. Shooting can be downright frustrating at times due to the aim reticule’s minuscule size and the nimble hyper nature with which smaller enemies maneuver environments. The guns available in the early hour of the game also do next to no damage, resulting in pissing through ammo to kill just a few enemies. And these are just the smaller critters. Do not even consider facing tougher enemies unless you have more premium firearms which come at an incredibly high cost. Considering how little cash most contracts pay, the player must resort to grinding missions over and over if they wish to be able to afford gear allowing them to survive even the tamest fights. At the moment, the lack of mission variety and amount of grinding dozens of haunted houses becomes tedious after a few hours. I’m hopeful that this will be addressed down the road with future updates.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

HellSign was released onto Steam Early Access recently and a couple of sites have previewed it.

PCInvasion

Hunting missions are where HellSign really shines. They’re lethally dangerous for an unprepared hunter, and they require you to really make use of all the extra bits and pieces you can purchase. As you uncover clues in these areas, you’ll learn more about what you’re facing and what its weaknesses are, and thus you’ll figure out whether you need to set up UV lights to weaken it, or propane tanks for massive explosive trauma. Will silver bullets be effective, or incendiary rounds? And while you’re figuring this out, you can expect tentacles to slither out from the ground or doors to grow mouths.

[...]

Cram-Gaming

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Here is a look at HellSign gameplay from the PC version after some hours playing and getting to grips with the systems on offer. This is an action role playing game with paranormal elements and investigations. Releases on Steam Early Access November 9th 2018.

Thanks Farflame!

HellSign is available no in Early Access on Steam.

Research. Remove. Repeat. Supernatural RPG HellSign Out Now on Steam Early Access

AUSTRALIA -- November 9, 2018 - Bust out your Cryptonomicon, because hardcore supernatural RPG, HellSign, is available now on Steam Early Access! Blending in-depth location-based investigation and research, with nail-biting paranormal hunting action, experience the tension of stepping into the unknown, collecting clues, trying to figure out what you're up against and eliminating it before it takes you out.

Geists lurking in the shadows? Giant, toothy, door mimics? Massive man-eating spiders? Drawing influence from a wide range of paranormal monster of the week TV shows and spine-tingling survival horror games, HellSign features a diverse and horrifying cast of creatures to research and hunt down across procedurally generated locales that'll leave you questioning whether you should have grabbed a flare or spectral projector.

Sporting a feature-complete gameplay experience, HellSign's Early Access launch represents the first of three distinct chapters to Ballistic Interactive's supernatural story. In addition to releasing the game's final two chapters over time as they move towards a full launch in late 2019, the team at Ballistic are committed to working with the community as they lock and load for an experience that'll leave you feeling like a bonafide Winchester or member of the Scooby Squad.

For more information about what's available now and what will be available come the full launch, take a look at below:

 

Early Access Launch Features:

Story mode - Chapter 1 of 3

3 bosses and 13 creatures to hunt

Gameplay feature-complete

10-12 hours of gameplay

 

Full Game Launch Features:

Story mode told over three chapters

12+ bosses and 25+ creatures to hunt

3+ job locations to investigate

Enhancements and tweaks to core gameplay

40 hours of gameplay

 

HellSign is available now on Steam Early Access (PC), retailing for $14.99 USD. For more information on the game and updates on it's journey to 1.0, be sure to check it out on Steam, follow Ballistic Interactive on Twitter and Facebook, and check out the official website!

About HellSign

• Tricks Of The Trade - Start your journey with a flickering torch, rusty gun and a whole lot of guts. Complete jobs to develop your skills and learn more about the monsters that haunt the night. Develop your character and build your arsenal through a detailed RPG and job system. Become an elite hunter and get your revenge.

• Choose Your Contracts - There are all manner of creatures prowling the streets, from ghosts to hellhounds, monstrous spiders to demons. Which order you take on contracts is up to you, but each monster you slay brings you closer to unearthing the dark truth that's been stalking you.

• Hunt, Or Be Hunted - How you clear the town is up to you. Go in guns blazing and let your shotgun do the talking, or plan and research your targets to use their weaknesses against them.

• Study Your Prey - As a hunter, knowledge is one of your greatest weapons. Read your environment and uncover the weaknesses of the creatures you're hunting, to make it a little easier to slay them. The Cryptonomicon is your hunter guidebook, tracking the creatures you've slain and the signs you've collected.

Use Your Tools - From shotguns and booby traps, to silver nitrate rounds and high tech gadgets - there are many tools in your arsenal to help you fight the darkness. Choosing what to bring with you, and when to use it can be the difference between victory and a grizzly defeat.

A brief but succinct preview for HellSign from Worthplaying.

...

HellSign's story is being written by novelist C. Michael McGannon, co-author of the Charlie Sullivan and the Monster Hunters series of young adult novels, and is one half of the humorous, father/son duo known as The Monster Guys, mixing humor, folklore, and all manner of comedic improv to special events. His other titles include: KAOS Obsidere: The Nightmare Has Begun (Dark Waters Press); Hollow World: Escape From Limbo (vol. 1) & Hollow World: The Thief’s Sacrifice (vol. 2) (Incendia Books); and, Yokai Tales: Stories From Japan’s Grand & Mysterious Tradition of Folklore (Incendia Books).

An expert in all things “monster,” Mr. McGannon brings an “academic humor” to the subjects of folktales, urban legends, and storytelling. Michael is a fan of stories, of libraries, of books, of Japanese and British humor, and of ginger beer and dark chocolate. When not writing or attending conventions, he is usually recovering from all-night gaming excursions.

Thanks Farflame!

An update on HellSign announces a release date of November 7th.

Hey everyone and thanks so much for your enthusiasm regarding the HellSign upcoming release!

We have said that HellSign would be in your hands in the second quarter of 2018, and we wanted to give you an update on that.

We are very proud to announce that HellSign will be releasing on November 7th 2018! We know that this isn't as soon as you all hoped, and we hate not delivering when we say we will. As many of you know, we recently had a major upset involving trademarking issues which resulted in a name change for the game. Dealing with this setback cost us valuable time being two indie devs.

The other reason is we've added a whole lot of awesome elements to give you a more complete representation of the final game. These include deeper RPG elements, investigation mechanics, and (with the help of a professional author) a unique lore, story & dialogue.
We've decided to hold on localization, to keep things open ended for the community feedback, as we believe together we can create the best supernatural hunting experience, and a sincere apology to all our non-english speaking fans, we haven't forgotten about you :)

We are sure the wait will be worth it, and we can't wait to get HellSign in your hands! We've included a little sneak peek for the backstories of some of the characters for you to check out!

Finally, we want to say a big huge thanks to all of our supporters. This game wouldn't be happening without you, and we wouldn't be out here making our dream game. So we ask that you stick with us and hang on for the next five months; we are so excited to finally be able to share HellSign with you!

HellSign was formerly known as Hellhunter. An update on the Steam page explains why the change was necessary.

Name change to HellSign announcement

28 February - Ballistic Interactive

First of all a big thank you to all of our fans for their great support so far, which has pushed us onward. This has helped us improve the upcoming launch, and given us belief in what we are creating. Everything is falling into place, with the addition of 100+ hunting gadgets + weaponry, 90+ skills and countless fierce enemies to test them on!

So as the title suggests, we have big announcement to make, and without further ado, we present the new name for our Investigation Hunting RPG, HellSign!

Why we changed the name?

Hellhunter is becoming HellSign due to trademark issues. Given out limited indie budget, we had two choices, buy the trademark and cut large amounts of content from the game, or change the name. Needless to say, we chose to change the name as we want to deliver the best gaming experience possible for our loyal fans.

Why we chose HellSign?

As our new best seller writer, C. Michael McGannon is constructing the gritty game universe with a mouth droppingly shocking bloody story. HellSign has quickly become a central element in the world, a cursed tattooed brand which allows hunters to tap into the supernatural, but at a great cost.

With your support, we will continue to push forward and better the game to create the best possible experience, as well as a breath of fresh air in the world of gaming and beyond.

Thank you for reading, the HellSign Team

Hellhunter narrowly failed in its Kickstarter attempt but development has continued and it has now been listed on Steam according to the latest update.

Hellhunter is now on the Steam Store!

Lock and load, bait your traps and pack your Cryptonomicon - the nightmares are coming.

Add Hellhunter to your wishlist now, because we're actively developing the game and have lots of announcements coming soon.

Thanks to everyone who's supported us to get this far on social media and Kickstarter, we think you'll love what's coming.