Hey Super Animals! Lately, there’s one big question we’ve seen popping up across the community: what’s going to happen to Battle Royale and SAR’s other core game modes when Super Animal World launches?

The short answer is they’re just as core to the game as ever, and we’ve got exciting ideas brewing for how to support and evolve them. So this month, we’re taking a closer look at where things stand and kicking off a conversation about where we should take them next.

Also in this month’s Mooseletter:

• A new NPC character from Super Animal World revealed
  
• More of your questions answered in our latest AMA
  
• Incredible fan art from a recent community-run contest

And as a bonus, Mystery Mode is back for the weekend and we’d love to hear how you’d like to see it evolve in the future!
It’s been another productive month for Super Animal World, so it’s time for an update to our very scientific progress bars!

With core gameplay mechanics already in a good spot, this month we’ve focused primarily on storytelling, quest design, and metagame polish. Quest writing has moved up to 35% completion, with the early quests feeling polished, the main storyline steadily advancing, and several new quest types now being implemented and tested.

On the game design front, we completed a comprehensive metagame design document that outlines every current system, upcoming changes and additions in Super Animal World, and remaining tasks ahead of release. This detailed blueprint is proving invaluable for identifying and finalizing the last key elements needed for launch.

This month also marked significant progress on social and friend features, beginning with a necessary update to the game’s underlying engine. Updating an engine can be notoriously finicky, but it’s looking promising so far on PC and we’re now making some fixes on consoles while we continue building out the social systems.

Finally, our UI work continues to move steadily forward. We’ve completed wireframes for most remaining screens, and key screens like the updated Shop and Animal Pass are moving from design to implementation. For Super Animal World, every screen in the game is receiving a top to bottom redesign, making it a massive undertaking, but the updated style is already looking great on the screens we’ve completed so far!

Our core game modes are the heart of Super Animal Royale, and we’ve spent years refining them—nearly eight in the case of Battle Royale! It’s more polished than ever, but there’s still room to grow, and we have some exciting new additions planned. The other modes have had varying levels of iteration so far, and we’ve got bigger ideas for them too, which we’ll dive into below.

Super Animal World’s Social Hub is designed to support and enhance all of our modes while laying the foundation for future ones. It’s not just another mode — it’s the connective tissue between them. Whether you're queuing for a match or exploring between rounds, the Social Hub helps bring it all together in a more social and seamless way.

We know it might be hard to picture how that all fits without seeing it in action, but we’re really happy with how it’s shaping up and can’t wait to show it to you in the coming months. Until then, here’s a look at where each of our modes stands today, what we’ve learned from working on them, and what we’re looking to explore next.

Battle Royale remains our most developed mode, and that depth means we approach changes to it with extra care. We aim to keep the loot pool focused, with each item serving a clear role, while still leaving room for surprises and fun twists. Your feedback, especially in Discord[discord.gg] and across our social channels, continues to be invaluable in helping us fine-tune what belongs and what doesn’t—so keep it coming!

For Battle Royale in the Super Animal World expansion, we're focusing on thoughtful refinements, improving accessibility for newer players, and introducing a few meaningful new systems that deepen the experience without disrupting what already works. The expansion will also include some significant additions to the island itself, which we’re excited to let you discover for yourself when it arrives. While we can’t share specifics just yet, we want you to know that BR remains a core priority. As a small thank you for your patience, we’ve also cooked up something new for the Super Summer Royale event this July, so keep your eyes peeled!

Once Super Animal World is out, The Bwoking Dead is high on our list for a major revamp, similar in scope to S.A.W. vs. Rebellion’s 2022 rework. The core infection gameplay already creates great tension, but we’ve been gathering ideas to push the mode further and make it more engaging across the board.

Two areas we’re especially looking to refine are the pacing of matches and the experience of playing as a Zombie Joe. We want being infected to feel more fun and rewarding, with new tools to pressure survivors and shift the momentum. On the survivor side, we’re exploring ways to encourage more movement around the island to keep matches dynamic and strategies evolving.

We’re still shaping our plans, but this is a mode we’re eager to revisit, and we think it holds a lot of untapped potential.

S.A.W. vs. Rebellion has grown into a great entry point for newer players, thanks to its loadout-based design and the ability to respawn quickly. It offers a lower-pressure way to get familiar with weapons and movement, making it a helpful bridge into Battle Royale.

While the mode feels solid today, we have some ideas we’re looking forward to testing, including potential changes to Twinkle and balance tweaks. As the island evolves, we’re also keeping SvR in mind to see which new locations could support fresh maps for the mode.

Once Super Animal World is out the door, we’ll keep looking for smart ways to evolve and improve the mode, with a focus on making it even more strategic, satisfying, and fun to play across all skill levels.

Mystery Mode was one of our earliest alternate modes, and as a result it’s also the least developed today. We know it has a special place in many of your hearts, but we see a lot of room to reimagine it into something more exciting and replayable while keeping the spirit and wacky variety of the original.

After releasing Mystery Mode, we took time to rethink our approach to new modes. Instead of rushing lots of them out the door, we wanted each one to be deep and fun enough to earn a long-term slot in the game, and we planned to achieve that by continuing to refine and expand modes after their initial release.

We’ve already started brainstorming ideas for Mystery Mode’s future, but since it’ll take significant development time, we plan to revisit it after Super Animal World launches. In the meantime, we’re happy to rotate it in occasionally for those who enjoy its chaotic surprises, and we’d love to hear what you’d be excited to see in a future rework.

Whether it’s Mystery Mode, S.A.W. vs. Rebellion, The Bwoking Dead or Battle Royale itself, your feedback continues to play a big role in how we evolve all of our game modes, so keep letting us know what you want to see in our Discord[discord.gg], here on Steam, and across our socials.

And speaking of Battle Royale’s future in Super Animal World, we’ve got someone special to introduce you to: your feathered flight commander and champion of the skies, Sergeant O’Prey!

Meet Sergeant O’Prey, the majestic Super Eagle that invites you to ride his even more majestic Giant Eagles into the world’s most adorable fight to the death. As CEO of Giant Eagle Airlines, O’Prey is serious about keeping the big birdies in the air, which is why he takes it upon himself to initiate new Super Animal Royale recruits. His love for televised armed conflict is genuine: in fact he was once a Super Animal Royale star combatant himself. Never lost a match! At least…not that he can remember.

Sergeant O’Prey will be there to greet players and get them ready for the Battle Royale, and will serve as your main point of contact for many Battle Royale-related quests in the Social Hub. He’s one of several new characters you’ll meet when landing in Super Animal World, and one we’re incredibly excited for you to get to know.

Every month, we put out a call for questions on Pixile’s Twitter[x.com] and Bluesky[bsky.app] and answer them right here in the Mooseletter!

If you're curious for more, you can browse past Q&As from February, March and April:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/843380/view/506195274633314529
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/843380/view/498317142563750061
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/843380/view/498320313411437016
Each one covers a wide range of questions, and you might just find something you've been wondering about too.

Make sure to follow us so you don’t miss the call next month, and as always, feel free to also share your feedback in the SAR Discord[discord.gg] or start a discussion right here on Steam. :)

From: The CrayV[x.com]
What considerations go into balance and have there been any surprises in something not turning out as expected (like a weapon being very OP or Under powered)?

We always try to make sure something feels fun first and balance it second. It’s much easier to adjust the numbers on something that already feels good than to try to make a perfectly balanced but boring item feel exciting.

That said, we tend to err on the side of caution. Our goal is to avoid anything new completely overtaking the meta, so we often start conservatively and tune up if needed. After something is added, we listen closely to community feedback and watch how players adapt over time. That qualitative feedback is then paired with data to help us understand both how strong something feels and how it’s actually performing. Both perceived and numerical strength are important in crafting a fun experience.

In most cases, new weapons and mechanics have landed pretty close to expectations, but there are always surprises. Sometimes players find creative uses we hadn’t anticipated, or a weapon ends up stronger or weaker than expected in live matches. Either way, we love watching how the community engages with new tools, and we’re always ready to make adjustments when needed.

From: Shack[x.com]
Post-release, what are some features, new game modes, community suggestions, or other general ideas you’d like to look into? Mentioning something that piqued the interest of the dev team is not a promise to fulfill that thing, btw! It’d just be cool to hear what turned heads.

Getting Super Animal World into players’ hands as soon as possible means we’re prioritizing the core features first, but we’ve also been building up a large backlog of post-launch ideas we can’t wait to dig into. Updates to The Bwoking Dead and Mystery Mode are high on that list, along with some exciting new mechanics, potential new game modes and quality of life features.

Ranked is another topic that’s come up both within the team and the community. With how skilled many of you have become, it’s easy to see the appeal of a more competitive format. At the same time, we know it’s a tricky subject, and we want to keep the game’s experience friendly and accessible. We’re exploring ways to scratch that competitive itch without fragmenting the community or losing the game’s lighthearted spirit. No promises yet, but it’s something we’re actively considering for after Super Animal World.

From: Selttiks[bsky.app]
Will there be a new LTM mode introduced into the cycle? Will there be any new weapons introduced or will that be too hard due to the already large variety in the pool?

Designing new game modes is something we’re always thinking about and discussing as a team. Super Animal World introduces hamsterball racing, bug catching and fishing, which each offer a fresh new type of experience, but we’re also excited to add more traditional new modes in the future. We ran a community survey a while back and came away with a ton of great suggestions, and we’ve been building up a list of our own too that expands upon that.

As for weapons, the loot pool is already quite full, and every new addition has the potential to dilute it, making it harder for players to find and use the weapons or throwables they enjoy. That said, we have a few creative ideas for working around this and are continuing to explore ways to introduce new gear while preserving clarity and balance.

From: Amethyst[bsky.app]
Are we going to get more bwoking/zombie related clothing or weapons? Maybe even an emote?

Themed cosmetics for our limited-time modes are a great idea and definitely on our radar! S.A.W. vs. Rebellion already has a milestone reward, and we’d love to build on that with more cosmetics for it and The Bwoking Dead. Maybe even an emote or two. If you have specific ideas you’d be excited to see, let us know!
From: Krowly[bsky.app]
Are you planning to do any major weapon/upgrades changes? Like the impossible tape, cupgrade, etc.

Definitely something we’re interested in. We’d like to take a broader look at the full powerup system and how it could be improved, both as a whole and on an item-by-item basis. We’d also love to hear the community’s thoughts on what you'd like to see added or adjusted. We’re always thinking about weapons too. A few have grown more complex than we'd like, and we’re exploring ways to make their effects feel clearer and more satisfying without losing their unique flavor.

One we’re already eyeing is the Sparrow Launcher. It was designed to be a step up from the Bow & Sparrow, but it doesn’t see as much use as other guns. We love the concept of a tracking weapon, and we think there’s room to help it feel more distinctive. Whether through stat changes or reworked functionality, it’s a great candidate for a deeper look.

While we don’t have a timeline just yet, we’re keeping a close eye on these systems and gathering the ideas we’ll need to give them the attention they deserve.

Back by popular demand, Mystery Mode is available right now through Tuesday, June 3rd!

While a full rework is still planned for after Super Animal World’s launch, we’re excited to bring it back for those who enjoy its chaotic charm. It’s a fun way to mix things up while we keep brainstorming how to make it deeper and more replayable long-term.

In the meantime, we’d love to hear what you enjoy most about the mode and what you’d like to see from a future rework. We’re thinking beyond just adding new modifiers. We’re exploring how the entire mode could evolve into something deeper and more replayable, so don’t hold back! Every bit of feedback helps as we figure out what direction to take it in next.

We’ve been loving the incredible art you’ve been sharing lately, and it’s one of our favorite things to spotlight each month!

We also wanted to give a big shoutout to Atlas, Bearggable, Ruki, Sailoro7, and Garlitbread who hosted a joint solo tourney and community “fan-fanart” contest with the prompt “peace & love on the battlefield.” Many of this month’s featured works come from that event!

Art by ReshimaruArt by TorauArt by L1L4CArt by I Love BTSArt by NeKosanIf you’re posting your fanart on social media, use the hashtag #superanimalroyale or tag us directly so we don’t miss it! You can also share it in our Discord server[discord.gg], where we’ve got active channels just for fan creations and an incredibly talented art community.

We hope this Mooseletter gives you a better sense of where our game modes stand, how we’re thinking about them, and what we’re excited to explore next. If there’s something you’d like us to cover in the next Mooseletter, let us know in the comments—we’re always listening!

For all the latest Super Animal World news, subscribe to our ​​newsletter[animalroyale.com] and follow us on:

[bsky.app][discord.gg]You can also follow us on Facebook[facebook.com], Instagram[instagram.com], Reddit, TikTok[tiktok.com], and Threads[threads.net].

See you on the island, Super Animals!

- Michael, Logan, & the Community team