The last two months have been about turning Hex & Hollow from a collection of ambitious systems into a game with a real front door. That journey now begins with a connected account, continues through character creation and server selection, and ends with a character entering a persistent world backed by the dedicated server.
One journey from launcher to world
The standalone Hexxen launcher now handles account sign-in, installation, updates, and launching the game with a secure login handoff. Its updater compares release files and downloads only what has changed, while the launcher itself can check for its own updates. Access checks are tied to the player account so restricted builds are not offered to accounts that do not own the game or have approved early access.
Inside the game, the login flow reports its current state instead of disappearing into a blank transition. Character creation has grown into a staged process covering identity, appearance, heritage, backstory, and a starting profession choice. That profession determines the tools a new character begins with; it does not lock the character out of the wider skill system.
Persistent characters and server authority
Once creation succeeds, the server directory presents the available worlds and carries the new character into their estate. Returning characters load their saved location and persistent state. Character appearance, progression, inventory, wallet, social data, and world actions are resolved through authoritative services rather than temporary client-only values.
The dedicated server and website API now share a much broader set of migrations and transaction paths. Builds are signed and distributed through the Hexxen content network, while the live server remains the authority for gameplay. That foundation is less visible than a new building or creature, but it is what lets every later system belong to the same persistent world.