Welcome back to The High Life!

You've got your sword, your shield, your armor. You're bashing bots, stomping on truffle monsters, and climbing the leaderboard. But… every other fighter around you looks kind of the same, just like you. Have no fear—we're Highstreet after all, and we're ready to help you look your best, in your unique way. Find out about Davey's Store, where everyone goes to choose their next favorite outfit.

Then, we're zooming out with an update from the many folks who are making Highstreet: Calamity a reality. The full blog is on Medium, but scroll down to get the gist of what's being built, how it's being done, and a preview of the exciting things that you'll get to see when the game goes live.

Let's dive in! ⬇️

If you spend enough time in The Lobby, you eventually hear someone mention Davey. He runs the only shop that claims to be properly licensed, and he never misses a chance to remind you. His place feels like a cross between a thrift stall and a booth at a craft fair, packed with goods that look handmade and “authentic,” even if that's only part of the sales pitch. He talks fast, smiles like he knows a secret, and always seems to have inventory that fell off the back of one of the trucks roaring out of the Simulacrum Fulfillment Factory.

Davey's Store is where your S.I.M.U. becomes truly yours. We use the facial customization tools provided by Ready Player Me for everything from features to hair. Everything below the neck comes straight from our own systems: Highstreet bodies, Highstreet animations, and Highstreet style. The two elements fit together so your S.I.M.U. feels grounded, expressive, and personal.

Head to Davey's Store in The Lobby, and you'll find your full character studio waiting. Browse cosmetic sets, try different looks, and watch your S.I.M.U. update instantly on the paperdoll preview. When Highstreet: Calamity launches, you'll be able to choose from full outfits, with individual pieces arriving later as the game expands. Davey also handles visual changes to your gear, so your weapons reflect your style too.

Your Multitool helps you keep track of your collection. It lets you preview everything you own and everything you've discovered. It shows the look, but committing to it means a quick visit to Davey.

Your appearance matters in Highstreet: Calamity. Players read each other quickly, and what you wear becomes part of how you move through the world. As Downtown grows, more shops will arrive with their own specialties, but for now, Davey is the one shaping how people present themselves. Step into his store and build the version of you that feels right.

🛍️ Davey may operate the first storefront, but he won't be the only one near the Robotannical Battledome for long. More specialist shops will appear as the game takes shape. Check out our preview of Davey's Store.

In an update prepared by Highstreet's game design team, we pulled back the curtain on how Highstreet: Calamity is being rebuilt from the ground up to support the best possible player experience. Read about our proprietary Chunk Loading System that makes it easier to explore the vast world that is Solera, while maintaining a level of detail that every player can appreciate. Other aspects of the build make it possible for dozens of players to share a space—after all, what would Highstreet World be without the opportunity to share it with your friends?

All of this comes together in The Lobby, the social hub of Calamity and a gorgeously designed space that features amazing architectural flourishes and foreshadows story beats as more of Highstreet World is released. You can just hang out, or prepare to brave waves of enemies in the Robotannical Battledome, where truffle monsters and corrupted bots are ready to swarm you.

The game designers' update also teases what's coming next for your journey in Highstreet World. You already read about the Multitool in the previous edition of The High Life, and found out about Davey's Store in this one. There are plenty more surprises ready for you in the Early Access of Highstreet: Calamity, so be ready when this first slice of the game goes live!

🧠Check out the November game design update on Medium.

That's all for this issue of The High Life.

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