Hi there!

The High Life is back with a fresh edition — and a major upgrade. Not only are we expanding the scope of this newsletter, we're making it richer and more fun to read, with fresh visuals and captivating trivia about the Highstreet universe, the lore that is the backbone of everything we will release, the games our team is building, and plenty more.

Think of it as a reboot to make our creative process more transparent. Instead of merely logging major milestones, we want to bring the Highstreet community with us on the journey of building Highstreet: Calamity and Highstreet World. You'll get an up-close view of our creative decisions, research and development breakthroughs, and other interactions that shape everything about Highstreet.

Expect plenty of behind-the-scenes content, developer insights, and firsthand stories from the people who are bringing Highstreet City to you.

Welcome to a new era of The High Life, where you are part of the story.

Let's dive in! ⬇️

New Day, New Banner

Meet Laurel and Costello, two FOMO Ducks who have very important jobs in Highstreet City!

Laurel has sea foam green feathers, with naturally tousled “just rolled out of bed” hair. (He thinks it makes him come off as devil-may-care.) Costello, on the other hand, flaunts pink plumage and wears thick-rimmed glasses, which are heroically held together by a single, trusty strip of tape.

This duo aren't just another pair of office dwellers. They man a mysterious but important console, guiding human consciousness into S.I.M.Us. How's that for a day job?

If The High Life's banner caught your eye, then you've already seen Laurel and Costello. They may appear to be living a monotonous life, but every decision and action sparks a chain of comedy and chaos. Prepare to see how one casual experiment involving a partially consumed beverage is about to lead to major repercussions and… full-blown calamity!

Expect mishaps, prepare for adventure. Maybe Laurel and Costello's side quests are more important than they seem. And the bubble tea that's just out of Costello's reach? It's a central character too. Read on to find out how!

Your Arsenal Awaits: The Adept's Weapon Collection

Step right up, future legends! Got your attention? Good, because we're about to talk shop.

Listen, anyone can swing a sword and hope for the best. But you? You're smarter than that. You want precision. You want style. You want weapons that make your enemies question their life choices before they hit the ground. Lucky for you, the Adept's weapon rack is stocked with exactly what you need.

The Short Bow: Your Multi-Target Nightmare Machine

Think small means weak? Think again. This beauty might look compact, but it delivers the perfect balance of accuracy and speed. The Short Bow isn't just about putting one arrow where it counts; it's about owning the entire battlefield when things get hectic.

Here's the magic: the Arrow Spray ability turns you into a walking artillery unit. Fire a wide cone of arrows that hits multiple enemies in a single motion. Each arrow deals damage equal to one basic attack, and here's the kicker — if an enemy is unlucky enough to catch more than one arrow, that damage stacks up. ~~like painful pancakes.~~

This weapon shines when you need to stay mobile and handle multiple threats. When enemies are rushing at you from all sides, the Short Bow keeps you light on your feet while delivering death to everyone in front of you. It's built for players who want tactical flexibility without sacrificing firepower.

Throwing Knives: A Storm of Blades

Why settle for one blade when you can unleash a storm? These aren't your average kitchen knives. We're talking nanite-infused, precision-balanced instruments of destruction that turn overwhelming enemy numbers into your advantage.

But here's what makes these beauties special: you never lose them. Thanks to the Field-Enabled Trajectory Correction Harness (F.E.T.C.H.), the Adept's Magnetic Recall ability summons those blades back. They slice through enemies on the return path, dealing piercing damage as they come home.

Perfect for players who want to focus less on patient precision and more on overwhelming enemies with a flurry of blades. Why wait for the perfect shot when you can turn the battlefield into your personal storm of steel?

Crossbow: The Three-Headed Beast

This confrontational powerhouse is for players who believe in quality over quantity and making every shot count.

One click launches a trio of arrows fired with such force they pierce through enemies like wet paper. We're talking devastating power that trades speed and range for sheer destructive capability. And if you want to get really wild, the Force Blast ability sends your target flying so far across the arena it legally counts as flight.

Sure, this beast takes time to reload, so you better make those shots count. But when each trigger pull can delete enemies and send survivors soaring through the air, who needs rapid fire? This is the weapon for players who love the satisfaction of watching enemies disappear in spectacular fashion.

Choose Your Violence

Each weapon shapes how you fight and how you dominate. The Short Bow for tactical versatility and multi-target control, Throwing Knives for relentless close-range pressure, and the Crossbow for devastating long-range elimination.

Your weapon choice defines your signature ability, your combat rhythm, and your path to victory. Master your chosen tool, and watch as your techniques grow stronger through use.

Your arsenal is bound to you. In The Chaos Gardens, only mastery separates survivors from the fallen.

Feathers & FOMO: Bubble Tea Bedlam

See You in the Arena

Weapons don't win battles on their own… grandmasters do. The Adept's armory offers you versatility, fury, or raw destruction, but it's your skill that decides who walks out of The Chaos Gardens's arena. So take your time, weigh your style, and make the call. Once the gates close and the crowd roars, there's no going back. Every fight, every victory, every downfall, it all starts with the weapon you claim as your own.

That's all for this issue of The High Life. If you have any thoughts on what you'd like us to cover in this newsletter, give us a shout on any of our socials — X, Discord, or Telegram.

Catch up on previous editions at www.highstreet.market/newsletter, and if someone shared this with you, subscribe here so you never miss a blast.