For the past six months, the Reforj art and engineering teams have been working on one of the most ambitious changes in the game’s development so far. Today, we’re excited to pull back the curtain on Title Update 8, introducing an entirely new visual direction for Reforj powered by Rixels.
If you’ve played Reforj before, now is the perfect time to jump back in. And if you’ve been waiting for a reason to join the playtest, this update is the biggest transformation the game has seen yet.
Meet the Rixel
At first glance, a Rixel might look familiar. Much like pixels are the building blocks of traditional digital art, Rixels are the building blocks of Reforj’s new visual identity—but they’re capable of much more. Traditional pixel art relies entirely on square shapes. Rixels can currently take on up to 23 unique shapes, with each shape supporting its own material properties such as metallic levels, roughness, and more. The result is a world that feels sharper, cleaner, and far more expressive while retaining the charm and readability that players love.
The idea emerged from a challenge many voxel-style games face: creating crisp, geometric artwork without sacrificing visual clarity. The previous faceted art style often struggled with diagonal lines and fine details, which could appear fuzzy or inconsistent. To solve that problem, the team experimented with multiple approaches. By combining vector-inspired techniques with custom geometric block shapes, the programmers developed a solution that immediately stood out—not just as a technical improvement, but as the foundation of an entirely new artistic direction.
And so, the Rixel was born.
A New Look for Reforj
While Rixels began as a technical solution, they quickly became the foundation for a completely new artistic vision for Reforj. From environmental textures to mobs and characters, every corner of the game has been touched by this new technology. Whether you’re exploring familiar locations or seeing Reforj for the first time, the difference is immediately noticeable.
Smaller Files, Bigger Possibilities
The benefits of Rixels extend far beyond aesthetics. Under the previous system, a single texture could require a 512×512 image, consuming approximately 4MB of storage. Thanks to Rixels, that same texture can now be represented in roughly 72KB. That’s a 98.2% reduction in storage requirements.
Why does that matter?
By dramatically reducing texture storage costs, Rixels unlock new possibilities for the future of Reforj. The team now has greater flexibility to create more content, experiment with new materials, and explore ideas that simply weren’t practical before. For players, that means a stronger foundation for future updates and continued innovation as development progresses.
Get the Latest Build
Join the preview in the XBOX Insider Hub to play today and discover the world of Reforj.
- Sign-in on your XBOX Series X|S console and launch the XBOX Insider Hub app (or install the XBOX Insider Hub from the Store first if necessary)
- Navigate to Previews > Reforj
- Select Join
- Wait for registration to complete. You’ll then be redirected to the Store, where you can install Reforj Pre-Alpha.
NOTE: Please reboot your console after completing the enrollment process to ensure you receive the latest preview build.
NOTE: This playtest is only available on XBOX Series X|S consoles.
Want to connect with other players, share your creations, discuss the latest updates, and get the latest news from the development team? Join the Reforj community on the Reforj Discord and be part of the conversation as the game continues to evolve.
We Want Your Feedback
This update represents months of experimentation, iteration, and collaboration across the art and engineering teams. Now it’s time for players to experience it firsthand. Whether you’re a returning player eager to see what’s changed or a newcomer curious about the future of Reforj, we invite you to jump in and explore the game with fresh eyes.
If you encounter bugs, performance issues, visual glitches, or have thoughts about your experience, please submit feedback directly from your XBOX console:
- Hold down the XBOX button on your controller.
- Select Report a problem.
- Select the Games category and Reforj Pre-Alpha subcategory.
- Fill out the report with as much detail as possible to help our team investigate.
Every report helps us identify issues, prioritize improvements, and make Reforj a better experience for everyone.
Other Resources:
For more information: follow us on X/Twitter at @XBOXInsider and this blog for announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on the XBOX Insider SubReddit.
