Hold Your King Update History: Complete Patch Notes Timeline

Early Access Launch (June 2026)

Hold Your King entered Early Access on June 10, 2026, bringing the chaotic co-op physics platformer to PC via Steam. The initial build featured 12 handcrafted medieval levels, each designed to test coordination and patience. Players could team up in local or online multiplayer to carry the暴躁 king through spike pits, swinging axes, and collapsing bridges.

Key additions at launch:

• Core campaign with 12 levels across 3 biomes (Castle, Forest, Dungeon)
• 4 playable character skins (default unlocks)
• Basic physics engine for king-carrying mechanics
• Local split-screen and online co-op support
• Leaderboard system for fastest completion times

The development team at Next Big Game Studio emphasized that the Early Access period would focus on community feedback to refine level design and balance.

Patch 1.1 – The Stability Update (June 14, 2026)

Released just days after launch, this patch addressed critical feedback from the player base. The developers acknowledged server stability issues during peak hours and delivered fixes promptly.

Bug fixes:

• Resolved desync issues in online co-op sessions
• Fixed king AI getting stuck on geometry in Forest biome
• Corrected collision detection on spike traps
• Improved network latency for cross-region play

Quality of life:

• Added respawn timer display (3-second delay after king falls)
• Reduced camera shake intensity during explosions
• Increased grab range for carrying the king by 15%

This update set the tone for the studio's commitment to rapid iteration based on player reports.

Patch 1.2 – Balance Pass & New Traps (July 2026)

The first major content update introduced 3 new trap types and rebalanced the difficulty curve. Players had complained that the Dungeon biome was too punishing, while the Castle biome felt too easy.

New content:

• Rolling boulder traps in Forest biome
• Flame jets on timers in Dungeon biome
• Breakable floor tiles in Castle biome

Balance changes:

• Reduced spike trap activation speed by 20%
• Increased king patience meter regeneration rate
• Adjusted level 8 (Dungeon) checkpoint placement
• Lowered falling damage by 25%

Performance improvements:

• Optimized particle effects for mid-range GPUs
• Reduced memory usage on level transitions

Patch 1.3 – The Co-op Enhancement (August 2026)

This patch focused entirely on improving the cooperative experience. The developers added voice chat integration and a ping system for non-verbal communication.

New features:

• Proximity-based voice chat (push-to-talk and always-on options)
• Ping wheel with 8 contextual commands (look here, wait, go, trap, king, help, thanks, laugh)
• Revived teammate indicator on HUD
• Shared checkpoint progress (both players must reach checkpoint to save)

Bug fixes:

• Fixed rare issue where king would clip through walls
• Resolved audio desync during cutscenes
• Corrected leaderboard submission errors

The ping system became especially popular among players using third-party voice apps, offering a quick way to coordinate without interrupting conversation.

Patch 1.4 – The King's Wardrobe (September 2026)

A cosmetic-focused update that introduced 10 new king skins and 5 player character outfits. The team also added an in-game currency system (Gold Coins) earned by completing levels with bonus objectives.

Cosmetics:

• King skins: Knight King, Pirate King, Chef King, Robot King, Ghost King, and more
• Player outfits: Jester, Blacksmith, Archer, Wizard, Peasant
• All cosmetics unlockable via gameplay (no microtransactions)

New gameplay feature:

• Bonus objectives per level (e.g., complete without dropping the king, finish under time limit, collect hidden treasure chests)
• Gold Coin rewards for bonus objectives
• Cosmetic shop accessible from main menu

The update was well-received, with the community praising the earnable cosmetics approach over paid DLC.

Patch 1.5 – The Difficulty Curve Overhaul (October 2026)

Based on extensive data analysis, the team reworked the entire difficulty progression. Early levels were made more forgiving, while later levels received additional challenges.

Difficulty adjustments:

• Levels 1-4: Reduced trap density by 30%, added more visual cues
• Levels 5-8: Maintained original difficulty, added optional shortcut paths
• Levels 9-12: Increased trap variety, added moving platforms, reduced checkpoint frequency

New accessibility options:

• "Easy Mode" toggle (slower trap speeds, more checkpoints, infinite respawns)
• Colorblind-friendly trap indicators
• Subtitles for all in-game dialogue

The update also introduced controller rebinding and steam input support.

Patch 1.6 – The Holiday Event (December 2026)

A seasonal event that added 3 limited-time levels with winter themes. Players could earn exclusive cosmetic rewards by completing event challenges.

Event content:

• "Frozen Throne" level (ice physics, sliding surfaces)
• "Gingerbread Castle" level (breakable candy walls)
• "Snowball Fight" level (projectile hazards)

Limited rewards:

• Santa King skin
• Elf player outfit
• Holiday-themed profile banner

The event ran for 3 weeks and saw high engagement, with over 40% of active players completing all event levels.

Patch 1.7 – The Full Release (March 2027)

The game exited Early Access with the 1.7 update, marking the official 1.0 release. This patch included the final biome, new game mode, and all previously released content.

Final biome:

• "The Throne Room" – 4 levels culminating in a boss encounter
• New trap: Laser grid
• New enemy: Royal Guard (patrols and chases players)

New game mode:

• "Endless Run" – procedurally generated levels with increasing difficulty
• Leaderboard for longest run distance
• Daily challenge with unique modifiers

Polish:

• Full voice acting for the king (10 unique lines per level)
• Achievements (25 total, including 3 secret achievements)
• Trading cards and Steam badges

The full release price was set at $14.99, with a 10% launch discount for Early Access supporters.

Patch 1.8 – Post-Launch Support (April 2027)

The team committed to continued support with this quality-of-life update that addressed remaining community requests.

New features:

• Replay system (record and share runs)
• Ghost data for speedrun practice
• Level editor (beta) with 40+ building blocks
• Steam Workshop integration for custom levels

Bug fixes:

• Fixed rare crash on level 7 loading screen
• Resolved audio stutter on certain AMD GPUs
• Corrected achievement tracking for "Untouchable" achievement

The level editor beta was especially exciting for the community, with several custom levels already circulating on the Steam Workshop within the first week.

Future Roadmap (2027 and Beyond)

Next Big Game Studio has announced plans for two paid DLC expansions and free seasonal events throughout 2027. The first expansion, "The King's Quest," is expected in Q3 2027 and will introduce a new biome, 8 levels, and 2 new game modes.

For the latest updates and community discussions, check our Hold Your King Beginner Guide and Co-op Tips.