Dear CEOs,
This is Kim Hyun Soo, the Head PD of CounterSide.
We thank all our CEOs for all the support and love sent to CounterSide.
In this month's Dev Notes, we'll provide more details about the upcoming updates during July.
[ New Substream - Pride of Knights ]
In the May Dev Notes, we gave a small hint about the Zodiac Knights while introducing Grace Birmingham, and now, their story, [Pride of Knights], is finally coming in an upcoming update.
[Pride of Knights] will be released in two parts. ACT 1 & 2 on July 1 and ACT 3 – 5 on July 8.
We understand that many of our CEOs eagerly await new story content. However, Pride of Knights contains significantly more story volume than other Substreams, so we ask for your understanding regarding its split release schedule.
This story revolves around an internal faction conflict within the Knights after the Qliphoth Game, highlighting clashing ideals.
As each member’s sense of justice collides, long-hidden secrets surrounding both the current and previous generations of the Zodiac Knights begin to surface.
We invite you to experience the chaos and upheaval that unfold as knights who revere tradition confront the truth of their past, and discover how these revelations will shape the future of the Zodiac Knights in Pride of Knights.
In addition, the next Main Stream episode is currently being prepared with a targeted update in August.
We know that the Main Stream is what our CEOs look forward to the most, and we’re working hard to deliver an experience you’ll enjoy. However, please note that the schedule may still be subject to change depending on development progress.
[ New Awakened Employee - Zodiac of Redemption Esterosa de Chevalier]
The protagonist who will awaken in this Substream is none other than Esterosa de Chevalier, Captain of the Zodiac Knights and the core of Blueshift.
Though she may have stepped away from her position as the Captain, a role like hers cannot be easily replaced.
What choice will this wandering knight make when her comrades face a crisis? And what changes will that decision bring? We hope our CEOs are looking forward to finding out.
Zodiac of Redemption Esterosa de Chevalier is a Counter-type Defender employee, designed to enhance and build upon the unique characteristics of the original.
She aggressively utilizes her HP stat and features a limited number of deployments per battle, requiring CEOs to make strategic decisions right from squad formation.
We invite you to look forward to Zodiac of Redemption Esterosa de Chevalier, who will arrive with a brand-new approach unlike any employee before her.
◆ Zodiac of Redemption Esterosa de Chevalier
[ New Persona Employee - Space Cat Félicette ]
Persona Félicette, who made her debut in a new form in Main Stream EP.13 [The Law of Creating a World], will be recruitable in July.
The upcoming Space Cat Félicette has been designed around a Sniper concept, inspired by her "Ace Up My Sleeve" revealed in the story, now upgraded and reimagined as the Telescope, combining the Zoom Lens with a mainframe.
Space Cat Félicette will showcase her strength as a Sniper, with the added ability to counter air units, making her a versatile and strategic choice on the battlefield.
Once a steadfast shield on the frontline protecting her allies, Félicette now takes on a new role! Stay tuned to see how she shines in her evolved form.
◆ Space Cat Félicette
[ New Counter Pass Employee - Medea Davis ]
The next employee coming through the upcoming Counter Pass is Medea Davis, one of the key figures of the previous generation of Blueshift.
After the former Captain of the Knights vanished, Medea stepped down from the frontlines, appointing Yang Hansol as her successor.
Though she kept her distance from the Knights, it never meant she turned her back on their struggles.
Now, with Medea Davis taking action once more, please look forward to seeing how she and the former generation of Zodiac Knights rise in Pride of Knights.
Medea Davis is designed as a Defender-type employee who knocks back enemies and summons a wall to absorb damage on behalf of her allies, acting as a powerful shield on the battlefield.
Watch closely to see what kind of presence Medea, once a pillar of the Zodiac Knights, will bring to both the story and combat.
◆ Medea Davis
[ 7th Prestige Service ]
The 7th Prestige Service will begin with the July 1st update.
This time, the spotlight falls on none other than Six Wings Swan Claire.
The name of the 7th Prestige skin is [Black Swan’s Oath]. Inspired by the Black Swan Theory, this special wedding-themed skin envisions a destined union between the CEO and Swan Claire across countless chains of causality in parallel worlds.
Unlike her elegant appearance as the White Swan, we invite you to discover the unexpected charm she reveals as the Black Swan.
◆ Black Swan’s Oath - Six Wings Swan Claire
[ 2025 Courageous Season - Ranked Battle ]
The 2025 Courageous Season will begin on Sunday, June 29, 2025, 14:00 (UTC-5).
For this season, we’ve refined certain aspects of the Gauntlet overhaul introduced last season, specifically addressing areas that received mixed feedback from our CEOs. These improvements aim to provide a better overall experience.
As announced in the June 24 Patch Notes, the point deduction and demotion mechanics will now apply starting from the Diamond 5 League. Additionally, the limited Gauntlet skin reward will now be obtainable upon reaching Diamond 5.
However, matchmaking with NPC battles will still be available up to Grandmaster 1.
We encourage CEOs to make use of the NPC match toggle option for a more comfortable and flexible ranked experience.
Also, in the July 1 update, we’ll be adjusting the matchmaking mechanics to slightly narrow the matchmaking range. Furthermore, we will be strengthening the Ship Ban penalty to reinforce its intended impact on the meta.
◆ Ship Ban Penalty
Before: ATK, HP, and Skill Haste -20% per ban
After: ATK, HP, and Skill Haste -40% per ban
Through these changes, we hope to provide a more engaging and enjoyable Gauntlet environment. As always, we’ll continue to monitor and improve the system based on your feedback.
This concludes this brief overview of the updates planned for July.
Though the weather may differ depending on where our Global CEOs reside, we hope every one of pir CEOs stays safe and sound.
Thank you, as always.