From the rink
News
Patch notes, playtests and development updates, straight from the team.
0.9.14: the net is finally a net
New net and goalie models, goals that only count when they arrive through the mouth, netting that is solid without sealing the goal, and the players who appeared to march on the spot have stopped.
Read the update →
Development · 6 minThe rebuild: VHL now runs on real foundations
We rewrote every gameplay system in native C++, made the server the authority on what happens, and moved VHL onto a dedicated machine running 24/7 in Germany.
Development · 1 minThe VHL skater is finished
Our character model is officially complete, and a new set of skating and idle animations is in the game. Now we're tuning the skating until it moves like the real thing.
Announcement · 1 minThe new VHL website is live
A complete rebuild of virtualhockeyleague.net. Faster, sharper, and built to grow into the competitive platform VHL is heading toward.
- Road to VHL · 1 min
Road to VHL #4: The VFX overhaul
Part 4: the 2025 graphics rework. Lighting, effects, and polish that pushed VHL toward its esports vision.
- Road to VHL · 1 min
Road to VHL #3: The first real multiplayer session
Part 3: September 2024. Multiple players, one rink, and the moment VHL became an actual multiplayer game.
- Road to VHL · 1 min
Road to VHL #2: Building a rink for a sport that doesn't exist
Part 2: designing VHL's first full-size arena, where the game's visual identity was born.
- Road to VHL · 1 min
Road to VHL #1: From Unity to Unreal Engine 5
Part 1 of our development retrospective: the 2022 decision to abandon our Unity prototype and rebuild in UE5, the hard call that everything since has been built on.
- Playtest · 1 min
Eight players, one lobby: our first worldwide playtest
On May 9, 2025, eight different people from around the world connected to the same lobby and played VHL together for the first time. Watch the highlights.
- Playtest · 1 min
Lobby Stress Test: our first full-lobby playtest
We organized our very first full-lobby multiplayer playtest session, stress-testing the server, the new matchmaking lobby, and full match flow with real players.