Wuthering Waves' latest update has brought exciting new characters to the game, but many players are facing a familiar frustration when it comes to character unlocking and progression. The 2025 updates have introduced some fantastic additions to the roster, yet the mechanics behind character building remain a point of contention in the community.

One of the most discussed issues in the current state of Wuthering Waves is the continued practice of locking new character ascension materials behind main story progression. This design choice forces players into a difficult position: rush through the narrative content they might prefer to savor, or be unable to properly build and utilize their newly acquired characters.

The Ascension Materials Dilemma

The situation with characters like Shorekeeper exemplifies this problem perfectly. While offering excellent sustain capabilities and exploration benefits, players cannot fully utilize these characters until completing significant portions of the main story in the new areas. This creates a paradoxical situation where players pull for exciting new characters but can't actually use them effectively during the very content they were designed to enhance.

As one frustrated player noted: "It leaves me with dead time because I can't make time for the story at the beginning of the patch. I can't build the character. Can't use the character in ToA. Can't test the new character with different teams until she is built."

This is especially disappointing considering that other games in the genre, including those from the same developer Kuro Games, have implemented solutions like early access or preview boss fights to mitigate this issue.

Sigils Still Locked in 2025

Another ongoing concern is the continued unavailability of character sigils. Despite reaching version 3.2 in 2025, many character sigils remain locked and unusable—even for newly released characters. This has been a consistent complaint in community surveys since the game's early days.

The sigil system was initially promoted as a key customization feature that would allow players to personalize their gameplay experience and optimize character builds. The continued absence of this promised feature has left many players questioning the development priorities.

Community Recommendations

The Wuthering Waves community has been vocal about potential solutions:

1. Preview Boss Fights - Allow players to access ascension material bosses earlier through a special challenge mode

2. Material Conversion - Implement a system to convert existing materials into new character-specific ones

3. Starter Packs - Provide limited ascension materials in character trial runs or as login rewards

4. Sigil Roadmap - Give players transparency about when to expect the full implementation of the sigil system

Impact on Player Engagement

Perhaps most concerning for the game's long-term health is how these restrictions affect player engagement. Many report playing less because they can't properly build their new characters, creating a counterintuitive situation where exciting new content actually reduces playtime for some.

The irony isn't lost on the community that Wuthering Waves has successfully addressed many pain points from other open-world gacha games but has maintained this particularly unpopular mechanic.

Looking Forward

As we move deeper into 2025, the hope among players is that Kuro Games will address these concerns in upcoming updates. The foundation of Wuthering Waves remains strong, with compelling characters and an immersive world that continues to expand. However, the full enjoyment of new character unlocking and progression remains hampered by these persistent design choices.

If you're currently experiencing these frustrations, be sure to include your feedback in the game surveys. The development team has shown willingness to respond to player concerns in other areas, and with enough community feedback, these character progression roadblocks may eventually be addressed in future updates.

Until then, players will need to carefully plan their progression pathways when new characters arrive, balancing their desire to experience the story at their own pace with the practical need to access materials for their newest roster additions.

The analysis is based on reporting from Polygon, a leading source for gaming culture and industry trends. Polygon's features on live service games often emphasize the importance of player feedback in shaping update priorities, especially when it comes to progression bottlenecks and the evolving expectations of gacha game communities.