First and foremost, I would like to thank all participants of the closed alpha. Your invaluable feedback was essential in identifying and resolving numerous bugs. I eagerly look forward to your continued support with this update. This update also includes compatibility with the Steam Deck. Volunteers for testing on the Steam Deck are welcome! If you haven't yet participated and would like to join the play-testing while providing valuable feedback, please refer to the post linked below for detailed information on how to gain access to the Closed Alpha. Closed Alpha Access

ANIMALS

CHANGES

• Changed the eye color of foxes.

FIXES

• Fixed foxes stuttering movements when they attempt to flee from the player.

AUDIO

NEW

• Added creaking wood floor sounds to the home environment.

CHANGES

• Slightly increased volume for fire-related sound effects, including torches and fireplaces.
• Adjusted the ambient rain sound at home to be more noticeable near windows and outer walls, while quieter deeper inside the building.
• Updated the Scandinavian loading music to a theme that better suits the region.

BLACK MARKET

Added the Black Market as a new visit able location. In this secret location, players can sell their unearthed treasures, purchase new equipment and, in later updates, embark on exciting missions, some of which even go beyond the limits of legality. In future updates you will be able to talk with enigmatic figures, each with their own hidden agendas, and unlock new potential clients. Whether you're looking to enhance your gear or delve into the murky waters of morally ambiguous quests, the Black Market promises a wealth of opportunity and danger alike.

CHARACTERS

NEW

• Added placeholder characters featuring preliminary animations and AI-generated voice lines. Note: The voices will be replaced as soon as a proper voice actor has been found. Moreover, only a select few characters are currently interactable.

CONTROLS

NEW

• Added comprehensive GamePad support. Please note, due to an overhaul of the underlying system, if you have customized controls, you will need to configure them again.
• Controls are now individually adjustable for each device (keyboard/mouse and gamepad).
• Added UI images for specific controls, including mouse buttons and certain keyboard keys.
• Added a setting to adjust mouse sensitivity for gamepad controls.
• Added controls for setting look directions.
• Added controls to rotate inventory items during placement.
• Added controls to toggle the visibility of the inventory, objectives, and pause menu.
• Added a toggle option for sneaking in the control settings.

FIXES

• Fixed camera rotation issues encountered at very low FPS.
• Fixed stuttering of objects while being placed.
• Fixed the scroll wheel functionality in the control menu. Other keys can now be used as well.
• Fixed issues with dragging items in the inventory using buttons other than the left mouse button.

DUNGEON

NEW

• Implemented foundational support for seed-based reproducible dungeons.
• Added new dungeon room variations where ladders can be utilized.
• Added destructible walls, currently only destructible by large monsters.

CHANGES

• Enhanced the exterior of the Scandinavian dungeon with subtle decorations to increase its prominence.
• Adjusted the boundaries of the Scandinavian island to match the water level.

FIXES

• Fixed stuttering issues when entering or exiting the dungeon.
• Fixed an issue where dungeon dust appeared to glow under certain conditions.
• Fixed overlapping issues in dungeon room layouts.

GAMEPLAY

NEW

• Objects that glitch through the floor will now reset to the main round table in the library. If you've lost any items, check there first; if they're not present, you can be sure they haven't glitched through the house floor.
• Added a feature to disable bed colliders, allowing players to retrieve items that may have fallen behind them.
• Added a "Surrender" button to exit missions on demand. Note: Using this feature results in character death and loss of inventory. Use it only if you cannot find your way back.

CHANGES

• Endurance now only depletes in dungeon worlds and regenerates faster when standing still, with an increased rate of regeneration when crouching and stationary.
• Improved the collider for stairs to enhance the walking experience and ensure more accurate object interactions.
• Increased the interaction distance for objects on the floor or above the player.
• Optimized interactions with small objects such as coins and chalk. Pixel perfect clicking is no longer necessary.

FIXES

• Fixed collision issues with the statue stone circle.
• Fixed a glitch that allowed players to pass through dungeon ceilings.
• Fixed an issue where players took fall damage after being stuck in an object for an extended period.
• Fixed an issue with object placement when the player dies.

GRAPHICS

NEW

• Expanded selection of FPS limits.
• Expanded VSync options (Off, Full, Half). Note: Disable VSync if your FPS are not over your monitor's refresh rate to avoid stuttering and sluggish input/movement.
• Added an option to disable shadows for low-end PCs. Note: Disabling shadows is not recommended as it causes lights to shine through walls and other objects. Use this option only if you are experiencing significant performance issues.
• Added settings for soft shadows.
• Added an option to manage shadows for player-equipped light sources only. Disable this setting if activating the electric lantern results in a substantial frame drop.

CHANGES

• Improved FPS counter.
• Updated the home's wooden facade and reduced the shininess of doors for a more realistic appearance.

FIXES

• Fixed the high speed issue of the Aurora Borealis that was seen by certain players.
• Fixed an issue where all lights were missing in the dining hall and office at home.
• Fixed issues with trees clipping through objects.
• Fixed DLSS compatibility checks for unsupported systems.
• Fixed lighting issues on Scandinavian island during evening.
• Fixed lighting issues related to snow, smoke, and fireplaces.
• Fixed lighting anomalies when using chalk.
• Fixed shadow casting from electric lanterns.

HISTORICAL MUSEUM

Added the Historical Museum as a new visit able location. Step into the Historical Museum, a cornerstone of the game world where history and adventure meet. As a new archaeologist, you can go there to begin your journey with free starter gear provided by the museum. You can enhance your archaeological reputation by donating artifacts and other valuable collectibles, which will be proudly displayed within the museum's halls. In future updates, once you gain enough reputation, you will be able to connect with curators and the Museum director to receive specialized missions that deepen your engagement with the rich history of the real existing artifacts.

ITEMS

NEW

• Added new equipment: ladders and wooden boards.
• Added precious but rare gemstones to find.
• Added collectible bronze chalices.

CHANGES

• Introduced a subtle sparkle effect to coins.
• Expanded the range of surfaces chalk can be used on, including more static surfaces like pillars, round walls, statues and now dynamic surfaces too like doors, chests and drawers.
• Chalk is now stackable, enhancing inventory management.
• Enhanced the compass glow for improved readability in dark environments.
• Removed the pre-existing weapons from the basement weapon rack, allowing you to place your own found weapons there. Note: Placement still requires manual adjustment and can be clumsy.

FIXES

• Fixed colliders of tableware items.
• Fixed collision problems with small coins.
• Fixed an issue while drawing with two chalks simultaneously.
• Fixed the yellow highlight effect on certain objects.

MYTHOLOGICAL MONSTER

NEW

• [spoiler]Added wisps that appear at night on the Scandinavian island.[/spoiler]

PERFORMANCE

CHANGES

• Enhanced performance both at home and on the Scandinavian island.
• Improved debris performance.
• Significantly improved the efficiency of lights and their shadows for substantial performance gains.
• Enhanced the pathfinding algorithms for animals and monsters.
• Optimized the mesh of 3D scanned artifacts. Note: If you have placed artifacts at home, some may have shifted slightly to different positions.

SAVE AND LOAD

CHANGES

• Enhanced the load time for the Scandinavian island.
• Optimized save/load times for saved games.

FIXES

• Fixed a crash issue when loading the Scandinavian island.
• Fixed physics issues when loading items. Before, it looked as if a poltergeist had been raging.
• Fixed the loading of large chests to ensure they appear correctly if left open.

USER INTERFACE

NEW

• Added a new interface to display the player's noise level.
• Added subtitles with customizable settings (toggle on/off, language, size).

CHANGES

• Relocated the settings warning icon to behind the settings name and made it slightly transparent to encourage players to hover their cursor over it for hints.
• Relocated the Scandinavia marker further north on the mission world map.
• Relocated interaction text to the center of the screen, rather than below center.

FIXES

• Fixed the electric lantern's name across all language settings.
• Fixed the inventory view when the player dies.

With this update you can now make progress, but keep in mind that the save game will be resetted as soon as the game gets released in early access. So please play for testing purposes and not for the progress. Last but not least I want to thank you again for your continued support and feedback. Your input is invaluable, and future enhancements will be based on your valuable suggestions and preferences. Now, set out on your adventure!