Closed Alpha V.20251023

As always, I want to thank everyone who participated in the Closed Alpha. Your feedback is always valuable in spotting and fixing numerous bugs. I look forward to your continued support with this latest update.

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

The biggest change is for the Demo as it now takes place on the Nordic island instead of Transylvania, as the latter was too difficult and too large for new players.

ANIMALS

NEW

• Added that animals now react to all kinds of sound effects and mostly flee from them.

FIXES

• Fixed a bug where two animals meeting on a steep slope could become stuck.

AUDIO

FIXES

• Fixed a bug where sound effects originating from inside were not properly muffled when the player was outside.

BLACK MARKET

CHANGES

• Increased the sell area on and close around the table.

CHARACTERS

CHANGES

• Changed the voice of the Black Market merchant. Special thanks to Null_Run for the voice dubbing.

• Changed that the museum guard will now only start talking and counting down if the player is in sight.

FIXES

• Fixed the walking speed of the museum guard when escorting the player out.

CONTROLS

NEW

• Added double-click functionality to travel map location buttons to start traveling immediately.

• Added Enter key input to confirm actions in the Start New Game window.

• Added Cancel action to the GamePad back button in the Start New Game window.

• Added binding control settings for quick save and quick load.

CHANGES

• Changed the functionality of the hide/show equipment button to prioritize showing equipment in hand instead of cycling through visibility states.

• Changed the standard quick load key from F9 to F8.

FIXES

• Fixed a bug where disconnecting a device in the main menu blocked the user from any further in-game input.

• Fixed a bug where disconnecting a device in the main menu prevented the user from starting a new game.

ENCYCLOPEDIA

FIXES

• Fixed an outdated source link of the Sigtrygg Silver Coin.

GAMEPLAY

NEW

• Added that candles now act as a fire source and can ignite other objects, such as the resin torch.

CHANGES

• Changed that equipment found next to raider bodies in dungeon locations has a higher chance to be useful for the player.

• Changed that players can still interact while raising a resin torch.

• Changed that beasts hit by the beast repellent will now run farther away, giving players more time to recover.

• Changed the state of some locked chests and doors to a blocked state instead to prevent the impression that they can be unlocked with a key.

• Changed that a Dungeon now has a chance to contain more than one main antiquity. The probability scales with difficulty, encouraging players to explore further and reducing grind when completing collections.

• Reduced the required archaeological reputation to level up by 50% to lessen grind.

• Reduced the endurance and vitality level in the Demo.

FIXES

• Fixed a bug where the inventory could not be opened, equipment could not be switched, and interactions stopped working if the player died while drawing with chalk, raising a torch, or throwing beast repellent.

• Fixed a bug where the throwing arm remained hidden when switching to the inventory or pause menu while preparing a throw.

• Fixed a bug where endurance was not fully replenished when loading a save game.

• Fixed a bug where the player could still report Nordic collectibles that were already sold, donated, or lost after death.

• Fixed that mission sheet rewards in the player’s inventory no longer count toward Dungeon difficulty after death, as this previously made Dungeons extremely easy.

• Fixed a bug where switching equipment while crouching caused the equipped hands to move closer to the player’s view.

GRAPHICS

CHANGES

• Downgraded DLSS from version 3.1.11 to 2.2.18 to eliminate dark-scene noise issues. All versions above were tested, last being 310.4.

FIXES

• Fixed a bug where shadows cast by lights on the Transylvanian Castle entry stairs flickered on the Ultra shadow resolution setting.

• Fixed a bug where shadows cast by lantern candles in the Transylvanian Cemetery disappeared after a short distance.

• Fixed a bug where extinguished wall torches remained emissive.

HISTORICAL MUSEUM

CHANGES

• Increased the donation area on and close around the table.

• Switched the positions of the donation area and free equipment to make the equipment easier to spot for new players.

• Repositioned the reception counter to create more space and make it clearer that the director’s office is located behind it.

• Reduced the museum’s restock time for free equipment from 15 to 5 minutes.

ITEMS

NEW

• Added stones that can be picked up and thrown to trigger traps as well as lure or fight off animals and monsters.

CHANGES

• Changed the center of mass for the Guide Flag so it now stands more stably upright on the ground.

• Increased the field of vision for wooden snow goggles to make them more practical.

FIXES

• Fixed a rare bug where the lighter appeared ignited even though its lid was closed.

• Fixed a bug where chalk could draw an invisible thin line.

• Fixed trembling movement of torches and chalk caused by low FPS.

• Fixed trembling or jittery hand movement of certain equipment when near static objects.

LANGUAGES

CHANGES

• Changed how modified language JSON files are loaded. Read the updated ReadMe.txt for details. If you have modified a language JSON file, ensure you have a backup copy before starting the game.

• Changed that language files are now loaded and saved during the loading screen at game start to prevent black screen issues on HDD systems.

FIXES

• Fixed translation for the Control key in control options and input tips.

• Fixed the incorrect English translation for Duskspire Plateau.

• Fixed missing and incorrect translations across multiple languages. Any help here is much appreciated.

MYTHOLOGICAL MONSTER

NEW

• Added that monsters now react to all kinds of sound effects and investigate noises unless they are hunting the player.

CHANGES

• Changed that if a monster cannot reach the player, it will return to its previous routine, but will resume hunting as soon as the player becomes reachable and still detected.

• Changed that the Black Knight can now follow the player outside the Transylvanian castle to prevent the main gate exploit.

FIXES

• Fixed a bug where two monsters meeting on a steep slope could become stuck.

• Fixed a bug where the roaming Transylvanian monster was unable to move.

• Fixed a bug where the Black Knight growled angrily at the player even when unaware of their presence.

NORDIC DUNGEON

NEW

• Added proper lighting and shadows to the Nordic fire trap.

CHANGES

• Changed the procedural generation of the Nordic Dungeon to reduce the number of empty corridors.

• Changed that arrows from the Nordic arrow trap no longer disappear and increased their sound effect volume to make it clearer when players are hit.

• Changed the position of some Sigtrygg Silver Coins in the Nordic fire pit so they can all be collected without bones blocking them.

• Changed the position of the main artifact to hang from an arm bone in the fire pit to make it more visible.

• Increased LOD distance of snowy rocks on the Nordic Island to reduce pop-ins.

• Increased daytime light intensity on the Nordic Island to improve shadow visibility and enhance the usefulness of snow goggles.

• Reduced the size of door-blocking rocks so players can better see what is preventing the door from opening.

FIXES

• Fixed the death bug when traversing down the spiral stairs deep within the Dungeon.

• Fixed wall height near the spiral stairs deep within the Dungeon.

• Fixed an issue where a wall could intersect with the Dungeon entry stairs.

• Fixed floating coffins in the Dungeon.

• Fixed the LOD of small conifer trees on the Nordic Island.

PERFORMANCE

CHANGES

• Changed that the game will now continue running in the background or when not in focus.

• Optimized the Shadow Resolution LOD for better performance and quality.

• Updated the Unity Engine backbone to the latest secure version, fixing a severe security issue introduced since version 2017.1.

SAVE AND LOAD

FIXES

• Fixed a bug where items from a previous session were still visible but unusable after a quick load.

TRANSYLVANIA DUNGEON

NEW

• Added proper lighting and shadows to the portals in the Transylvania castle.

CHANGES

• Increased the size and visibility of campfire smoke columns to make them easier to spot from a distance.

• Increased light range and intensity of wall torches in the Transylvania Castle.

FIXES

• Fixed a bug where taking the Transylvanian main antiquity was not counted as completing the main objective, preventing further events from triggering.

• Fixed occlusion problems with doors in the Transylvanian Cemetery.

• Fixed holes in the passage to the catacombs in the Transylvanian Cemetery.

USER INTERFACE

CHANGES

• Changed that menu buttons now adjust their width dynamically based on the displayed language text to prevent clicks on empty space.

• Renamed the Encyclopedia back button to clarify when it returns to the table of contents versus the pause menu.

FIXES

• Fixed a bug where using the Steam overlay in the main menu blocked the user from any further in-game input.

• Fixed a bug where using the Steam overlay while in the inventory menu switched the UI to player input actions.

• Fixed that when hiding equipment, the corresponding input tip now hides as well.

Please note that all save games will be reset when the full release is launched. This version is intended for testing purposes, so enjoy exploring and experimenting without worrying about permanent 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!