March Update I – Progression, Loot & Steam Leaderboards

🚀 Pre-Release March Update

March Update I is a major progression expansion. This update deepens ascension systems, adds loot and relic layers, and finalizes Steam leaderboard integration.

📘 Tutorial & Onboarding

• Updated tutorial steps: mouse wheel zoom + middle-mouse drag camera

• Fixed tutorial quest tracking bug where ALL convert didn’t count for “data → credit convert”

🌌 Background & Atmosphere

• Prevented background objects spawning on the checkered ground

• Increased lower-area background density for better balance

• Added a progressive deep space darkening/depth system as Ascension increases

🧱 UI Fixes & QoL

• Fixed unnecessary “0” visuals in right panel headers (Mining Jobs / Click) on new saves

• Enlarged floaters’ clickable/interactable area

• Added current Ascension level display after the first Ascension (left panel)

🐉 Boss Fight Expansion

• Improved click detection (hit area) for yellow weakpoints

• Upgraded boss fight visual quality

• Added a mini-game / extra interaction layer to the boss fight

💾 Save System

• Save file handling reworked

• Updated “New Save Game” / reset flow

👗 Cosmetics: Live Preview System

• Added live character preview panel on the Cosmetics screen

• Outfit changes now apply instantly in the preview

• Preview camera updated to stay focused on character (no more drifting off-screen)

• Removed ground/background from preview: character-only render

• Preview window/zoom tuned so character is larger and clearer

⏳ Offline Progression (Prestige Shop)

• Added a high-value upgrade path extending offline progression duration

• Expanded to 5 levels; Level 5 reaches an 8-hour target

🎁 Loot Box System + Rewards

• Loot boxes added: drops activate after defeating the Ascension boss

• Loot box contents integrated with cosmetics market items

• Rarity distribution tuned: orange > purple > blue

• Duplicate drops prevented

• AddedWhen the loot pool is exhaustednew Ascension start fallback reward added +1000 data / +1000 credits / +1000 crypto

• Added 5 click effects (visual + small click damage/crit bonuses)

• Click effects are loot box exclusive

• Loot box visuals upgraded from 2D sprite to a more 3D-styled look

• Loot box main art updated to the new requested “crate” style

• Added rarity-based SFX to loot opening

• Loot result screen now shows item preview + stats, not just the name

• Added loot box skin system

🧰 Machine Box Skins (Clarified System)

• After “loot box skin” confusion, implemented skins for the machine boxes on the checkered ground

• Machine box skins connected to both Crypto Shop and Loot Boxes

• Fixed bug forcing “return to default / unequip” behavior on machine box skins

• Temporary test unlocks removed; returned to original unlock conditions

• For testing, click effects + loot box skins were briefly set to default-equip (now reverted)

🧠 Crypto Relic Shop + Scaling

• Added Crypto Relic Shop unlocked via Ascension

• Added 3 powerful relic nodes (body/head/accessory) + crypto-driven skill-tree progression

• Relic nodes now level up

• Relic level cap tied to current Ascension (e.g., Ascension 12 → max level 12)

• Relic scaling rebalanced to be linear and stable

⚙️ Performance & Arrange Room Fixes

• Performance optimizations to reduce FPS drops when box count grows

• Fixed Arrange Room bug where high-stack boxes couldn’t be dragged/relocated

🚶 Character Movement & Animation

• Improved movement speed/flow

• Prevented walking outside grid boundaries

• Fixed visual glitch when navigating between boxes

• Pathing updated to follow grid lines instead of cutting through tile interiors

• Slowed down “spin in place” animation

• Added additional animations (e.g., bend-down / stand-up)

🖱️ Pointer & Clicker Economy

• Replaced cursor with a cyberpunk-themed custom pointer

• Added pointer glow scaling with clicker upgrades

• Applied 15% cost reduction to all clicker upgrades

• [c]unlock_crypto_mining[/c] price reverted to its previous value

🏆 Steam Leaderboards (Backend-Free, End-to-End)

• Added guidance panel for Steam leaderboard configuration (sort/display/write/read implications)

• Global leaderboard system fully wired in-game end-to-end

• Removed Web API approach on request: no backend required

• Switched to Steam client API flow directly

• Integrated a steamworks.js build with leaderboard support

• Removed [c]STEAM_PUBLISHER_API_KEY / STEAM_WEB_API_KEY[/c] requirement from code

• Leaderboard originally added under Stats, then moved next to Upgrade Paths (per request)

• Added tabbed modal: Global + Friends leaderboards

• Added a button to open the leaderboards window

• Improved name resolution: show Steam nicknames when possible (instead of SteamXXXX)

🧭 Upgrade Paths UX Overhaul

• Major UX revamp: summary metrics, filters, unlocked-only view, detailed node cards, and priority queue suggestions