Version 2.4.0 Update (In Preview 3.0.0)

Version 2.4.0 Preview

This update serves as a preview of Version 3.0.0, our full release launching on July 22. While we're still putting the finishing touches on the game, this patch contains the majority of the gameplay, progression, balance, and quality-of-life improvements planned for release.

This update will not impact the current Steam Playtest. Existing playtest participants can continue playing without interruption.

Note: Older saves will continue to function correctly. However, because progression has been significantly reworked, existing saves will miss several important progression buffs introduced in this update. For the intended experience, we recommend starting a new save.

General

• Removed the first scene where the Dryad is attacked in the Prologue.

• Delayed F2 enemy spawns to allow more time for the cinematic.

• Dimmed the Blaster Boss slightly more while it is in the background.

• Added a water movement effect while the island moves during the Prologue.

• Fixed additional layering issues with the Divine Orb Boss.

• Fixed a case where the "Feed Sunflower" tutorial message appeared after the Sunflower had already been fed.

• Updated the Inventory Item Description position so it is completely hidden when untoggled.

• Removed the final boss movement jitter.

• Updated Wisp animations to look upward during certain cinematics.

• Disabled holding to change the Dryad's root location while actively rooting or when no valid root location exists.

• Added the Chapter E End Screen.

• Tweaked chapter backgrounds to prevent pixel stretching.

• Restored the animated clouds in Chapter Select.

• Added a sequence for the Solar Flower to appear after completing all tasks in A2 (can be skipped).

• Added conditional "Feed Sunflower" tutorial steps for A1 and A2.

• Moved the Relic tutorial closer to when the player first obtains a Relic.

• Fixed a case where Self Defense and companion traits were incorrectly deactivated.

• Added a visual pop effect when Shadow Friend escapes.

• Updated ambience for Old Valhalla (Chapter B).

• Added lower-pitched wind ambience for the Chapter H Caverns.

• Prevented the Wisp ally from damaging tiles during the Prologue to ensure the player strikes the tile three times.

• Crystallized Tiles are now cleared if an item is placed on top of them.

• Updated the screen cover clouds for Chapter F and Chapter G.

• Improved Wrapping Growth to wrap around the island more accurately.

• Added a sound effect when Crystal Cycle activates.

• Updated Nutrients so they can be fed to plants to accelerate production.

  • Travel Phase: 100%

  • Exploration Phase: 15–20%

• Rebalanced all Boss health.

  • First phases generally have increased health.

  • Second phases generally have reduced health to better match the first.

• Fixed Grassball layering with the Dryad and Wisp.

• Increased the damage cooldown applied by Spirit Jellies from 0.2s → 1.0s.

• Updated Dryad reaction icons.

• Updated Chapter H cinematics and Shadow Friend animation timings.

• Added an end-of-game "Thank You" message at the Rest Area.

• Added alert notifications to the Island Stats UI when:

  • the Dryad needs the Wisp to merge.

  • the Dryad needs to root to the island.

• Fixed Chapter H Firebally enemies not receiving damage correctly.

• Fixed Hulking Abode not properly granting Max Weight.

• Capped maximum Consumable reward appearances at 50.

• Duelist Oath now only activates when enemies are defeated by player sources.

• Defeated enemies now grant a temporary Island Speed boost, similar to Earth Tribute (30 defeated enemies = 1× Island Speed).

• Totem Flower now:

  • Converts Bonus Max Capacity into Charge Regeneration (0.1 Regen per 10 Max Charge).

  • Receives 50% fewer Charges from Crystals by default.

  • Watchful Guardian negates these default effects.

Progression

Progression has been significantly reworked to provide a smoother early-to-mid game experience. Many Relics, tutorials, and Plant rewards have been repositioned throughout the campaign.

• The Nutrients & Uproot Mobility tutorial has moved from A2 to A5.

• Crystal Cycle now refunds a Crystal Flower every 5 uses and activates from any Crystal usage, including feeding plants. It no longer forces Consumables to be lost and is now intended to be part of the early-game progression.

• Salvager is now awarded in A2 as a 1-cost Relic. It continues to refund Consumables when popping Dirt Growth (50%) and now also enables Consumables to appear when Dirt Tiles are destroyed.

• Proliferation is now awarded in D2, allowing Earth Flowers to become Consumables and enter the random reward pool.

• Ladder Flowers are no longer rewarded in Chapter D. Weight Flowers are now rewarded in D4. Chapter F no longer rewards Weight Flowers so it can focus on introducing Stone Tiles.

• High Yield has been removed as a Relic and is now automatically applied in every chapter except the Prologue. It no longer grants Max Charge Capacity.

• All plants now begin with 10 Max Capacity.

  • Large Reserves is granted after Chapter A (+10 Max Capacity).

  • Vast Reserves is granted after Chapter E (+10 Max Capacity).

Balance

• Farming now enables Wisp to immediately destroy Enriched Dirt Tiles. Tiles destroyed this way grant Nutrients.

• Companion Grassballs always Enrich adjacent tiles

• Removed Earth Vacuum.

• Windmill once again removes Charge usage from Weight Flowers, can no longer be Overcharged, and has moved to D5.

• Immortal Harvest no longer affects Expansion Flowers.

• Step Expansion and Wildbloom now affect Expansion Flowers.

• Virulence has been replaced by Heartwise.

  • Heart Flowers become Consumables.

  • They can now appear as random rewards.

  • Popping one restores 1 Heart to the Dryad.

• Crystal Bomb now enables Crystal Flowers to appear as random rewards.

• Uproot Mobility now enables Nutrients to appear as random rewards.

• Love Unbounded now causes the Dryad to fire Nutrients at all Production Plants whenever Hearts are received.

• Added Giant's Palace (+50 Max Weight), located in H3.

• Improved Terra Hearthkeeper.

  • Root Mend Range: 1 → 3

  • Plant Count: 1 → 2

  • Moved to F3.

• Imbued Crystals moved to H5.

• Woodland Refuge Plant Count increased 3 → 5.

• Crystalcore Vessels now receive 50% fewer Charges from Crystals and have moved to G6.

• Crystalline Affinity no longer enables Crystal extraction from tiles. Plants now automatically consume adjacent Crystals when they reach 0 Charges. Moved to C4.

• Mansion moved to C5.

• Glass Cannon now causes Wisp Bash to instantly destroy Crystal Tiles. Moved to C3.

• Overflow now spreads Crystals whenever excess Crystals are fed to a plant. Moved to C5.

• Terra Reaction moved to C3.

• Added Raw Crystals (+5 Plant Charges), available in C2 for 3 Cost.

• Drop Slam moved to D3.

• Earth Tribute moved to D2.

• Step Expansion moved to D3.

• Terra Mastery now causes Complex Expanders to generate Crystal Tiles. Moved to D5.

• Removed Terraforming.

• Renewing Loam now fully restores Production Plants with Nutrients during the Travel Phase.

• Fertile Core now doubles maximum production whenever Nutrients are fed to Production Plants.

• Fixed Volcanic Flora activating from enemy plants.

• Removed Volatile Harvest.

• Cozy Enclosure moved to E5.

• Fallen Blossom moved to E2.

• Earth Armor moved to F4.

• Relic costs have been adjusted and reduced across the board to encourage experimenting with more builds.