Developer update #1 - User testing

Welcome to our first Developer update - coming right before Christmas 2025. This time, we would like to run you through our latest progress:

• User testing

• Bug fixes

• Usability improvements

• Technical improvements

User testing

Our recent focus has been on user testing - giving the game into hands of first players. And it has provided us with invaluable feedback across the whole game.

10 players tried to pass the first map - the Abandoned School. The audience span across different types of players - some that have tried playing horror games before and some that haven't.

Overall, the user test has been successful as it identified bugs and potential improvements across the gameplay which we have grasped right away.

Bug fixes

Detailed testing uncovered tens of bugs but we are slowly working towards fixing them all. Here is a few of them:

• [FIXED] Enemy movements, sounds and secret ability

• [FIXED] Inventory design - Some items weren't displayed correctly in the Inventory.

• [FIXED] Drawing inside notepad - Boundaries and custom cursors

• [FIXED] Collisions

• [FIXED] Ladder (Used for escaping the enemy) functionality

Usability improvements

After the users were done testing, we identified easy winners that will bring better experience to our players. Some of the notable ones are:

• [DONE] Puzzle interaction - One of our puzzles didn't have a clear way out for the players. We have changed the logic and next user test didn't show an issue in this area.

• [DONE] On-screen messages - Our explanatory texts, hints and "errors" were invisible in eyes of players due to low contrast with the background/rest of the game UI.

• [DONE] Binding system - Players can now adjust keys they use.

• [WIP] Sounds - Some players have pointed out unclear sounds around the environment. We are currently working on re-visiting those identified sounds and fixing the length and intensity.

Technical improvements

Besides tasks from user tests, we continue working on optimizing the game so we bring you smooth experience.

In the last few days, we focused on:

• [WIP] Materials: Usage of quality material has not been an issue. But to make it run smoothly on as many FPS as possible, these have to be optimized. Slow but steady progress considering the amount of material inside a game like Solve or Die.

• [DONE] Environment: Besides material, big optimization in the recent weeks comes from foliage make-over that ensure the game runs smoother.