Tidal Rush Demo Update v0.8.9 – Just in Time for Steam Next Fest! 🌊🏁

Steam Next Fest starts today, and we've been hard at work improving the Tidal Rush demo over the last few weeks. If you've already played, there's never been a better time to jump back in and see what's new!

Enjoy the Demo? ⭐ Wishlist now!

And don't forget to leave feedback and follow us on our social media channels.

Here's a look at some of the biggest updates we've made:

🚀Brand-New Campaign Mission Content

We've added a 1st demo set of campaign-style missions including tutorial missions featuring unique objectives, characters, and gameplay moments.

Chomp Chase!

Track down and chase evil looking crocosaurus Snapjaw through the waterways, dodge hazards, and complete mission-specific objectives.

Beaver Blockade

Some beaver activity is interfering with Tidal Rush’s racing schedule. Clear the way to make way for future races and enjoy making things go ‘BOOM’.

Overall these campaign missions include:

• New mission objectives and progression systems

• Unique mission dialogue and HUD elements

• New campaign navigation UI

• Custom victory conditions

• Mission-specific pickups and challenges

• Improved mission results and rewards screens

• Mission unlock system

• Star-based mission success rating

• Updated mission artwork and presentation

✨ New Characters, Skins & Unlockables

We've expanded customization and progression with:

• New character addition: Gell-E

• New character skins and unlockable rewards

• New character and vehicle descriptions adding a tiny bit of story background

• Unlock tracking and challenge-based rewards

💥 Visual Effects Overhaul

We've been upgrading effects across the entire game to make races feel faster, louder, and more exciting.

Highlights include:

• New speed streak effects

• Improved boost visuals

• Enhanced trick and stunt VFX

• New explosion effects

• Mega Missile visual upgrades

• New podium celebration screen with animation, fireworks and of course confetti

• Better water splashes and environmental effects

• Improved UFO and engine effects

🎵 Audio Improvements

We've spent a lot of time making Tidal Rush sound better than ever.

Updates include:

• Reworked engine audio dynamics

• Improved boost and stunt sounds

• Better environmental audio

• Refined race-end music transitions

• New podium celebration audio

• Enhanced weapon and collision sound effects

• Improved geyser, waterfall, and world ambience

🏎️ Gameplay & Racing Improvements

We've made numerous gameplay tuning passes across the demo:

• Improved boost balancing (nerved boost stat especially on smaller power engine levels)

• Better stunt handling and feedback

• Refined drift behaviour

• AI racer balancing updates

• Improved airborne control

• More responsive pickups

• Weapon balancing and homing missile improvements

• Better collision reactions and physics tuning

🪞 Mirror Mode has continued to evolve

• Updated visuals

• Corrected HUD behaviour

• Proper pickup handling

• Mirrored race presentation improvements

🎮 Multiplayer & Split-Screen Improvements

We've made a large number of quality-of-life improvements for multiplayer racing:

• Improved lobby handling

• Better race results logic

• More reliable networking

• Split-screen UI improvements

• Controller assignment fixes

• Spectator mode enhancements

• Improved session stability

🛠️ Quality of Life & Bug Fixes

We've fixed a huge number of issues reported by players and testers, including:

• Mission progression bugs

• Collision issues

• Camera improvements

• UI layout fixes

• Localization updates (including German improvements)

• Performance optimizations

• Loading screen updates

• Better save-data handling

• Improved game shutdown stability

• Numerous visual and audio fixes across all tracks

🌊 What's Next?

This update is just the beginning. Steam Next Fest is an important milestone for us, and your feedback will help shape the future of Tidal Rush.

Enjoy the demo?

⭐ Wishlist Tidal Rush

💬 Leave feedback in the Steam discussions or write a review

🎥 Share clips and screenshots with us

🚤 Challenge your friends to beat your best times

Thank you for joining us on the water, and enjoy Steam Next Fest!

Your Tidal Rush Team