Development news
So two months have passed and we are now ready to release the next update. The original plan was to release a smaller patch by the end of January and then a bigger update by the end of February, but those then merged into just one. I realize we should better communicate our timelines (and the subsequent failure to stay in those timelines). So here we go: the next update will be released at the end of March, and the focus will be content.
The game is still rough in many places, but I am happy with our current pace and progress. I feel confident that if we can keep up this momentum the next updates can bring the game closer to completion. That said there are still important features missing, not enough content and lots of polishing to do.
Thanks for your support and feel free to comment!
-phosphorous
So what’s in the update?
The biggest change in this update is the overall increase in ranges.
- Vision range is more than doubled (now 64 tiles, time-of-day also affects the range).
- Levels are generally twice as big (from 64 to 128 tiles), however some smaller levels still remain.
- Shooting mechanics have been overhauled (hit chances over distance have been increased, fire-modes and sight attachments added).
- New peripheral vision that allows enemies to notice movement and investigate.
- New weapon models (tiered generic items have been replaced).
- Basic melee attacks have been introduced (knife and unarmed).
- Items such as vests provide item slots (carrying too many affects movement speed).
- Enemy reinforcements can now be prevented by disabling a radio in the level.
- New objective: Eliminate target (find and kill specific enemy).
- New missions (3) and improvements to old missions.
Enemy peripheral vision area at night.
Inventory changes including new weapons and sight attachments.
New warehouse map (wall transparency also showcased).
Unalerted enemy vision range.
Mission briefing screen improvements with squad selection.
Enemy reinforcements can be prevented by disabling the radio.
New missions on the strategic map.
Other changes
Gameplay
- Stances have effect on accuracy and defense.
- Running out of stamina decreases movement speed.
- Medical items can be consumed after use.
- Suppressors are no longer always present in weapons.
- Real-time improvements (AI movement, stamina regeneration).
- Peek improvements.
- Doors are now locked in Prisoner-level.
- Dimitri's character is transferred to the player squad in the Prisoner-mission.
General
- Wall transparency for walls and buildings.
- Improved tile selection between floors.
- Improved unit highlighting.
- Improvements to tile overlays.
- Campaign save versioning (to prevent errors due to outdated save files).
- Autosave improvements (continue-option added to main menu).
- Armor & magazine items show capacity in inventory.
- Time of day: morning & evening now shorter, night & day longer.
- Camping in strategic map now allows player to set duration.
- Character animation, ragdoll & IK improvements.
Graphics
- Minimum supported resolution changed to 1280x720.
- Disabled resizable window for windowed mode.
- Lighting adjustments and ACES tonemapping
- Temporal anti-aliasing added
- Volumetric lighting quality setting added
- Ambient occlusion optimizations and new ultra quality option added
- Directional shadow quality improvements
- Increased quality of few assets
- Inventory lighting optimizations and fixes
- Bloom adjustments
- Adjusted muzzle flashes
- Optimizations for UI translucency, post-processing, terrain and clouds
Changed files in this update