Patch 1.8.3 is now live!
This update introduces the brand new Hunting Rifle, a complete rework of the Pause Menu, new Settings, the new Field Manual system, improvements for new players, and bug fixes.
Sanguine will be 25% off during the Steam Summer Sale from June 25th through July 9th!
If you've been waiting for the right time to jump in, now is the perfect opportunity.
A powerful new weapon has been added to Sanguine.
The Hunting Rifle is a high-powered long-range weapon capable of engaging targets from a distance with precision.
Unique scoped reticle
Adjustable zoom levels between 2x and 6x
Automatic zoom-out while reloading
Slight bullet drop over longer distances
Dedicated sensitivity and invert settings
Displays on the Character Avatar
The Hunting Rifle can be found inside a locked shack off Main St.
Players can now inspect the shack window to preview the weapon before obtaining it. Doing so will also place a marker on the map indicating its location.
For existing saves where the shack has already been unlocked, the Hunting Rifle will still be available for pickup.
Added .308 Winchester Rounds.
Exclusive ammunition for the Hunting Rifle
Powerful but rare
Expensive to craft
Intended to be used carefully
The Gunpowder combination that previously created temporary Blood Shards now creates .308 Winchester ammunition instead.
Journal entries will update automatically if the recipe was previously discovered.
Note: Additional .308 crafting opportunities and world placements will be expanded in a future update alongside upcoming Bolt Cutters content.
The brand new Field Manual has been added.
Accessible at any time through the Pause Menu, the Field Manual acts as a central hub for learning controls, mechanics, systems, and gameplay features.
The goal is to provide:
Easier onboarding for new players
A convenient reference for returning players
A scalable system that can continue growing alongside Sanguine
Additional topics and pages will continue to be added in future updates.
A new first-time user experience has been implemented.
New players will now receive a brief introduction explaining:
How to open the Pause Menu
How to change Input Devices
How to access the Field Manual
Previous tutorial popups throughout the opening areas have been removed (with the exception of the Blood Shop tutorial).
Instead, tutorial documents are now available immediately through the Inventory Files tab, allowing players to review them at their own pace.
The Pause Menu has received a substantial overhaul.
Renamed Switch UI to Input Device
Localized Input Device text
Added visual Input Device icons
Reorganized Pause Menu layout
Fixed missing audio on several buttons
Localized Modern Mode camera setting names
In-Game Settings have been reorganized into dedicated categories:
Game
Video
Audio
This new structure will make future customization options easier to expand.
FPS Counter
Focus Mode X/Y Invert
Focus Mode Sensitivity
Rifle Scope X/Y Invert
Rifle Scope Sensitivity
Film Grain Intensity
Bloom Intensity
Noir Filter
Both intensity video settings include multiple intensity levels, allowing players to further customize the visual experience.
Slightly improved hit detection on Crawler enemy types.
Reduced instances of accidental item loss when combining items with a full Inventory.
Added proper error messaging and sound effects when combinations fail due to lack of Inventory space.
Localized failed weapon combination messaging.
Normalized Journal recipe naming conventions for ammunition crafting.
Fixed a potential issue that could prevent interaction with Big Mama.
As both a fix and future safeguard, a new 'bell' has been added beside Big Mama.
If she is ever unavailable for interaction, ringing the bell will call her back and restore functionality.
Fixed being able to open the Journal during cutscenes.
Fixed the Modern Mode audio issue during the Steam Pan unfreezing cutscene.
Additional polish and stability improvements.
Additional Fix 6/25:
There was a report of a softlock from returning to the Diner area from Main St in Modern mode, this was caused by FTUE updates in 1.8.3 and has now been fixed and patched. Massive TY for that report!
Over the past few months, my focus has been on bug fixes, optimizations, quality-of-life improvements, and generally making Sanguine a smoother experience for both new and returning players. With Patch 1.8.3, we've now reached the 16th update since 1.7 launched, and the game has improved tremendously during that time.
A huge part of that progress is thanks to all of you. Whether we've talked through Steam, Discord, X, YouTube, email, or during a livestream, your feedback has been invaluable. Every bug report, suggestion, review, stream, playtest, and discussion helps shape the direction of Sanguine. I truly appreciate everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts and experiences.
Looking ahead, there are still a few lingering issues I want to address as soon as possible. The two biggest are inaccuracies with end-of-game ranking times and occasional issues with challenges or achievements not properly tracking. Those fixes are currently being worked on and will likely arrive in an upcoming hotfix once I'm confident they're fully resolved.
There's also one major quality-of-life feature still in development: cutscene controls. The goal is to allow players to pause and skip cutscenes whenever appropriate. Most of the underlying systems are already in place, but some of the earlier cutscenes were built before I had this functionality in mind, so they require additional work to support it properly. It's coming, but I want to make sure it's implemented correctly.
Beyond that, development is beginning to shift back toward content. One of the next additions will be a new section in the Blood Shop, currently called Resources, which will provide another avenue for unlocking useful items and rewards. After that, the primary focus becomes the long-awaited Bolt Cutters 1.9 update.
The Bolt Cutters are more than just a new key item. They unlock a substantial amount of new content throughout Craven Oaks, including new exploration opportunities, puzzles, progression paths, and rewards. One of the biggest additions arriving alongside them is a brand new weapon: the Flamethrower. If you've made your way through the Sewers, you've probably already seen it and wished you could get your hands on it. I'm currently working to ensure it feels powerful, satisfying, and balanced before it makes its debut.
The Bolt Cutters update will also include the next major boss encounter in the Parking Lot area, along with a significant story cutscene that helps kick off the events of Act 3. Alongside that content, I'm hoping to include a variety of additional improvements such as updated audio, a new addition to the Main St Save Room, expanded Recycler functionality, new monster textures, a new enemy type, and replacing several temporary AI-generated assets—most notably some of the Blood Shop artwork—with commissioned artwork.
I've always tried to be as transparent as possible throughout Sanguine's development, and that isn't changing anytime soon. As more players join Early Access and continue providing feedback, I'll keep sharing progress, plans, and challenges along the way.
While plans can always shift during development, my current goal is for Patch 1.9 to contain the majority of the content described above and release around October, coinciding with Sanguine's Early Access anniversary.
Thank you again for all of the support. The game wouldn't be where it is today without you, and I'm excited to continue building what's next.
-Ryan