After watching many streamers, getting feedback on the forums and reading many reviews we decided to focus on 3 things in this update.
1. Performance
Performance is the first priority when it comes to VR. One of the most difficult things to do is an open world with hundreds of thousands of individual objects, in particular with multiplayer.
Version 15 of Alien Dawn pays specific interest to optimization and should solve many of the performance issues hindering the game, in particular frame drops that happen the longer you play, and in multiplayer.
2. Gameplay
An actual tutorial has been something we've thought was important since we released the game in Early Access in October of 2021, but there were other factors that needed to be addressed first.
In addition to teaching new players the idiosyncrasies of the Alien Dawn controls, it also demonstrates SOME of the graphic fidelity we will able to achieve as we optimize the game more because the tutorial is constrained inside of a smaller world.
3. Graphics
Graphics are improved in this version, but see #1 and #2. We also did a lot of general cleanup of the main menu and settings options to make things a bit easier to read and adjust.
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There's a lot more we want to do for the next update, but Jes and I thought these improvements were important to release ASAP for player's familiar with and new to the game.
Xtian
THANK YOU to everyone who has taken their time to leave a review of Alien Dawn.
8/22/2022 (Early Access) v1.15
Added Tutorial for VR and Desktop Modes
Added updated version of Escape Map 2
Added Proxy Meshes to view Shacks at long distances in VR
Added Splash Screen for VR when loading new Level
Added Screen Space Reflections to Weapons and other Items
Added Dust Mote Particles
Added TedSan Easter Egg
Melee Weapons now break when used multiple times
Revised “Never Hold Items” Grip option for VR
Revised Vehicle Interaction Buttons on Desktop & Gamepad
Cleaned up all game menus
Cleaned up many Actor Blueprints
Reduced Food consumption speed
Zombie Aliens now Attack even IF Alien Master is Dead
Enabled RHI Thread for improved Frame Times
Resolved Tick Enabled on Multiple Components Turning Off
More World Actors shut off when leaving Open World Areas for Better Performance
Fixed proxy textures on Ruined House 2
Fixed interiors for Mothership attack on Cabin 1 and House 6
Fixed Punching when still Gripping Item
Fixed “Never Hold Items” Grip option IF on for Desktop