🛠️ Patch Notes: Version 1.0.4 – "The Stability Update"

Release Date: April 6, 2026

🛑 Accessibility & Visual Safety

• Seizure Hazard Correction: Resolved a critical issue where global lighting was cycling through random RGB values every frame.

• Lighting Standardization: Implemented a new Lighting Controller that forces all light sources to a solid white state by default to ensure player safety.

• Photo-Sensitivity Toggle: Added a "Coloured Lights" option in the Gameplay settings. When disabled, the game logic now strictly overwrites all light data to prevent unintended flickering or high-frequency strobing.

🖥️ User Interface & Navigation

• Menu Logic Overhaul: Reconstructed the "Options" menu architecture. The "Back" functionality is now properly linked, allowing seamless transition between the Gameplay Settings and the Main Menu.

• Persistent Settings System: Integrated a PlayerPrefs save system. Choices made in the Options menu (such as Lighting and Audio preferences) are now cached and will persist even after the game client is closed and restarted.

• UI-to-Script Communication: Fixed a synchronization error where UI Toggles were not communicating with the back-end logic. All menu checkboxes are now fully functional and trigger the intended gameplay changes.

🔦 Level & Environment

• Global Light Tagging: Applied

• the "CeilingLight" tagging system across all 48 light sources throughout Levels 1-6, ensuring that visual settings apply universally across the entire dungeon.

• Shader Optimization: Processed and compiled all 80 shader variants to resolve visual artifacts and "pink texture" errors present in previous dev builds.

🧟 AI & Gameplay

• Navigation Mesh Verification: Confirmed that Zombie AI pathfinding remains operational. Entities will now correctly track and pursue the player throughout the environment.

• Internal Routing: Verified that the AI detection logic is functioning independently of the visual light settings.

🔊 Audio System (Infrastructure)

• Master Volume Framework: Prepared the groundwork for a Master Audio Mixer.

• Virtual Routing Support: Verified audio output compatibility with virtual cable routing systems, ensuring clear signal delivery for future footstep and environmental sound implementations.

📋 Known Issues for Next Sprint:

• Implementation of localized 3D audio for Zombie entities.

• Refinement of Player character audio (Footsteps/Breathing).

• Expansion of the "Video" and "Audio" sub-menus within the Master Settings.

Developer Note: This patch represents a significant shift toward a production-ready environment by prioritizing player safety and UI stability. Further updates will focus on environmental immersion and sound design.