Beta Update 4.0.0 – Major Optimization Update

One of the biggest milestones of Update 4.0.0 is a major reduction in the size of the game.

The packaged build has been reduced from approximately 55 GB to under 20 GB.

A large number of unnecessarily high-resolution 4K textures and oversized assets have been optimized while maintaining visual quality where it matters.

This significantly reduces the storage footprint of the game and also improves overall performance and stability.

Further testing will determine where selected assets close to the player may benefit from higher-resolution textures.

New Schizophrenia System

A new dynamic Schizophrenia System has been introduced.

Players may now experience randomized psychological events throughout the game, including:

• Disturbing voices and whispers
• Randomized audio events
• Visual distortions and post-processing effects
• Dynamic VFX triggered at different times during gameplay

The system has been integrated into the Main Level, with additional effects appearing throughout the Lighthouse Prologue and the basement/inter-world sections.

These events are designed to make the environment less predictable and further blur the line between reality and hallucination.

Expanded Nurse Encounter

The Nurse encounter in the second East Wing corridor has been expanded.

Players can now interact with the fire alarm system and use the environment against the Nurse.

It is now possible to burn the Nurse before activating the switch that opens the rear gate, introducing an additional gameplay sequence to this section.

The surrounding area and encounter flow have also received further polish.

Electric Chair Event Rework

The Electric Chair Event has received a significant rework.

• Added a new gate
• Added a new siren sequence
• Improved the camera sequence
• Improved the overall timing and flow of the event
• Fixed Enemy 1 running animations during the sequence
• Added a TV and VHS recorder to the Doctor's Room before the event

Save System Improvements

• Fixed the savegame date and time display in Main Menu → Load Game
• Fixed a savegame issue during the second head objective of the Isolde quest
• Improved the Bed Save Actor interaction
• Menu access is now blocked while saving
• Player rotation is now blocked during the save interaction

Gameplay & Interaction Improvements

• Removed Film Grain
• Added a fade-in animation to the combination lock
• Menu access is now blocked while interacting with the combination lock
• Improved several interaction sequences
• General asset placement improvements throughout the Sim Level
• Additional environment polish across multiple areas

Audio Improvements

• Added new background ambience to the Pause Menu
• Added background ambience to the Savegame Actor
• Added additional animation sounds
• Added new audio elements connected to the Schizophrenia System

Additional Optimization & Polish

A large amount of work has gone into optimizing assets throughout the game for this release.

Many unnecessarily large textures have been reduced in resolution, asset placement has been reviewed, and several areas have received additional polish.

Update 4.0.0 represents an important technical milestone as development continues toward the next stages of CALVAR – THE DARKEST GATE.

Thank you to everyone participating in the Playtest, reporting bugs and sharing feedback.

Your reports continue to directly influence development.

CALVAR – THE DARKEST GATE
Beta Update 4.0.0 – Available Now