My Time at Sandrock News

[h3]Howdy Builders,[/h3]

Thank you for the feedback provided during this time and for helping us identify issues with graphical performance and aesthetics. Based on your feedback, we have conducted some art repairs. Here, we would like to once again explain the nature and causes of these issues, as well as the solutions we are implementing and our future plans.



According to your feedback, we've noticed some issues mainly related to environmental lighting, shadows, special effects, and character models. These glitches could really mess with the immersion factor for players.

The issues arose due to our transition from the previous rendering pipeline, known as Built-in, to the URP (Universal Render Pipeline). However, this switch led to significant disparities in the visual aesthetics of Sandrock due to differences in how the pipelines handle lighting and other aspects. Unfortunately, we failed to promptly and comprehensively optimize the art to align with the characteristics of the new pipeline. This oversight on our part has hindered the gaming experience, and we sincerely apologize for the issue. Rest assured, addressing these graphic art issues is our top priority as a development team, as we are committed to ensuring that every player can fully immerse themselves in our game.


We've looked into the issues reported by you and our art team has been hard at work fixing things up. Here's what's been improved so far:
'Left' is before ---- Right will be the 'after'

[h3]-Volumetric lighting in CG animations[/h3]


[h3]-Effects in Dungeon [/h3]


[h3]-Indoor light baking[/h3]


[h3]-Subsurface scattering (SSS) and Eye highlights[/h3]


[h3]-Indoor wall light reflections[/h3]



The showcased improvements just present parts of our progress, and Ambient Occlusion (AO) and other effects will be further fine-tuned. Due to space limitations, we couldn't cover every detail, but we've selected some key fixes with representative screenshots.
Regarding the fixes mentioned, we're planning to package and test them for a week or two. If everything goes smoothly, these fixes will be rolled out as a maintenance patch either next week or the following one.
In the near future, we'll also add graphic brightness and contrast settings for you to adjust based on your preferences. (P.S. The UI will be further fine-tuned.)


We'll keep working based on your feedback. After the update, if you spot any other art-related issues, please reach out to us through the official channels listed below. Your feedback helps us identify and fix these problems more effectively.

【Steam Pinned Post】
【Discord】
【[email protected]】


Your feedback helps us identify and prioritize issues, ultimately enhancing the gaming experience for all Builders. Finally, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your long-standing support and understanding of our game. We'll continue striving to enhance your gaming experience.
Last but not least, the Pet DLC is coming soon!


Happy gaming to all!


Your feedback is important to us and all Builders. Singleplayer or Multiplayer and Localization Surveys are eagerly awaiting your thoughts. We hope you can take a moment to fill them out.

Catch up with us around the web for more Sandrock information:
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Howdy Builders,

The Chinese New Year flew by so fast, and it's already time for us to update everyone on our recent work. Lately, our main challenge has been ensuring that content updates are synchronized across all platforms. This task hasn't been easy, and we'll explain the details below.


[h2]PC[/h2]
The new V1.3.0 free quarterly update and the new paid pet DLC are currently in progress, and things are going smoothly so far. For now, we've already completed all the basic features, and we just have some finishing touches left, such as adding special effects and sound effects. We plan to work with some players from the community to assist with beta testing in mid to late March, while also working on porting and optimizing for other console platforms. If everything goes well, we should be able to release it to everyone by mid to late April.

Of course, there's also the content of the free quarterly update to look forward to, such as the brand new "Sand Buggy Circuit" mini-game! You'll be able to drive race cars found in the Catori World and challenge your in-game NPC friends to an exciting speed competition!



Remember when we teased about hitching a ride on the 'Rambo' after tying the knot with Logan? You guys were stoked to catch a glimpse of this flying beauty, so here's a cool pic of Builder riding on the 'Rambo'! And guess what? Rambo is leveling up to become a 'two-seater mount'! You know what that stands for. But hey, what will it look like exactly? Well, saddle up and find out for yourselves!




[h2]Switch [/h2]
The Switch version 1.2.2, also known as "New Year, Better Me," is about to receive an update. We apologize for keeping Switch players waiting for so long, but we assure you, this wait will be worth it. In the upcoming update, we've made almost all possible optimizations, focusing on graphics and performance. For instance, the optimized version now achieves a basic FPS of nearly 28-30 frames (the early 20 hours will almost maintain 30 fps), with significant enhancements in UI loading speed, asset quality, shadow distance, grass color, and gradients. The overall experience is markedly different from two months ago, and we're hopeful that this new version will help regain your trust in Sandrock and in us. Currently, this version is slated for submission to the platform for review next week, and once approved, it will be rolled out to all players.

[h2]Simultaneous DLC Update for All Platforms[/h2]
Our plan is to synchronize the update across all platforms. Yes, you heard it right - we're aiming for a simultaneous update on all platforms! Whether you're a PC, Switch, PS, or Xbox player, we want to deliver the V1.3.0 version to you at the same time. This actually adds a lot of complexity to our work, especially in terms of QA. For this update, we'll be packaging the PC version content in early March, followed by packaging for the other three main platforms in mid-March. Then, we'll likely spend around a month on QA and bug fixing. This may require some assistance from the community, as our QA resources are quite limited, and we're concerned about missing some important bugs. Therefore, after packaging, we'll be posting recruitment notices in the community for testing assistance. If there are players willing to help us out, please keep an eye on our official community channels for updates.

[h3][Discord] [Reddit][/h3]


In addition to the mentioned free quarterly update, we're also planning a maintenance update for the current V1.2.1.4 PC version in the first half of March. The primary focus will be on handling art effects and optimizing some functional performances, such as factory queues and UI loading times. We've received feedback from players regarding certain graphics not being as good as before due to the change in the rendering pipeline for the PC version. Among these issues, some are related to the characteristics of the rendering pipeline itself, while others are display bugs that emerged after the change, which we hadn't previously identified. We appreciate all the feedback and reports from players pointing out specific issues. Our art team has been working on related fixes before the Chinese New Year and is currently undergoing testing and acceptance. We'll create a separate post to inform everyone about the specific areas we've addressed.



Here's all the content we want to keep you posted with you in this development update. Please trust us, we're continuing to maintain and add new content to this game. It's a game that you can play for over 100 hours, with truly rich and engaging content. We're working hard to make this game even better. So, if you enjoy this game and want to support it, please share with your friends, your family, your classmates, your colleagues - we need your word of mouth to help us generate more revenue to keep going.

Once again, we wish everyone a happy and enjoyable adventure in Sandrock!


Your feedback is important to us and all Builders. Singleplayer or Multiplayer and Localization Surveys are eagerly awaiting your thoughts. We hope you can take a moment to fill them out.

Catch up with us around the web for more Sandrock information:
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Howdy Builders!

We're excited to unveil the latest hotfix patch updates and improvements in our Chinese New Year update! Happy gaming!

Find out these fixes below:
[h2]Fixed[/h2]
[h3]General[/h3]

• Fixed the issue where behavior tree parameters might be lost when adding tasks. However, it's important to note that any parameters already lost may not be fully recovered. If you notice any abnormal NPC behavior or disruptions in the task flow while playing, please reach out to us for assistance.
  
• Fixed the issue where NPCs exhibited abnormal behavior when imprisoned by the Civil Corps.
  
• Fixed the issue where switching scenes on the Day of Memories caused the game to crash.
  
• Fixed a save data error caused by placing obsolete items (Planter Boxes and Grapevines) in the home area.
  
• Fixed an issue where the Workshop reputation was not cleared at the start of a new game.
  
• Fixed an issue where battle encounters during scene transitions could lead to plot errors.
  
• Fixed an issue where Burgess would get stuck during his inauguration speech due to the electronic organ.
  
• Fixed an issue where the game would freeze if the player chose to return to the main menu after dying and then clicked cancel.
  

[h3]Gameplay and Systems[/h3]

• Fixed the issue of NPCs exhibiting abnormal behavior in the quest 'A Green Wall.'
  
• Fixed the issue where the task marker did not disappear upon completion of the 'Spread Your Wings' quest.
  
• Fixed the issue where the 'Who Heals the Healers' Fang quest couldn't be triggered.
  
• Fixed an issue where the process of giving a photo to Mort was incorrect.
  
• Fixed an issue where the reward letter for part-time tasks could not be collected.
  
• Fixed a save data issue in the Thai language environment when accepting the task "Prisoner Dilemma."
  
• Fixed an issue where Festive Firecrackers and Dragon Pattern Fireworks could not be crafted in the factory.
  

[h3]Visual and Audio[/h3]

• Fixed an issue where the string of X's Bird Stand was missing.
  
• Fixed an issue where some task icons and trigger circles were not removed correctly.
  

[h3]UI[/h3]

• Fixed an issue with incorrect shortcut key responses when adding calendar events.
  

Your feedback is important to us and all Builders. Singleplayer or Multiplayer and Localization Surveys are eagerly awaiting your thoughts. We hope you can take a moment to fill them out.

Catch up with us around the web for more Sandrock information:
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[h3]Howdy all Builders,[/h3]

We wish you will enjoy the fun, and may the Year of the Dragon bring you boundless happiness and joyful moments with family and friends! We hope you all enjoy Sandrock adventures!

Also, here is an exciting collaboration with 'Let's School', check out the 'Let's School' quest in Sandrock's late game. It's the first installment in the 'Let's' series, developed by a fantastic small team in our studio. Many Sandrock elements are now part of it!



In 'Let's School,' Nia becomes an art teacher, and there's a new student, Logan, bringing a playful vibe. As the principal, you get to guide Logan a bit.



Sandrock is now a student source in 'Let's School.' Recruit students with Builders attire and explore the town!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1937500/Lets_School/

Check the bundle here for extra 10% discount!

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/28030/_/


Your feedback is important to us and all Builders. Singleplayer or Multiplayer and Localization Surveys are eagerly awaiting your thoughts. We hope you can take a moment to fill them out.

Catch up with us around the web for more Sandrock information:
Subscribe to Youtube Join our Discord Sandrock Instagram Sandrock Twitter Sandrock Facebook Sandrock Official Website

Howdy Builders,
As the Chinese New Year approaches, we, the entire Sandrock development team, extend our warmest wishes for a joyous and prosperous New Year! With the spirit of the dragon guiding us into the Year of the Dragon, may fortune and abundance grace your path.
We've had a wonderful year with you., and we're excited to share our latest achievements with you. Here's a recap of what the team accomplished this week:


[h3][PC] Singleplayer Update[/h3]
We've been buzzing with anticipation as we gear up for the upcoming seasonal free update of Sandrock in Spring 2024 (V1.3), and let us tell you, we've got some seriously thrilling highlights to share with you all!
First up on the list of exciting additions: say hello to Logan's goat, the newest member of the builder's mount crew! Now, after tying the knot in-game, Logan's spouses can proudly hop on this adorable mount, officially earning the title of 'Sheep Riders'. Additionally, X, Fang's beloved pet, can also become a builder's loyal companion? But, there's a catch – this furry friend is only available to those who hold the coveted 'Marriage Certificate with Fang' right from the start. It's a quirky twist that adds a whole new level of charm to your Sandrock adventures!
But wait, there's more! Brace yourselves for the 'Super-Size' and 'Super-Cute' feature – the Pet Gameplay Expansion!
We're splitting this exciting system into two parts for double the fun. Firstly, we've got pet cultivation and combat, all set to roll out in the Sandrock Spring 2024 free update (V1.3). And for those of you hungry for even more furry friends, we've got a special treat in store: a paid DLC that lets you capture wild creatures, launching alongside the same update. 'Pensky, here I come!'
But enough teasing – let's dive into the fun stuff! Keep your eyes peeled for more juicy details in our upcoming developer logs as we peel back the curtain on this exciting new system. Your pets are gearing up for battle, and trust us, they're more than ready to show those monsters who's boss. For the Horde? Nah, for the Builders!




[h3]1.Concerning the graphic qualities[/h3]
We've taken note of concerns raised by several players in our community regarding specific graphic changes. With the recent shift in rendering pipelines, we acknowledge that there have been adjustments to the graphics that may have caused some unease. Your feedback, especially from our valued Builders, is incredibly important to us. Our dedicated art team is actively engaged in addressing these concerns, but we also understand that it's a substantial task. In light of this, we sincerely ask for your assistance in expediting this process. Your feedback can greatly aid us in understanding and resolving these issues more efficiently. For more information on the specific concerns and how you can provide feedback, please refer to the pinned post on our Steam Community Discussion.

[h3]2, Hotfix[/h3]
Additionally, following the January maintenance patch, your valuable reports aided us in identifying script malfunctions caused by plot changes, leading to specific story progression issues. Furthermore, we became aware of an issue in non-Chinese settings where mail text appeared in Chinese. We're pleased to inform you that these issues have been addressed in the recent Chinese New Year update. However, if you encounter any persisting problems, please don't hesitate to report them to us. We'll prioritize their resolution immediately after the holiday break.

Speaking of which, our team will be taking a break from February 8th to February 17th to celebrate the Chinese New Year. During this time, there may be some delays in responding to bug reports and community messages. Your patience and understanding during this period are greatly appreciated. Rest assured, we'll address all inquiries and feedback collectively upon our return on February 18th.

Once again, we extend our warmest wishes to you for a Happy Chinese New Year!



Your feedback is important to us and all Builders. Singleplayer or Multiplayer and Localization Surveys are eagerly awaiting your thoughts. We hope you can take a moment to fill them out.

Catch up with us around the web for more Sandrock information:
Subscribe to Youtube Join our Discord Sandrock Instagram Sandrock Twitter Sandrock Facebook Sandrock Official Website