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Ranch Simulator News

OUT NOW: Quality of Life + Achievements Update

Hello Ranchers,

We have just launched a quality of life update on the main branch, which introduces autosaves, convenient light switches and more! A big thank you to those of you who helped test the unstable branch version of this update.

And, as always, we want to know what you think of this latest update, so do keep the feedback coming on the Steam forums and our Discord!

Take a read of all the details, which were previously announced:

Life is better on the ranch, but it isn't always easy. So we've have been hard at work on a quality of life update, which will make your in-game lives a little easier!

This update introduces autosaves - you can still save manually of course, but autosaving now occurs every ten minutes by default. One less thing to worry about! We've also added an option to save and quit when exiting the game via the menu.

And we've also added light switches, which allow you to turn on various lights in your buildings and houses at once. To set up a switch, simply open the construction book, place your light switch where desired, left click on the light switch, left click on the lights you wish to connect to the switch, and then left click on the switch again. Ta-da! You can still turn your lights on and off manually if you wish.



The long awaited, much requested Steam achievements are also here! We have 39 Steam achievements for you to unlock. Achievement hunters, have at it!

Last but not least, you can now modify the colour of your coolers. Lovely.



We've also snuck a couple bug fixes into this update.

- Fixed an issue with horses not training in paddocks
- Fixed an issue with controller interaction when creating a character

[h2]What's Next?[/h2]

Next up, we'll now be working on an update which includes tree growth (so you can chop down more trees and produce more wood), a trailer to transport logs, and horse breeding! Keep an eye out for news.

Thanks,
The Ranch Sim Team

Quality of Life + Achievements Update: Unstable Version Now Available!

Hello Ranchers,

Life is better on the ranch, but it isn't always easy. So we've have been hard at work on a quality of life update, which will make your in-game lives a little easier!

An early version of this update is available now for testing on the unstable branch. The public version of this update will release for everyone within the coming days.

This update introduces autosaves - you can still save manually of course, but autosaving now occurs every ten minutes by default. One less thing to worry about! We've also added an option to save and quit when exiting the game via the menu.

And we've also added light switches, which allow you to turn on various lights in your buildings and houses at once. To set up a switch, simply open the construction book, place your light switch where desired, left click on the light switch, left click on the lights you wish to connect to the switch, and then left click on the switch again. Ta-da! You can still turn your lights on and off manually if you wish.



The long awaited, much requested Steam achievements are also here! We have 39 Steam achievements for you to unlock. Achievement hunters, have at it!

Last but not least, you can now modify the colour of your coolers. Lovely.



We've also snuck a couple bug fixes into this update.

- Fixed an issue with horses not training in paddocks
- Fixed an issue with controller interaction when creating a character

[h2]How to Access the Unstable Branch[/h2]

To access the unstable branch, do the following:
- Load up Steam and head to your Library
- Right click on Ranch Simulator and then select ‘Properties’
- Head to the Beta tab and in the drop down select ‘unstable_branch’ (no password needed)
- This will then download the new build for you.

We want to know what you think of this latest update, so do keep the feedback coming on the Steam forums and our Discord!

[h2]What's Next?[/h2]

Once the public version of this update is out, we will start work on the next one! This will include horse breeding, tree growth and a log trailer.

Thanks,
The Ranch Sim Team

Cats and Dogs Update Out Now | Revamped Driving Handling and Physics

Hello ranchers,

We have a big update for you today which adds cats and dogs as well as revamped driving steering and physics! Thank you for your patience, and we can't wait to hear what you think of the update!

Cats and Dogs

A Dachshund, a Rottweiler and a German Shepherd are now available to purchase from the general store! You can get these dogs to follow you, and even get them to fetch items for you. Your furry doggo friends will even help defend you from predators such as wolves and bears, and revive you when unconscious! Make sure to build a dog house for your pooch to rest in.



We've also added four different colour cats you can purchase in the general store. All pets can be named by buying a collar from the general store, which can also be customised with different colours using paint. Make sure to feed your four legged friends and give them enough water! (And give them plenty of pets on the head too!)



Driving Handling and Physics

We've heard loud and clear from you that our driving handling and physics needed attention, so we've given them an overhaul. Tweaks have been made to improve stability and drivability for all vehicles and trailers - let us know what you think of the new handling!



Full Patch Notes
Cats and Dogs
- Cats and dogs have been added to the game
- Cats can be purchased in 4 colours
- Cats can be picked up and petted
- 3 breeds of dogs can be purchased
- Dogs can be commanded to follow by pressing the whistle key (H)
- While following, dogs will protect the player they are following from aggressive animals
- While following, dogs can be commanded to fetch an item by looking at the item and pressing the whistle key (H)
- Dogs will sit in passenger seats in cars when owner gets it (takes up a seat which can no longer be used by a player)
- Dog house has been added to the blueprint book (In coop tab)
- Dogs can revive a player if they are following a player when they are unconscious
- Pet collars added to the store which can be used to name your pets and can be painted different colours using paint
- Pet food added to the store
- Pet food bowl added to store, can be used to feed pets with water and food



New
- Added compact ladder item to help people reach hard to get to areas
- Wolves, deer, and bears now have idle animations for sitting and resting
- Livestock now not only walk and stand, but can also sit and lie down

Fixes and Changes
- Changed parameters of all vehicles and trailers, improving stability and drivability
- Fixed issues with character shadows
- Optimised vehicle models
- Added engine sounds to town traffic
- Town traffic is now faster
- Fixed radio
- Fixed spawning issues with vehicle trailer at hardware store

If you're wondering what's next for Ranch Sim, make sure to read our latest roadmap announcement.

Ranch Sim is 55% Off in the Excalibur Games Publisher Sale



Ranch Simulator is currently available at 55% off, our biggest Steam discount to date, as part of the Excalibur Games Publisher Sale!

Make sure to check out this limited time discount on the sale page.

First Half of 2024 Roadmap Revealed

Hello, and welcome to our first news update of the year!

We're excited to reveal what we've got planned for the first half of 2024.

Coming Soon: Cats and Dogs Update
Next Up: Quality of Life Update
Followed by: Horse and Tree Update



First up is the Cats and Dogs Update, adding the much-anticipated furry friends to your ranch. We're also focusing on improvements to driving and steering, with alterations to suspension, centres of gravity and more. Last but not least, there will be further optimisations, bug fixes and improvements included in this update.



Then, we'll be moving onto the Quality of Life Update - this will focus on community requested features which make playing the game a smoother experience. We'll be adding an autosave feature, and introducing the option to save and quit without the need to go to a bed and sleep in-game. You can also expect to be able to customise the colour of your coolers so you can transport your produce in style, plus light switches.

Following that, we'll move onto the next update: we've heard you - you want to be able to chop more trees down! So we will be introducing a tree growth mechanic, as well as a trailer to transport logs, in the third planned update. We'll also be adding horse breeding.

We can't wait to get these updates into your hands! Keep an eye out for news on update releases and as always, keep the feedback coming on the Steam forums and our Discord.

Happy ranching!