Call of the Wild: The Angler™ News

Hotfix 1.3.1 is now live and fixes several of the progression and stability bugs that came with the latest Evolution Update. Read the notes below for more info.

[h3]Gameplay[/h3]

• Resolved an issue in Taylor’s Tackle Academy that prevented players from progressing in both the Beginner and Expert Class.
  
• Fixed a bug where the Fishing Challenge Gold 1 mission wouldn’t track properly.

[h3]Visual[/h3]

• Resculpted poor Speilfinne’s busted-in head. We’re sorry Speilfinne, we love you!

[h3]Stability[/h3]

• Resolved a rare crash and black screen some players would experience on start-up.

Thank you to everyone who reported these bugs and happy angling!

Strap in Anglers. We’ve got new fish, lots of improvements, a complete overhaul of the progression system, and more! Let’s dive in.




[h3]• New fish species found in Golden Ridge Reserve![/h3]
We've populated the expansive waterways with eight new fish species on Golden Ridge Reserve! Introducing the Black Crappie, Tiger Muskie, Shovelnose Sturgeon, Green Sunfish, Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Ohrid Trout, and last but certainly not least, the Walleye. You’ll also find that Burbot has taken a trip all the way from Norway.



Dev Team’s Notes: Golden Ridge Reserve is where everyone starts their fishing adventure in The Angler and we wanted to make their experience on this map as exciting as possible. With more fish comes more fun!

[h3]• Breathtaking water![/h3]
Accompanying several other visual updates, we can’t help but gush about the new water surface. Just look at those ripples!



Dev Team’s Notes: The water bodies got a big visual overhaul. We've updated their movement and reflections to look better than ever.

[h3]• Now that’s a happy Angler![/h3]
Your Angler will now react depending on how big your catch is on the catch screen. Just look at that smile :)



Dev Team’s Notes: Previously characters had one fixed neutral facial expression, meaning that even after making the best catch of your life they'd react the same. Now characters will look increasingly pleased relative to the rank of the fish caught. Big fish = happy Angler!

[h3]• Introducing our new and improved progression system![/h3]
We’ve got lots in store in our new and improved progression system. Its goal is to make leveling up, fishing, and growing your reputation feel more meaningful. Read the full patch notes below to learn more!

Dev Team’s Notes: Overhauling the progression system also means changes to the XP numbers for all players. But worry not as no XP has been lost! It’s all been converted to the new system.



[h2]Gameplay[/h2]

• The majority of fish now have a stronger preference for day or night.
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: Day fish will now very rarely appear at night and vice versa. To make sure that you can still catch nocturnal fish, the night time has been made to last longer. Embrace the darkness!
  
  
• Fish spawning rates have been adjusted on Golden Ridge Reserve.
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: Adding new species meant taking another look at the spawning of all fish available in GRR. We've made some adjustments to the spawn rates of diamonds and golds across the reserve and updated some fish spawn locations.
  
  
• You can now expand your backpack.
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: Wanna carry more gear? We’ve got you covered! With this update, you’ll be able to buy backpack expansions in the shop so you can take more things with you on your travels.
  
  
• Missions have been reworked to accommodate the new fish species.
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: Missions now more accurately reflect spawning conditions for fish including the new species in Golden Ridge Reserve. We’ve also added 12 new missions (three per outpost) for you to enjoy.
  
  
• Controller haptics and rumble improvements.
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: We’ve added a host of new effects to provide tactile feedback during gameplay as well as adding support for more controllers and more platforms.

[h2]Progression[/h2]

• The tutorial has been revamped.
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: First impressions matter, so we’ve updated the tutorial to make it easier to understand and quicker to get through. It will now teach you the basics of becoming a successful Angler better than before!
  
  
• New feature: Taylor’s Tackle Academy.
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: Taylor’s Tackle Academy is a tool for new players that includes four missions and challenges providing more in-depth information than the tutorial. It will teach you how to float fish, what hook size means, and everything in-between. Completing these missions will reward you with useful items to give you a head start!
  
  
• Credits are now earned through catching fish.
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: Originally, you earned credits by leveling up. We’ve listened to your feedback and we agree that getting money by catching fish feels much better!

[h2]Visuals[/h2]

• Improved color grading on Golden Ridge Reserve
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: We made our original reserve pop a lot more visually now! Taking a casual stroll through Golden Ridge should be even more enjoyable.
  
  
• Reserve intro videos have been updated.
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: Now they include all visual improvements added to the game since its launch and better represent its current state.
  
  
• Brighter night time on Golden Ridge Reserve
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: With night lasting longer and fish having stronger day and night preferences, the reserve has been brightened up to make for a better night-time fishing experience. Enjoy your dark vision, Anglers!

[h2]UI[/h2]

• Item images now show up in the UI.
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: You will now see images of the items you received as a reward in the UI and know exactly what you’re getting.
  
  
• Error messaging improvements.
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: We’ve added more details to error messages to better inform you of possible issues should they occur.

[h2]Multiplayer[/h2]

• Session Players List is now available.
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: Previously, it was quite difficult to quickly identify all online players in your session. That's why we've introduced a new Session Players List that allows you to easily see everyone in your current multiplayer game. Via the map, you’ll now be able to view the full list of players and add them as friends, mute, report, or block them.
  
  
• Additional anti-exploits mechanics
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: No one likes cheaters, so we’ve introduced extra measures to prevent some players from manipulating the game to gain unfair advantage.

[h2]Performance[/h2]

• General performance improvements
  
  Dev Team’s Notes: The performance gains may vary based upon your hardware, settings, and circumstances in-game, but most players should see a nice bump up in their FPS.

We hope that you enjoy this major update and look forward to hearing what you think!

Thank you so much for all your support and happy fishing!

Greetings Anglers,

Do not miss out on our Summer Steam deals! Right now you can grab the Norway Reserve with a 90% discount.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2165500/Call_of_the_Wild_The_Angler__Norway_Reserve/

And make sure to team up with your friends. Spread the news as you can 'catch' the base game 50% off as well!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1408610/Call_of_the_Wild_The_Angler/

Greetings, Anglers!

Get deeper insights into the team’s work with the new Community Tracker, which will be replacing the Known Issues List. Look forward to more frequent updates around new and future content, gameplay improvements, and bug fixes.

CHECK IT OUT


[h3]Why are we doing this?[/h3]

We receive a lot of questions about what’s next for the game, as well as feedback on content, bugs, and improvements. With this tracker, which will be curated and updated on a regular basis, we want to make our plans for the game more visible and accessible to players. This means that the current Known Issues List will be retired in favor of this tracker. Additionally, the Community Tracker will serve as a source for all the latest game news, PC and console-specific.

[h3]How do I submit feedback?[/h3]

We’re actively monitoring and collecting feedback and reported issues across social media platforms, so please continue sharing with us! A great way to get involved is by joining the Discord Server and visiting the #game-suggestions and #bug-reporting forums.

Thanks for your support! We can’t wait to hear what you think of the new Community Tracker.

Are you ready for Game Update 1.2.7? It's full of new content, improvements, and bug fixes based on your feedback. Let's dive into the patch notes!

[h2]Highlights[/h2]

Legendary fish have been spotted in Norway!
See if you can hunt down and catch the Northern Pike, dubbed Kalle Paul the Dominator, as well as Speilfinne the Atlantic Salmon, and Store Henrik the Burbot.



Dev Team’s Notes: We loved the reaction to the Legendary Fish that were originally introduced to Golden Ridge Reserve and we've enjoyed watching you try to find them each week. We're equally hyped to see how you get along with the new trio in Norway!

Multiplayer text chat is here!
Now you can easily share your favorite fishing spots and angling tips with others.



Dev Team’s Notes: Now you can send messages to anyone within the same multiplayer session to help each other out and share the best tips. Introducing this feature marks another milestone in our efforts to further improve the social aspects of the game.

[h2]Features and QoL Improvements[/h2]

[h3]Gameplay[/h3]

The Secure Catch mechanic has been added as a new part of the fishing gameplay. The goal was to make the catch phase more engaging and to define it as a distinct stage of the fish fight for heavier specimens. Dev Team’s Notes: To increase the satisfaction of landing the catch during the final stage of the fight, we have introduced an interactive layer that adds a sense of tension to the experience. This layer also prevents any 'surprise' or 'instant' catches. In the future, we'll be making more changes to this phase, with improvements to the catch animation flow in the works.

Xbox Gamepad Rumble and Vibration have been added to a number of key events in the game to improve the core fishing experience and provide useful feedback for those who play on an Xbox gamepad. Dev Team’s Notes: This is just the first step towards offering a comprehensive set of Rumble and Vibration effects, along with support for a broader range of gamepads. This update focuses on the core fishing experience, giving you feedback about casting, nibbling, striking, and fighting. In future updates, we'll be bringing more effects to the game, along with broader support beyond Xbox Gamepads. Note that other gamepads may trigger rumble in some instances, but experiences will vary until we add full support over time.

An unsuccessful strike now keeps the float or lure in the water instead of snapping back to the casting pose, allowing you to continue fishing without having to recast. Dev Team’s Notes: We know it was frustrating when you missed a strike and had to recall the line, so we've changed the behavior to keep you fishing.

To address additional community feedback, we have made adjustments to the compatibility of baits, lures, and fish species to increase the likelihood of a successful bite. We have also expanded the baiting radius for float fishing, and curious fish will now move toward the bait faster. Dev Team’s Notes: Although we aimed to narrow down the specificity of the baits to target certain fish species, we know that we unintentionally made it difficult to get a bite in general. However, instead of reversing the changes, we have implemented balancing adjustments to various systems to increase the overall bite rates. We are constantly evaluating this area based on community feedback and data. In this update, you will notice that fish are attracted to bait from a greater distance, move faster toward the bait when curious, and have broader bait compatibility where applicable.

The calculation of line tension has been improved in order to provide a more accurate reading during fish fights. There will be fewer sudden spikes in tension, resulting in a more nuanced representation of what the fish is doing while on the line. Dev Team’s Notes: To support the Secure Catch feature we've reworked some of our tension calculations to make the line behavior more realistic. It should allow you a little more flexibility when picking your line, so you can try weaker lines on heavier fish, with more confidence that you can use the drag to control the tension better.

[h3]Progression[/h3]

The Local Souvenir Shop is now open in Norway! Work towards unlocking ten new unique cosmetic items to stand out in a crowd. Dev Team’s Notes: We saw how you enjoyed dressing up as Bigfoot and Clayton in Golden Ridge Reserve, so we've added some fun Norway themed cosmetics. We believe the Astrid’s Jumper is going to be a firm favorite, and we hope that the Monster Mask isn't too scary for anyone (that April Fool’s Day joke got a bit out of hand).

[h3]Stability[/h3]

General improvements have been made to how we utilize VRAM and how it is allocated over time. Dev Team’s Notes: These changes should result in a decrease in the amount of VRAM needed overall (relative to resolution and settings) and over time VRAM usage shouldn't increase as much as it did previously. This should improve both performance and stability.

[h3]Customization[/h3]

We've expanded the customisation options with a broader selection of hair colors and most importantly beards and mustaches! Dev Team’s Notes: We heard your requests for more customization options, specifically the beards (should we blame Jaxy for it?). So we've added not just a beard, but also a mustache and a new selection of colors to pick from.

[h3]UI[/h3]

Add markers and labels to your map to easily recall where the different fish species and ranks are in each reserve. Dev Team’s Notes: Way markers are useful for getting to a destination, but it was hard to mark up the map to easily remember where the best fishing spots are. Now you can add up to 40 markers, with 8 different icons and labels for all the individual fish species.

[h2]Full Patch Notes[/h2]

[h3]Stability[/h3]

• This update has resolved some of the most frequent and disruptive stability problems.
  
• The issue with the rod being able to come apart while casting or during a fish fight and getting the character locked in place has been resolved.

[h3]Gameplay[/h3]

• Fishing missions in Golden Ridge Reserve now spawn more fish than just the targeted fish, bringing it in line with the fishing missions in Trollsporet Nature Reserve. Now it's possible to target other fish while the mission is active.
  
• We’ve changed how the 'Cut Line' feature works. Outside of a fish fight it is now labeled as 'Quick Retrieve'. When triggered it will play an animation showing the retrieval of your fishing line.
  
• An issue with swapping seats on a boat while accidentally holding down the 'Cut Line' button after the action had been completed has been addressed.
  
• It is no longer possible for a fight to remain active even though the fish has become unhooked after spooling the player.
  
• A selection of boat spawn locations have been updated in both Golden Ridge Reserve and Trollspret Nature Reserve to make them easier to access.
  
• The Juvenile Grayling wasn't possible to catch since patch 1.2.4. This has been resolved.
  
• The player will no longer be put in a crouched position due to auto-twitching while reeling in all the way.
  
• Auto-jigging would not work when using a jig head and soft plastic, it now works with all lures.
  
• An issue with passengers being unable to switch views while riding in a boat has been fixed.

[h3]Visuals[/h3]

• The water beyond the Cruise Ship in Norway has been restored, along with a series of fixes to smaller water seems and glitches across both reserves.
  
• The bait no longer clips the float on the line if the depth is set to a low value when using the larger-sized float.
  
• Foam on the water's surface is now rendering as intended in all locations in both Golden Ridge Reserve and Trollspret Nature Reserve.
  
• Fixed a bug with the camera showing the inside of the driver’s head for a few frames while cycling camera viewpoints in vehicles.

[h3]Multiplayer[/h3]

• The player’s avatar (and view) no longer turns around 180 degrees after finishing using a looping emote in multiplayer.
  
• The player is now automatically connected to an online session after completing the tutorial and transitioning straight into an online session.

[h3]Progression[/h3]

• Solved an issue with Photo Challenge 1 in Diamonds Peak (Golden Ridge Reserve) becoming unresponsive unless you spawn and enter a car.
  
• The lump of coal in the Narrative Mission has had its proximity audio fixed.

[h3]UI[/h3]

• A number of text misalignment issues when playing in Japanese or Simplified Chinese has been resolved.
  
• An issue with the input getting stuck when using a controller to toggle the torch on and off in the Quick Menu has been resolved. Additionally, the Torch UI icon now updates as intended in all states.
  
• The activity feed messages could previously appear on top of each other when entering a multiplayer server with 8+ players, this no longer occurs.
  
• We fixed an issue with the individual settings not updating correctly after using a custom video preset and switching to a predefined preset.
  
• The correct list of fish species is now present in a habitat when viewing the map while interacting with a waterbody.
  
• Various problems with selling multiple items in a row have been fixed.
  
• A back button has been added to the Quick Wheel to allow for easier navigation through the radial layers.
  
• The "Find Friend" option in Apex Connect had no character input limit, allowing for text to overlap within the UI. A limit has now been set to match the Apex Connect Account name’s maximum length.
  
• Switching languages and backing out the menu unintentionally presented both the Privacy Policy & EULA in the newly selected language. This has been fixed.

[h3]Audio[/h3]

• We addressed an issue with vehicles missing engine audio for remote players if a vehicle was spawned in a different location.