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Escape Simulator News

VR Hands Update is out now!

Hello Escapists and VR Enthusiasts!

We heard you loud and clear—you wanted visible VR hands, and we've delivered! The VR Hands Update is now live, not only featuring those much-requested VR hands (It's not hand tracking. Other players now see your avatar move hands in multiplayer.) but also packed with over 40 fixes and improvements, all thanks to your feedback.

We've completely remade player models so you can finally see your partner grab objects, solve puzzles, and even high-five (virtually) in celebration.
But that's not all! We've also added a brand new feature for managing your inventory in VR: over-the-shoulder item stashing! Quickly stow away items you're not using for easy access later, all with a natural over-the-shoulder motion.

Here's what the VR Hands Update brings you:

  • Visible and Interactive Partner Hands: Witness your co-op teammate's actions in VR for a more collaborative escape experience.
  • Over-the-Shoulder Item Stashing: Manage your inventory seamlessly with a new, intuitive VR inventory system.
  • Improved Player Models: We've revamped player models for a more natural and responsive VR experience for both you and your partner.
  • General Bug Fixes and Optimizations: We've ironed out some wrinkles to ensure a smooth VR escape for everyone.
  • Check the full changelog at the bottom of this article. It's HUUUGEEE!

Ready to escape together in full view? Grab your partner and dive into Escape Simulator's VR Hands Update!

Oh, btw, just one more thing! There is a new Build-a-Room Competition on the horizon, and it's coming next week! So, stay tuned for more news!

[h2]Important announcement regarding the Escape Simulator VR Steam Page[/h2]

To avoid any confusion in the future, we've decided to remove the Escape Simulator VR product page, so all discussions related to VR will be held in one place; in the Escape Simulator discussion boards.

[h2]Got questions? We have answers![/h2]

Head here to find a small FAQ that hopefully answers all your questions. Have more inquiries? Ask away on the Escape Simulator forum or our Discord!

[h2]VR Improvements:
[/h2]
  • Player characters now feature realistic head and hand movements and are fully integrated into multiplayer settings.
  • Introducing a novel inventory addition method: simply hover and release items over your shoulder to store them.
  • New movement option "Smooth With Turn" allows seamless movement and turning with a single thumbstick.
  • For a more immersive experience, we've added the "Off" movement option, which disables thumbstick navigation.
  • You can now customize the thumbstick deadzone under VR settings (VR -> Other -> Thumbstick Deadzone).
  • Movement settings are now individually adjustable for each hand.
  • Celebrate your victories with a dynamic confetti effect that surrounds you upon completing a level.
  • Witness a visual "poof" effect when players add items to their inventory in multiplayer.
  • Enhanced Room Editor now offers improved control over VR item sparkles, with settings for "Automatic," "Enabled," and "Disabled."
  • Tools such as fire extinguishers, wands, and revolvers have been upgraded to project effects in the direction they face.
  • Hands remain visible and turn transparent when holding items, enhancing realism.
  • We’ve removed obstructions caused by trigger colliders to the raycast hit indicator.
  • Simplified the toggling between snap and smooth turning in the settings menu.
  • Added a new tutorial step to guide you through changing settings anytime via the in-game menu.
  • Smooth transitions between game and in-game menu with newly integrated post-processing effects.
  • Fixed several bugs including issues with the level loading spinner, teleport marker visibility, and performance hiccups in community levels due to excessive colliders.

[h2]Level Fixes:[/h2]
  • Tutorial: Resolved an issue allowing players to access items from a locked chest in VR.
  • Emergency Awakening: Enabled the collection of flying glass pieces.
  • Hallway Accident: Addressed a glitch where the cable part could become stuck and uncollectible.
  • Space Walk: Corrected a problem allowing item retrieval from sealed containers in VR.
  • Chamber of Dead:
  • Corrected the scaling issue with the slot, preventing the ball ghost from appearing egg-shaped.
  • Improved the accessibility of the crowbar in VR to prevent unintended easy grabbing.
  • Gold Chamber: Enhanced the interaction with the pickaxe to avoid unintentional easy grabbing in VR.
  • Metaverse: Fixed a VR issue where players would not correctly spawn in metaverse rooms upon loading.
  • Versus (Beginner and Expert): Eliminated an unwanted VR vignette effect visible in the final room.
  • Among Us (DLC): Resolved a difficulty with activating the hint box, particularly in VR.
  • The Engine Room (Steampunk DLC): Clarified the use of the fire extinguisher in VR instructions.
  • The Helm Room (Steampunk DLC):
  • Resolved a glitch where VR night goggles effects incorrectly applied to the in-game menu.
  • Improved the readability of the note gear in VR.
  • Fixed an issue with placing an opened container in the mailing tube in VR.
  • Magic Shop (Magic DLC):
  • Addressed a coloring issue with hints appearing pink.
  • Fixed the orientation issue with the eye book in VR.
  • The Saloon (Wild West DLC): Improved the readability of the deadbeat note in VR.
  • Chronomancy Hall (Magic DLC): Enhanced the usability of turnables and slidables in VR.
  • Potions Garden (Magic DLC): Fixed a VR-specific bug affecting player movement when carrying ladders.


-Pine team

VR Update Hotfix #2

Hey adventurers,
we're back with another round of fixes and improvements! VR Update Hotfix #2 focuses on enhancing both the general and VR gameplay experience.

What’s New:
[h2]General Fixes:[/h2]

  • No more freezing when picking up certain items.
  • VR and flat players can now co-play in all community rooms.
  • New default step sound for community rooms.

[h2]VR-Specific Fixes:[/h2]
  • Completed levels now save correctly.
  • Closing zooms in VR is now a click away.
  • Level complete UI has a new "Stay" button.
  • Fixed level complete UI spawning issues.
  • Community room rating now available in VR.
  • Trigger function refined for better interaction: Trigger no longer grabs item from other hand (only grip does so), rather it is now used for interactions only.
  • Improved press indicator for VR grip.
  • Token and community rooms beta popups are more readable.

[h2]Level Adjustments:[/h2]
  • 'Emergency Awakening': Fixed disappearing zoomable in multiplayer.
  • 'The Greenhouse' (Steampunk DLC): Enhanced turnable interaction.
  • 'The Jail' (Wild West DLC): Fixed the VR bug with the picture on the table.
  • 'Divination Towers' (Magic DLC): Fixed table turnable snapping issue.(could be set in-between 2 towers)

We're committed to making your gaming experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible. Keep the feedback coming, and let's keep the game great together!

Pine team

VR Update Hotfix #1

First off, a massive thank you to all who've been diving into our new VR mode and an extra shoutout to the 1171 supporters who've showed love by getting the Supporter Pack. Your support means the world to us! ❤️

This week, we've been all ears and got down to squashing those pesky bugs to make your VR experience smoother. And yes, we're already on the case with some exciting updates in the pipeline – like bringing your own arms to the multiplayer, an over-the-shoulder inventory, and polishing up the VR version of the amazing community-made rooms. And yes, we're working on a standalone Meta Quest version of the game!

Here’s what’s new in v32311r:

[h2]General Fixes:[/h2]
  • No more double-clicking in-game menu buttons.
  • Fixed non-referencing items for some zoomables.
  • Smoother item grabbing.
  • Enhanced room selection in the menu.
  • Moved network protocol option to the Advanced tab.
  • Extra checks before item respawns to keep things smooth.

[h2]VR Enhancements:[/h2]
  • Fixed camera spawn issues – no more floor view when you start.
  • Credits roll in the right place now.
  • Zoomables and slots handling in VR got a major tune-up.
  • Swappable slots and distance placing now work like a charm.
  • Crouching into out-of-reach spaces? Fixed that.
  • Level completion now comes with more confetti and no black UI squares.
  • Flat version motion sickness settings won't mess with VR anymore.
  • Meta Quest Pro controllers should work better now.

[h2]VR Custom Rooms & Editor:[/h2]
  • No more air-spawn in custom rooms.
  • Zoomables in VR now stay put and only move with significant player motion.
  • Picking up items in VR stops unnecessary animations.
  • Fixed the VR trashcan duplication in custom rooms.

[h2]Level Adjustments:[/h2]
  • 'Among Us' room manual is now VR-friendly.
  • 'Emergency Awakening' has its screw slots sorted for VR.
  • 'Magic Shop's hungry book and hidden zoomables behave better.
  • 'Versus Expert' chess puzzle is now VR ready.
  • 'Gold Chamber' has improved gold slot interaction.

We're pumped to keep improving and expanding the game based on your feedback.

-Pine team

Escape Simulator adds VR support in the latest free update

Escape Simulator from Pine Studio has proven to be popular, so much in fact that they hit 1 million sales in less than a year and multiple expansions later there's another big free upgrade.

Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2024/04/escape-simulator-adds-vr-support-in-the-latest-free-update

Free VR Update & Supporter DLC are OUT NOW!

Here it is! Escape Simulator just leveled up! We’ve seamlessly integrated VR mode into the game, and is now yours, absolutely FREE!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Whether you’re deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, escaping from haunted mansions, or solving intricate puzzles, you can do it all in a captivating VR environment.

The adrenaline rush? Off the charts. The thrill? Unmatched. Immerse yourself and experience your favorite challenges like never before.

Before you ask - yes, non-VR and VR players CAN play together!

[h2]Supporter DLC: Exclusive Goodies[/h2]



We’ve noticed many of you are looking for ways to further support the game and our team. To answer this, we’ve created the Supporter DLC. This fun little package is a treasure trove for fans, including exclusive digital goodies such as a unique in-game skin, a golden token badge, a digital art book, ES wallpapers, and even the first playable ES prototype version. It’s our way of offering you something special in return for your incredible support! 💟

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2843390/Escape_Simulator_Supporter_Pack_DLC/

[h2]Price Adjustment[/h2]

With the game evolving and expanding, especially with the addition of VR, we're adjusting the price from $14.99/€14.99/£12.99 to $19.99/€19.99/£16.79 and DLCs from $4.99/€4.99/£3.99 to $5.99/€5.99/£4.99, effective April 14th. We believe this price change better reflects the current value of the game and allows us to keep supporting it long into the future.

[h2]Final Sale Alert: Grab It Before the Adjustment[/h2]

Before the price adjustment takes effect, don’t miss our final sale! From April 2nd to April 13th, seize the opportunity. Whether it’s for yourself or as a thoughtful gift, now’s the time.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1435790/Escape_Simulator/

[h2]More stuff to come![/h2]



Since the initial release, our journey with Escape Simulator has been nothing short of extraordinary. Here’s a quick recap of our achievements:

  • 12 Additional Rooms: We’ve expanded the escape universe, adding twists, turns, and surprises galore.
  • 3 Developed DLCs: New challenges, fresh mysteries, and brain-teasing conundrums await.
  • 2 Free DLCs Released: Because we believe in giving back to our community.

But hold onto your hats—2024 promises even more excitement! Here’s what’s in store:

  • At Least One More DLC: Brace yourselves for mind-bending puzzles and heart-pounding escapes.
  • 2 More Free DLCs: Yes, you read that right. More free content coming your way!


[h2]It's dangerous to go alone. Take this FAQ[/h2]

Before you go, we’ve compiled a list of common questions about Escape Simulator to keep you informed. Let’s dive in:

Q: What about the standalone Meta Quest version?
A: Yup, we are working on it and we plan to release it by the end of this year!

Q: What about the standalone Steam version?
A: We do not plan to release a standalone Steam version because we’ve included it for FREE in the base game! We believe that this approach is not only more fair to our players but also helps us tackle technical challenges while maintaining the game efficiently with our small team.

Q: Can flat-screen and VR players play together?
A: Absolutely! We’ve enabled non-VR and VR players to join forces seamlessly. Give it a try!

Q: Can community rooms be played in VR?
A: Yes, but community rooms are still in BETA, and there’s work to be done to bring them up to satisfactory standards. We appreciate your patience. Most rooms should function well, but occasional issues may arise. Check out the curated “Verified for VR” list in the game, where we’ve added several maps that work beautifully in VR.

Q: What about VR motion sickness? I suffer from it. Can I play in VR?
A: We’ve implemented a range of options that you can enable and adjust to minimize VR motion sickness.

Q: What movement options do you support in VR?
A: The game offers a variety of movement options, including smooth locomotion, teleportation, and both snap and smooth turning. Additionally, we cater to your preferred play style with both sitting and standing modes. Check out the in-game settings to discover a wide range of customizable options designed to ensure a comfortable and immersive gameplay for all players!

Q: I encountered a bug! How do I report it?
A: If you encounter the same bug again, follow these steps:

Locate the Player.log file:
  • Windows: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Pine Studio\Escape Simulator\Player.log
  • MacOS: ~/Library/Logs/Pine Studio/Escape Simulator/Player.log
  • Linux: ~/.config/unity3d/Pine Studio/Escape Simulator/Player.log

Send the Player.log to [email protected].


[h2]Here's to new adventures! 🥂[/h2]

To each and every one of you, thank you! Your excitement and support mean the world to us. Dive into the immersive world of Escape Simulator, explore the mysteries, and get ready for surprises galore.

Stay curious, stay daring, and keep those escape skills sharp. Adventure awaits!


-Pine team