Cairn News

[p]Hello climbers, [/p][p]We're so excited to see so many of you enjoy Cairn. [/p][p]Our team has been monitoring the forums, social media and our inboxes to gather your feedback and bug reports, and we have pulled together a patch.[/p][p][/p][p]We have found a temporary solution for the FPS issues on AMD RX 9000 series cards, Steam Deck, and ROG Ally X. Here is how to improve your framerate if you're in this situation.[/p][p]In Steam / Cairn / Game Settings / General / Launch Options (See screen below) :[/p]

• [p]On Windows add this launch option [c]-force-d3d12[/c][/p]
• [p]On Linux add this launch option [c]-force-vulkan[/c][/p]
• [p]On Steam Deck add this launch option [c]-force-vulkan[/c][/p]

[p]We will keep working on performance improvements, but until then, this quick setting change should greatly improve your experience![/p][p][/p][p]We have also put together a patch that solves some minor bugs:[/p]

• [p]Limb selection panel tutorial screen stays on screen if a fall during the tutorial[/p]
• [p]Phone call message remains on screen, only experienced by Turkish players [/p]

[p][/p][p]This is where to find the Launch Options in Cairn's settings on Steam:[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We will keep working on performance, but until then, this quick setting change should greatly improve your experience!

With a lot of love,
The Bakers[/p]

[p]We're still on our journey to the summit of our own Mount Kami, but we're already so grateful for all the encouragements we're getting along the way![/p][p][/p]

• [p]"A tough yet massively rewarding experience" - TechRadar Gaming[/p]
• [p]"A stunning and surprising masterpiece" - Game Informer 9.25/10[/p]
• [p]"Climbing Kami is exhilarating" - IGN 9/10[/p]
• [p]"A triumph. Gorgeous, nerve-wracking, Remarkable." - Jacob Geller[/p]
• [p]"A punishing, beautiful survival game." - The Guardian[/p]
• [p]"Every second is completely intense" - Polygon[/p]
• [p]"A gorgeous and grueling drama." - GameSpot 9/10[/p]
• [p]"Among the best videogames I've played in years" - PC Gamer 9/10[/p]

[p]And many more... [/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]Hello Climbers, [/p][p][/p][p]I hope your gear is ready, because Kami is waiting for you! We’re beyond excited for you to start your climb, explore the mountain, and find out more about Aava’s expedition.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]Grab the game right now and start the ascent of a lifetime![/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p]As you prepare for your first ascent, here’s a reminder of all that’s waiting for you on Kami:[/p][p][/p][p]As pro climber Aava, you attempt the first ascent of Mount Kami. Experience the challenge and the exhilaration of climbing as you scale the vertiginous cliffs. The whole mountain is yours to explore, filled with unexpected encounters and long lost mysteries. This is what you trained for: pushing beyond your limits, in a quest for absolute freedom.[/p][p][/p][p]Cairn climbing system is natural and intuitive. You’re attempting the ascent at the top of Aava’s skill, and you’ll feel it as you climb! She’ll wedge her foot in crevices, grip the tiniest crimps… You’re in charge of the route, but you can trust her to do the best with the holds you give her, and pull off impressive climbing moves.[/p][p][/p][p]Cairn gives you complete freedom in the mountain, you can climb anywhere, make your own decisions on the path to take and how to approach a wall. You create your own unique route to the summit. Take Kami on however you see fit (and can manage!).[/p][p][/p][p]It will take days to make it to the summit, and there’s only so much you can fit in your backpack. You’ll need to forage for food, find water sources, and keep yourself warm through the night, rain or snow. It’s up to you to decide when you set up camp to recharge your batteries, and when you push forward at your own risk.[/p][p][/p][p]Foraging isn’t the only reason to explore! You’re climbing a mountain that’s been inhabited for hundreds, if not thousands of years and the elusive troglodyte people are living in the area. Many other alpinists have tried to ascend Kami, and you can retrace the steps of their past expeditions on her slopes.[/p][p][/p]

[p]Cairn will be available today at:[/p]

• [p]9 AM Pacific Time [/p]
• [p]12 PM Eastern Time [/p]
• [p]5 PM GMT[/p]
• [p]6 PM Central European Time [/p]
• [p]01 AM China, Beijing (next day) [/p]
• [p]02 AM Japan (next day)[/p]
• [p]04 AM Australia, Sydney (next day) [/p]

[p][/p][p][/p]

Before I sat down and really gave myself to Cairn, I really wasn’t sure what to expect beyond stress. From the outside, it’s an almost QWOP-esque climbing game. A very deliberate one. Slow. Quiet. Focused. I figured I’d admire the mechanics, respect what it was doing, and move on. But what happened next was a ten-hour emotional journey that I’ve played through two more times just to see what I missed. Each time, the emotional beats hit differently, but I fell more in love with the game with each playthrough.

What surprised me most was how emotional Cairn ended up being, and not always in the ways that I expected. Following Aava as she climbs for reasons that slowly reveal themselves over time, it’s clear almost immediately that climbing is her escape. It’s where she goes when she needs to shut the rest of the world out and deal with things alone. There’s something very real about that, and sometimes a little uncomfortable. It feels less like a hobby and more like a necessity for... Read more