Back to the Dawn News

Greetings Inmates,

Happy New Year! We hope the holiday season was a blast for you. As we dive into 2024, we've prepared some exciting updates that will enhance your prison escape experience!

[h2]New Opentest Branch Updates![/h2]
We are grateful for your support in our opentest branch, and now it's time for a batch of fresh updates! As shared in our earlier announcement, we will be separating the save files path of the opentest and main default branch to avoid any potential crashes. This means that switching between the opentest/main default branches will now only display the saves from the current branch.

Note that the cloud archive feature for the Opentest branch is still under development. Currently, cloud archiving is not supported in the Opentest branch.

If you'd like to continue playing your save file from the opentest branch back on the main default branch, you can do so by manually transferring it from the opentest branch save folder to the main default branch save folder. But to be safe, we highly recommend you to backup a spare copy of your main default branch save files just in case.

Here's where you can find your respective branch save files:

Opentest Branch Save Path: C:\Users\XXX\AppData\LocalLow\MetalHeadGames\Back To The Dawn\OpenTestSave
Main Default Branch Save Path: C:\Users\XXX\AppData\LocalLow\MetalHeadGames\Back To The Dawn\Save

For a detailed guide on how to enter the opentest branch, please refer to our earlier announcement here.

And now, here are the new opentest branch updates!

[h3]Key Features and Optimizations[/h3]

• Added an option to sit down again and rest after eating in the cafeteria;
  
• Changed searching defeated prisoners for items from pure random to a dice roll challenge. If the dice roll fails, no items can be found;
  
• Added a mode switch function for the sorting mini-game in the mailroom;
  
• You can now open the pocket by clicking on Thomas's icon at the bottom right of the screen;
  
• Added the Game, Graphics, and Sound tabs in Settings;
  
• Log display optimization: added a scroll function to view previous content and a mode switch function to the Log display box at the bottom right;
  
• Added a confirmation pop-up when selling important items;
  
• Optimized the Relationships interface, where you can see the known talents, preferred items, and bonding information of the prisoners;
  
• Added the "Peacemaker" equipment trait for Baton: Your critical hits no longer deal extra damage; instead, they restore Health equal to the value of the extra damage;
  
• Added the in-game function to switch control modes: you can choose "Controller" or "Keyboard & Mouse" in Settings;
  
• Added a tutorial for dice roll challenges.
  
• Adjust the skill experience point cap to 9999.
  

[h3]Skill Adjustments[/h3]

• "Expert Modder" now features the ability of "Expert Modder+", while the latter one is changed to have 2 additional random traits;
  
• Adjusted the values for "Successful Failure": After failing a dice roll challenge, the experience gained changes from 2 to 1.618 times, and for a critical failure, from 5 to 3.14159 times;
  
• Adjusted the trigger difficulty for the skill "Round Up": changed it from 3 attempts to 4 attempts. To unlock the skill, it now requires accumulating 4 dice-rolling actions with a distance progress not exceeding 5 points each time. Subsequently, skill points need to be spent to activate the skill.
  

[h3]Bug Fixes[/h3]

• Fixed the issue where you will not be driven away by the prisoner who sits with their back to the cabinet and thus cannot place the reflector because you have interacted with the cabinet and sink in the Back Room Club in the morning;
  
• Fixed the issue of Sticks having the lunch icon when he's in the kitchen;
  
• Fixed the issue of the writing list being empty when the writing tool is damaged;
  
• Fixed the disappearance or incorrect display of the time UI at the upper left corner;
  
• Fixed the issue where it was impossible to run to the looting position after a fight if the detergent had been moved out of the mixing room cabinet in the laundry room;
  
• Fixed the issue where saying the "The One Who Transcended Time" prayer increased all prisoners' Health;
  
• Fixed the overlapping and non-interactable issues of some prisoners;
  
• Fixed the issue that the mandatory recreation is not triggered when time jumps from 13:05 to 13:15 if you go to the cafeteria from the infirmary at 11:55, order food, ask for food from your tablemate, and then eat both of your food;
  
• Fixed the issue of the central garden still showing the night effect during the day;
  
• Fixed the issue of Alex the Lion participating in the TV room activities after escaping on the 21st day;
  
• Fixed the issue of not successfully obtaining medicine through treatment or prescription with Dr. Beth if you exit the game midway;
  
• Fixed the problem where the option to look in the mirror would pop up automatically if you had finished looking in the mirror in your cell and then went to the headcount and skipped it;
  
• Fixed the issue of the chef's Rapport not increasing if you leave the Cooking Room work to Thomas.
  

We hope you’ve enjoyed playing around with these features as much as we’ve enjoyed hearing your feedback. If you have any other feedback or suggestions, please do let us know in the Steam Discussions board.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1735700/Back_to_the_Dawn/

Once again, thank you so much for the support and encouragement you’ve shown us. 2024 is going to be a great one and we can’t wait to show you guys what else we have in store for this thrilling prison adventure!

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Greetings Inmates,

We've got some fantastic news to share, Back to the Dawn has clinched the Silver Award for the Best Early Access Game of 2023 on Steam!



This achievement is all thanks to you and we are so grateful for your unwavering support this past year. It's your enthusiasm and feedback that fuels our creativity and has inspired our entire team to keep pushing boundaries to improve our game.

As we reflect on an incredible 2023, we can't help but look forward to the new year with great anticipation. We promise that 2024 will bring even more thrilling adventures, challenging escapes, and unforgettable experiences!

If you haven’t yet picked up Back To The Dawn, we have great news - Enjoy an additional 10% limited-time discount when you purchase Back to the Dawn this Steam Winter Sale! This is the perfect opportunity to invite your friends and family into our thrilling prison escape adventure.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1735700/Back_to_the_Dawn/

Once again, thank you for being a part of this journey. Here's to another year of exciting escapes, and thrilling prison tales. We’ll see you all in the new year!

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Greetings Inmates,

We hope you’ve all enjoyed our last update with the opentest branch! Today, we're thrilled to share some exciting news to kick off the holiday season.

[h2]Exclusive 10% Steam Winter Sale Discount!
[/h2]


With the Steam Winter Sale in full swing, we thought it's the perfect time to spread some Christmas cheer, Boulderton Prison style (haha). That's why we've decided to extend our exclusive 10% discount until January 4th 2024! If you've been waiting for the right moment to join this gripping prison adventure, or know someone who's up for the challenge, now's the perfect time to invite your friends and family to dive in.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1735700/Back_to_the_Dawn/

[h2]We've Rolled Out A New Update!
[/h2]
Last week, we introduced a new opentest branch, allowing players to experience and test upcoming updates. We'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has tried it out, and provided us with your invaluable feedback and suggestions.

And so today, we're excited to announce that these updates are now LIVE in the main default branch for everyone to enjoy! For the full details of the new changes, you can refer to our previous announcement here.

Note: If you have tried out the opentest branch, your current save files are compatible with the main default branch. However, in the next update, we'll be separating them to avoid any crashes with your main save files.

As the year comes to a close, we'd like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of you. Your valuable feedback, ongoing support, and fervent enthusiasm have truly been our driving force. We're sincerely grateful for your companionship throughout every part of it!

If you enjoyed Back to the Dawn, or have any suggestions to improve our game, please take a moment to leave us a positive review or share your thoughts with us on the Steam Discussion board.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and an early Happy New Year! May your days be filled with happiness, and may your daring escapes and strategic maneuvers in our prison break adventures continue to thrill you. Happy Holidays inmates! 🎅

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Greetings, Inmates!

How have you been? We hope you have been enjoying the new features in our last major update so far. Today, we're bringing you not just one, but two exciting pieces of news that you won't want to miss!

[h2]Exclusive 10% Discount![/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1735700/Back_to_the_Dawn/

First off, from December 13 - 20, we’re offering Back to the Dawn at a special 10% discount! If you've been eyeing this gripping prison survival adventure, now's the perfect time to take the plunge. And hey, why not spread the joy by recommending it to a friend? Dive into the intense, survival-focused world of Back to the Dawn and discover what lies within, all while saving a bit on your purchase.

[h2]New Public opentest Branch![/h2]

Next, we’re thrilled to introduce a new Back to the Dawn opentest branch on Steam for you to try out! This is your chance to get an early peek at the latest developments, which includes an array of new features from enhanced accessibility options to expanded gameplay elements.

[h3]How to Access the opentest Branch: [/h3]

1. In your Steam library, right-click on Back to the Dawn and click on “Properties”.
   
   
2. In the Properties window, select "Betas", and under the “Beta Participation” dropdown menu, select “opentest” to opt in, and you are good to go!
   
   
3. The game should shortly update itself after, and the game should display as “Back to the Dawn [opentest]” in your Steam Library. That’s how you know that you have successfully opted in! If you’d like to swap back to the original game, simply go through the same steps as above and select “None”.
   

[h3]Opentest Branch Guidelines[/h3]

1. Please note that the opentest branch is meant for early experimental testing, and the content might be adjusted along the way. Because of this, you might experience some bugs as well. But if you do, please let us know through our bug report form! Or if you have more feedback and suggestions for us, do let us know through the Steam Community discussions.
   
   
2. We'll do our best to ensure save file compatibility between the opentest and the standard branch. However, just in case, we recommend backing up your save files before switching to the opentest branch. You can find your save files here: C:\Users\XXX\AppData\LocalLow\MetalHeadGames\Back To The Dawn (Replace XXX with your user folder name).
   
   
3. If you choose to stay in the default branch, that's okay too! We will eventually push the latest and the most stable version to the main game after a thorough quality assurance check.
   

[h3]Key Features and Optimizations in the opentest Branch[/h3]

• Expanded walkable area in the sewer. Thomas can now freely move and change equipment after climbing out of the pipe.
  
• Added a new debuff: Accumulating smell from rummaging through trash affects charm value.
  
• Added a new debuff when facing the Crab Monster. Equip Amulet to unlock a new battle move “Steadfast Will”: Pray against the monster to deal damage equal to the roll results and recover equal health.
  
• New operational guides in the skills page for stealing and extortion.
  
• New interaction options with the boxing manager, TV manager, and bank manager.
  
• Attribute tooltips now show maximum health and stamina for Strength, dodge chance for Agility, and critical hit chance for Intelligence.
  
• Added an option to delegate weightlifting to Thomas after three manual attempts.
  
• Reduced trust gain for befriending gang members from 10 to 8 points. Gain 2 trust points for meeting a gang prisoner.
  
• Weakened the negative effect of Gluttony: Changed from a chance to reduce 2 satiety points to reducing 5 mentality points when Hungry.
  
• Added a sorting function in the cabinet: New "Sort" button at the top left corner.
  
• Included a fast travel function between the first and second floor of the cell block.
  
• Added “Crafting Master” skill effect for solving puzzle games.
  
• Guided prompt for buying blankets.
  
• Sewer circuit repair can now be handled by Thomas after one failure.
  
• Additional guide for Gliding escape route.
  
• Added extra effect for “Police Uniform” armor: Opponents cannot deal critical hits to you.
  
• Reduced morale recovery effect of the Walkman, now provides additional charm experience per hour when turned on. Walkman automatically turns off when sleeping.
  
• New restriction on diarrhea medicine use: Cannot self-administer when in “Low Health”.
  
• You can apply to the guard for permission to go to the infirmary with the "Weak Body" status.
  
• Skip function for specific plot scenes: Phone call with Red, riot start scene, counting days in roll call animation, TV station entrance animation.
  
• Added special state “Potential Unleashed” for Pickman during the riot, enhancing his strength.
  
• New dialogue with Maggie during Honey Festival.
  
• Additional bargaining function for “Calculator”: Thomas can now bargain when shopping, costing 5 energy.
  
• Adjusted effect of “Mint Leaf”, “Mint Roll”, and “Fine Leaf Roll”: Health reduction is now cumulative based on daily usage of these items.
  
• Optimized the interaction with room items during a lockdown: Single cells do not require Sam's help to leave during the day.
  
• Added a trait where nearby fitness enthusiasts increase their favorability when you lift weights 10 times.
  
• Added new spectator interactions for tabletop games.
  
• Added a color vision assistance feature.
  
• Added new evening entertainment interactions on the second floor of the prison. You can “Play cards with Old Lee”, “Assist Phil in card gambling”, “Assist Lin in card gambling”, “Play tumbling tower with Crunchy”, “Play five finger fillets with Max”.
  
• Improved unlocking interaction for dismantling the sewer wooden board.
  
• Adjusted prisoner positions in roll call scenes for more accurate representation.
  
• Added fast-forward and real-time play buttons for watching boxing matches, along with a real-time information button.
  
• Added “Max” and “Min” quick selection buttons in the purchase item list.
  
• Default movement for Thomas changed to running, hold shift to walk.
  
• Added computer games in the comprehensive building and a preview option for the e-book “Time Crosser”.
  
• Increased experience gain for roofing work: 30 experience points per task completion.
  
• Optimized the experience gained for mini-games while working.
  
• Optimized some plot scenes and dialogues in the sewer area.
  
• Reduced listening time: From 5 minutes to 2 minutes.
  
• Lowered base difficulty for the “Framing Bag” task, but added a new roll debuff “Nearby Eyes”: Minus 1 point for each nearby prisoner.
  
• Added task mode hints in the task targets for beating Diego the Alpaca and Wilber the Goat.
  
• Added clue hints for collecting fingerprint film in task targets.
  

[h3]Skill Optimizations[/h3]

• Updated the skill “Investment Expert” of Platypus Terry: Cash on hand increases by 5% every morning, with an additional 1% increase per Intelligence point.
  
• New effect for “Street Self-Defense 50 Moves”: No health loss if victorious in a fight.
  
• New skill “Round Up”: If the cumulative roll result is within 5 points of the maximum, it will be considered a completion.
  
• Hippo Frank’s talent move “Assassinate” now deals “full” damage.
  
• “Welcome to Hawkins” gains an extra effect: 20% increased damage to “Monsters”.
  
• New effect for the skill of Horse Ray in trading with other prisoners: Reduce favorability requirement by 2 points for each point of Charm.
  
• Enhanced “War Correspondent” talent armor “Thick Fur” with an extra effect: No health loss for sleeping without a blanket at night.
  
• Enhanced “Failure Scientist” skill: Double experience gain on failed roll challenges, and quintuple experience for critical failures.
  
• Enhanced Miguel the Tapir's skill “Reverse Hypnosis”: Nightmares bring additional abilities.
  
• New skill “Bookworm”: Preview book skills and reading actions no longer consume energy.
  
• Added new abilities to “Game Manual” and “TV Program Guide” book skills: Preview skills of games and TV shows.
  
• “Insect Farm” skill gains a minimum guarantee mechanism: If no gold beetles are found in 6 plant piles, the next pile will definitely have one.
  

[h3]Quest Adjustments[/h3]

• Extended the deadlines of certain quests:
  
  • “Two Ribs” completion deadline extended to 2 days.
    
  • “Door-to-Door Delivery” and “Friendly Reminder” extended to 3 days.
    
  • “Chameleon” completion deadline extended to 10 days.
• Added a new task category “Escape”, separating escape-related side tasks.
  

[h3]Bug Fixes[/h3]
Now let’s talk about some bug fixes we’ve done!

• Fixed an incorrect dialogue after Bruce is demoted on the 21st morning roll call.
  
• Fixed an issue where newly unlocked items required reopening the page to reflect the updated favorability.
  
• Fixed trading transaction confirmation popup not appearing when trading with other prisoners.
  
• Fixed discrepancies in certain eavesdropping content afterthe riot.
• Fixed an issue where wearing rubber gloves would revert damage status from broken to worn.
  
• Fixed an issue where prisoners in area A did not gather to watch the hanged man event.
  
• Fixed an error in selecting difficulty for new players.
  

That wraps up today's update! If you have additional feedback or suggestions, feel free to reach out to us through the Steam Community discussions. Your feedback and support are the driving forces behind our dedication, and it is our guiding star as we continuously work to improve the game.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1735700/Back_to_the_Dawn/

Thank you once again for the encouragement you've given us, and we are thrilled to have you onboard in Boulderton Prison, plotting your epic breakout together with us!

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Greetings, Inmates!

We hope you are well and thriving in your daring adventures within Boulderton Prison! Which escape route is your favorite so far? Let us know in the comments below!

Since our game's launch, your feedback and suggestions have been amazing, inspiring and guiding us towards making our game even better. And today, we're thrilled to announce our first ever major update, packed with feature optimizations, bug fixes, and some eagerly awaited new features that many of you have been asking for!

Without further ado, let’s dive right in! 👇


We understand that every player brings a unique playstyle and set of preferences to the table. That's why we've introduced a new Difficulty Selection feature. You can choose among three modes, each with their unique perks and challenges! Whether you're looking to soak in the story at a leisurely pace or push your limits with zero memory recall option, these modes will give you the freedom to shape your adventure from the very beginning. Additionally, we've added new guidance for the new game modes to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.


Survived your first stint in Boulderton Prison? Get ready to dive back in with New Game+! Keep all your hard-earned inmate relationships, specialties, and skills as you embark on a fresh journey. Get ready to navigate the treacherous world of Boulderton Prison, but this time being well prepared!

[h3]Feature Optimizations[/h3]

• Added a feature to skip cutscenes and conversations between inmates. Now, listening to inmate conversations can be skipped by long-pressing the right mouse button, and cutscenes can be skipped via a confirmation pop-up.
  
• Added a feature to skip work tasks. After repeating certain tasks several times, they can be delegated to Thomas to auto-complete.
  
• Optimized the frequency of the Chaplain's appearance. In the third week (day 15—21), the Chaplain will visit the prison every day..
  
• Optimized the display position of the lack of Focus Point prompt when re-rolling after a failed steal attempt, to prevent it from being obscured by the screen.
  
• Added a puzzle replacement option. After failing a jigsaw puzzle several times, players can choose to accumulate dice rolls instead.
  
• Added "Pentacles" and "The Magician" achievements.
  
• Added a pop-up guide for adding skill points.
  
• Added a new combat debuff, "Diarrhea."
  
• Added an Easter Egg jailbreak route.
  
• Added an option to mix laxatives into food and share it with your tablemate to spike them.
  
• After confessing the jailbreak plan to Sam, Sam will no longer engage in cover-up related conversations with Thomas.
  
• It's now possible to visit Reed in the hospital with Maggie or Beth under specific conditions (Affection with Maggie or Beth is no less than 50).
• Optimized the "Fish in a Tank" status. After obtaining the status, the “Weak Mind” trigger threshold is reduced by 10 points.
  
• Game cartridges that have been completed can now be exchanged.
  
• Optimized the display of the kitchen mini-game. After cooking more than 9 dishes, it no longer displays.
  
• If the recipient hates a gifted item, the item will remain in the player's inventory (but the Rapport will still decrease).
  
• In the absence of a hammer, the task of nailing together a wooden bridge in the sewer can be done using other items.
  
• It's no longer possible to retrieve the rope after reaching the bottom layer of the Pipe Area via the infirmary.
  
• Optimized the conditions to complete certain quests.
  
• Optimized performance issues in the “Rainy Night” and the sewer scene.
  
• Optimized some aspects of the tutorial interface display.
  
• Optimized some dialogue content.
  

[h3]Skill Adjustments[/h3]

• Optimized the skill description for "Rumination+", which now extends duration by 100%.
  
• The "Ambush" status can stack up to 5 layers. Upon reaching full stacks, the "Total Hibernation" effect is activated, ensuring the next attack will hit.
  
• The attack effect of "Tiger Combo" is adjusted from end-of-turn to per-attack calculation. Subsequent combos triggered will no longer be affected by single-use buff consumption.
  
• "Pincer Smash" now includes a "guaranteed hit" effect, making the hit rate for this attack 100%.
  
• "Geek" has been modified to give +2 Intelligence and -1 Agility.
  
• Optimized the skill description for "Crushing Blow". When a critical hit is guaranteed, the hit rate is displayed as 100%.
  

[h3]Bug Fixes[/h3]

• Fixed an issue where skipping Angelo's main storyline visit could prevent Reed's second visit from triggering.
  
• Fixed a problem where entering the infirmary during the day prevented leaving through the door.
  
• Fixed a bug where, after successfully helping Sam during the riot, Sam did not continue providing cover-up after day 19.
  
• Fixed a bug where using a controller made it impossible to select "Add Skill Points" after acquiring more than 24 skills.
  
• Fixed a bug where the discounted price of gang store items was incorrect after joining a gang.
  
• Fixed a bug where games could be played without a handheld game console when in segregation.
  
• Fixed a bug in the Central Garden stealth challenge where incorrect point bonuses were applied.
  
• Fixed a bug where "Mineworld Endless Mode" could be played when the current cartridge was not "Mineworld" or the handheld game console was out of power.
  
• Fixed a display bug where, during the riot lockdown, moving the camera to the corridor while Thomas was in a single room showed him in the cell on the first floor.
  
• Fixed a bug where the "Healing Rest" skill did not remove debuffs during combat.
  
• Fixed a bug where playing with a handheld game console in segregation would cause the game to freeze.
  
• Fixed a bug where a 10% discount from activating Billy's shopping benefit disappeared when increasing his Rapport to 100.
  
• Fixed a bug where, after successfully declaring your feeling to Beth, choosing "Cheer her up" did not increase her Affection for you.
  
• Fixed a bug where replacing battery in a powerless handheld game console was not possible if there were multiple sets of batteries in your pocket and the first set contained less than four batteries.
  
• Fixed a bug where the "Brass Knuckles" item's buff of +4 to unarmed attacks was not effective.
  
• Fixed a bug where snitching on Caesar caused his position to be fixed on the second floor of the Main Building on the morning of the same day in all saves, which caused a black screen for all the inmate conversations related to him.
  
• Fixed a display issue where the "Galactic Knight" buff still showed even when the player did not go first in a combat.
  
• Fixed a problem where the "Makeshift Mask" was not effective.
  
• Corrected inconsistency between the buff description and the actual HP deduction for arrow wounds.
  

Your feedback and suggestions are important, as it helps us understand how we can improve Back to the Dawn. So please continue to share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you encounter, we are all ears! Additionally, we will launch accessibility optimizations for mini-games in the next version!

If you’re enjoying the new updates and feel that we’ve addressed your concerns, we’d appreciate it if you could consider updating your review, especially if it was previously negative. Your positive feedback not only encourages us but also helps in continuously improving Back to the Dawn!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1735700/Back_to_the_Dawn/

Thank you once again for your ongoing support and enthusiasm. We hope you enjoy these new updates and continue to join us in this thrilling journey of strategy and survival. Stay tuned for more updates, and have fun strategizing your next prison break!

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