ASYLUM News

Another straightforward maintenance patch, and quite short, but hey, this means the list of big issues is growing smaller by the minute:

• New: You can now fast forward feedback lines while interacting with the notepad. Just click on the same notepad row while the line is typing to complete it.
  
• New: Steam Deck improvements across the board. Give it a try and let us know! Should be verified soon.
  
• Fix: The new option to disable camera effects for those players sensible to motion sickness was enabled by default for new customers. Please, make sure you have the option "Disable camera effects" unchecked if you want to see all the fancy camera animations.
  
• Fix: A certain puzzle involving the morgue could get unfairly difficult to solve depending on which documents you had read at that point, and in which order. This is now better streamlined.
  
• Fix: Similarly, a certain puzzle in the topmost floor could get confusing depending on the order of actions performed to solve it. Also, it was easy to miss a cool spooky moment. All this section has been revised and tweaked for that extra oomph of horror and much less frustration.
  
• Non-linear adventures are painful to do, folks.
  
• Tweak: Behind the scenes video player upgrades to resolve potential rare issues on Windows. Performance should be improved as well in the case of older computers.
  
• Mac: Related to the above, important video issues were resolved that could block your progress. You can now properly solve a certain puzzle in the High Risk section at 12AM. Also, a particular video involving a crayon was not playing either — now it does!
  
• Mac: We are aware of a recurring problem involving cutscenes suddenly missing audio and the team is actively working on the fix. While far from the ideal workaround, you can quit and restart the game to temporarily have audio in cutscenes again. This is the last known issue remaining on this platform — almost there!
  
• Build string: version 1.1.25421 (verify with CTRL + V)
  

Remember: if your favorite fix wasn't present on this changelist, don't fret! We appreciate all the feedback and the team is working on the vast majority of stuff that was reported. We're delighted that you're enjoying the game so much and won't stop until ASYLUM is in pristine shape ✨

What's this, more boring Friday patch notes?

• The macOS build is deemed fully operational now. Thanks everyone for your reports and patience. We've been testing the in-game videos with a new Unreal media player (for future generations, it's called Electra), and that's been working great. Please report any further issues, though.
  
• Fixed an occasional freeze when credits were launched from the menu. Unacceptable.
  
• Nasty bug preventing some folks from achieving the 6AM achievement has been resolved.
  
• The whole basement puzzle is better executed now, with red lights appearing when they should appear. No more unnecessary confusion with incorrect lighting when you're bored and leave the puzzle.
  
• Subtitles during the intro no longer appear in front of the amazing actors who were involved in the game.
  
• Users running the game with Proton on Linux reported a softlock in the morgue while trying to push a button. This is fixed now, which is a temporary patch while we keep working on the native Linux/Steam Deck version.
  
• Ropes were incorrectly hanging in a certain room in the topmost floor. By "incorrectly hanging" we mean floating out of thin air. No, this wasn't a plot point, just a mere rendering error.
  
• Removed hardcoded feedbacks which resulted in improperly translated strings. Note to future devs: never, EVER hardcode stuff.
  
• A certain task at around 1AM didn't trigger as expected, but now it does, thus resulting in more comfortable gameplay.
  
• Apparently there was a video patch missing for Lenny at 12AM in the low-risk section, meant for a more seamless transition when he walks away after speaking with players. We love you Lenny, please don't leave us alone in this spooky place. Come baaack.
  
• Not sure about this patch note, but someone said there was an incorrect hand icon for a hotspot in Corridor2C, and I'm inclined to believe this report. The hand is pointing correctly now.
  
• Chapter marks (you know, when you see the 1AM, 3AM videos, etc) have been polished and debugged. It seems that some people could miss these videos under obscure circumstances due to the complicated nature of modern game development, which in turn resulted in missing achievements. Horrendous! We're deeply sorry, everyone should be able to fully complete and show their achievements to family and friends now.
  
• A certain missing element in a certain puzzle at around 2AM had been missing since a previous update, making the puzzle more unfairly difficult. It was an honest mistake, no hidden plot point. Now you should fully realize how and where to use the acid. Nothing to see here folks, move along.
  
• There was a weird rectangle floating in the first scene when you started the game. We don't understand what was the purpose of this bizarre geometry, but it resulted in a glitched, otherwise inspiring horizon that was supposed to look gorgeous.
  
• Why is everyone obsessed with shapes in this game? When did this happen? Is this something we said...?
  
• Updated ending credit videos. Further people missed have been added. Presentation also polished overall. It all looks very professional now. Less punk, more capitalist.
  
• Build string: version 1.1.25411 (verify with CTRL + V)
  

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

A rather mundane maintenance patch this time, but still a patch:

• New "Apply" button when setting different resolutions in the menu.
  
• Unlimited framerate now showing a more user-friendly infinite symbol instead of 0.0 in the menu. That 0.0 was weird. Technically speaking, an infinite framerate is physically impossible, but it still makes more sense.
  
• Localized new menu options to other languages, plus some minor tweaks.
  
• Better menu behavior when completing the game. You're no longer allowed to save games in a vacuum.
  
• Proper handling of saves when completing the game: autosave gets deleted, and launching the game again will start a brand new game, as it should.
  
• Fixed regression from previous update: Discharged achievement now working correctly again.
  
• Fixed Julia briefly flashing before the cutscene when entering the asylum for the first time. That was creepy.
  
• Fixed incorrect volume settings when launching a new game.
  
• Pickable pesticide no longer clipping the camera like a cheap 3D film from the 80s.
  
• Character reflection in A-Pose removed from window in Corridor 2C. No, that wasn't a story hint either.
  
• Adjusted lighting to make a certain puzzle in a certain topmost floor fairer.
  
• Adjusted notepad position during certain conversations.
  
• Improved the poignant Lenny video in the topmost floor, including extremely realistic reflections that no AI will ever be able to replicate.
  
• Fixed a strange door reflection in the final game environment, which thankfully everyone missed and didn't misinterpret as a story hint.
  
• Build string: version 1.1.2544 (test with CTRL + V)
  

All your thorough reports during these first few weeks have been very appreciated! Key outstanding issues the team is focusing on:

• Verified Steam Deck support.
  
• Proper native Linux support. These two tasks are actually tied together.
  
• One final pass for localizations (though a lot has been revised already).
  

And coming attractions:

• Steam trading cards, wallpapers, and more.
  
• Deluxe bundle preorder, with instantly available goodies such as the soundtrack.
  

Have a terrific weekend!

• NEW! More menu options. Now you can fiddle with resolution, FPS, VSync and much more like modern games do. Does the film noise effect offend you? Off with it! Want to play in windowed mode while watching YouTube? Go for it! You can even set a retro quite 1028x768 resolution like Scratches did 20 years ago. Based on our tests, even very old computers without a dedicated GPU can handle ASYLUM now.
  
• NEW! Gamepad icons. Tutorials now correctly show gamepad icons if you have one connected, meaning ASYLUM can be promoted to Full Controller Support.
  
• Missing VOs have been fixed. Now you can ask everyone about wire cutters.
  
• Better paced VO duration during dialogues.
  
• General menu improvements in addition to the new options.
  
• Multiple language updates and fixes.
  
• A glass in the gaming room wasn't dirty enough, so it's dirtier now.
  
• Under certain circumstances, a certain item had be picked twice to have in your inventory. Not anymore.
  
• Some typos were fixed.
  
• Showers now remain open all night, in case you want say goodbye to the teddy bear before completing the game.
  
• Final puzzle tweaks, crucially better handling if you leave and come back.
  
• Fix when showing the menu at the end of the game.
  
• A new video was added in the ending sequence. No, no crazy new revelations, just a door that was missing. Also please stop perusing these patch notes for hints about the ending. We will NEVER do anything of the sort.
  
• Don't you find it weird how some characters in the game insist about geometry and shapes?
  
• Character logs now cleared up when you restart the game.
  
• Fixed a close-up in Ebersbacher's office.
  
• Some Lenny animations have been improved.
  
• A certain item in Hawthorne's office is more visible now, so you don't miss it.
  
• A certain item in the third floor to solve a certain puzzle is more accessible now.
  
• Certain music fixes.
  
• More certainties.
  
• Fixed an erratic crash caused by the new option to disable camera motion effects. We're sorry about this regression!
  

🚨Hotfix update 1.1.25328:

• Fix: Changing the new settings now persist correctly.
  
• Fix: Yesterday's update introduced a potential softlock at the end of 2AM. Please refer to this forum post for further info: https://steamcommunity.com/app/230210/discussions/0/594018634646501476/#c594018898545743474.
  

As usual, we appreciate everyone's patience as well as your thorough reports during these first couple of weeks after launch. Next week, we expect to finalize all outstanding localization issues (very few now), and work on the more fun stuff such as Steam trading cards.

Regarding Steam Deck, we're working with Valve to get that Verified status. With this update, make sure your resolution is set to 1280x800, FPS set to 60 and Visual Acuity set to Low for a consistently smooth experience. Alternatively, you can set Acuity to High and FPS to 30 for an extra bump in quality, which is what we prefer anyway (framerate is overrated). All of this will be handled automatically shortly, in addition to revised Deck controls.

Ahoy there, patients of the Hanwell Mental Institute! 👋

Slowly, but steadily we're crushing all the bugs there were reported during these early days. The community (that means YOU!) have been absolutely amazing reporting and helping us figure out some of these issues. Several wishlist items were sorted out today. Let's see...

[h2]Patch 1.1.25321 codename "You're so cool, Brewster![/h2]

• Cloud saves are now enabled! Windows, Mac and Steam Deck are syncing perfectly. Really embarrassed about this one which was a combination of issues, including a single checkbox that had to be unchecked. Thanks nian in the forums for your superb help.
  
• Camera motion can now be disabled! Getting sick while playing the game, and not because of the disturbing horror? Go into your Record Book and check the conveniently titled Disable camera motion setting. Transitions will play pretty much like Scratches. If you need to slow down the camera movement, adjust the Speed of reflexes to Slow. No need to have a sickness bag nearby now.
  
• Big Mac improvements! The amount of crashes reported on Mac (related to pesky video codecs) have been significantly reduced. We still have pending issues left to work out, but the experience is way less frustrating now.
  
• No more crashing when loading certain savegames! Some game conditions, and in particular the High Risk section, posed quite a few unexpected issues which should have been resolved now. If you're experiencing a crash when loading a saved game, please let us know ASAP, either in the forums or by email at [email protected].
  
• Text overlay for easier reading now fully functional! Use the mouse wheel or thumbsticks (including Deck) to scroll the text. No more squinting.
  
• Added missing Julia video in a certain closeup.
  
• Added missing VOs from Bruno when you're pestering a certain someone.
  
• A certain date that should have been blurred is now blurred. Ya'll really paying attention to the tiniest of details.
  
• Fixed some savegames showing the title "Invalid!". No, that wasn't a secret clue, just a random bug.
  
• Fixed a window in a surgery room that didn't show rain when it's raining. We know you love rain and felt awful for taking away the rain from you.
  
• End credits updated because we forgot to include some cool and supportive people. We're horrible developers.
  
• Further translation fixes across all languages. The big localization (and final update) is schedule for next week.
  
• Build string: version 1.1.25321 (test with CTRL + V).
  

The more complete menu options in which you'll be able to tweak many other settings to your content and obliterate our artistic vision is due out next week. For fans of the oppressive vignette: you will be able to reenable that. I also heard a complain that the old ASYLUM demo was more noisy and grungy. Fine. We'll give you a setting to enable the "grindhouse" edition of the game. Super noisy and dirty, like the tape of an old VHS covered in mold and fungi.



When I mentioned that we're readying a big update for Halloween with optional content (this year, yes, 2025) a lot of people groaned. 7 months is way too much of a long wait in this day and age of instant gratification, so we're going to do the following:

We'll give you the possibility to pre-purchase the Halloween add-on very soon, at a discounted rate, and give you some stuff right away:

• Original soundtrack. Including lavish liner notes, full versions of the songs that didn't appear in the game, and early demos.
  
• Art book. Preview with photos and Kirkbride blueprints from real life asylums that inspired the game.
  
• A Tour of Hanwell. Preview of the upcoming documentary with our recorded visit to a real life mental institution in Buenos that inspired many aspects of the story.
  

With this preorder, you'll get the following in Halloween (this year):

• Full Art Book. Including WIP screens of the early days of development, and a journey through the visual design of ASYLUM.
  
• A Tour of Hanwell. The complete documentary with team interviews and the full overview of the whole madness that was this development.
  
• Annotated script. The original script dating back to 2009, unchanged but including new annotations. No, I won't reveal the nature of the ending.
  

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Also... we didn't forget about Steam cards, emojis, and cool wallpapers, which are on their way. Fans are already at work too and, with their permission, we'd love to include some of their gorgeous art in the upcoming update. The babydog sticker by Princess Magpie is a big favorite in our Discord. Are you doing fan work too? LET US KNOW ASAP.




I understand the mixed feelings about the ending. Scratches attempted an unusual conclusion for its time, which devolved in heated forum debates. ASYLUM does something even more risky. Whether it worked or not, only time will tell. For obvious reasons, please don't discuss the ending here, since not everyone following these updates has played the game. The "semi-official" thread in Steam is this one: https://steamcommunity.com/app/230210/discussions/0/552359350148051426. There are many other exchanges in Discord too.

Going through the debate, and some of the shrewd observations already shared, I fully stand by the ending and wouldn't change a thing. Everything is intentional, nothing was rushed. Anything else I say will ruin its lasting effect, so I'll have to bite my tongue and let things flow. I know some of you have already figured out, though (and even when you feel like you "got it", there's going to be more to digest).

Thanks all for your continuing support over the years! Hope you have a lovely weekend!

—Agustín