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Early Access - BUILD 0.30.+



It’s a whole new experience with 0.30.0! Our all new game mode - Vs Mode - has been added. Complete against your another team and be the first to escape with the all important Relic! See details below for a rundown on how this new game mode works.

Additionally this update includes a suite of quality of life improvements, including the ability to reform lobbies after matches and reconnect to ongoing matches. Optimsations on launching the game are also expected to fix the endless black screen issues many users were experiencing.

Check our all new menu visual updates, bringing the menus in-line with our latest house style.

The game should be smoother to play too - with a load of bug fixes and in-game quality of life improvements. Brew up a tea (or pop a bottle of blood, your choice) and take a look at all the latest changes below!

[h3]Links[/h3]
Remember to check out any of the following resources for more information and updates on the game.

Steam Store: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2432990



New Game Mode: Vs Mode


Introducing Vs Mode! A new 2v2 mode where you’ll go head to head against another team to be the first to escape. Just remember to collect the converted ‘Relic’ before you leave.

In this mode, teams must work together to find a Relic. In the Twenty Below map, the Relic takes the form of a beating heart, encrusted in ice. Be the first team to claim the Relic and escape at the designated escape locations to win the match. Picking up the Relic will show your location to the enemy team though - so be aware you’ll have a target painted on your back while you carry it.

Getting out may not be so easy though. Aside from the other team using their tasers to take down Relic carriers, players must also complete at least one of the escape routes in order to avoid the clutches of the Noble and get out.

In this mode, players have tasers and can carry up to three charges. Players can check equipment boxes to restock ammo. Tasing an opponent will knock them down, giving you an opportunity to swipe the relic for yourself. Tasing the Noble can give you a couple of precious extra seconds to escape his grasp, but tasing a vampire is not likely to be especially effective. When a player is revived, they will temporarily be imbibed with a protective spell, shielding them from tasers for a little while.

Before extracting with The Relic, you must first cleanse it. Head over one of the Cleansing Books scattered throughout the map before you leave. Just be mindful of the other team stopping you from making your grand escape. If the Relic is dropped, it must be cleansed again, giving the other team a chance of a comeback.

There are now multiple exit locations outside the Sheriff Department - get to any of the exits to make your escape. The Sheriff Department is the first map section which is eligible for Vs Mode. New maps and map sections will be released for this mode in time.

AUTO Lobby & Reconnection System

One thing Sanguivore was missing as a multiplayer game was being put back into the lobby after a match and being able to reconnect to the game if you lose connection. This had been commented on by many members of the community, so that is exactly what we did.

Once a match has finished, after the host clicks exit on the final screen, all players will be placed back into a lobby ready to go again.

We have also introduced the reconnection system that will record when you are disconnected from the game and give you the option to try and reconnect to the last game. This will save all your stats and shards but will force you to drop your inventory, allowing other players to collect your items if you are unable to continue.

[h2]Optimisations[/h2]
Implemented various optimisations improving the loading speed of the game on startup. This is expected to fix the endless black screen issues on launch for many players.

[h2]Added[/h2]
  • Added system that will attempt to put all players back in to a lobby when the game ends
  • Added ping display to the top right of the HUD.
  • Added new server room (used for spawning players in Vs Mode)
  • Added a new option allowing the player to press or hold shift to run. Also allows players to toggle between holding to clicking analog stick to run on controller.
  • Added Easy Anti-Cheat support which aims to mitigate players using third party tools to gain an unfair advantage.


[h2]Updated[/h2]
  • Stopped settings benchmark appearing every time on launching the game
  • Increased number of concurrent VOIP streams to reduce the chances of audio breaking up when using in-game voice.
  • Improved camera when moving through squeeze-through barricades
  • Teammate health and names are now displayed on the HUD
  • New player electrocution effects
  • Squeeze-through barriers and blockades no longer pull players though automatically. Players must now intentionally interact with the barrier to squeeze through
  • Barriers and blockades in the Sheriff Department are now randomised. Some are crouch unders and some are squeeze-through
  • Reduced head movement when taking out tablet
  • Reduced brightness of short-range illumination around the player in First Person
  • Players can now eject each other from hiding places (useful in Vs Mode if the other team have entered a hiding place)


[h2]Fixes[/h2]
  • Fixed players not getting ejected from lockpicking minigames when downed
  • Fixed various loot boxes in the Sheriff Department clipping with the environment
  • Fixed getting downed a second time while already downed causing the camera to become stuck in third person while crawling
  • Fixed door near armoury partially blocking the vent leading in to reception area
  • Fixed players getting slightly stuck after using a computer near the armoury
  • Tentative fix for UV light effects not working when banishing the Noble
  • Fixed players being grabbed by the Noble while crawling in vents causing them to be pushed through walls and sometimes end up out of bounds.
  • Fixed various issues preventing players from properly healing other players when playing in Third Person.
  • Fixed issues where players could enter lockers while another player was exiting
  • Fixed camera zooming out of the character momentarily when closing the inventory. Was particularly noticeable in Third Person while in a vent.
  • Fixed rocks clipping with cars at end of The Town (Section 2)
  • Fixed a desync issue between players and interactable corpses
  • Fixed mirror minigame often not appearing if a client is grabbed while using a computer
  • Fixed players head/camera being able to rotate 360 degrees if grabbed while using a computer
  • Fixed ‘Take Fuse’ appearing in red even if the player’s inventory is empty
  • Fixed mispositioned text on PCs
  • Fixed movement occasionally becoming locked up after going through squeeze-through barricades
  • Fixed Reader’s guide stopping completely if the player leaves and re-enters its range in certain difficult to navigate locations.

Early Access - BUILD 0.29.+



Welcome to version 0.29.0! A mysterious update indeed, which introduces a person - or being - with seemingly mystical abilities. Search the world carefully and you might find her lurking. She doesn’t seem to be perturbed by the havoc caused by the Sanguivore… but she does seem very interested in your shards. Perhaps with enough shards, a fair exchange can be made for information on the whereabouts of certain items. Take a read below for more details on this curious oddity.

Hot on the heels of the release of Section 3: The Town, this update implements a veritable cornucopia of bug fixes and improvements. Many of these bug fixes address critical issues with character movement and interactions - so this update should provide a smoother experience for all.

Links
Remember to check out any of the following resources for more information and updates on the game.



In Game Shards

As the game progresses and we start to add more game modes, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to add physical shard items in the game world for players to collect. These will add to your final shard score at the end of each game, but can also be spent in game while you play.

The first system that will allow you to make purchases in game with shards is through the enigmatic character called “The Reader”.

The Reader

She is a mystic that will appear in a number of different places around each section of the map you enter. Pay her 100 Shards and ask her for an item you are searching for. For example, if you are stuck finding the Antique Key in the second section to open the church gate or even a set of Bolt Cutters, just type “Antique Key” or “Bolt Cutters”. If she is able to locate the item in a box, on a body she will conjure a pulsating energy ball that will lead you to the item you requested.

She is limited to a single use per section so choose wisely as once she has your shards you will not be seeing her again until the next section.

One thing to remember as well is that you can only use shards you have collected during the current game to ask for her help. Shards already in your account are out of play at this time.

[h2]Added[/h2]
  • Added new option to either toggle or hold down the run button
  • Added collectable shards around world that can be used for clues at The Reader or will be added the player’s shard collection at the end of the game
  • Added the mysterious character - The Reader. Speak with her for clues
  • Added new way back to main area from ending area in Section 3



[h2]Updated[/h2]
  • Self healing in third person now keeps the player in third person
  • Corpses can now drop shards.
  • Improved collision on ambulances proving better access to the back
  • Adjusted character mesh position on PCs so they align better with the keyboard
  • Endgame notice removed. End screen will now go straight in to score overview
  • Players no longer stand up to self heal when in a crouched or crawling position
  • Updated supermarket roof to give better direction on how to get down back to the main area.
  • Moving through squeeze through barriers now keeps the player in first person if playing in first person



[h2]Fixes[/h2]
  • Fixed an upstairs flashlight in the world that was lit but produced no light
  • Fixed various TVs and lights in the Sheriff Department that would be lit even if the power was off
  • Fixed issues with The Streets Depot roller door not having collision after first use
  • Fixed Power Substation console occasionally showing the current power and the target power as the same before using any power switches.
  • Fixed self healing while crouched in a location with inadequate headroom causing the player’s movement to become permanently locked
  • Fixed players being able to move while searching corpses if playing in third person
  • Fixed minigames staying on screen after clients are grabbed while using a computer
  • Fixed tracked objectives not updating when using fuseboxes
  • Fixed wording issue in Section 1 cinematic
  • Fixed fusebox handles sometimes being at the wrong position from the start of the game
  • Fixed a location where fledglings could get stuck
  • Fixed fuseboxes not accepting regular fuses on Starter mode in Section 2
  • Fixed player movement through barricades sometimes being disrupted if another player enters the barricade
  • Fixed issue where being caught by the Noble prevented further interactions with objects in the world
  • Fixed Depot roller door not requiring power to operate
  • Fixed UI text overlapping in Tarot Collection screen
  • Fixed issue where incorrect XP tier was being used on XP display
  • Fixed camera in supermarket utility room clipping with the door if open
  • Fixed supermarket roller door not opening
  • Fixed one of the Jerry Cans in Section 2 not going in the player’s inventory
  • Fixed blurry PC screens when trying to read on-screen emails
  • Fixed mirror in supermarket backroom that cannot be interacted with
  • Fixed several backwards containers in the supermarket
  • Fixed floating bottle appearing when extracting fuses from photocopiers
  • Fixed player movement stopping when turning on flashlight after the player used the in game text chat window
  • Fixed players being able to interact with the world while also self healing
  • Fixed being able to interact with self revive kits even when the player is not downed
  • Fixed players colliding with other players inventory tablets and syringes
  • Tentative fix for player’s rotation sometimes being offset when moving through squeeze-through barriers
  • Fixed next stage icon on score screen appearing slightly cut off
  • Fixed objectives sometimes being already ticked when starting a new section
  • Fixed Section 2 fuseboxes not accepting regular fuses on Starter difficulty
  • Fixed the game becoming soft locked on time trial mode if the code to get upstairs is located in the side-office room behind sparking cables.

Free Rewards Weekend - 0.28.10 Hotfix



Free Rewards Weekend

Brace yourself for a bonus weekend on Sanguivore. All bonuses last between 6-8th April 2024. Details below.

[h2]Free Reward Character[/h2]
We are excited to unveil a new character joining the roster! Best of all, he’s free to anyone who signs in to the game this weekend. He’s only available for this bonus weekend though. Claim your character simply by loading into the main menu and you’ll receive a prompt telling you he is now part of your crew. Once acquired, he is yours to keep forever.

Remember to select him as your chosen character in the lobby screen in your next game.

[h2]Double XP Weekend[/h2]
Furthermore - we’re holding our first Double XP weekend! Twice the XP means twice the shards, as XP is converted into shards at the end of your game. Shards can be spent on in-game items such as new characters and jumping sections and more.

Update 0.28.10

We’re also releasing a new patch with various fixes and improvements. Big thanks to our playtesters who helped us prepare for our latest major update earlier this week. This mini-patch contains many fixes for issues you reported.

[h3]Added[/h3]
  • Added some new bolt cutter spawn locations


[h3]Updated[/h3]
  • Body interaction animations now play in third-person if playing in third-person mode.
  • Self healing animations now play in third-person if playing in third-person mode.
  • Raised camera position for third-person when slipping between barricades
  • Improved visibility when downed by removing bloom effects from outlined objectives
  • Improved some light bleeding throughs ceiling in Scott Residence
  • Fuel cans in Section 2 now behave in the same way as fuel cans in Section 3, where the item is stored in the inventory.



[h3]Fixed[/h3]
  • Fixed some parts of the map being loaded when they didn’t need to be.
  • Fixed a floating document appearing above the Supermarket
  • Fixed the camera clipping with one of the Section 3 trucks when hiding in a box
  • Fixed item icons on the HUD often not updating for clients who have joined the game, especially when swapping items
  • Fixed floating objects in some houses in Section 2: The Streets
  • Tentative fix for situations where characters become misaligned when traversing slip-through barricades
  • Fixed camera disappearing into the wall when using Office 14 desk hiding place
  • Fixed house names changing to street names when going in to the bathrooms in some Section 2 houses
  • Fixed ending screen saying players had finished the first ‘two’ sections, instead of ‘three’ sections
  • Fixed pressing Circle/B on a controller to close the ending menus causes the character to open their inventory in the background.
  • Fixed blank objectives appearing in the journal
  • Fixed not being able to scroll up and down with the D-Pad while in the inventory or journal.
  • Fixed low intensity light around the player not turning on when entering vents before the player uses their flashlight.
  • Fixed player’s meshes not being lit correctly after being forced into first-person during an animation.
  • Fixed electrical objects such as printers not providing fuses in Section 3: The Town.

Early Access - BUILD 0.28.+



Version 0.28.0 is a major update containing a brand new map section, new singleplayer Time Trial mode, third-person mode, a UI overhaul and more.

This update is our largest single update to date. The new map section ‘The Town’, is a sprawling zone filled with several smaller areas, each with their own objectives. Work together to find a way out alive.

With the release of a third section, we are now giving players the ability to spend their hard earned shards to skip ahead to start on the section they want to start from. Speaking of ‘shards’, we’ve added two new unlockable playable characters.

Time Trial is now available, the first of our new game modes. This single player game mode lets players compete for the fastest possible times on our leaderboards. In addition, the game can now be played in either first or third person.

There are a lot of additional updates, enhancements and additions in this patch. Full details can be read below.

[h3]Links[/h3]
Remember to check out any of the following resources for more information and updates on the game.

Steam Store: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2432990



HIGHLIGHTS




[h2]Section Three: The Town[/h2]
This update unlocks Section Three, known as “The Town”. This is the third of four sections in the Twenty Below map. The Town is made up of multiple areas that each act as their own little escape section. The main areas of this section are:-
  • The Power Station
  • The Shopping Market
  • The Mine Exterior
  • The Mine Interior
  • The Streets

Depending on your selected difficulty mode, not all areas will be available and may be blocked off or locked up. On harder difficulties, you’ll have to figure out which escape paths are available, just like with the previous two sections.



[h2]Time Trial Game Mode[/h2]
Time Trial is the second of four planned game modes to be added to Sanguivore. This game mode is ideal for single player.

This mode is all about perfecting your game knowledge to go fast. Compete against other survivors around the world to make the fastest escape.

Select a specific section you want to escape from when setting up your game for Time Trial mode. You must complete each section in order to unlock and select the next section. When you successfully complete the section, your time is recorded on our Time Trial leaderboards.

There’s no need to spend any time figuring out which escape plans are available in Time Trial mode because a specific escape plan is always chosen in advance. For example, when escaping the Sheriff Department, the Fire Alarm objective is active. This means the only thing you need to focus on is hitting all the steps in the objective to get out A.S.A.P.

Use every available technique to optimise the speed of your run - and with a little luck - you’ll be competing for a top time on the Sanguivore leaderboards!



[h2]Choose Where You Start[/h2]
Now there are more than two sections, starting from the very first section is not always ideal. Now, you can go straight into a later section. For the cost of some of your earned shards, you can unlock additional sections from which to start from.

You will have to reach each section at least once before being able to unlock it as a new starting point.



[h2]Third-Person “Action” Style[/h2]
Sanguivore is a 1st person immersive horror at heart, but we thought to give it an extra twist with the addition of a 3rd person game style known as “Action” mode. You can specify which game style you want to play in when creating the lobby, which determines whether you are in 1st or 3rd person for the game. Everyone on the team will be in either 1st or 3rd person depending on the game setup and you cannot change perspective during gameplay, so choose wisely!



[h2]Main Menu and UI Overall[/h2]
The main menu and in-game menus have received lots of TLC with an all new update. New and improved icons, better layout, bugs fixed and new VFX.

This menu update will also provide better support for new and upcoming game modes, maps and other upcoming features.

These menus have additional support for controller users.

Added
  • Section 3: The Town released.
  • Placeable noise distraction item “FM Radio”, used to cause a distraction at a location.
  • Additional gamemode “Time Trial”.
  • Game styles, “Immersive” (1st person perspective) and “Action” (3rd person perspective).
  • Character selection, select between four original characters and two additional characters that can be unlocked with Shards.
  • Shard Dealer, allowing players to use Shards (in-game currency) to unlock characters, outfit skins and abilities (perks) that will also be available at a later date.
  • Two additional playable characters. More will become available with each main update.
  • Gamepad cursor control. This makes navigating the user interface a lot easier when using a gamepad.


Other Updates
  • Updated section cutscene with more informative simple overviews.
  • Character’s HUD health display.
  • Various audio level rebalancing for AI sounds.
  • Score calculations from time rebalanced.
  • Improved accuracy of in-game timer. Any time before the game section begins is not counted towards the section time.
  • Reduced fledgling field of view.
  • Death markers are no longer removed on revival. Instead it is removed when the player reaches the dropped loot location.
  • Gamepad button bindings have been updated to feel more fluid.
  • Rebalanced minigame speeds
  • Improved use of leg breaking sound when falling off high locations.


Fixes
  • Fixed interaction icon appearing on lifts, instead of the control button inside the lift.
  • Fixed game locking up when the player brings up the game chat and loses focus with the mouse.
  • Fixed self revive highlights disappearing for a downed player if another player is captured.
  • Fixed the AI not correctly responding to being inside the player's flashlight cone.
  • Fixed AI sometimes seeing the player, regardless of their location, when the player enters a vent.
  • Fixed issues where reviving or healing other players would get cancelled right as the progress bar reaches maximum.
  • Fixed flashlight being on during cinematics.
  • Fixed being able to slip behind the bank into an out of bounds area.
  • Fixed roller doors sometimes not opening for players except the host.
  • Fixed roller doors having no collision after being used the first time.
  • Fixed photocopier sound at start of the game.
  • Fixed floating props in The Street garage
  • Fixed first aid kit box lids blocking players from picking up the first aid kit inside.
  • Fixed issue causing The Noble to be invisible for clients.
  • Fixed missing texture on Section 2 stairs
  • Fixed TVs glowing but not being turned on
  • Fixed some slip-through barricades being too close to lockers, causing players to move through barricades when getting out of a locker.
  • Fixed players' temperature going down, even though their temperature is above zero.
  • Fixed keybind icons stretching for gamepad users.
  • Fixed various issues where fuse box functionality could become desynced between clients and host.
  • - plus various other miscellaneous fixes




DISCOUNT AND SPECIAL WEEKEND

Ready to test yourself on Sanguivore? Now is the perfect time with a 33% Steam Discount available right now! Purchase ahead of our bonus weekend a special reward!

Bonus Weekend! All players who play the game this weekend (6th-7th April 2024) will earn double XP and receive a limited edition reward. Intrigued? Keep your eye out for a post with the full details later this week.

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHT #03



WEEKLY HIGHLIGHT

Welcome to the third of our weekly highlight posts. This week we turn our attention to The Mine - one of the new potential escape routes in our next upcoming map section.

The release of Section 3 is getting very close. If development continues as planned, we expect this to be our last Weekly Highlight before the release of Section 3 - so stay tuned for further news!

On to this week's highlight…

The Mine Entrance

Before survivors can delve into the depths of the mine in search of escape, they must first find a way in. Unfortunately, the way is blocked and only by restoring power in the area outside the mine, can survivors hope to power the mine gate and slip inside.



The entrance to the mine is a significant landmark to look out for. The industrial equipment of the area can offer precious cover from the Noble, who prowls the area looking for his prey. Cable spools, old containers and trucks can all be used to stay out of sight.



Some additional safety can be found in upturned mining carts, which can be a useful hiding place in a moment of need. Additionally, office containers are found around the area, with several useful hiding places.



It will be up to survivors to figure out exactly what they need to do to break into the mine itself, but - as a word of advice - keep your eyes peeled for any useful equipment the miners left behind.

The Mine

For those able to reach the mine itself, the next test begins. Tight, claustrophobic passageways weave through the mountainside. Unlike the more open entrance area, the inside of the mine has limited options when it comes to running away. Listen out for threats before they arrive and make use of the various hiding places to stay out of sight when you can.



Dead miners litter this area. Be sure to check for any useful supplies they might carry on their person.



After navigating the gloomy passageways, light is at the tunnel. Just remember to stay - on track - and you should be out in no time.



What do you say?

Our next update will likely be the focus of our next post, although we are keen to continue sharing updates on progress as we continue on. Please let us know any topics that you would be interested in us covering in future posts in the comments or on our Discord!