Hiraeth News

[h2]👋 Greetings, Survivors of Ahra Prime[/h2][h2][/h2][h2]☵ The Ahra Prime Times – Update Preview Edition[/h2][p]Today’s issue is a shortened one — I’ve just wrapped up work on the new game update: version 0.9.7.8, and tomorrow we’ll likely publish updage and a full announcement detailing the major changes, engine migration, and improvements.[/p][p][/p][h2]☵ The HIRAETH Update[/h2][p]The new version will first appear in Early Access, either as a standard major update or in a separate branch — your choice. A few days later, the demo will also be updated to match.[/p][p]After countless hours of testing across multiple intermediate builds, we’re proud to report that in-game crashes have been eliminated — something that was impossible on the previous engine version![/p][p]For those curious about the chaotic adventure of migrating to a new engine, you can read more on our Discord: 🔗 Migration Story[/p][p][/p][h2][/h2][h2]🏁 Training Center Speedrun Contest – Winner Announcement[/h2][p][/p][p]The undisputed champion of our latest speedrun challenge is DreXor, with a nearly unbeatable time of: 15 hours, 2 minutes, and 36 seconds 🔗 DreXor’s Steam Profile[/p][p][/p][p]Why are the seconds important? Because last week’s winner, Figurine, clocked in at: 15 hours, 2 minutes, and 59 seconds — a mere 23 seconds behind![/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]DreXor receives a Steam key for the game and the honorary 💎 Community Trailblazer 👨🏻‍🚀 role on Discord. This isn’t a prize for winning — it’s a recognition of his ongoing contributions to the game and community. DreXor is not only a player, but a dedicated tester and real-world supporter of the project. That’s especially meaningful as Steam payouts only begin two months after launch — and as you can see, the work never stops![/p][p][/p][p]He’s also a great friend and teammate — and his result? Legendary ːp2cubeː[/p][p][/p][p]Due to the intense workload around the new engine version, there’s no new contest this week, but we hope to resume them soon.[/p][p][/p][p]Thanks for your patience — and see you tomorrow for the full update announcement! We may also release a special midweek edition of The Ahra Prime Times to dive deeper into the changes and what’s next for Hiraeth.[/p][p][/p][p]Stay strong, Paweł[/p]

[p]Status: Migration to UE 5.6.1, stability in progress. Hiraeth breathes deeper.[/p][p][/p][h2]👋 Greetings, Survivors of Ahra Prime[/h2][p][/p][h2]🔧 Work on the New Engine[/h2][p]Here’s an update on the ongoing transition to the latest version of Unreal Engine. This change brings many benefits — both for players and for me as the developer.[/p][p]Crashes in officially confirmed cases have been fully eliminated by new engine version. Temporary freezes may still occur in critical situations — a major step forward, though we’re still waiting for more! My tests, along with those from other players, show improved engine optimization. You may not always notice it directly, but both rendering and world streaming have significantly improved.[/p][p]I’m also seeing many positive changes in the editor — the project compiles faster. This directly improves workflow comfort, which in turn means better development pace and quality for Hiraeth going forward.[/p][p][/p][h2]✅ What’s been achieved in the migration? What’s next?[/h2][p]As I mentioned last week (Steam Announcement), I’ve resolved the issue with HLOD building in the new engine version — a key milestone for our open-world game. This means a major stage related to rendering, its stability, and performance has been successfully completed.[/p][p]But rendering isn’t everything — especially in a game with mechanics as complex as Hiraeth. The new engine version introduces a different approach to class inheritance, requiring major changes. I’m nearly done — almost everything works again, but “almost” is the difference that’s holding back the next update.[/p][p]These changes also affect the save/load system — a core part of the game. That’s currently taking up most of my time.[/p][p]Let me add: the time required for these tasks isn’t due to the team being just one person — me. These are deep system-level tasks that would still need to be handled by one person overseeing the whole structure. A larger team wouldn’t help at this stage.[/p][p][/p][h2]🖥️ Game Requirements — Regardless of Engine Version[/h2][p]The issues discussed on certain hardware setups are rare, but they pose serious challenges for the project’s future. Solving them may take a few more days — or slightly longer — which is frustrating.[/p][p]Until now, I’ve been resolving game bugs through regular updates. I hope that rhythm returns soon so we can continue developing the game and Ahra Prime faster and further.[/p][p][/p][h3]🎮 Stable 60 FPS in 4K?[/h3][p]Many players ask why they don’t get a minimum of 60 FPS on good hardware.[/p][p]Hiraeth’s performance is comparable — or even better — than other well-known open-world games using similar technology. Average for RTX 4080 is from 30 to 65 FPS — without DLSS, which I’ll be adding soon after other issues are resolved.[/p][p][/p][p]One of our players currently achieves stable 60 FPS on high-end hardware: CPU: Ryzen 5 7600 RAM: 64 GB DDR5 GPU: Radeon 7900 XTX 24 GB[/p][p][/p][p]As for me — I can only dream of such performance on my RTX 2060. But despite having a relatively weak card by today’s standards, I experience no stability issues, and the game runs smoothly enough that I play on Epic settings.[/p][p]Confirmed issues across different hardware configurations are described here: 🔗 Steam Discussion and confirmation here.[/p][p][/p][h2]🆕 When’s the New Version Coming?[/h2][p]I hope to release new updates for Early Access and the demo in the coming days. The project has gone through several versions since the last changes, but they still need refinement. That’s why I’m releasing a test version for the demo — important for the entire project. It’s the same build — the demo just has many limitations. What works in the demo will work in Early Access.[/p][p]If you’re interested, join us on Discord — I regularly share work-in-progress builds there. Many of these versions allow for hours of gameplay, but they require preparation — like frequent downloads or deleting old saves.[/p][h3]🧰 Changes and Fixes (Not Yet Published on Steam)[/h3]

• [p]Fixed backpack overload bug that prevented re-equipping after dropping[/p]
• [p]Removed infinite ladder climbing exploit[/p]
• [p]New loading screen after save/load and improved startup visuals — still needs minor polish[/p]
• [p]New system for checking player and world state after load[/p]
• [p]Containers like cargo crates now have realistic weight limits — 100 kg instead of 10 kg[/p]
• [p]…and many more. Some of these changes are already in Demo version 0.9.7.5 Experimental — see below.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]🧪 Experimental Branch[/h3][p]The experimental branch announced last week has been created on Steam, but it’s currently empty and hidden. I don’t want to complicate updates — it will go live after the official stable update on the new engine is released.[/p][p][/p][h2]🧪 Demo v 0.9.7.5 Experimental — Stability Test Download[/h2][p]Who is it for?[/p]

• [p]Players who experienced crashes during gameplay or right after launching on Nesoi Island[/p]
• [p]Anyone curious about performance improvements from the upcoming engine migration[/p]

[p]Limitations:[/p]

• [p]Save/load is completely disabled in this version[/p]
• [p]Work on proper save functionality in the new engine is ongoing — it’s not part of this test[/p]

[p]Test Objective: This version is meant for short testing — to check whether Lumen or Nanite-related crashes have been resolved. Epic — the creator of Unreal Engine — seems to have fixed many previous issues in this area, and testers confirm it. But we need broader confirmation across various hardware setups.[/p][p][/p][p]Longer play sessions may expose bugs — especially painful ones due to the lack of save/load. So once again: this version is for short testing — to verify rendering changes in the new engine.[/p][p]📥 Download from Google Drive[/p][p][/p][h2]🏆 Contest Results — Ancient Figurine: Winner FLPX86[/h2][p]Last week’s contest has a winner — the only player who submitted a complete and correct answer: FLPX86 They received a Steam key for Hiraeth and a special Discord role.[/p][p]🔗 Winning submission on Discord[/p][h3]🗿 Ancient Figurine — Functions and Properties[/h3]

• [p]When released from a container (chest, backpack), it generates enough breathable air nearby[/p]
• [p]Enables breathing in oxygen-free environments[/p]
• [p]Research doesn’t clearly confirm whether it truly generates air — but its effects on instruments and living organisms are verified[/p]
• [p]Emits low-level radiation — prolonged exposure may be harmful[/p]
• [p]Difficult to grab, yet easy to store — its nature remains mysterious[/p]
• [p]No device has been successfully created to allow safe, mobile use — radiation halted development[/p]
• [p]Occurrence: Ancient Figurines and similar artifacts are known but extremely rare on Ahra Prime[/p]
• [p]Origin: Still unknown[/p]
• [p]Use case: Useful for sleeping in caves or under open skies to conserve oxygen[/p]
• [p]Warning: Due to negative effects, should only be used for short naps in critical situations or during stationary work outside safe zones[/p]

[p][/p][h2]🏁 New Contest — Training Center: Speed Run[/h2][p]I hope the tradition of weekly contests continues! This week’s challenge is open to all — Early Access and Demo players alike.[/p][h3]🕹️ Training Center — Speed Run[/h3][p]Rules:[/p]

• [p]The fastest training completion time wins[/p]
• [p]Submission deadline: Friday, September 26[/p]
• [p]Screenshot of training completion required — post it here: #contest-submissions 🏆[/p]
• [p]Only the core training needs to be completed — no side objectives[/p]
• [p]You may record a video and upload it to YouTube (unlisted) — if you win, I’ll feature it in the next edition of The Ahra Prime Times[/p]

[p]Prizes:[/p]

• [p]Steam key for Early Access[/p]
• [p]Special Discord role[/p]

[p]My own tutorial run is just an example — much faster times are possible. It takes game knowledge and a bit of strategy. Good luck![/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]

[p][/p][p]Thanks to everyone who tests, reports, supports, and plays. Ahra Prime lives because of you — and I’m doing everything I can to keep its heart beating stronger.[/p][p]See you in the next edition! — Paweł[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]Weekly Dispatch from the Frontier
[/p][p]Hello survivors! The first signal from the surface of Ahra Prime — welcome to the debut issue of our weekly bulletin, which will appear regularly on Steam to share development progress and stay in close contact with you, the players.[/p][p][/p][p]Starting now, I’ll be publishing The Ahra Prime Times every week — a bulletin with updates on the game’s development, plans, challenges, and behind-the-scenes insights. In addition, as before, separate Steam announcements will appear with each game update:[/p]

• [p]Standard posts for minor fixes[/p]
• [p]Featured posts for major updates[/p]

[p]I also share frequent updates on Discord — feel free to join if you want to stay closer to the project![/p][p][/p][h2]⚙️ Current Work: Migration to UE 5.6.1[/h2][p]A new version of Hiraeth is coming soon, built on the latest Unreal Engine 5.6.1. Why? Some modern devices were experiencing serious issues — even crashes — that couldn’t be resolved in the previous engine version (5.x) due to the technology used. Migrating to 5.6.1 is already showing promising results — early tests suggest it’s an effective solution!
[/p][h2]Stability is a top priority — this engine upgrade lays the groundwork for smoother gameplay and future improvements.[/h2][p][/p][h3]🧬 Component Inheritance Changes[/h3][p]The new engine version introduces a different approach to component inheritance. Although I’ve worked with Unreal Engine for years, this system is new, interesting, and adds extra protection against errors — but it requires significant refactoring. As shown in the video (last announcement), the migration itself was quick, but I’m now rebuilding inheritance logic across many functions. It takes time, but it’s worth it.[/p][p][/p][h3]🧪 Experimental Branch Incoming[/h3][p]This week, I’ll be launching a beta branch: Experimental — the first version of the game running on the new engine. It will be useful now and in the future for testing other changes.[/p][p]I especially want players who’ve had trouble launching The Nesoi Island to try it and see if the engine update resolves their hardware issues. While some features may be temporarily unavailable in Experimental, it’s enough for testing — and I expect it to help.[/p][p]This branch will be optional — enabling it is up to each player. You’ll be able to switch back to the previous version at any time.[/p][p][/p][h2]⏳ Update Delay[/h2][p]After releasing version 0.9.7.3, I had planned a quick follow-up fix. However, migrating to the new engine became necessary — not just for those experiencing issues, but for the future of the entire project. As a result, current updates have been delayed by a few days.[/p][p]Here’s what I had planned for this week:[/p]

• [p]Fixes for custom key bindings, followed by controller support[/p]
• [p]Saving progress in the Training Center[/p]
• [p]Backpack weight checks and other improvements[/p]

[p]Unfortunately, these changes can’t be implemented in the old engine and then ported — it’s technically unfeasible. So I’m now working directly in the new version of the project.[/p][p][/p][p]At the same time, I want to apologize for the delay — maintaining regular updates is a top priority throughout Early Access, and I fully intend to keep them coming.[/p][p][/p][h2]🧠 Ahra Prime Researcher Contest[/h2][p]A lore-based contest is currently running on Discord — with a chance to win a Steam Key for Hiraeth and a special Discord role! The contest is open to all Early Access and Demo players. [/p][p]More contests with prizes are planned in the future — there are many secrets on Ahra Prime, and this is just the beginning![/p][p][/p][h2]See you next week in the next bulletin[/h2][p]— or maybe even sooner, with the release of Hiraeth on UE 5.6.1!

Thank you for being part of Hiraeth’s Early Access journey.[/p][p]
Greetings to all survivors. Paweł – creator[/p][p][/p][p]The illustration features an item related to the ongoing contest on Discord.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[h2]👋 Welcome, Traveler[/h2][p]HIRAETH Needs You — Final Test Before the Patch Goes Live[/p][p]
Following up on yesterday’s announcement: testing is underway for the game running on Unreal Engine 5.6.1 — the latest version, which addresses several memory overflow issues and crashes, even on high-end devices.[/p][p]✅ Initial tests show full success. My own multi-hour playthrough on Nesoi Island ran flawlessly. Internal testing on different hardware also confirmed stability.[/p][p][/p][h3]🧪 Before releasing this version as a Steam update, I need broader testing — especially on devices that previously experienced crashes after loading Nesoi Island.[/h3][p][/p][h2]👨🏻‍🚀 Call for Testers[/h2][p]If you’ve encountered the issues mentioned above, I’d greatly appreciate your help testing this closed version — download link is at the bottom. The sooner we get confirmation, the sooner the official patch can go live on Steam. If you haven’t had any issues with the current version (based on the previous Unreal Engine build), there’s no need to test this one.[/p][p][/p][h2]ℹ️ Important Info Before You Download:[/h2]

• [p]This is a demo version. I can’t publish the full Early Access build, but technically it’s the same project — enough to confirm the fix.[/p]
• [p]Please save your game by sleeping wherever possible (see map below).[/p]
• [p]This version is intended solely for crash testing. It’s a raw build with default Unreal Engine settings — performance may be slightly heavier, but crashes should not occur.[/p]
• [p]Many players experienced crashes right at the start of Nesoi Island. For a complete test, please follow the marked route — it includes a critical area that very rarely, but even for me, caused a crash (no in this version).[/p]
• [p]The dangerous zone is small, but I’ve marked an extended area just to be safe. The issue stemmed from an Unreal Engine bug in earlier versions. According to the changelog, it should be resolved in 5.6.1 — which my video test confirms.[/p]
• [p]The game content is the same as before — only the build has changed, now running on the new engine version.[/p]
• [p]Migrating to the new engine required some updates, which I’ve already implemented. It allows over 2 hours of gameplay on Nesoi Island, but I haven’t tested everything — feel free to report anything else. The main goal is to confirm whether the game crashes on your hardware or not.[/p]
• [p]Aside from the engine update, this version is identical to the current Steam release.[/p]

[h3]* Annoucement update[/h3][p]If you couldn't start Nesoi at all before and now you can play normally, I think confirming this will be enough - the full route and a longer test will be super helpful, but even such a short test will be very useful![/p][p][/p][h2]🗺️ Map[/h2][p]The map shows:[/p]

• [p]Recommended route for full testing (green)[/p]
• [p]Save points (icons) important for this test[/p]
• [p]Previously unstable zone to be tested (pink)[/p]

[p][/p][p]By the way, an interactive map of The Nesoi Island can be found here. It will be updated soon, and new locations will appear at this address. Soon the in-game map (available under the M key) will also change significantly![/p][p][/p][h2]🎥 Video[/h2][p]Short video showing the critical part of the test — in the previously unstable area.[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h2]📥 Download Link[/h2][p]Files are hosted on Google Drive. They’re packed using the free and excellent 7Z tool (link included). If you run into issues, I can provide an alternative archive format.[/p][p]Download link from Google Drive[/p][p]Download free 7z [/p][h2]💬 Contact & Support[/h2][p]I’m available on Discord and on the Steam game forum. For smoother communication, I recommend Discord — there are also other players there who can help.
[/p][h3]Confirmation Submission[/h3][p]You can submit your confirmation in the discussion under this announcement, on Discord in the general channel, or by sending me a direct message. I regularly check all of these channels.[/p][p]For every confirmation — if you don’t already have it — you’ll receive the @HIRAETH-TESTER role on Discord, along with my gratitude (and hopefully others’ too)!

Join ☵ HIRAETH Discord[/p][h2]
Thank you for your understanding and support! [/h2][p]As a solo dev, this is currently the only way I can efficiently resolve issues on specific hardware setups.[/p][p][/p][p]Warm regards, Pawel — creator of Hiraeth[/p]

[h3]Launch Recap • Sales & Support • Recent Updates • Crash Fix Progress • Community Feedback • What’s Next • Closing Words[/h3][h3] Welcome aboard, and thank you for being part of this unfolding journey. Your presence means everything.[/h3][p]
On September 3rd, our shared journey to Ahra Prime officially began. I want to thank everyone who joined HIRAETH in Early Access — especially those who understand what this phase of development truly means. As a solo developer working on such a complex project, I deeply appreciate every piece of feedback, every bug report, and every moment you spend in the world of HIRAETH.[/p][p]🎮 ☵ HIRAETH had its initial testing phase as a Steam Playtest, but it’s only now — in Early Access — that the game has truly come alive. Player activity has increased dramatically, and the median playtime speaks for itself. I’ve received tons of valuable feedback from thoughtful players who understand that Early Access isn’t just about playing early — it’s about building the game together. This is the stage where bugs are identified and fixed, new features are tested, and gameplay is refined based on real player experiences. It’s clear that HIRAETH has landed in the right hands — and that gives me huge motivation to keep going.[/p][p][/p][h2]📊 Sales Report — Straight Talk[/h2][p]HIRAETH was created and released without any funding for advertising. The only investment was my time — and the incredible support from YouTubers who specialize in survival games, some of whom had already featured HIRAETH on their channels. I’m truly grateful to them and want to thank them here.[/p][p]Because of that, sales may not look impressive on paper — but to me, it’s a huge success. It allows me to continue developing the game at the pace you’ve seen since launch.[/p][p]Big titles often need massive revenue upfront to cover marketing costs and large teams. In HIRAETH’s case, every cent goes directly into development. If more players join the journey, I’ll gladly expand the team — which will help development move even faster.[/p][p]A lot depends on you — your Steam reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations. If funds allow, I’ll invest in promotion too, which will definitely help the game reach more players and evolve further.[/p][p][/p][h2]🔧 What’s Already Happened[/h2]

• [p]The demo and pre-launch testing helped lay a solid foundation.[/p]
• [p]Daily updates (0.9.7.x) have improved many aspects of the game — from UI to stability.[/p]
• [p]New features added just before Early Access have been well received:[/p]
  • [p]Mini-games: hacking, lockpicking, repairing[/p]
  • [p]A new base to explore: Comm Center[/p]
  • [p]And many other improvements[/p]

[p]Some of these additions introduced minor but annoying bugs — but fixing them is just a matter of time. After three years of solo development, I can confidently say we’re on the right track.[/p][p][/p][h2]⚠️ Stability Issues on Some Devices — Fix in Progress[/h2][p]Player reports helped identify rare but serious crash issues — especially on specific hardware configurations. This is currently my top priority.[/p][p]In response, I’ve migrated the project to Unreal Engine 5.6.1, which in early testing has shown that the crashes are resolved. This version still needs internal testing before it’s released on Steam as an official update — but it’s coming soon.[/p][p]If you’re experiencing crashes and enjoy testing — join us on Discord and contact me. I’ll share internal test builds using UE 5.6.1. The more devices we test on, the faster we can solve this globally.

Thank you for your patience — the fix is on the horizon.[/p][p][/p][h2]💬 Your Feedback Matters[/h2][p]There’s a lot of emotion in the comments — especially from those who’ve run into technical issues. At the same time, I know many of you are enjoying the game and sharing positive feedback on Discord, forums, and elsewhere.[/p][p]Many of you — even though it’s only been a few days since launch — have already spent hours immersed in the game. That’s incredibly motivating for me, and it’s just the beginning of what’s coming your way.[/p][p]If you’re enjoying HIRAETH, please leave a review on Steam. It’s the only form of promotion I have right now — and it directly affects how fast and far the game can grow.[/p][p][/p][h2]🚀 What’s Next[/h2]

• [p]Fixing current bugs and crash issues — that’s the first step.[/p]
• [p]A new region to explore, vehicles, and a difficulty progression system — already in development.[/p]
• [p]Save system for the Training Center, and fixes for save/load bugs (like duplicated items, medkits, and oxygen tanks).[/p]
• [p]A detailed roadmap will be announced once the new Unreal Engine version is confirmed stable.[/p]

[p]Thanks again for being part of this journey. Stay curious, stay safe on Ahra Prime — and see you in the next update![/p][h3]
Warm regards, Paweł Solo developer & creator of ☵ HIRAETH[/h3][p]
* solo for now — but with your support, that might change soon![/p]