Return: Unknown News

[h3]Hello Community and Survivors[/h3]

As promised, I’d like to update you on the latest developments in the making of Return: Unknown. In March and April 2024, I temporarily paused development to thoroughly reconsider the original vision for a free-to-play survival extraction shooter. You can read more about the background here: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2760710/view/4488493094383124635

Why I Resumed Development
The project was never entirely canceled—only paused. As a solo developer, I often need to rethink decisions multiple times before implementing them. Thanks to numerous pieces of feedback from the community, I felt motivated to continue. Your support was incredible—in a survey held back in January 2024, with no major promotion, the project gained 140 positive responses in under a week.

Now the time has come to present the new concept and outline a few key points to keep things manageable.

My Development Goals
With Return: Unknown, I aim to exceed my own expectations, creating a gaming experience that surpasses the initial vision. As a solo developer, I’m focusing on a thoughtful blend of custom elements and targeted external resources from studios of various sizes, aiming for AAA quality. I intend to harness the latest technologies in Unreal Engine to achieve the highest possible quality.

This project is funded entirely by myself—no external funding is involved, just as with my previous developments. My goal is to ensure an authentic and transparent development process.



What Kind of Game Will Return: Unknown Be?
Return: Unknown was originally designed as a survival extraction shooter. While I am staying true to the core idea of an open-world survival game and distancing it from free-to-play, I am now focusing on single-player and multiplayer experiences, with a particular emphasis on PvE. PvP players will also get their share of the action; here, the server operator has the authority to decide whether PvP is enabled, allowing players to compete and engage in rivalries with others.

The game will feature peer-to-peer support, with server files available for the community. Additionally, I plan to collaborate with external providers to simplify server setup and give the community more freedom.

Inspirations
The primary inspirations for Return: Unknown come from the movie I Am Legend, the game Tom Clancy's The Division, and the survival title The Forest. These influences shape both the atmosphere and gameplay, merging various elements to create an intense experience.

Why this combination? The world of Return: Unknown draws on an urban setting similar to I Am Legend—a massive metropolis, styled like Manhattan, surrounded by lush forests, which reflects The Forest’s influence on the open-world design and the possibilities for building and crafting. There won’t be any zombies; instead, Return: Unknown will feature "Darkseekers," creatures inspired by I Am Legend that behave in similar ways.

The Division also serves as a model, especially for systems involving traders, zones, and a virus outbreak as a central plot point. This setting adds immersive depth by featuring a pandemic threat and incorporating mechanics such as safe zones and dangerous, explorable areas into the gameplay.



Features:
Here are a few key features, with more detailed information available in the shop description.

• Survival Instincts: Your survival depends on managing hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and cold. Pay attention to your physical conditions to handle constant management and survival challenges.
  
  
• Construct Impressive Structures: Build impressive structures and secure your base with a variety of materials. Your survival camp will become a central hub you can customize according to your needs.
  
  
• Craft Weapons, Tools, and Furniture: Use a variety of resources to craft weapons, tools, and furniture. These items are crucial to enhancing your survival chances and preparing for any challenges.
  
  
• Trading System: Exchange resources with other players or NPCs to stock up and prepare for tough times. The trading system introduces new opportunities and strategic decisions.
  
  
• Dynamic Weather System: Experience constantly changing weather and seasons that make life in Return: Unknown even more challenging. The weather conditions affect not only gameplay but also your survival strategies.
  
  
• Day-Night Cycle: A dynamic day-night cycle offers both advantages and challenges. Use the darkness or daylight hours to achieve your goals and defend your base.

Special Events:

• Airdrops: Occasionally, valuable supplies are dropped from plane crashes or other mechanisms. These airdrops are sought-after and present both opportunities and risks.
  
  
• Power Outages: Lightning strikes and other natural phenomena can lead to power outages, impacting both your survival and your base. Prepare for these unexpected events so you aren’t caught off guard.

Note:
I always strive to do my best, but as a solo developer, I face challenges that larger studios often don’t, and unforeseen events can affect the development process. I place a lot of trust in the community and rely on its support, which plays a crucial role in shaping the game. Clear communication is especially important to me, and I carefully select committed users who genuinely want to contribute to development. Selected testers with Alpha Keys, for example, can help identify issues and areas for improvement early on, rather than simply securing access to the game.

[h3]Thank You for Your Attention![/h3]
Thank you, for reading this far – I'm delighted to have your attention! If you want others to also notice "Return: Unknown," help us achieve this goal. Only together can we accomplish great things. Thank you for your support!

[h2]Hello Community and Survivors[/h2]

I want to update you on the latest developments in the creation of Return: Unknown. First, I would like to apologize for the long silence. It has been quiet in recent months as I took the time to reconsider the direction of the game and make some important decisions.

In March and April 2024, I temporarily halted development to reassess the original vision of a Free-to-Play Survival Extraction Shooter. During this time, many similar games were announced, and as a solo developer, it has been a challenge for me to stand out in this competitive market. The rising development costs prompted me to question the long-term success of the game. Additionally, there were differing opinions within the community regarding whether the game should be offered for free or released as a paid product. Many players expressed concerns that a Free-to-Play model might undermine the value and integrity of the game.

Of course, the direction of an open-world survival game in singleplayer and co-op will remain intact. It will be something big! In this project, I am pushing my own boundaries to create an experience that goes far beyond my original expectations.

To give you a glimpse into the development, new images have been updated on the store page. I hope they ignite your excitement and show the direction the game is taking.

In the coming days, I will present my new plan, which aims to highlight the strengths of the game and create an engaging experience that meets the expectations of the community. I appreciate your understanding and support during this important phase of development, and I look forward to sharing more details with you soon!

Stay tuned for further updates!

[h3]Thank You for Your Attention![/h3]
Thank you, for reading this far – I'm delighted to have your attention! If you want others to also notice "Return: Unknown," help us achieve this goal. Only together can we accomplish great things. Thank you for your support!

[h2]Hello Community and Survivors[/h2]

A big day has arrived! Our Kickstarter campaign has been successfully launched! You can now support this project through this platform, and hopefully, we can reach our goal. This was made available at the request of some members!

Support the game: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/key-0/return-unknown-survival-extraction-shooter-free-to-play



[h3]Welcome to Return: Unknown![/h3]
Immerse yourself in an apocalyptic world where relentless infected beings and ruthless players alike challenge your survival instincts. Choose between the third and first-person perspectives as your character battles through thirst, hunger, and exhaustion.

Explore the post-apocalyptic landscape, combat zombies, and rival survivors. Utilize farming, construct buildings from diverse materials, and forge deadly weapons, tools, and luxurious furniture.

Your survival hinges on skilled hunting and efficient harvesting. Cook, melt raw materials, and gather a plethora of resources. Experience a dynamic weather system with seasons and an ever-changing day and night cycle. Be prepared to adapt to challenging weather conditions at any moment.

Trade and sell valuable resources to accelerate your progress and become the ultimate survivor.

Are you ready to face the unknown? Embrace the challenge and shape your destiny in Return: Unknown – where the apocalypse meets explosive creativity, and survival demands the ultimate price.

Support the game: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/key-0/return-unknown-survival-extraction-shooter-free-to-play

[h3]Thank You for Your Attention![/h3]
Thank you, for reading this far – I'm delighted to have your attention! If you want others to also notice "Return: Unknown," help us achieve this goal. Only together can we accomplish great things. Thank you for your support!

[h2]Hello Community and Survivors[/h2]

[h2]Return: Unknown[/h2]

[h3]Post-apocalyptic and a True Symphony of Creativity![/h3]
Welcome to the post-apocalyptic world of "Return: Unknown," the unique and free-to-play Survival-Extraction-Shooter. This captivating adventure is crafted with the utmost dedication, based on high-quality assets from an impressive array of developers, modelers, graphic designers, and music producers – a true symphony of creativity.

• Experience the post-apocalyptic world of "Return: Unknown" and decide whether to face the challenges in Singleplayer mode or join forces in Multiplayer mode.
  
• Become part of a unique gaming experience with various modes – whether in competitive PvP or cooperative PvE. The choice is yours! Decide how you want to navigate the post-apocalyptic landscape of "Return: Unknown."
  

[h3]A Deep Desire for a Game![/h3]
The birth of "Return: Unknown" stems from a deep desire for a game that was not only wanted but passionately anticipated, criticized, and even hated. We understand that many players have experienced disappointments when their expectations were not met. Our goal is to close this gap and provide a gaming experience that aligns with the visions of our community.

[h3]Not Just a Game, but a Movement![/h3]
"Return: Unknown" is not just a game; it's a movement – created to revive the potential of another game. We invite you not only as a spectator but as an active part of our passionate community to shape and mold this project.

• Gain exclusive access to the game in an alpha development stage like never before. This opportunity is open to all players, allowing everyone to be part of the game's development from foundation to completion, shaping the future of "Return: Unknown."
  
• Join us live on Twitch for exciting insights into the development processes of "Return: Unknown." We aim to involve you as much as possible in our creative journey, providing answers to your questions whenever possible. Be there as the game takes shape, and immerse yourself in the background of its development!
  

[h3]The Gateway to this Exciting World![/h3]
Our Steam page opens the gateway to this thrilling world. Witness how the visions of players and the skills of numerous asset developers merge into a harmonious gaming experience. Get ready to face the unknown – be prepared for "Return: Unknown," your gateway to a free and unforgettable Survival-Extraction adventure.

• Your ideas and wishes have the potential to make the game truly unique.
  
• Experience high-quality assets created by an impressive number of developers, modelers, graphic designers, and music producers.
  

[h3]Challenges with Ups and Downs![/h3]
It's a challenge that demands a lot and comes with highs and lows. Together, we are strong enough to achieve greatness – even if we fail, we have all pulled together.

[h3]Thank You for Your Attention![/h3]
Thank you, for reading this far – I'm delighted to have your attention! If you want others to also notice "Return: Unknown," help us achieve this goal. Only together can we accomplish great things. Thank you for your support!