The Long Dark News

[p]Hello Community,[/p][p]We have just updated THE LONG DARK to version 2.51, build 170901.[/p][p][/p][p]This is a Hotfix to THE LONG DARK and THE LONG DARK: SURVIVAL MODE and contains multiple bug fixes.[/p][p]
Known Issues[/p][p]The team is currently aware of the following issues in the game. If you encounter one of these issues, there is no need to report it to the Support Portal. [/p]

• [p]MacOS and Linux - Please note that we have temporarily disabled Additional Shadows for Structures and Terrain to address an engine level visual bug. We are working to fix the problem and will re-enable this visual enhancement as soon as possible. This impacts both MacOS and Linux versions of the game.[/p]
• [p]In some rare cases when launching the game while using HDR, the display may appear completely black. This is caused by brightness somehow being set to 0. Using a non HDR display and setting the brightness to a higher value before swapping back is the only workaround for the time being.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Bug Fixes[/p][p]This Hotfix includes fixes for the following issues:[/p][p][/p][p]
GAMEPLAY, UI, CONTROLS[/p]

• [p]Critical - Fixed an issue that could cause a loss of profile progress (Badges and Feats), or result in intermittent notifications stating a player's profile failed to load when starting the game.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that allowed players to bypass the material requirements to repair structures via Safehouse Customization.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that prevented the Cougar from spawning on save files where it was enabled at a point after first generating the save. Unfortunately, this will not resolve the issue for saves currently experiencing this issue.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that prevented the Improvised Knife, Improvised Hatchet, Survival Knife and Cougar Claw Knife from being used for in-game actions such as Harvesting, opening Canned Food, or Breaking Ice where they could previously be.[/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][p]Please visit our Support Portal (or consult our Known Issues page) if you encounter any issues while playing the game. [/p][p][/p][p]
### END OF RELEASE NOTES ###[/p]

[p]Hello Community,[/p][p]We have just updated THE LONG DARK to version 2.50, build 169730.[/p][p][/p][p]This is a Hotfix to THE LONG DARK and THE LONG DARK: SURVIVAL MODE containing bug fixes, as well as an upgrade to a major new version of Unity, in anticipation of the Episode Five launch on March 31st, 2026. Episode Five depends on Unity 6, so this pre-launch release will provide time to prove and stabilize the game on the new engine version before the launch.[/p][p]
Known Issues[/p][p]The team is currently aware of the following issues in the game. If you encounter one of these issues, there is no need to report it to the Support Portal. [/p]

• [p]MacOS - Please note that we have temporarily disabled Additional Shadows for Structures and Terrain to address an engine level visual bug. We are working to fix the problem and will re-enable this visual enhancement as soon as possible. This only impacts the MacOS version of the game.[/p]
• [p]PlayStation 5 - Sometimes during Episode One and Three, a player may encounter a persistent crash in specific locations. Some players find that restarting their console can allow them to proceed past the crash. We are actively attempting to diagnose the cause of this issue.[/p]
• [p]In some rare cases when launching the game while using HDR, the display may appear completely black. This is caused by brightness somehow being set to 0. Using a non HDR display and setting the brightness to a higher value before swapping back is the only workaround for the time being.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Bug Fixes[/p][p]This Hotfix includes fixes for the following issues:[/p][p][/p][p]CRASHES[/p]

• [p]Mac - Fixed an issue that could cause a crash when exiting to the desktop from WINTERMUTE.[/p]

[p]
GAMEPLAY, UI, CONTROLS[/p]

• [p]Fixed an issue that incorrectly allowed items to cure while in containers, resulting in them sometimes going missing once they became cured.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that rarely caused saved game files to become corrupted when exiting a Prepper Cache.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that resulted in stronger than intended player stagger while in the Near Death state. This fix should reduce the amount of camera animation swaying during the low-condition phase.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that could cause the game to soft-lock when loading a file that was saved while traversing with a Travois. Players should find they recover from this broken state gracefully upon loading the affected save file.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that could cause the game to soft-lock when attempting to sleep at a point that the Trader Radio was queued to interrupt sleep, resulting in a black screen.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that could cause the game to soft-lock when a player attempted a Rope Climb with no Stamina, resulting in the player becoming stuck on the rope.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that could cause a soft-lock if a Lantern ran out of fuel while being lit, resulting in a state where the player could move, but not interact with anything.[/p]
• [p]Fixed a rare issue where retrieving a Manufactured Arrow from a Carcass could result in a Simple Arrow being added to the player's Backpack instead.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue where Transmitters were shown in the Journal->Collections tab even when the Tales From the Far Territory DLC was not installed.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that allowed a player to carry the Travois into a Snow Shelter with them.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that prevented the Cougar Claw Knife from being used as a Crafting Tool.[/p]

[p]
ART & ENVIRONMENTS[/p]

• [p]Fixed multiple instances of items being hidden beneath snow by the Terrain Blending setting.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue in Broken Railroad where smoke would not appear from the chimney of the Hunting Lodge when the fireplace was lit.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that resulted in snow effects appearing within the Warden's Office in Blackrock Penitentiary.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue that caused visual artifacting where snow and terrain intersect when Terrain Blending and Additional Shadows options were enabled.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue where shadow pop-in was very noticeably at long distances.[/p]
• [p]Adjusted the shadow settings in Ash Canyon to prevent certain locations from looking too dark at night.[/p]
• [p]Adjusted the shadow settings inside Blackrock Penitentiary to prevent some locations from looking too dark at night.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue with aggressive Terrain Blending in Ash Canyon.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue with Terrain Blending on the Blackrock Penitentiary gate which resulted in it popping in and out at certain distances.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue with the Cougar Hide Wrap that resulted in a noticeable visual anomaly on the Clothing tab when equipped.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue in Broken Railroad Region where a player could get stuck in a terrain trap near the Maintenance Shed.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue in Blackrock Region where a player could get stuck in a terrain trap near a Rope Climb.[/p]
• [p]Fixed an issue in the Pleasant Valley Region Barn interior where a player could get stuck in a terrain trap.
  [/p]

[p]PLATFORM-SPECIFIC[/p]

• [p]Windows Store / Xbox for Windows - Fixed an issue that prevented WINTERMUTE save file names from being entered.[/p]
• [p]Xbox (All versions.) / PlayStation (All versions.) - Fixed an issue with draw distance where some items or terrain would disappear at too low a distance.[/p]
• [p]PlayStation 5 - Fixed an issue that caused some terrain to appear darker or lighter than intended.[/p]
• [p]PlayStation (All versions.) - Fixed an issue that caused the Clothing tab to temporarily flash white when opening the Backpack.[/p]
• [p]PlayStation (All versions.) - Fixed an issue with the Travois that resulted in it disappearing forever. This only occurred if it was deployed and never carried prior to moving through a transition.[/p]
• [p]Windows Store / Steam / EGS - Fixed a rare issue that could result in DLC failing to apply to the main game if the DLC was installed on a separate hard drive.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Please visit our Support Portal (or consult our Known Issues page) if you encounter any issues while playing the game. [/p][p][/p][p]
### END OF RELEASE NOTES ###[/p]

Crikey, it's been a long time coming, but it looks like The Long Dark is finally coming to a close… next year. Up until earlier this week, the fifth and final episode of The Long Dark's Wintermute DLC was due to be released by the end of the year. As you've probably gathered, the end of the year is very close now, so as a result, episode five has been delayed, but it is a delay that at least comes with a concrete release date.

Read more

The end of The Long Dark is nigh. After more than ten years in development and seven years working on its controversial story mode, Wintermute, the climactic episode is in the final stages of production. However, those stages aren't quite as final as developer Hinterland Studio would like, so they've announced the episode won't arrive until next year...
Read more.

[p]For over twelve years Hinterland Studio has worked to craft THE LONG DARK into one of the most prominent titles of the survival genre. Now, on the precipice of the release of the final chapter of WINTERMUTE, we ask humbly for your nomination for "Labor of Love".[/p][p]We believe only a project that is as deeply cared for, and which a team is so passionate about, could receive such ongoing attention as THE LONG DARK. If you think our dedication to fulfilling promises, and making THE LONG DARK the best survival experience we can is worthy of commendation, please nominate and vote for us in the Labor of Love category in this year's Steam Awards.[/p][p]Thank you all for your consideration, and for your support![/p]