Fresh Tracks News

[p]What’s up adventurers, it’s your favourite devs back at it again with your monthly updates![/p][p][/p][p]Before we dive into all the cool stuff we’ve added, we wanted to thank each and every one of you for tuning in and being a part of our first launch. With all that out the way, let's dive into everything we’ve done this month. [/p][p][/p][h3]Fixes & Improvements: back and better than ever 💪[/h3]

• [p]We know you achieved it, you know you did as well, but apparently the Steam Deck didn’t think you did. Fear not, we had some words with the Steam Deck folks and your achievements will now unlock when playing on Steam Deck.[/p]
• [p]Fixed cases where the incorrect Rhythmic would be equipped after using an encore in certain Boss Songs.[/p]
• [p]Fixed boss shortcuts not appearing during certain points of progression.[/p]
• [p]Previously, players were locked with new weapons after discovering them. This bug has since been patched. Players will now return to their original weapons after the track has been completed.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Steam Deck Verified: about time right?[/h3][p]That's right, you read that correctly. Fresh Tracks is officially Steam Deck verified – complete with the cool badge and everything![/p][p][/p][p]What does the Steam Deck Verification even mean? Well super cool reader, it means that Fresh Tracks runs smoothly on Steam Deck default settings. Additionally, the game displays Steam Deck controller icons in-game and is fully playable with the default controller configuration. In short, you can now take Fresh Tracks wherever you go and enjoy the same level of gameplay![/p][p][/p][h3]Fresh Tracks Soundtrack: Now Streaming![/h3][p]You asked for it, and we delivered. From today, the Fresh Tracks soundtrack is rolling out on Spotify and will be popping up on all other streaming platforms in the coming days.[/p][p][/p][p]Spice up your daily commute and sing along to 21 of your favourite tracks, just remember to stay on the right side of the road (we cannot take responsibility for any accidents caused by singing along 🥲).[/p][p][/p][h3]Accolades Trailer[/h3][p]Of course we think our own game is pretty cool, but don’t take it from us. Check out our accolades trailer and see who else thinks so:[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]And like that, it’s already been a month. While we may say this every month, you should definitely keep a special eye out for next month’s update as we have something special cooking up 🧑‍🍳.[/p][p][/p][p]
[/p][p]Till next time, your friendly neighbourhood devs,[/p][p]Buffalo Buffalo[/p][p]
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[p]Thanks for playing Fresh Tracks! Here's another small update addressing a few issues players have reported! [/p]

• [p]Fixed achievements not unlocking on Steam Deck[/p]
• [p]Fixed cases where the incorrect Rhythmic would be equipped after using an encore in certain Boss Songs[/p]
• [p]Fixed boss shortcuts not appearing during certain points of progression[/p][p][/p]

Thanks for playing Fresh Tracks! We’ve pushed a small update addressing a few issues players have reported:

Fixes & Improvements

True Ending Achievement
- Fixed an issue where the achievement for completing the true ending was not unlocking.
- For players who have already finished the game: re-loading your save file should retroactively unlock the achievement.
- We don’t believe you’ll need to re-beat the game, but due to the complexity of testing first-time unlocks vs. retroactive saves, we can’t 100% guarantee.

Shortcut Headers
- Shortcut text now correctly displays as “Shortcut” no matter which boss is skipped.
- Previously, all shortcut headers incorrectly showed “Skuld Kyng.”

Player Type Menu
- On PC, the Player Type selection screen (Traveller, Explorer, Adventurer, Champion) when starting a new game from the Main Menu, was incorrectly labeled as “Difficulty.”
- In Fresh Tracks, “Difficulty” should only refer to the marked difficulty of a Story Song: Easy, Medium, Hard, Expert, etc.
- This bug was introduced when localization was added for other languages. It has now been fixed and the menu properly says “Player Type.”

Prologue Screens
- The Version Number no longer appears on Mythic prologue screens.
- It now only displays in the Main Menu (except for Koda’s prologue, which takes place in the Main Menu and still shows it).

[p]Get your skis ready, Fresh Tracks is out now on Steam! Enjoy 10% off the game to celebrate the release and check out our fresh Launch Trailer:.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]We’ve been hard at work polishing every corner of the experience and wanted to share a little bit of what to expect when you play today. Since our public demo, we’ve got an amazing set of updates that bring you more options, more story, and more balance, here’s what’s new since our last log:[/p][p][/p][h3]Divine Favors: Your Journey, Your Way[/h3][p]We’ve added Divine Favors, a new settings option you’ll find at the Journey Wagon before every run! Looking for a challenge? Turn off all the Easy tracks! Looking for a chiller playthrough? Toggle off those expert tracks. Maybe just want something right down the middle? You can even turn off both Easy and Expert songs, perfect for players looking for something somewhere in between. [/p][p]Here’s how it works:[/p]

• [p]Toggle Mercy of the Mythics (our spin on God Mode) on or off.[/p]
• [p]Remove Easy or Expert tracks from the pool entirely.[/p]

[p]It’s your journey - play it how you like![/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]A Living Hubworld[/h3][p]The hubworld is now more alive than ever. When you swap out your Mythic, skis, or gear, the hubworld song dynamically changes - with thousands of possible variations.[/p][p]It makes every return to the hub feel fresh and tied to your personal journey.[/p][p][/p][h3]The Lost Verses[/h3][p]For the story seekers: every lore entry in the game has been added or revised. Discover the world of Norwyn through the eyes and ears of Oddvar Maelstrom, Norwyn’s most famous historian. Play through the game to find Oddvar’s Lost Verses! Access the Lost Verses through the Memory Palace any time you pause.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Fairer Difficulty Across the Board[/h3][p]We’ve smoothed out the game’s overall balance by adjusting the difficulty of individual songs.[/p]

• [p]Easy songs are easier.[/p]
• [p]The hardest songs are harder.[/p]
• [p]Everything in between is more fair.[/p]

[p]Newcomers get a better on-ramp, while veterans still get the challenge they crave.[/p][p][/p][h3]Arrows Tell You When to Swing[/h3][p]A big quality-of-life update: we’ve added arrow cues with white flashes and pulses that tell you when to swing your weapon.[/p][p]This makes Fresh Tracks more readable, especially if you’re new to rhythm games. You could even play without audio now (though honestly, why would you want to?)![/p][p]The rhythm feels crisper, cleaner, and more intuitive.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Smaller Tweaks & Polishes[/h3][p]And of course, we’ve been tightening screws and adding polish everywhere:[/p]

• [p]Koda’s boss songs are now more manageable.[/p]
• [p]Invincibility now has a clear icon so you know exactly when you’re safe.[/p]
• [p]Default mouse + keyboard controls updated: hold left-click to swing for smoother combos. You can even swing your sword using the arrow keys![/p]
• [p]Saving is smarter: when loading a saved game, you can choose between continuing your last run or restarting fresh.[/p]
• [p]Tutorials refined with new videos.[/p]
• [p]Mar got tougher (brace yourself).[/p]
• [p]Performance scoring tuned.[/p]
• [p]Sound effects updated (the blizzard section now rocks like a drum solo).[/p]

[p]
[/p][p]We want to say a big thank you to all of you who have come along this journey with us! If you like Fresh Tracks, leaving a review means the world to us and really helps us make more epic games in the future. You can also join our Discord to keep updated on our development and chat with the team.[/p][p]Get Fresh Tracks now, 10% off on Steam for launch![/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p]Your friendly neighbourhood devs,[/p][p]Buffalo Buffalo[/p][p]
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[p]Did you play our demo during Steam Next Fest? Wondering what we’re cooking up for launch?[/p][p]Fresh Tracks has been in development for a fewyears now, and as our first major release at the studio, we’re incredibly excited to finally get the full game into your hands. [/p][p]Since the demo was released, we’ve been reading through all your comments and reviews, watching tons of Twitch streams, and collecting all your feedback to make the full game as good as it can be for launch.[/p][p]So what have we changed since the demo? Here’s a sneak peek into our development updates:[/p][p][/p][h3]Snappier Sword Swings![/h3][p]One of the most common pieces of feedback we heard from the demo was that the sword felt just a bit too slow - which made the gameplay feel slightly off from the music.[/p][p]We’ve heard you loud and clear. The sword swing is now faster, to better match the rhythm and feel of the track. The goal is to make every slash feel good and in sync.[/p][p]Here’s what the new sword action looks like now:[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Mercy of the Mythics, a.k.a “God-mode”[/h3][p]We know some Story-Songs can be tough - just ask our marketing team! That’s why we’ve added Mercy of the Mythics, a new optional setting to help you push through the tricker tracks without breaking the balance.[/p][p]Here’s how it works, when enabled: If you fail the same Story-Song multiple times, Mercy will kick in and boost your luck – but only for that specific song. That means you’ll start seeing more hearts and resyn drops to help you survive that song, without giving you an advantage on tracks you’re not stuck on.[/p][p]Mercy provides a small nudge, just enough to help you get past the finish line and keep the story moving. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]More Medium Levels[/h3][p]One big thing we heard from players: the jump from Easy to Hard felt steep. So we’re smoothing that curve.[/p][p]We’ve added three new Medium versions of songs that previously only had Hard versions. The original Hard tracks are still there (and now slightly tougher, to keep them spicy) but the new Mediums offer a gentler ramp-up for players still building their skills.[/p][p]More options, better balance, and a smoother journey from casual tapping to full-on rhythm mastery.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Butt Reduction Surgery[/h3][p]Okay, we’ve officially shrunk the player’s hitbox, especially around the sides. Why? Due to Fresh Tracks’ first-person perspective, it's easy to get clipped by obstacles that just barely left your field of view when switching lanes.[/p][p]So yes, your “butt” is officially smaller now — and it makes a big difference! Fewer frustrating lane changes and an all-around smoother ride. It’s one of those subtle tweaks that just feels better the moment you play.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We’re still working hard to improve Fresh Tracks even more before launch. We have more end-game work to do, more difficulty balancing, and all those nice little finishing touches.

As always, let us know in the forums if you have any feedback or how you enjoyed the demo! You can also join our Discord to keep updated on our development and chat with the team.

And don’t forget to wishlist the game and follow, it means the world to us!

[dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Your friendly neighbourhood devs,
Buffalo Buffalo
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