P.A.C.K. :: Post Apocalyptic Cleaning Kit News

[p]Howdy Folks![/p][p][/p][p]A massive thank you to everyone diving into PACK and letting me know what you think! It’s been great hearing from you all. I wanted to provide an update on what I’m currently working on and when you can expect new content.[/p][p][/p][p]I’ve structured the game into four main chapters. Right now, you’re playing the first one. My goal is to release about five levels per chapter, with two new levels dropping roughly every two months.[/p][p][/p][p]I’m also working on several new mechanics with the biggest one being player upgrades. I didn't originally plan on including an upgrade system, but after hearing your thoughts and spending more time with the game, I’ve found a way to weave them in that feels natural and adds some great depth.[/p][p][/p][p]You’ll be able to purchase these upgrades through a new in-game menu, using the leftover resources you’ve gathered from each level.[/p][p][/p][p]Most player attributes will have multiple tiers, so you can keep boosting your stats as you go. Exact resource costs and number of tiers per attribute will require some fine tuning , but I’ll have more specifics as the upgrades get closer to being released.[/p][p][/p][p]The work-in-progress screenshot above gives you a sneak peek at the new in-game menu. It’s designed to give you a much better breakdown of your level progression and make jumping into the next stage much easier. You can also see a preview of how the upgrade system will look![/p][p][/p][p]I’m planning to roll this new menu out in the next content update, though please keep in mind that the upgrades themselves will be coming a bit later.[/p][p][/p][p]Adding upgrades also means I’m reworking how resources function—they’ll now carry over from level to level instead of resetting. This is a pretty big shift, so it’ll take some extra balancing to get the resource counts and upgrade costs right. I’ll be keeping a close eye on your feedback after they launch to make sure everything feels fair.[/p][p][/p][p]I’m incredibly excited about the possibilities these upgrades open up, and I can't wait to see how they change your playstyle![/p][p][/p][p]As you know, there are larger objects in the game that can’t be vacuumed up—you have to manually lug them over to the recycler. While that’s fun in small doses, it can definitely get a bit tedious when you’re stuck hauling a mountain of junk across the map.[/p][p][/p][p]To make the process more satisfying, I’m working on a way to break these large objects down into scrap pieces that can be vacuumed right up! I’m also planning to use this mechanic for bigger, static objects in the environment—giving you a way to clear paths through an area or just satisfy your need for some extra decluttering.[/p][p][/p][p]That just leaves the trash cubes! Being able to break objects down and vacuum them up is great, but it does mean you’ll be dealing with even more cubes.[/p][p]While I can’t share the exact details just yet, rest assured I have a plan in the works to make moving multiple cubes to the recycler a whole lot easier. Stay tuned for that![/p][p][/p][p]Here’s a detailed look at what’s coming to PACK throughout 2026. As I mentioned, the game is structured into chapters, and this roadmap covers all the remaining content along with the planned release schedule. Just keep in mind that as I listen to your feedback, some of these dates or details might shift a bit to make sure the game is as polished as possible![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Chapter 2[/h2][h3]Late February[/h3]

• [p]2 New Levels: Junction Refuge & The Frost Residence[/p]
• [p]New In-Game Menu + Tweaks[/p]
• [p]New player mechanics[/p]

[p][/p][h3]April[/h3]

• [p]2 New Levels: "The Last Chapter" Bookstore & Sector 7-B[/p]
• [p]Introduction of Upgrade system[/p]

[p][/p][h3]June[/h3]

• [p]1 New Levels: Aegis Museum[/p]
• [p]Further additions and tweaks to upgrade system[/p]
• [p]Additional tweaks + QOL improvements[/p]

[p][/p][h2]Chapter 3[/h2]

• [p]August: 2 New Levels[/p]
• [p]October: 2 New Levels[/p]
• [p]December: Final level for Chapter 3[/p]

[p][/p][h2]2027 Chapter 4[/h2][p]The final collection of levels will be introduced in 2027. These will include the final 5 levels and conclude the background story of the game. 2027 would also include the 1.0 release containing final polishing, performance tweaks and more. I also have no plans for 1.0 to be the end of content for PACK as there are is a lot more cleaning that be accomplished![/p][p][/p][p]On top of everything else, I’ll be setting up an experimental branch for those of you who want to jump in early, test out new features, and give me some extra feedback. I’ll be posting more info here soon about how to join and when it’ll be live, so keep an eye out for more news![/p][p][/p][p]If you’re enjoying the game, leaving a Steam review helps the visibility of PACK more than you know! To help me keep building and releasing new content, please consider dropping a review here on Steam. If you’ve already left one—thank you so much! It really makes a huge difference.[/p][p][/p][p] Follow & Support[/p][p] Wishlist | Discord | Patreon[/p]

🛠️ Performance & System

• Startup Fixes: Further refinements to resolve black screen issues on launch. (Please report if this persists!)
  
• Level Completion: Added checks to prevent lost physics objects from blocking progress.
  

🧹 Gameplay & Physics

• Vacuum Upgrades: All skeletal parts are now vacuumable (except the ribcage).
  
• Skeleton Props: Tweaked physics to reduce excessive "flailing."
  
• Resource Fix: Objects auto-destroyed outside the level now correctly grant resources.
  
• Object Throwing: Fixed issues with alternate fire (RMB) not triggering consistently.
  
• Object Rotation: Reduced the delay when holding RMB to enter rotation mode.
  

✨ Visuals & UI

• Icons: Refreshed the look of resource icons.
  
• Recycler: Added spark effects when the recycler is active.
  

[p]Howdy Folks![/p][p][/p][p]Thank you so much for the incredible support and feedback I’ve received on the game so far. As a solo developer, it is rewarding to hear directly from the people playing my game. It is helpful for me to learn what you are enjoying and what you would like to see more, or less, of as the project grows.[/p][p][/p][p]To celebrate the success of the launch so far, PACK :: Post Apocalyptic Cleaning Kit is now 10% off for a limited time. This is a great opportunity to pick up a copy for yourself or gift one to a friend so you can clean up the end of the world together.[/p][p][/p][h2]Help Me Reach 10 Reviews[/h2][p]If you have enjoyed your time in the wasteland, please consider leaving a review here on Steam. Reaching the milestone of 10 reviews will significantly help boost the game’s visibility on the platform and help ensure that I can continue to add more great content to PACK.[/p][p][/p][h2]The Road Ahead[/h2][p]I am currently finalizing a more definitive roadmap which will outline my development goals for the rest of 2026. Please keep an eye out here or on the official Discord server for the latest information regarding those long-term plans. Additionally, I am working on a smaller update that will include comprehensive changes to the HUD along with some improved visual effects for the recycler.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p] Follow & Support[/p][p] Wishlist | Discord | Patreon[/p][p][/p]

[p]Howdy Folks![/p][p]A new patch for PACK is now live, focusing on gameplay "feel" and technical optimization. This update addresses community-reported issues to make your restoration runs smoother and more satisfying.[/p][p][/p][h3]Key Highlights:[/h3]

• [p]Refined Mechanics: Added audio for cube generation and more intuitive physics for ejecting cubes.[/p]
• [p]Technical Optimization: Significantly reduced the overall game file size and resolved the "black screen" startup bug (hopefully). Let me know if you still experience this issue.[/p]
• [p]Bug Fixes: Squashed level-specific issues—including that stubborn invisible grime in Potency—and fixed a rare loading crash.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Stay Connected: Join the Discord for development sneak peeks and the latest news![/p][p][/p][p]Support the Game: If you’re enjoying the cleanup, please leave a review on Steam. As a solo dev, your reviews are the best way to help more players discover the game.[/p][p][/p][h2]Patch Notes[/h2][p][/p][h3]Changes[/h3]

• [p]Added a new audio effect for trash cube generation.[/p]
• [p]Updated map thumbnails for Infinity Robotics and Diseased maps.[/p]
• [p]Improved the startup sequence to resolve "black screen" issues.[/p]
• [p]Cubes now eject toward your crosshair (including up/down) for easier recycler loading.[/p]
• [p]Significantly reduced the total game file size.[/p]

[h3]Fixes[/h3]

• [p]Fixed invisible and unreachable grime in the Potency level.[/p]
• [p]Fixed a rare crash occurring during level loading.[/p]

[p][/p][p] Follow & Support[/p][p] Wishlist | Discord | Patreon[/p]

[p]Howdy Folks![/p][p][/p][p]Happy New Year! I have big plans for PACK in 2026 and wanted to provide a transparent look at current development and our technical roadmap.[/p][p][/p][h3]Technical Update: Unreal Engine Migration[/h3][p]I recently spent time attempting to migrate the project from Unreal Engine 5.3 to 5.6 to take advantage of better optimization and reduced file sizes. Unfortunately, the migration caused persistent issues with Steam multiplayer integration.[/p][p][/p][p]After troubleshooting, I’ve decided to revert to version 5.3 to maintain stability. While this resulted in some lost development time, I am still implementing performance optimizations within the current engine version.[/p][p][/p][h3]Upcoming Patch & Fixes[/h3][p]Expect an update later this week. This release will focus on addressing community reported bugs and fine tuning gameplay systems.[/p][p][/p][h3]New Content & Gameplay Balance[/h3][p][/p][p]New Levels: Production is underway on new environments featuring fresh cleaning, recycling, and restoration challenges. Here is an early sneak peek of an in development environment.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Task Distribution: Based on player feedback, I am rebalancing the ratio of washing, vacuuming, and recycling tasks for future levels. Based on further feedback some of these changes may get rolled into existing levels as well.[/p][p][/p][p]Increased Interactivity: Future levels will feature more repair mechanics and more interactive environmental elements to enhance the simulation experience.[/p][p][/p][h3]Share Your Feedback[/h3][p]Your input is vital for balancing the cleanup loop. If you have a moment, please complete the Feedback Survey. Thank you all for the great feedback, reception and support. If you've played PACK then be sure to leave a review here on Steam to help the games exposure.[/p][p][/p][p] Follow & Support[/p][p] Wishlist | Discord | Patreon[/p]