Lost Rift News

[p]Rifters, today is the first major Early Access Game Update for Lost Rift! This update takes on some of the greatest pain points our players have raised and focuses on making Lost Rift bigger, balanced, and more enjoyable. A lot of these changes have come directly from your feedback and we are committed to making Lost Rift the innovative new Extraction Survival game that our team envisioned when we started this project. [/p][p][/p][h2]Patch Notes[/h2][h3]Extraction and Expedition Changes[/h3]

• [p]New Expedition Island, Locker Island, with unique bosses and points of interest. [/p]
  • [p]Swamp biome with new environmental hazards.[/p]
  • [p]New POIs, buildings, large set pieces, secrets, and encounters.[/p]
• [p]Added Experimental PvE Expeditions mode:[/p]
  • [p]Allows exploration and progression without engaging in PvP fights.[/p]
  • [p]Rarer loot will be more abundant in the current PvPvE (PvP-focused) mode.  [/p]
  • [p]We are calling the new PvE mode an experimental feature for now because we will keep on refining it with our players. [/p]
• [p]Three extraction exits are now active simultaneously on each expedition island (up from two).[/p]
• [p]Reduced expedition match length from 40 minutes to 30 minutes.[/p]
• [p]Added Self Revive System:[/p]
  • [p]Players can self-revive from DBNO.[/p]
  • [p]6-second interaction; interrupted by damage.[/p]
  • [p]Still applies Heavy Wounds status when downed:[/p]
    • [p]Prevents DBNO on next down.[/p]
    • [p]Can be removed over time or with a Revival Kit.[/p]
    • [p]Fully dead players can still be revived by teammates if they remain in match with revival kit.[/p]

[h3]Balance and Loot Changes[/h3]

• [p]Large loot and economy rebalances:[/p]
  • [p]Increased stack sizes for many items (including screwdriver and pistol ammo).[/p]
  • [p]Significantly rebalanced loot drop rates and loot distribution[/p]
  • [p]Significantly rebalanced crafting costs and trading costs.[/p]
  • [p]Ammo drop rates reduced.[/p]
  • [p]Ammo crafting costs lowered.[/p]
  • [p]String crafting now costs 3 fiber in textile bench[/p]
  • [p]Bandage crafting now costs 3 fiber in medical bench[/p]
  • [p]Basic arrows and bolts are now unlocked in the weapon station.[/p]
• [p]Lootable dead bodies are now categorized by loot and properly clothed:[/p]
  • [p]Civilian, Soldier, Doctor, Scientist, Outcast.[/p]
  • [p]Each category now has its own loot table.[/p]
• [p]Communication Tower repairs made easier:[/p]
  • [p]Reduced resource requirements (iron bars removed).[/p]
  • [p]Required resources added directly to tower storage.[/p]
• [p]Mining rebalance:[/p]
  • [p]Mining node health adjusted by resource type.[/p]
  • [p]Metal pickaxe effectiveness significantly increased.[/p]
  • [p]Resource distribution updated:[/p]
    • [p]Locker Island: Lead, coal, volcanic rock, kennedite.[/p]
    • [p]Western Island: Sulfuric salt, iron, lead, kennedite.[/p]
    • [p]Camp Island: Sulfuric salt, iron ore, coal, volcanic rock.[/p]
• [p]Food item stamina boosts now persist when traveling to and from expeditions.[/p]
• [p]Added new keys, including Locker Island door keys, and Pioneer Landing keys.[/p]
  • [p]All locked rooms were rebalanced to offer appropriate rewards. [/p]
• [p]Loot adjustments:[/p]
  • [p]Research Annex loot on Camp Island significantly improved.[/p]
  • [p]Com Tower storage room loot reduced.[/p]
• [p]Locks and keys changes on western island[/p]
  • [p]All locked rooms were rebalanced to offer appropriate reward. [/p]
  • [p]Lighthouse - Western Island Key[/p]
  • [p]Everstead - Western Island Key[/p]
  • [p]Weather station - Blue access card[/p]
  • [p]Weather station bunker - Bunker key[/p]
  • [p]North west bunker - Bunker key[/p]
  • [p]Harmony watch - Western Island Key[/p]
  • [p]Brightwater Station - Western Island Key[/p]
  • [p]Harbor - Armory (room with red light) - Western Island Key[/p]
  • [p]Harbor - record office (room on second flood) - Records office key[/p]
  • [p]Harbor - Maintanace bunker - Western Island Key[/p]
  • [p]Harbor - Storage room - Western Island Key[/p]
  • [p]Reserach annex (new) - Reserach annex key[/p]
  • [p]Locked Military crates and Locked Shipping crates - Pioneer Landing key[/p]

[h3]Quests and Narrative[/h3]

• [p]8 new Side Quests to complete. [/p]
• [p]Approximately 80 new additional story notes with new lore across islands.[/p]
• [p]Over 50 updated story notes with new characters and narratives to follow.[/p]
• [p]Various fixes and QOL updates to existing quests.[/p]

[h3]AI [/h3]

• [p]Large AI difficulty and spawn rebalance on Western Island and Locker Island.[/p]
• [p]New enemies and creatures added to Locker Island, including an Albino hyena (supports Outcasts), an Albino Dodo, a Capybara, Chickens, the Bogzilla and Bogzilla babies.[/p]
• [p]Added 6 bosses:[/p]
  • [p]Dr. Ali (Coroner) - Quarantine Zone basement.[/p]
  • [p]Billy J (East Mine Foreman) - Harbor, Western Island.[/p]
  • [p]Dr. Kumar and his pet Hyena - Galleon Relict, Locker Island.[/p]
  • [p]Capra (Outcast Priest) - Lighthouse, Western Island.[/p]
  • [p]Hector (Cartel Boss) - Utility Station, Locker Island.[/p]
  • [p]Deadeye Dom (Outcast Sniper) - Weather Station, Western Island.[/p]
• [p]Outcast raid camps now feature Outpost Leaders with stronger weapons and better loot.[/p]
• [p]AI hearing occlusion added:[/p]
  • [p]AI has reduced ability to detect sounds blocked by terrain or structures.[/p]
• [p]AI spawn exclusion:[/p]
  • [p]Hostile AI will no longer respawn near recruited survivors on Camp Island.[/p]
• [p]High-grade AI now equipped with slightly better weapons.[/p]
• [p]Reduced hostile fauna and Outcast density in Camp Island’s central jungle.[/p]
• [p]Increased cooldown for Camp Island hyena, tree bug, and outcast spawners to 60 minutes.[/p]
• [p]Added easy enemy spawns near extraction points.[/p]
• [p]Added a second patrol wave spawning after 15 minutes in expeditions.[/p]
• [p]Difficulty changes[/p]
• [p]AI scaling changed in all POIs[/p]
  • [p]Easy POI are now much easier [/p]
  • [p]Hard POI are now way harder[/p]

[h3]Building and Crafting[/h3]

• [p]Added Shared Chest system:[/p]
  • [p]Crafting stations can now pull resources directly from shared chests.[/p]
  • [p]Shared chest unlock tiers:[/p]
    • [p]Small shared chest: 20 Wood / 5 Sailor Rope[/p]
    • [p]Medium shared chest: 20 Treated Wood / 20 Metal Scraps / 2 Metal Hook[/p]
    • [p]Large shared chest: 20 Iron Ingot / 5 Sailor Rope / 1 Control Relay[/p]
• [p]Furnace updates:[/p]
  • [p]Smelting time is reduced to 60 seconds.[/p]
  • [p]Additional items can now be smelted.[/p]
• [p]Salvage updates:[/p]
  • [p]Rubber hoses can now be salvaged.[/p]
  • [p]All clothing items can now be salvaged.[/p]

[h3]Art and Animation[/h3]

• [p]2D Map now better shows medium and hard difficulty areas. [/p]
• [p]Jess’s body was repositioned for better lighting and visibility.[/p]
• [p]Added visuals for new food items:[/p]
  • [p]Boiled chicken egg, boiled Bogzilla egg.[/p]
  • [p]Grilled chicken, grilled Bogzilla, grilled capybara.[/p]
  • [p]Raw chicken, raw Bogzilla meat, raw capybara.[/p]
  • [p]Chicken egg, Bogzilla egg.[/p]
• [p]Reduced duration of the Heavy Wounds visual effect.[/p]
• [p]Improved interaction prompts on corpses.[/p]

[h3]Environment[/h3]

• [p]Locker Island Expedition environment with new and different biomes.[/p]
• [p]Western Island updates:[/p]
  • [p]Research Annex added (locked with Research Annex key).[/p]
  • [p]New locked chests added.[/p]
  • [p]Locked rooms rebalanced for appropriate rewards.[/p]
• [p]POI reworks including:[/p]
  • [p]Added jumping puzzles and hidden loot.[/p]
  • [p]Com Tower adjusted and zipline added.[/p]
  • [p]Weather Station and Lighthouse rework.[/p]
  • [p]Zipline network adjusted.[/p]
• [p]Western Island POI renames:[/p]
  • [p]East Outcast Village → Everstead[/p]
  • [p]West Outcast Village → Prosperia[/p]
  • [p]North Outpost → Harmony Watch[/p]
  • [p]South Outpost → Brightwater Station[/p]

[h3]UI [/h3]

• [p]Added information on who or what killed the player in the Expedition summary.[/p]
• [p]Containers now display proper container-type names.[/p]
• [p]Player names now appear on dead bodies.[/p]
• [p]Item trade and recipe unlock rewards now appear in:[/p]
  • [p]Journal menu.[/p]
  • [p]NPC Survivor dialogue menus.[/p]
• [p]Added confirmation prompt when quitting to desktop.[/p]
• [p]Updated error message when inventory blocks quest items:[/p]
  • [p]“Requirements Not Met” → “Inventory Full”.[/p]
• [p]Fixed durability bar not turning red at low durability.[/p]
• [p]Added stamina regeneration effect to item tooltips.[/p]
• [p]Fixed missing North-East extraction point on Western Island map.[/p]
• [p]Improved expedition map difficulty indicators.[/p]
• [p]Matchmaking settings now replicate to party members.[/p]
• [p]Improved expedition menu visuals.[/p]
• [p]Added ability to display maintenance messages before login.[/p]

• [p]Optimized Map menu loading to only load the currently relevant map.[/p]
• [p]In-game mailbox system implementation: [/p]
  • [p]Players can now receive mail directly from the team.[/p]
  • [p]In-game mail can contain items attached to the message, allowing us to compensate players for server issues and provide gifts.[/p]

[h3]Other Fixes[/h3]

• [p]Quest fixes and improvements:[/p]
  • [p]“Locating Anomaly” now specifies the required amount of brown sugar.[/p]
  • [p]“Give Up” option can now be triggered with a key/button (G).[/p]
  • [p]Various quest quality-of-life fixes.[/p]
• [p]General issue fixes:[/p]
  • [p]Firepit disabling recipes after adding fuel.[/p]
  • [p]Ready-up issues after dying in expedition parties.[/p]
  • [p]Localization updates are not refreshing in the building menu.[/p]

[p][/p][p]We cannot understate how pivotal player feedback has been in shaping our long-term plans, and it will continue to guide our work as we expand Lost Rift with our community’s support. Stay tuned for future information on our next patch, content update, and beyond. Be sure to join us on  Discord, TikTok, and X to connect with other players. [/p][p]And as always, if you are liking the content that was just delivered, then please consider dropping us a review (it helps us a lot)! [/p]

[p]Hello Rifters - We have estimated over two hours of downtime occurring to release the game update.  [/p][p][/p][p]Game Update #1, Welcome to Locker Island [/p][p][/p][p]Thank you for your patience as we release our first major update to the game today![/p][p]
[/p]

[p]Rifters, the island might be dangerous, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the holidays. To spread some holiday cheer and to say thank you to everyone exploring, fighting, and surviving with us in Early Access, we’re rolling out a special Christmas In-Game Gift for all Lost Rift players who log-in between after the patch is released on December 17, 2025 to January 5, 2026 at 23:59 EST. [/p][p]Importantly, you must log-in during this timeframe and move the items into your inventory in order to receive the gift. This holiday gift package is a time limited event and will only be available to redeem until January 5th. After that, it disappears forever. [/p][p]Every player will receive the following items via the inbox system when they log-in between the dates outlined: [/p]

• [p]Revival Kit: Because everyone deserves a second chance over the holidays.[/p]
• [p]Meat Stew: A hearty meal to keep you warm and going.[/p]
• [p]Cherry Jam: A sweet morale boost when supplies run low.[/p]
• [p]Ammo For Weaponry: The biggest gift of all is more rounds[/p]
  • [p]Special Rifle Ammo ×90[/p]
  • [p]Special Pistol Ammo ×72[/p]
  • [p]Special Shotgun Ammo ×24[/p]
  • [p]Special Arrows ×25[/p]
  • [p]Special Bolts ×25[/p]

[p]This year has been a huge milestone for Lost Rift, and none of it would be possible without your feedback, bug reports, clips, and time spent across the islands. This holiday gift is a small token of our deep appreciation for the community’s continued support. We’re so excited with what’s coming in the update tomorrow and looking forward to seeing everyone in-game! [/p][p]Be sure to join us on  Discord, TikTok, and X to connect with other players. And as always, if you are liking the content that was just delivered, then please consider dropping us a review (it helps us a lot)! [/p][p]
[/p]

[p]Hello Rifters! We’re so excited to bring you our first major update, Welcome to Locker Island, on December 17, 2025. This update marks the biggest step forward for Lost Rift since Early Access launched, and is coming with a ton of new features the community has been requesting since players first stepped ashore on our mysterious archipelago. [/p][p]This release introduces an entirely new expedition island, an experimental PvE-only mode for expeditions, downed personal self-revives, an inbox rewards system, new weapons, new bosses, and much needed quality of life improvements. Below you’ll find some of the biggest changes coming to the game next week. [/p][p][/p][p]KEY FEATURES COMING IN THIS GAME UPDATE[/p][p]Experimental PvE Expedition Mode: [/p][p]PvE Cooperative Expeditions will allow players to focus on survival, exploration, resource mastery, and story progression without the pressure of unpredictable PvP encounters. Don’t worry, players will still compete against each other for loot in this mode, but in a more cooperative way without the ability to shoot each other. It’s also important to keep in mind that rarer loot will be easier to find in the more competitive PvP-focused mode. [/p][p]We understand some of our players really enjoy only the survival PvE aspect of the game, so the new mode is an option to make expeditions feel less like a winner-takes-all showdown. This feature is all about giving players the choice, whether to fight others or to just take-on Outcasts and explore the island for loot. As the title says, the cooperative PvE Expedition mode is still Experimental, so please bear with us as we continue to refine how this mode functions.[/p][p][/p][p]Expedition Island #2 - Locker Island: [/p][p]A second island has unveiled itself in the archipelago. This swamp-ridden, eerie expanse is filled with abandoned structures and secrets lost in the mud and mist. Locker Island has nine points of interest, with one yet to be revealed, across a landscape where you’ll find shipwrecks, plane wrecks, and fresh dangers. [/p][p][/p][p]New Bogzilla Monster and Boss Fights: [/p][p]Take on six new boss enemies, 3 on Locker Island and 3 on Western Island. Plus, watch out for a new deadly species of creature lurking in the shadows of Locker Island. [/p][p][/p][p]Downed Self-Revive: [/p][p]Self-revive gives solo explorers and unlucky squads a fighting chance at a comeback. Time it right, and keep fighting your way out alive. Time it wrong, and lose it all.[/p][p][/p][p]80+ Lore Notes & Side Quests: [/p][p]This is the largest narrative expansion the game has received post-early access release. With over 50 updated story notes, 80 brand-new notes, and new side quests, the world of Lost Rift is now richer, darker, and more connected to the dangers surrounding it. [/p][p][/p][p]Two New Weapons, the Liberator & Frontier: [/p][p]Expand your arsenal with the new fully automatic Liberator and the Frontier precision rifle.   [/p][p][/p][p]Shared Chest Crafting Integration: [/p][p]Shared chests are a new chest type that can be built to make it easier to craft. That means less shuffling items around and more time creating the things you’ll need to succeed.[/p]

• [p]T1 Chest Recipe: 20 Wood / 5 Sailor Rope[/p]
• [p]T2 Chest Recipe: 20 Treated Wood / 20 Metal Scraps / 2 Metal Hook[/p]
• [p]T3 Chest Recipe: 20 Iron Ingot / 5 Sailor Rope / 1 Control Relay[/p]

[p][/p][p]In-Game Mailbox Rewards System: [/p][p]Players will now be able to receive items and messages directly from the Lost Rift team. Things like holiday gift items, player rewards, and other communications will get delivered with a new UI button and notification through this new system. [/p][p][/p][p]And There’s So Much More:[/p]

• [p]Quality of Life Improvements across the entire game[/p]
• [p]AI reaction and spawning cool down updates [/p]
• [p]A huge set of loot and economy rebalancing [/p]
• [p]New food types and new fauna to hunt for a meal [/p]
• [p]Difficulty scaling changes, mining rebalance, trade changes, and the list keeps going[/p]

[p]Be sure to check out some screenshots below to get more of a sneak peak on the update![/p][p] [/p][p][/p][p]We have said this time and time again, but your feedback has been key in shaping our long-term plans, and it will continue to guide our work as we refine and expand Lost Rift together. Stay tuned for future information on our first patch, first content update, and beyond. Be sure to join us on  Discord, TikTok, and X to connect with other players. [/p][p]And as always, please consider dropping us a review (it helps us a lot)! 
[/p]

[p]Hello Rifters! It’s wild to think that it’s already been a few months since Lost Rift started our journey into Early Access. While we’ve put out an initial look at our plans through the Early Access period, the team has continued to actively listen to player feedback and is focusing on delivering different features accordingly. This new Early Access roadmap reflects our latest priorities, refined plans, and exciting additions to the game currently in development. [/p][p]
[/p][p]We know there have been some issues, bugs, or strange anomalies that even our best devs couldn’t have predicted. Just know, our team is hard at work tackling all the issues raised. In case we haven’t said it enough, your reports through Discord and the Steam forums have already helped us identify and resolve several key issues. That process will continue until Lost Rift feels as stable and immersive as it was meant to be.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Confirmed in Development[/p][p]Since launch, we’ve already shipped our first major patch along with several hotfixes that delivered against some of the previous planned roadmap points, but there is so much more to come. We’re thrilled to share the latest on what’s coming to Lost Rift thanks to your feedback and the team’s continued hard work. [/p][p][/p][p]Please note that some features listed will be implemented into the game after our first Game Update this month. This is not the full, exhaustive list of our Early Access plans through 2026 and it continues to only include things we’re ready to share with the community. [/p][p][/p][p][/p]

• [p]Experimental PvE Mode: A new mode focusing purely on PvE survival and exploration, giving players an alternative to the more PvP-focused extraction expeditions.
  [/p]
• [p]Second Expedition Map: A brand new island to explore: more loot, more danger, and more mystery.
  [/p]
• [p]Downed Self-Revive: Allowing players to revive one-time after being downed to continue to make everyone’s expedition experience better. [/p][p][/p]
• [p]New Bosses: Expect challenging new boss encounters that add depth and variety.
  [/p]
• [p]New Firearms: Expanding our arsenal with fresh firearms to fit different combat styles.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]New Alpha Predator Fauna: A wild, dangerous apex predator will challenge even the most seasoned Rifters on an expedition.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Mailbox for Rewards: Providing players with an in-game mail system to deliver rewards for sticking with us through this Early Access timeframe. [/p][p][/p]
• [p]Gun Modding: A whole weapon customization system, letting you tailor attachments, mods, and tweaks to suit your load-out. [/p][p][/p]
• [p]Fast Travel System: Safely get back to the comfort of your PvE base with a fast travel system that shortens the trek back home. [/p][p][/p]
• [p]New Building Material: Build stronger bases and new structures to withstand the islands’ threats. [/p][p][/p]
• [p]Better Expedition Onboarding: To help new players hit the ground running without feeling overwhelmed, we'll be upgrading the matchmaking system to match players together based on their game progress.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Quality of Life Improvements: [/p]
  • [p]Craft at your workbench from your storage with a new chest type[/p]
  • [p]Remove ammo directly from guns, allowing ammo swapping[/p]
  • [p]HUD indication of armor durability, so you know when your armor breaks[/p]

[p]
[/p][p]Continuous Updates Based on Player Feedback[/p][p]As with the previous roadmap we delivered, expect continuous updates from us focused on:[/p]

• [p]Weapon, AI, and economy balancing[/p]
• [p]Smarter and more responsive AI behaviors[/p]
• [p]Refinements to the revive and heavy wound systems
  [/p]

[p]Your feedback has been pivotal in shaping our long-term plans, and it will continue to guide our work as we refine and expand Lost Rift together. Stay tuned for future information on our first patch, first content update, and beyond. And as always, be sure to join us on  Discord, TikTok, and X to connect with other players. Finally, please consider dropping us a review (it helps us a lot)! [/p]