Trailmakers News

Hey Trailmakers!

Today we are announcing the release date for Trailmakers 1.0, marking the transition from Early Access to “Full Release”. It’s happening on September 18th!

The 1.0 launch is also our biggest update yet, which is why it has been so long since we last updated the game. We wanted to make something that was deserving of a 1.0, and lives up to your high expectations. The update adds a new game mode that is bigger both in terms of world size and playthrough length than the old Expedition game mode. We’ve also added a lot of new features, blocks, optimizations and bug fixes.

Moving from 0.X to 1.0 can seem like an arbitrary decision, because when is a sandbox game like Trailmakers ever really “done”? We have received so many feature suggestions (find many of them on the Community Suggestion Trello) that we could keep working on this game for 50 years. We are calling this update 1.0 because it’s the biggest one yet, and adds a grand campaign. In our opinion, Trailmakers 1.0 is a complete game.

If you need entertainment while you wait for the launch, head over to our Discord and join the Weekly Challenge competition for a chance to win a trophy in the game. You can read more about the competition in the #announcements channel. We will also be sharing tidbits of information about the details of the next update on Discord and Twitter.

Hi Trailmakers! :makertool::tmchicken::tmlogo::trailmaker1::trailmaker2:

A short update from us this time. We've added a batch of Steam Trading Cards along with the emotes, profile backgrounds and badges that goes with them. The trading cards feature creations made by the community, so I'd like to send a big thank you to Lartzam, MexOff, SteelRain444, Muramatsu Kiko, and Ozy.

You're probably also wondering how our progress with the next update is coming along. Seeing all your excitement and hype after our Exploration Game Mode reveal has motivated us to make Exploration bigger and better. The consequence is that we are not currently delivering as frequent game updates as we used to. On the other hand, the next update will be by far the biggest Trailmakers update yet. I hope you have patience with us, and that you enjoy the Summer. Here's another sneak peek at what you have in store in the next Trailmakers update:

Firstly, thanks to everyone who has taken the time to check out the Tailwind update, we hope you're having fun with the new blocks, Rally races and general improvements we made to the game.

Since release we've had reports of a handful of bugs which we didn't want to wait until the next update to fix. This small update is now live, if you're curious what it fixesyou'll find the Changelist below.

Changelist for Tailwind Hotfix (0.8.1.24474)

• Fixed the bendy structures due to welding improvements made in Tailwind.
  
• Fixed certain blocks being turned into others when duplicating on certain machines.
  
• Fixed the Daily Challenge UI breaking after switching game modes and then completing a challenge.
  
• Fixed Pistons with multiple parts connected sometimes deciding that those parts were actually disconnected.
  
• Fixed the glitch which allowed free floating parts.
  
• Fixed an issue with some VTOLs behaving differently.
  
• Fixed an issue with the Snowball Dispenser when used on servers.
  

The new Exploration mode is coming along nicely. It's very motivating to see so many of you excited for the update. The image in the top of this news post is a screenshot from the new map. Right now, we are busy sprinkling the map with challenges and hidden secrets.

The core gameplay of the new exploration mode will center around searching and retrieving. For that purpose, we are currently working on a new Magnet Block you can attach to vehicles. We can't wait to show you more from the new game mode - stay tuned.


Since the Rally Update released we've been trialing a Public Bug Trello on Discord, and we'd like to bring in our Steam community members too. It's by no means a definitive list, but we wanted a nice, concise way for our users to be able to see which bugs we're aware of, if we're investigating, or if a fix is coming in the next update.

For more specific info you can read this Info Card.


We of course, also have our Public Feature Suggestions Trello which is a great resource for us as we plan future updates and content! If you see a feature on there you'd love to see in the game, take the time to vote it up! If it isn't there, let us know in the Steam Forums, or on our Discord!


If you're not already a member of the Official Trailmakers Discordserver, now is a great time to join. Not only can you easily share your latest creations with other players, you can get tips and suggestions from them to improve your builds, set up multiplayer sessions and even enjoy some teasers of upcoming updates!

As new updates draw closer to release, we also share beta builds with our most trusted members, so if you want to help us test the upcoming updates, you should join!

As always, if you enjoy Trailmakers a Steam review is greatly appreciated! Thanks for playing and helping guide us on this journey!

The Tailwind Update is releasing tomorrow, 10th May, but we wanted to give you all an early look at what you can expect in the update, alongside some exciting news regarding Exploration!

In this Trailmakers update we have added some exciting new race tracks to the Rally - this time you will have to master the skies to become a champion. We are also making some big changes to Wingfins, adding some awesome new blocks and fixing some exploits which necessitates a leaderboard reset. Finally, we have added one of the most requested features: Advanced Graphics Settings.

We hope you enjoy the update, and as always let us know what you think in the comments or for a more detailed discussion of the Tailwind Update head over to our Discord (https://discord.gg/Trailmakers).

• Added 6 new race tracks to the Trailmakers Rally.
  
• Added support for AZERTY and QWERTZ keyboard layouts.
  
• Added an Advanced Graphics Settings menu. You can now fine tune the visual settings of Trailmakers like LOD, grass and trails, or just pick a preset.
  
• Added a lot more options on the multiplayer server creation screen. You can now create a custom block loadout, and adjust the allowed complexity limit for vehicles on the server.

We tweaked the Coin rewards from races, so now there's a smaller difference between beating one ghost, or all three. Or if you happen to be playing offline.

• We have added a feature that automatically finishes building the template vehicle in the races for you.
  
• If you load in a Blueprint that has locked blocks, you now have the ability to purchase them through the builder. Just select the locked block and you’ll have a purchase button.

In this update we have finally changed the Wingfins. We have been meaning to do this for a while, but we needed to come up with a solution that would not break too many old vehicles. The Wingfins have always had an unrealistic amount of drag which enabled crazy turning, but also made planes float like paper. The solution we have come up with is to change the old Wingfins so they cost a Power Core, rename them “Powered Wingfins,” and let them keep their drag properties. We have made three new Wing Fins that do not cost Power Cores, and have less drag than the powered versions. Old creations will have their Wingfins replaced with Powered Wingfins.

• 2x2x1
  
• 2x2x2
  
• 3x3x1
  
• 4x4x1

NEW: Motorcycle Seat
NEW: Motorcycle Wheel



NEW Large Paddle Block
NEW: Powered Wingfins with the same drag as the regular wingfins before the update.
CHANGED: Wingfins have reduced drag.
CHANGED: Cannons explosions have reduced blast radius and power.
CHANGED: Made the Armored Seat slightly more aerodynamic.
CHANGED: The RAW Jet now takes slightly longer to begin its cooldown period. This is to prevent constantly tapping the Jet being the best strategy in many races.
CHANGED: The Propeller now has a wind-up time and we have reduced the power core cost from 4 to 2.
CHANGED: We changed the Shield Plates so you can colour each half of them a different colour, consider this a first step towards further customisation of your creations!

• Added block building sounds to many blocks that didn’t have them.
  
• Added reverb to caves and tunnels.

• Fixed a bug that would spawn the vehicle on top of you so it fell on your head.
  
• Fixed an inverted aerodynamic block that had non-symmetric aerodynamics.
  
• Fixed a bug that showed you had improved in race rank when you had not.
  
• Fixed a bug that would break the builder when binding a key to Z.
  
• Fixed the invisible Carball ball.
  
• Fixed an exploit that allowed you to only complete 1 lap on multi lap races.
  
• Fixed the reward for flying through all the Rings of Fire in Sandbox Island.
  
• Fixed the trigger for the Rings of Fire in Sandbox Island.
  
• Fixed the Marquee Tool activating when clicking on UI elements in the builder.
  
• Fixed a bug with the builder info weight not updating when placing a new block.
  
• Fixed the ramp.

We know a lot of you reading these update notes are going to be hoping for some news on Exploration mode, and we’re happy to confirm that Exploration will be the core feature of the next Trailmakers update.

As we’ve finished up work on the Tailwind update, we’ve been in many design meetings, armed with your feedback and our own visions and ideas for Exploration and now we’re ready to start building the brand new map for you all to explore, discover and build in. We’ve already started work, and our current goal is to release the update before we all take our summer vacation!

As we progress through development of Exploration, we’re going to do our best to keep you updated with how things are going. We of course want to keep some surprises for when the update releases, but for now, please enjoy the Tailwind Update and check back soon for more news regarding Exploration!

If you enjoy the Tailwind update, please don’t hesitate to leave us a Steam review, the entire team really appreciates it!

When we decided to remove the Expedition from the game and add the Rally game mode, we knew it would be a controversial decision. We did not do it lightheartedly, but because we thought it would make the game better. Our reasons for removing the Expedition have not changed:

• The problem solving was too linear - like a string of puzzles instead of a challenging open world.
  
• The balance of many blocks were tied to the environmental challenges of Expedition so changing them or fixing inconsistencies would mean a broken game mode.
  
• It was too difficult for a small team like Flashbulb to expand it further.
  

Since removing the Expedition, many players who had not previously voiced their opinion about Trailmakers spoke up and told us how much they missed the game mode. We read everything in the reviews, the Steam forums, on Discord, Twitter, Facebook etc, and a majority of you wanted the same things:

• A clear sense of progression.
  
• Exploration in a big map.
  
• Rewarding creativity.
  
• Finding blocks instead of buying them with points.
  

We believe we can make something that gives you all of that while also solving the grievances we had with the old Expedition. We will soon begin work on something we will tentatively call “Exploration Mode”. It will not be the old Expedition or even a Expedition 2.0, but something new entirely. It will not replace the Rally mode - development of the Trailmakers Rally continues with many new tracks added in the next update.

When we put up the Steam page for Trailmakers back in January 2018, we answered the “Why Early Access?” question with this (and the answer has remained the same):
“Like any other game in Early Access, we need your help to decide what goes in the game and what does not. Trailmakers is a construction game made out of thousands of small parts. There is an endless opportunity to adjust and add to the features in the game, and we have a plan of where we want the game to head. It’s up to you to tell us if that is the right direction.”

For us, that is the essence of Early Access and open development. We want to thank you for letting us know what you think of Trailmakers. In particular, it has been a joy to read the very detailed feedback, and sometimes heated debate on Discord. With thousands of Trailmakers players, only a minority voices their opinion. If you took time out of your day to let us know how you feel, know that we appreciate you.