Development update and Roadmap 2023/05/04
If you’re reading this then we would like to thank you. From those of you that have sent kind words of support to those that have vented their disappointment with aspects of the game - we’re grateful to have a passionate fan base that has stood by us. We've made a lot of mistakes during P4s development, and are still committed to make it right.
Many of you may have noticed the big 20th Anniversary update for POSTAL 2 the other week, and the release of POSTAL 4 onto PlayStation a few weeks before that. This absolutely does not mean that work on POSTAL 4 has ended, far from it. We’ve been beavering away in the background to continue to see through our vision with the game.
We are working to prepare a new update for PC, which will also hit the PlayStation consoles too at a later date. On that note, if you’re the pre-ordering type - you can order a physical copy of POSTAL 4 for PlayStation by Limited Run Games via Amazon here.
And now, we'd like to talk about what we’ve been focusing on since the last update, and what we’ll be focusing on in the future as part of our roadmap. Please note that not all of these features will come in the next update, but will roll out over the next few months and beyond.
[h3]Errand improvements![/h3]
Some of the errands can be underwhelming or anticlimactic, while others are okay but are just short of being great, so we’re picking away at making things more interesting across the entire game.
An example of some of the improvements to the Border Smuggler errand. A helicopter now scatters barrels and dropships in more border patrol guards, and the banners now play an animation when they are hit.
Installing parts in the pump room during the Sewer Worker errand now spawns enemies to fight.
You'll notice some level design changes in this area that were made in order to account for new enemy spawns. Furthermore, the changes will also make traversing the pump area much smoother after installing pump parts.
[h3]Making the open world more interesting to explore![/h3]
We’re in the process of opening up more buildings and improving the level design in areas that were previously neglected. More thought has gone into the pickup placement, better rewarding exploration. More Go Postal challenges have been added as a good way to fill out the open world with things to do
The Ghost town area in particular has had many more buildings opened up and details added
[h3]Co-Op![/h3]
Work on co-op is fully underway! Not too much to say other than that it’s being worked on by the author of the ‘Nick’s Co-op’ Workshop mod for POSTAL 2, so you know it’s in good hands.
Spend quality bonding time together with your friends. What happens in the bathroom, stays in the bathroom.
Golden showers are best experienced with people you love most.
[h2]Third person animations![/h2]
We’ve been working on improvements to the third person animations for the Dude, mostly due to us needing them for co-op. The upshot of this is the third person camera view will end up better off due to them. While TP is still currently experimental, we do hope to one day make it more polished and support it more officially.
[h3]Mirrors![/h3]
Don’t want to play in third person but still want to see third person animations? Well soon you'll be able to - in mirrors! That’s right, a feature that was in our game from 2003 makes a triumphant return 20 years later in POSTAL 4!
[h3]Physics![/h3]
Speaking of features missing in P4 from a game we made 20 years ago… physics are also actively being worked on.
Groundbreaking
[h3]UI Polish![/h3]
We’ve given an art pass to some of the lamer aspects of the UI, such as the beggar sign board. Every little helps!
Before ːsteamfacepalmː
After ːsteamhappyː
[h3]PIII Dude Hand Skins![/h3]
Highlighting this here because it's a much requested feature, so here you go!
If it's important to you, it's important to us
[h3]Loading times![/h3]
We have identified various things we can do in order to improve loading times both on first boot and between loading zones. These improvements probably won’t make the next update, but we’ll aim to have them addressed in the coming months.
[h3]DLSS / FSR![/h3]
In our ongoing effort to keep improving performance, we will be looking into implementing the latest Upscalers from AMD and Nvidia.
[h3]Workshop support![/h3]
The modding community is very important to us, and we aim to make P4 as enjoyable to mod for as possible. This will take a bit of time in order to get the back end tidied up and features documented, but it will be worth the wait.
[h3]Native Linux Client![/h3]
While proton does a great job at running P4 on SteamDeck and Linux Desktops in general, performance is left on the table vs a native client. No timeframe for when we’ll get to this, but we want to make it happen.
Many of you may have noticed the big 20th Anniversary update for POSTAL 2 the other week, and the release of POSTAL 4 onto PlayStation a few weeks before that. This absolutely does not mean that work on POSTAL 4 has ended, far from it. We’ve been beavering away in the background to continue to see through our vision with the game.
We are working to prepare a new update for PC, which will also hit the PlayStation consoles too at a later date. On that note, if you’re the pre-ordering type - you can order a physical copy of POSTAL 4 for PlayStation by Limited Run Games via Amazon here.
And now, we'd like to talk about what we’ve been focusing on since the last update, and what we’ll be focusing on in the future as part of our roadmap. Please note that not all of these features will come in the next update, but will roll out over the next few months and beyond.
Near future
[h3]Errand improvements![/h3]
Some of the errands can be underwhelming or anticlimactic, while others are okay but are just short of being great, so we’re picking away at making things more interesting across the entire game.
An example of some of the improvements to the Border Smuggler errand. A helicopter now scatters barrels and dropships in more border patrol guards, and the banners now play an animation when they are hit.
Installing parts in the pump room during the Sewer Worker errand now spawns enemies to fight.
You'll notice some level design changes in this area that were made in order to account for new enemy spawns. Furthermore, the changes will also make traversing the pump area much smoother after installing pump parts.[h3]Making the open world more interesting to explore![/h3]
We’re in the process of opening up more buildings and improving the level design in areas that were previously neglected. More thought has gone into the pickup placement, better rewarding exploration. More Go Postal challenges have been added as a good way to fill out the open world with things to do
The Ghost town area in particular has had many more buildings opened up and details added[h3]Co-Op![/h3]
Work on co-op is fully underway! Not too much to say other than that it’s being worked on by the author of the ‘Nick’s Co-op’ Workshop mod for POSTAL 2, so you know it’s in good hands.
Spend quality bonding time together with your friends. What happens in the bathroom, stays in the bathroom.
Golden showers are best experienced with people you love most.
[h2]Third person animations![/h2]
We’ve been working on improvements to the third person animations for the Dude, mostly due to us needing them for co-op. The upshot of this is the third person camera view will end up better off due to them. While TP is still currently experimental, we do hope to one day make it more polished and support it more officially.
[h3]Mirrors![/h3]
Don’t want to play in third person but still want to see third person animations? Well soon you'll be able to - in mirrors! That’s right, a feature that was in our game from 2003 makes a triumphant return 20 years later in POSTAL 4!
[h3]Physics![/h3]
Speaking of features missing in P4 from a game we made 20 years ago… physics are also actively being worked on.
Groundbreaking
[h3]UI Polish![/h3]
We’ve given an art pass to some of the lamer aspects of the UI, such as the beggar sign board. Every little helps!
Before ːsteamfacepalmː
After ːsteamhappyː[h3]PIII Dude Hand Skins![/h3]
Highlighting this here because it's a much requested feature, so here you go!
If it's important to you, it's important to usMedium Term
[h3]Loading times![/h3]
We have identified various things we can do in order to improve loading times both on first boot and between loading zones. These improvements probably won’t make the next update, but we’ll aim to have them addressed in the coming months.
[h3]DLSS / FSR![/h3]
In our ongoing effort to keep improving performance, we will be looking into implementing the latest Upscalers from AMD and Nvidia.
Further out
[h3]Workshop support![/h3]
The modding community is very important to us, and we aim to make P4 as enjoyable to mod for as possible. This will take a bit of time in order to get the back end tidied up and features documented, but it will be worth the wait.
[h3]Native Linux Client![/h3]
While proton does a great job at running P4 on SteamDeck and Linux Desktops in general, performance is left on the table vs a native client. No timeframe for when we’ll get to this, but we want to make it happen.
New Dude third person, first person models and textures! (For all cosmetic variations)
