3 new Super Dog breeds arrive for the Super Major Update celebrations: Super Pitbull, Super Samoyed, and Super German Shepherd.It’s finally here! We just wanted to say thank you so much to all of you who helped us test the new update in the PTR and also for being so patient these past months while we worked on all of this. The Super Major Update has been in development since July and we couldn’t be more excited to finally release it to you!
This update sets a new foundation for the months and years to come, and targets 3 critical areas of the game:
- Better free version of SAR. We’re making the game accessible to more players with a free version that’s more generous and feature complete, while also offering new optional, purchasable cosmetic items. At the same time, we’re turning the current “full version” into the “Super Edition” which we’ll continue to add value to over time.
- Progression system overhaul. We’re making big improvements here, reducing randomness, adding new ways to earn items, and expanding/improving popular features like Super Milestones.
- Major gameplay additions and improvements. We’re beginning to experiment with new gameplay modes to keep things fresh and fun for longterm players (us included!), starting with the new S.A.W. vs Rebellion 32v32 mode.
This is only the beginning of this new phase of SAR, and we still have lots of UI and menus to keep improving, modes to experiment with and more. So we want to hear all your feedback so we can keep preparing SAR for the best possible v1.0 debut when it leaves Early Access in early 2021!
Here's Donk Patrick, Joe Cluck and the new NPC proprietor of Cackling Carl's Cart to give you a taste of what you can look forward to when you boot up the new update:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
We're also super excited to let you all know that we've partnered with Modus Games, an awesome game publisher that specializes in helping indie studios like Pixile. This will allow us to be even more laser focused on the creative side of SAR while Modus supports us with marketing and more in the background. Pixile itself is now up to 11 team members and the partnership so far is already enabling us to expand our ambitions for where we can take the game next!
Super Major Update Highlights
[h3]New S.A.W. vs Rebellion (32v32) game mode[/h3]
The new S.A.W. vs Rebellion squads game mode temporarily replaces the traditional Squads battle royale mode for a limited time! Win the match by joining a team of 32 and either capturing 3/4 or more flags or eliminating the entire enemy team of 32 players. Captured flags also provide bonus experience, a health regeneration buff, and increased movement speed while downed.
Since the final PTR phase concluded we've continued to improve the mode:
- Squad and Team chat are now separate in the S.A.W. vs Rebellion mode (just hit tab one more time to switch between them).
- Added new flag layouts around the map, for more variety each time you play.
- 3-flag victory timer is now 60s, but beginning to capture an enemy flag will pause the timer.
- Bots will now capture flags.
- Character always faces the flag when capturing it.
- You can now ping the flags to prompt your teammates to help capture or defend them.
[h3]Super Howloween Extended[/h3]
Since we expect many of you might be returning to SAR for the big update and could have missed Howloween, we're extending the event until the end of the day (11:59pm PST) on Sunday, November 22nd. After that, candy corn will stop dropping, but you'll have one more week to redeem it for Howloween items before it expires. If you missed them, you can read the full Howloween patch notes here: https://steamcommunity.com/games/843380/announcements/detail/2949255382630183248
We also moved two of last year’s Howloween items to Carl’s Cart: the Banana Costume and Pirate’s Cutlass (now no longer event items).
[h3]SAR Goes Super Free[/h3]
Okay, SAR being free isn’t really fully new. As you know, we’ve had the Super Free Edition pretty much since we released SAR into Early Access, but it was set up as a Steam demo, so free users couldn't use Steam parties / friends list. Now they can!
- Now that the base game is free, the Steam friends list works for everyone, so it's easier than ever to invite your friends to play!
- The full version of the game is being replaced by the Super Edition, and on top of everything you're used to, it now also includes 4 exclusive Super Animal breeds, 10 exclusive cosmetic items and some Super Perks relating to some of SAR's new progression systems.
- In addition to getting a copy of the new Super Edition DLC, we've also given every player who owns the full game a bonus 300 S.A.W. Tickets (on top of the 1000 S.A.W. Tickets included in the Super Edition) as thanks for being our earliest supporters!
As long as you've launched the full version of the game at least once before the update goes live (so that an account was auto-created for you), you'll receive the 300 bonus S.A.W. Tickets. We think you’ll love what the new Super Edition adds to the game, but if you have ideas that you think can make it even better just let us know!
For more details on the new DLC you can read our post from last week: https://steamcommunity.com/games/843380/announcements/detail/2951507817807901132
We also wrote about our
design philosophy in a blog post in September, and we're fully committed to making the game design as healthy and player-centric as possible, so we want your feedback to help us make sure we deliver on those ideals!
The Super Edition gives you enough tickets to get Season 0 of the Super Animal Pass and future season(s) if you save your tickets, but if you'd like some extra tickets for the S.A.W. Shop we've made some improvements to those as well from the PTR:
[h3]S.A.W. Shop[/h3]
Visit Super Macaw, Ms. Macawsome in the S.A.W. Shop to browse fine new cosmetic items from Super Animal World! Improvements to the S.A.W. Shop from the PTR include:
- Prices on S.A.W. Shop items have been reduced overall based on your feedback, and shop items have been adjusted.
- S.A.W. Tickets now have localized pricing using Steam Wallet. If your region benefits from the new pricing, your account has been credited for the extra S.A.W. Tickets!
- We've added a Starter pack DLC for Season 0, which provides 600 S.A.W. Tickets, an exclusive Twilight Fennec breed, Twilight Newsboy Hat and Twilight Overalls.
[h3]Super Animal Pass[/h3]
Super Animal Pass Season 0 has begun!
- Some rewards can be earned for free, but others will require purchasing the pass for 550 S.A.W. Tickets.
- The Season 0 Animal Pass has 49 tiers to progress through, so it's a great way to use some of the tickets that come with the Super Edition.
- It also has 350 S.A.W. Tickets to earn if you complete it!
We intended the Early Access season to be a good starter size for a low ticket price, but also plan to design larger Animal Passes in the future, with ticket prices based on how many tiers they include. We've also really liked all the feedback and ideas you've given us on archived/timeless Animal Pass seasons, so we're looking into possible design options for those, and as we get closer to v1.0 and the next season we'll share our plans with you!
[h3]Revamped Menus and New NPCs to Meet![/h3]
- Cackling Carl's Cart is open for business! The majority of the endgame Delivery Mole items are being moved into this new rotating shop. This has been a popular request from all of you as a way to reduce the randomness of earning items, so we think you'll like it!
- Items in Carl's Cart can only be purchased using Carl Coins which is a new currency that can only be earned through playing (no ability to purchase it).
- The main menu has been overhauled with a new interface and new scenery. The new menus are set in the Giant Eagle Airlines terminal, and come complete with NPCs operating each of the services.
- We're still working on even more improvements to the menus and characters, including improvements for the profile screen, settings, a redesigned end-game rewards screen and more.
[h3]More Progression System Improvements[/h3]
- Weekly challenges have been added (and most are unique, new categories of challenges). All challenges now provide EXP rather than items, which contribute to earning tiers in your Animal Pass and leveling up your account (which also rewards items, super serum and magnets). Re-rolling has been removed since the reward is no longer random.
- The end-game mole loot drop has been removed, and most of those items have been moved into Carl's Cart. However, 69 of the items will remain as random drops and end-game, awarded upon leveling up.
- Any duplicate cosmetic item drops will be automatically converted into Carl Coins.
- Item trade-up has been removed, as duplicate items are now automatically converted into Carl Coins. Existing duplicate items will be converted into Carl Coins over the next 24 hours.
- Super Serum rewards after matches are no longer random, instead 0.45 Super Serum is rewarded per minute survived (rounded). If you get more than one kill in the match, you'll be rewarded with 1 bonus Super Serum.
- Super Serum reward for leveling up has been increased from 3 to 5.
- Daily and Weekly Challenges will now show up in-game in the Paws Menu.
- Milestones are now claimed in the redesigned milestones tab rather than automatically granted at end-game.
[h3]Gameplay Improvements[/h3]
- Added Rebel Caches that can be found around the map. When opened, they will drop a rare or epic weapon or level 3 armor, as well as some Super Tape or Health Juice.
- Added animated damage numbers when you hit an enemy, including armor hits and poison damage. They can be toggled on or off in settings.
- Player collisions have been added (does not apply to teammates). You will collide with emus and hamster balls while on foot as well.
- High ping mode added: if your ping is above 200, then your hamster ball hits and gun bullets will use server-side hit detection. This makes the overall combat experience fairer for players, but means high ping players will need to lead shots (and hamster ball squashes). Previous high-ping mechanisms like damage reduction have been removed in favor of this.
- Minimap fades when mousing over it.
- Player markers on the map & minimap now face the direction that the player is looking.
- Can now ping campfires, coconuts, mole crates, and rebel caches.
- "Sparrow hits in one match" milestone objectives changed to 5/10/20 from 5/15/25.
- Creep zoom is maintained during creep roll. Players can no longer creep zoom on Giant Emus or in hamster balls.
- Added a 0.25s block on shooting after exiting a Hamster Ball (matches the same block on exiting Emus).
- Pressing reload while holding a charged bow will cancel the charge.
- Super Skunk Vial changed to now increase movement speed in the skunk gas and skunk bombs by 25%, and reduce their damage by 10% rather than applying poison damage to melee attacks.
- Downed players can now eat nearby bananas for health if they have a Banana Forker equipped.
- Bots will occasionally pick up level 1 armor.
- The Shotgun, JAG-7, Pistol, and SMG had their bullet range reduced since they were stripping armor too easily at long ranges.
- Bow & Sparrow as well as the Sparrow Launcher received a significant damage buff.
- The Magnum breaks 2 ticks now, but has had clip size reduced to 6.
- Max carried grenades is now 4.
[h3]Changes Made After the Final PTR[/h3]
- Added two new animal beanies to Carl’s Cart: Super Cat Beanie and Super Dog Beanie.
- Updated NPC characters in the new main menu.
- Added new scenes in the main menu and improved existing scenes.
- Stats screen is accessible from the side menu for now until we add the new profile menu.
- Stats screen has a tab for weapon kills now.
- Fixed controller navigation on Customize to be more like the pre-PTR one.
- Gravestones will now preview in the main menu.
- Milestones tab now has categories and shows total completed.
- Customize tab will now show exclamation marks on individual new items and on gun skin tabs as well.
- Night mode is a bit more common (now 9%, up from 5% chance) and now has more environmental lighting (such as on campfires).
- Added some crates back to the map such as in the desert town.
- Weapon recoil is non-random for the first few shots in a spray, but then becomes random after that. Automatic weapons such as the SMG or AK have 8 shots as non-random, but others like the Magnum or Deagle have 2. The Sniper goes random after its first shot, similar to its current version.
- You can now hold down the shoot button with Sparrow Launcher (ie automatic firing).
- Player collisions improved so there's less sticking/walking through people.
- Damage numbers for poison from the Poison Dart Gun require line of sight.
- Shooting Gallery targets will show damage numbers when hit.
- New sound for bunny hop/perfect rolls.
- Hopefully fixed the visual bug where a player was shooting with their melee weapon out. Will continue to monitor this issue.
- Huge change that drastically alters SAR's metagame: fixed "pickup" text to be "pick up".
- We buffed Shotgun range a slight bit (brought gray closer to blue too) since it felt a bit underwhelming during PTR. Overall still shorter range than the previous Shotgun though.
And finally, as a reminder:
[h3]It’s the Last Week to Submit Clips for the Season 2 Premiere of Super Animal Royale Tonight![/h3]
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Get ready for the new season of SAR Tonight with our Season 1 recap!Clip submissions are open until
Friday, November 20th at 11:59pm PST!
Clip requirements:
- 1080p+, 30fps+, less than 30s
- Please only submit up to 3 Blooper Scooper clips and 3 Superest Kills clips maximum.
- Please only submit clips with the new in-game UI from after May 2020 (guns laid out horizontally in the bottom right, which was updated in the Super Powerup update).
- Please do not submit any clips with copyrighted music.
Tips for getting selected:
- 16:9 aspect ratio preferred.
- Shorter clips are preferred, but please try to leave at least 2-3 seconds on either side of where you think the best action is, so we have flexibility with the edit. If a clip is cut too abruptly it may be unusable.
- Visual clarity is key. If it is hard to follow the action, a clip is less likely to be selected.
- Reactions can make clips particularly great, so streamer overlays / facecams are good as long as they're high quality and don't distract too much from the clip.
Submit your clips here.
