VALHALL: Harbinger News

[h3]Skål, Vikings![/h3][p][/p][p]We are putting the final touches on the upcoming Map Update, scheduled to release next week on Friday, March 6th.[/p][p][/p][p]Instead of just telling you how much better the updated map looks, we’d rather show you below. But to answer your question right away: no, this is not a performance killer. We've actually been doing optimization under the hood. While the world has evolved and gained a much more cinematic look, the performance remained the same, and also will become better with further optimizations.[/p][p][/p][p]This update boosts the atmosphere and lighting, reworks the spawn area, and fixes previous visual glitches. But that's not all. It also lays the groundwork for upcoming new activities. As mentioned before, we will soon be moving away from primitive quests to bring you more engaging activities in the next updates, and this update introduces a hub area that will act as an interactive bridge for them.[/p][p][/p][h3]This patch arrives Friday, March 6th[/h3][p][/p][p][/p][p]Check out what’s coming:[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Map Update[/h2][p][/p][p] [/p][p] [/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p] [/p][p] [/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p] [/p][p]We keep expanding on the Einherjar and Valhalla concepts.[/p][p][/p][p]This update brings a much more immersive, cinematic look to the game. Importantly, these visual improvements aren't just for players using Global Illumination - they look great on the lowest settings, too! We’ve added new cinematic post-processing effects, including a special depth-of-field/blur (don't worry, if it's not your cup of mead, you can toggle it off in the settings).[/p][p][/p][p]We heard your feedback that the previous closed valley map design felt a bit too claustrophobic, and we honestly felt it ourselves. We've addressed this in a balanced way, it's now more open and feels different.[/p][p][/p][p]Reworked the spawn area. It is no longer placed at such a high elevation where you could accidentally fall and get confused about where to go.[/p][p][/p][p]You will now find Einherjar preparation camps. They are friendly - these are your Einherjar brothers! This serves as a hub area that will become interactable in our upcoming updates.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p] [/p][p] [/p][p][/p][p]Overhauled interior lighting. Objects inside buildings that previously lacked shadows will now cast them properly.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p](Note: The taming system is still in the works and isn't included in this specific update, but you can already easily meet these future companions hanging around the hub!)[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]We haven't touched the vast majority of areas where you might have built your houses. Most likely, your existing buildings won't be affected by this update at all - but they will look a lot better under the new lighting.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Next-Level Arrow & Mjolnir Camera[/h2][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We’ve brought an upgraded Arrow Cam feature, adding some highly satisfying visual effects.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]And yes, Mjolnir now has this camera feature too! Just throw it and hold the Middle Mouse Button.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Fixes[/h2][p][/p][p]Fixed an issue with swapping to flame-ignited arrows.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed a bug that allowed rapid-fire machine gun bow shooting.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed arrows passing right through certain materials.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed foundation stairs snapping and alignment issues.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed the Restore Defaults control setting not working in some edge cases.[/p][p][/p][p]Changed the Hide UI default hotkey to F10 to eliminate accidental presses and confusion.[/p][p][/p][p]Reduced wolf aggro distance.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Thank you for the ongoing feedback, guys. We're glad to see the new in-game reporting tool getting put to good use, and we’ve logged everything you've sent our way. May your hearth stay warm. See you on March 6th![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Skål![/p][p]Blackrose Arts[/p]

[h2]Greetings, Vikings![/h2][p][/p][p]A new patch has arrived. Today's update focuses heavily on mechanics and game feel, addressing movement issues and combat wobbliness.[/p][p][/p][p]We are pushing these improvements now while we continue preparing the big map update for next month and completely new activities coming in the near future.[/p][p][/p][p]We also haven't forgotten about two-handed axes. They require a few more tweaks to resolve physics quirks, but they are on the way.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Here is what today's patch brought:[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Movement Update[/h2][p][/p][p]Adjusted movement speed and animation rates to match a more realistic human pace, making dodges a more valuable choice. [/p][p][/p][p]Overhauled the Unarmed state, combining it with fists into a single cohesive mode. This also includes fixing the weird hands issue during unarmed idle and the bug where they would attach to certain body parts.[/p][p][/p][p]Added turn-in-place animations for legs for specific states and adjusted the gait look.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed crouching movement to make it usable, and made it replicate correctly in co-op.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed instances of random sprinting and reduced the headbob effect for a smoother experience.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Reducing Wobbliness[/h2][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Reduced floaty movement and physics during combat for humanoid characters. This should also help reduce motion sickness. While we know it definitely isn't perfect yet, it is much more grounded and stable during combat.[/p][p][/p][p]Upgraded hit reactions to reduce sudden position snapping or that drunk floating walk effect. [/p][p][/p][p]Smoothed out movement network synchronization.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]In-game Bug Report[/h2][p][/p][p]Added a built-in issue report form accessible directly from the pause menu or button press (F8 by default). It’s very convenient and quick to use, feel free to share any issue you encounter.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Control & Feel[/h2][p][/p][p]Reduced base mouse intensity. Note that this might impact your current sensitivity settings.[/p][p][/p][p]Auto-targeting is now turned off by default. It can still be easily toggled via a button or in the settings. If you previously played with camera targeting, we suggest trying without it to see how the new flow feels.[/p][p][/p][p]The camera will now automatically switch to a third-person view upon death.[/p][p][/p][p]Added a "Hide Interface" button (F1 by default).[/p][p][/p][p]Combat settings have been moved from the pause menu to a graph within the Control Settings.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Bug Fixes & Quality of Life[/h2][p][/p][p]Fixed a bug where players would often spawn unarmed despite having a weapon in a quickslot.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed excessive load usage while in the main menu.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed motion blur not turning off in certain cases.[/p][p][/p][p]Resolved visibility issues in the server browser.[/p][p][/p][p]Disabled the sleeping character model persisting after logging off.[/p][p][/p][p]Added a camera collision probe smoothing with height adjustment to prevent clipping.[/p][p][/p][p]Clarified the notifications when a Building Hammer is required and fixed incorrect title for the Steak item.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed various character cloth simulation issues.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed an issue where arrows would sometimes disappear when they couldn't penetrate a material.[/p][p][/p][p]Addressed animation and physics issues that caused the right hand or sword to stick to the character's backside.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Thank you guys for your feedback and support![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Skål![/p][p]Blackrose Arts[/p]

[p]Hey![/p][p][/p][p]We've just pushed a hotfix to address a few issues from the latest patch (Jan 8th) and made some tweaks based on feedback.[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Fixed a critical issue where Gravestones were losing items from the last slots, and sometimes more upon loading a save.[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Fixed the mouse cursor disappearing in certain cases after death in non-survival modes.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Reduced the aggro distance for Boars and Bears.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Added God Shroud fog and a notification when sailing into locked zones.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]The second empty island was temporarily moved behind the locked zone.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Fixed the lag/delay when moving items to and from workstations.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Fixed the last remnants of the workstation bug where items (like Iron Ore) would visually get stuck and the dead character sounds. This time it's definitely gone.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Based on requests, added the Restart button back (will remove it again when we upgrade the save system, which is currently in the works).[/p]

[p][/p][p]Hint: There is a Horn of Defiance (from the last update) in the training camp. You can activate raids on your homestead from there to try the mechanic out if you don't want to build your own just yet.[/p][p][/p][p]Skål![/p][p]Blackrose Arts[/p]

[h3]Happy Holidays![/h3][p][/p][p]We are finalizing our next monthly patch, scheduled for release next week.[/p][p][/p][h3]This patch arrives Thursday, January 8th[/h3][p][/p][p][/p][p]Here is a look at what it will bring:[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Base Defense (Raids on Demand)[/h2][p][/p][p][/p][p]We’ve listened to your feedback regarding the difficulty and pacing of base raids. To ensure you can develop your base at your own speed, NPCs will no longer launch random attacks on their own.[/p][p][/p][p]Instead, you can now construct a Horn of Defiance.[/p][p][/p][p]This new object allows you to call for a raid manually and on your own terms. It’s the perfect way to test your defenses whenever you are ready for a fight, without the fear of random attacks while you are away or building.[/p][p][/p][p]You can still toggle random raids on or off at any time using the Horn's menu.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Progression: The Saga[/h2][p][/p][p]Following up on our last update, we're working on new systems to deliver a stronger sense of growth and achievement. This update introduces a title-based progression system, allowing you to rise from "The Fallen" to "Legend."[/p][p][/p][p]Progression is tied to your Glory. Higher titles are more than just cosmetic, they are designed to unlock access to new trade options, crafting and building recipes, and future areas. While unlocking recipes through titles may seem unconventional at first, it is a part of the game's narrative that will be further expanded in upcoming updates.[/p][p][/p][p]The Challenge menu tab has been renamed to Saga, with the Challenge now being within this section. Here, you can track your current Title, Glory, and your path for future growth.[/p][p][/p][p]Your title is now visually displayed next to your name for other players to see.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Survival UI & UX[/h2][p][/p][p]Craft/Build requirements are now displayed in a clear, easy-to-read list. Items with unmet requirements, such as a missing title or a required workbench, appear faded to clearly indicate they are currently locked.[/p][p][/p][p]The Building interface is now much snappier. Items highlight automatically and can be selected with a single press. Added scroll wheel support to help navigate the growing list of items and removed unnecessary UI elements to clean up the screen.[/p][p][/p][p]Inventory transfers are now instant, significantly speeding up looting and storage management.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Death & Recovery[/h2][p][/p][p]Changed the death screen in Survival mode to make the transition fast. Players will now respawn at their set spawn point automatically.[/p][p][/p][p]The Grave stone now allows for item retrieval without waiting for the player corpse to disappear. This reduces confusion and prevents potential loot loss during the recovery process.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Pickaxes, Drums & Decor[/h2][p][/p][p][/p][p]Sky Iron (meteoric) has been introduced as a rare new material. Tool progression has been expanded with the Stone Pickaxe and Sky Iron Pickaxe, featuring a rebalance of all pickaxes.[/p][p][/p][p]Added Drums (yes, you can play them, in co-op too).[/p][p][/p][p]The decorative collection has grown with the addition of the Trencher Rack, Hammock, and Firewood Rack.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Video Memory Optimization & Settings[/h2][p][/p][p]This patch focuses on VRAM optimizations to help those who experience blurred textures. While some players may not notice a significant difference in performance, we hear you on it too, and heavier optimization work is planned for future updates.[/p][p][/p][p]​We’ve adjusted the graphics settings menu and added a new Advanced section.[/p][p][/p][p]​The game will now automatically detect and set optimal settings on your first launch (all graphics settings will be reset with this patch for everyone).[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Bug Fixes & Quality of Life[/h2][p][/p][p]Bows now feature a quick melee shove on a single click, holding the button remains for aiming.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed a recurring bug that prevented swing attacks after using a bow.[/p][p][/p][p]Expanded interaction zones for doors and water sources, making it easier to interact.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed animation and functionality issues when dual-wielding the starting axe.[/p][p][/p][p]Most of the workstations (including furnace) can now be placed inside houses.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed a bug where 1 unit of iron would remain stuck smelting in the furnace.[/p][p][/p][p]Removed the ability to fist punch trees after your fresh feedback, increased the number of collectible branches on the ground.[/p][p][/p][p]Ship destruction is now disabled.[/p][p][/p][p]Further reduced boar damage for better early-game balance.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed a bug where blood trails would appear to come from bows.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed an audio glitch where dead animals would continue to make sounds.[/p][p][/p][p]Removed the "Restart" button from the pause menu to prevent accidental resets.[/p][p][/p][p]Fixed a bug in the auto-unstuck system that caused players to suddenly teleport to their spawn point.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Also, as mentioned previously, we’ve started sharing more content on our YouTube channel. For now, it's just Shorts, a mix of everything: from quick mechanic showcases and sneak peeks to more lighthearted, weird clips.[/p][p]YouTube[/p][p]This is leading up to a larger, more detailed video that will arrive alongside a future major update. This long-form video will demonstrate the progress we’ve been making, both through our updates and behind the scenes.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Thank you all for your incredible feedback and support. Enjoy the celebrations, and see you in game next week![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Skål![/p][p]Blackrose Arts[/p]

[p]Hey![/p][p][/p][p]We've just pushed a hotfix to address a few issues from the latest patch.[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Fixed grave stones sometimes failing to save or missing textures after a restart.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Fixed weapon repairs not working for connected players in Co-op.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Fixed a bug where some weapons required zero resources to repair.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Added a visual indicator for broken weapons and a sound effect for successful repairs.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Skål![/p][p]Blackrose Arts[/p]