WORLD OF HORROR News

Here's a few pieces of news to chew on today!

[h2]V1.0 HALLOWEEN RELEASE[/h2]

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In case you missed it, during the summer showcases it's been announced that WORLD OF HORROR will leave Steam Early Access on October 19th, 2023! The full game will include a frightening array of changes, the highlights being 3 new mysteries and 2 playable characters not yet seen in the Early Access builds.

We'd like to emphasize the localizations as well: The Asian regional release of WORLD OF HORROR v1.0 is published by our friends at PLAYISM, and thus the game will be available to play in Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean. We are also adding French and German localizations for our players in Europe.

[h2]PHYSICAL EDITIONS[/h2]

Here's another cool thing for those who like collecting physical editions: WORLD OF HORROR will find its way to retail stores near you in physical form! We expect these to become available during the launch period as well.

In North America and Europe, the Nintendo Switch physical edition of WORLD OF HORROR will be brought to you by Fangamer! Each physical edition includes an instruction manual and a set of art cards.


This Nintendo Switch physical edition is presently available for preorder at Fangamer's store, alongside other cool WOH merch: https://www.fangamer.com/products/world-of-horror-game-nintendo-switch


For our WORLD OF HORROR fans in Asia, Nintendo Switch and PS4 physical editions will be released through PLAYISM! There's exclusive preorder bonuses for ordering the game from particular retailers, such as Amazon JP and Yodobashi Camera, so learn more about how to pick your poison at https://playism.com/game/world-of-horror/ (note: website in Japanese and Simplified Chinese only).



[h2]PRICE INCREASE[/h2]

Lastly, in line with the arrival of the v1.0 version and content expansions since launch, WORLD OF HORROR will undergo a price increase on Steam to US$19.99 or its regional equivalent. This will take place very soon, so please take advantage of the current pricing if you don't already own the game, or were thinking to gift a little piece of SHIOKAWA's eldritch horror to your friends and loved ones.

Thanks for reading!

Honestly I should know better by now than to publish stories with titles like "World of Horror will finally release in Summer 2023" because that is a guarantee that the game in question will not finally release at whatever time or date I have said. This is a tempting opportunity that the universe will use to humble me, something I have failed to learn after ten years of writing about games...
Read more.

IMPORTANT CHANGES:

• Dog shop: yakuza card slot and discount slot no longer share a space
  
• New combat action: ORDER YOUR ALLIES TO ATTACK
• MIMI’S LITTLE PROJECT doesn’t reset each time you leave the house
  
• PAINTING mystery: Spending too much time will trigger a proper ending, not a crash
  
• Keeping an empty mystery folder doesn’t impact the game anymore
  
• Even the power of friendship can’t defeat something truly evil…
  
• Getting too paranoid won’t end the game
  

MODDING CHANGES:

• Triggering enemies should work properly from all event options
  

OTHER CHANGES:

• Festival mystery: onsen log text fixed
  
• BROKEN BONE can randomly appear in the game as a result of certain actions again as intended
  
• LUCKY EARRINGS: +LUCK effects is now correct
  
• SCISSORS mystery: locker’s opening sound volume corrected
  
• [EVT096/171]: event penalties corrected
  
• [EVT132]: formatting fixed
  
• GOBLET gets priority over a BOTTLE when filling with various liquids
  
• Saving/loading disabled during challenges
  
• ITHOTU FLAME: casting the spell correctly triggers the HUMAN SKULL
  
• RIOTER screen typo fixed
  
• BULLETIN: clicking stuff through other cards fixed
  

GENERAL BALANCE CHANGES:

• ARMY KNIFE: base damage increased (4->5)
  
• POLICE STATION: entering the station now costs doom (0->1)
  
• HEAVY-DUTY FLASHLIGHT: price increased (2->3)
  
• WITCH’S TREE: uses on HoD difficulty decreased (3->2)
  
• PARANOIA: curse effect stacks (25% chance for damage -> 100% for 1 damage -> 100% for 2 damage)
  
• SUICIDAL: curse effect stacks (25% chance for damage -> 100% for 1 damage -> 100% for 2 damage)
  
• HEADLESS STUDENT: experience increased (10->25)
  
• CHAINSAW: main stat changed (str->per)
  
• DIY FLAMETHROWER: main stat changed (str->dex)
  
• DODGE combat action: base speed increased (155->140), a chance to trigger increased by 10%
  

KOUJI BALANCE CHANGES:

• CAMERA: using the CAMERA FLASH allows characters to avoid damage, in the same way the DODGE action would work
  
• FAST HANDS: an additional effect: LOOK FOR AN IMPROVISED WEAPON combat action brings two items instead of one, with the second one using a better item pool
  

NEW STUFF:

• MIMI’S LITTLE PROJECT: new project added
  

MODDING CHANGES AND FIXES:

• Stat-changing effects of mystery-linked cards work as intended
  
• Custom enemies no longer drop items after being run from
  
• Custom enemies can now have “spell” and “status” rewards
  
• Custom music shouldn’t be overlapping during combat anymore
  

IMPORTANT CHANGES:

• KTU-RUFU can now appear in the quick-play option
  
• MIMI’S LITTLE PROJECT: scalpel cheese glitch removed
  
• ILLEGAL DEN: added an ally limit to prevent crashes
  
• Offering money during a GHOST encounter now takes the ‘KARUKOSA’ MASK effect during speed calculation
  
• Custom mysteries randomization reworked: this should fix all weird interactions and possible crashes
  
• MIMI’S LITTLE PROJECT: kneecap option fixed
  
• Randomized characters get their own perks card as intended
  

OTHER CHANGES:

• NURSE can treat the BLOATED status now
  
• KIRIE’s display fixed
  
• [ENM095]: typo fixed
  
• [BUT DAD!!] challenge rating changed to match the UI
  
• REIKO displaying HIROYUKI’s ending message fixed
  
• RYUICHI: description typo fixed
  
• Text wrap correctly when gossiping with STUDENTS
  
• Q-ing the game restricted
  
• RYUICHI’s ghost will no longer follow characters around
  
• Game over screen’s portrait layering fixed
  
• ‘Undefined’ GOD text displays correctly again
  
• MONUMENT prices updated to reflect the UI
  
• [EVT132]: rewards fixed
  
• OLD GOD intro screen: consistent curtain effect displays as intended
  
• The endings/stats screen music follows the global music volume
  
• [EVT153/154/157]: Option 2 text display fixed
  
• [EVT065]: MAP requirement fixed
  
• AIKO’S FRIEND works as intended
  

BALANCE CHANGES:

• SHIRO THE GARDENER’s experience reward lowered (25 -> 1)
  
• HUNTING RIFLE: damage increased (16->32)
  

NEW STUFF:

• The stars are right above SHIOKAWA and the terrible KTU-RUFU is awakening once more, its boundless reveries sow turmoil and insanity.
  
• Learn the dark secret behind MIMI’S LITTLE PROJECT, a new CHALLENGE
  
• Unlock new items, allies and spells locked behind eight new achievements
  
• ILLEGAL DEN has expanded its operation, allowing the desperate enough characters to hire new followers. But can you trust them with your life and the future of SHIOKAWA?
  
• POLICE STATION is now actively fighting the illegal den and corruption, allowing th e characters to request police patrols that decrease the THREAT level of patrolled locations.
  
• ROOFTOP GIRL has started whispering to herself
  

MODDING (GENERAL):

• the game supports up to 28 custom characters now
  
• fixed the custom mystery's name displaying twice on the mystery board screen
  
• custom enemies are no longer dropping their rewards if the player escaped from them
  
• custom mysteries now load in a randomized order
  
• Extra mystery features: restricted location, custom UI, mystery-linked status cards and variable length/ending triggers
  
• Various issues with the linked events fixed
  

IMPORTANT CHANGES:

• added new items: RUSTY SICKLE, HANDCUFFS, SWITCHBLADE, STRAIGHT RAZOR, BOX CUTTER, FLARE GUN, FUNNY MASK, TAINTED VIOLIN
  
• added new allies: RYUICHI, REIKO, and HIROYUKI MIZUTANI
  
• added new spells: AWAKEN, BINDING AGONY, GHOSTLY SPEAR, MEND, HOLY GLYPHS
  
• Added new curses: FLASHBACKS, HALLUCINATIONS
  
• ILLEGAL DEN now allows you to hire allies while increasing DOOM
  
• HEIRESS character and all backstories are now available in quickplay
  
• ANATOMY CLASS doesn't crash the game with the VANITY MIRROR interaction
  
• HEIRESS character received a small visual rework and found a new expensive jacket in her closet
  
• POLICE STATION: police patrols now lower location's Threat Level
  
• rare cases of the game crashing fixed
  
• COMA mystery boss death glitch removed, maybe
  
• VIGIL mystery’s phantom mansion glitch removed
  
• thrown items can now target both enemies
  
• PICKPOCKET: works as intended
  
• DOOMED ALREADY: doesn’t trigger the LOOTING effect anymore
  
• SHADOW SHROUD effect correctly disappears at the end of the mystery
  
• KNPHA RITUAL: doesn’t apply the ANCESTRAL STRENGTH buff anymore
  
• FLOODS mystery: clicking through screens disabled
  
• Removed BADLY BLEEDING attack effect from the enemies that shouldn’t have it
  
• YGOTHAEG’s ending screen unlocks as intended now
  
• Throwing ITEMS can now target both enemies
  
• MIMI’S LITTLE PROJECT doesn’t count lighthouse as a new mystery anymore
  
• STORAGE space increased to reflect the UI
  
• WORDLESS WARD: resting skip glitch fixed
  
• Cigarettes don’t carry over through playthroughs (it would be nice, though)
  
• ILLEGAL DEN: clicking through other cards removed
  
• [ENM086]: characters can run from this encounter, as intended
  
• COMMONER backstory works as intended
  
• [ENM079]: characters can run from this encounter, as intended
  
• Phantom box cutter crash fixed
  
• Ending Screen death loop fixed
  
• Jumpscare sounds now use the setting volume, rather than their own
  
• [EVT006]: Option 3 is clickable again
  
• KIRIE’s display fixed
  

OTHER CHANGES:

• [EVT006] correctly applies the STAMINA penalty now
  
• [EVT009]: reworded the event to make sense with other light sources, removed the experience reward
  
• [EVT016]: third option reward removed
  
• [EVT018]: removed the extra reward not stated in the text
  
• [EVT030]: removed the extra reward not stated in the text
  
• [EVT031]: options are now correctly affected by the Threat Level; the displayed event number changed
  
• [EVT041]: the displayed event location icon fixed
  
• [EVT048]: options are now correctly affected by the Threat Level; extra reward removed
  
• [EVT069]: removed the extra penalty not stated in the text
  
• [EVT085]: the displayed event location icon fixed
  
• [EVT090]: removed the extra reward not stated in the text
  
• [EVT100]: the second option correctly lowers the location's Threat Level
  
• [EVT161]: text for success/failure displays correctly now
  
• [EVT164]: the first option uses the correct stat check
  
• [EVT165]: the first option uses the correct stat check
  
• [EVT175]: reward fixed
  
• [EVT177]: correctly applies the penalty now
  
• [EVT132]: STARS ARE RIGHT upgrade works properly now
  
• grammar and spelling fixes
  
• NECRONOMICON spells no longer work on STE
  
• new allies appear in the FESTIVAL mystery now
  
• OLD COIN can't get rid of the ON THE RUN status anymore
  
• ONYX MEDALLION works correctly during VIGIL and FESTIVAL mysteries
  
• EELS mystery: text display fixed
  
• HUNTER'S DAUGHTER, EX-CULTIST, and HEIRESS got new outfits
  
• TAIYAKI's description displays currently in the shop now
  
• Schoolyard tips display fixed
  
• STE effect display fixed
  
• EIMI’s ghost following players fixed
  
• [ITM009]: Floating pixel removed
  
• FEARFUL description fixed
  
• Achievement typo(s) fixed
  
• YASHIRO: added a new mask that fits his face
  
• YASHIRO: the sweater name displays correctly now
  
• [ENM073]: Proper intro text selected
  
• Changelog update and an overlay fix
  
• [ENM095]: typo fixed
  
• NURSE can treat the BLOATED status now
  

BALANCE:

• Ayaka's ELDRITCH POSSESSION effect reduced (x/2 -> x/2.4)
  
• Ayaka's BLOOD MANIA effect reduced (0.04 -> 0.02 and floor/4 -> floor-0.5/4)
  
• Toshiaki's BOOK STRAP effect reduced (0.1 -> 0.07)
  
• Kirie's KIRIE'S BAG increases DOOM when forgetting spells (0 -> 1)
  
• Juri’s CHECK BOOK increased FUNDS, decreased DOOM (5 and 3%)
  
• DODGE action is slightly faster (160 -> 155)
  
• BRACE action is slightly slower (160 -> 165)
  
• CARPENTER HAMMER: base chance to hit increased (40 -> 50)
  
• HEAVY-DUTY FLASHLIGHT: base chance to hit decreased (75 -> 70)
  
• [EVT074]: DOOM penalty for taking new allies lowered (10 -> 7)
  
• TREE: added a small DOOM penalty that increases with use
  
• MONUMENT: changed the math calculating the price to make HoD slightly harder
  
• ILLEGAL DEN: lowered the DOOM cost of entering to balance the higher prices
  
• POLICE STATION: experience cost for selling information lowered (15 -> 11)
  
• MIND DRAIN: damage increased (4 -> 5)
  
• REGENERATION: heal effect increased (3 -> 4)
  
• SKIN REMOVAL: damage increased (5 - 6)
  
• ABSORB: damage increased (2 -> 3)
  
• ITHOTU FLAME: damage increased, doom penalty decreased (7 -> 8 / 3 -> 2)
  
• ENTHRALLMENT cost decreased (5->4)
  
• Increased the EXP reward for banishing a GHOST (5 -> 20)
  

KNOWN ISSUES:

• You technically can save/exit before starting a first mystery. It doesn’t seem to break/affect anything at the moment so it’s staying it for the time being.
  
• Throwing an item while you have an item with the same name equipped could reduce your inventory slots.
  
• The less active custom mysteries you have the higher chance of a crash (2 mysteries in a folder = around 15%, 3 mysteries = around 5%, more mysteries = around 1-0.01% each playthrough). I’ll have to sit down and test some new solutions for it but with 2 example mysteries provided with the game it should be fine, even if you only download one new custom mystery.
  
• Thanks for reading!