WolfQuest: Anniversary Edition News

[h2]v1.1.0e - Released 24 August 2023[/h2]

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* When a wolf dies at age 8 or older (either during sleep or peaceful death), the family tree is not generated/updated.
* Lost River (DLC): In the month of May, aspen trees in the distance are missing their leaves.
* Typo.
* Minor terrain issues.

We are making good progress with the WolfQuest Saga -- which will have pups learning to hunt, growing into adulthood, and dispersing to try to find or form a pack of their own.

The Saga will be a free update to the game -- but many players are still under the impression that pups-growing-up is part of the Tower Fall DLC map (because that's what we said would be the case years ago). This will likely cause confusion and uncertaintly when the time comes to release the Saga update and Tower Fall, so we've decided to set the Tower Fall map aside, for now at least, to disconnect it entirely from the Saga. But we do rely on DLC revenues to help fund Saga development, so we have been working on another Yellowstone DLC map, centered around Hellroaring Mountain. We'll share more about it in future devblogs.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

A key aspect of the Saga is that time passes continuously, year after year, as the player's family pack changes with new litters growing up and eventually dispersing. Rival packs should also change over time, and Raul has been working on a new persistent pack system. With this, rival packs will grow and shrink over time, sometimes dissolving if one of the pack leaders dies, and other packs can move in to claim empty territory on the game map. This will also allow players to move from one map to another again, and see how the pack territories on that map have changed since they were last there.

Finally, Tommi has been focused on developing pup AI and behaviors in the fall season, when they are about six months old and learning how to hunt big prey. In September they begin to follow the adults on hunts, hanging back to observe the proceedings. Though physically they look like slightly small, lanky adults, they're still pups and they go a little bonkers when they see the action close-up -- extremely excited but not really sure what to do. As they gain experience from watching, they'll move in closer for a better view of the action -- and eventually will dart in take a bite. These are dangerous moments for pups, who can suffer a mortal blow from an elk hoof -- but necessary for them to gain enough experience to become a true hunter. For the parents, it's exciting and terrifying.

We have plenty of work still to do on the Saga, so it'll be awhile before it's ready for release, but stay tuned for more previews!

_________________________

The WolfQuest saga will continue! Stay tuned for more news in upcoming devblogs about it and other new features!

Once the game is completed on PC/Mac, we will turn our attention to other platforms.

We do not announce specific release dates. We will release them when they are ready.

[h2]v1.1.0d - Released 22 August 2023[/h2]

[h2]NEW:[/h2]
* Collectible antlers and animal skulls. These are spawned around the map at the start of a new game (so they do not appear in existing saves). Skulls are distributed throughout all game maps except Lost River-Classic. Antlers are as well, but most are found on low ridges overlooking the valleys, where bull elk congregate in late winter.
* Six new achievements for collecting antlers and skulls and more. (Achievement icons by Loach.)
* Packs of stray dogs in Lost River (DLC) now include some mutts, which have more variety of body shapes and coats.
* Bull elk get a variety of antler shapes now. One-year-old spike have a single spike and two-year-olds have a double spike.
* A lost dog has learned to survive in the wilderness.

[h2]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h2]
* Reduced player intimidation multiplier on competitors from snarl and growl.
* Prevent golden eagles from hanging at the den when not wanting to kill a pup.
* Player injuries are now healed in April, in the 4-week time jump when pups are born.
* Increased odds of carcass spawning when player is low on health.
* Added a notification if the player's computer drive won't let the game access it.
* Improved saturation readout and controls on Territory Map Colors panel.
* Increased the rate that snow melts a bit in winter months.
* Quicker eat animation when rival wolves grab a quick bite to eat during a fight or den raid.
* When player-wolf leaves home, the notification about leaving pups outside is no longer displayed if a pup is lost.
* In wolf customization, changed label for Neck Ruff to Cheek Ruff.
* Lost River DLC: Adjusted world borders to better match prey animals' borders.
* Multiplayer: If host migration takes too long to complete, it's now canceled so players can resume playing and try again.
* Multiplayer: For hosts, the Transfer Host button will now be always active -- and if transfer is currently not allowed (due to gameplay situations, like a player is inside the den), a notification is shown.

[h2]BUGS FIXED:[/h2]
* Multiplayer: If two wolves try to pick up an object at the same time, then neither one can pick it up
* If rival wolves are near the ranch and howl, that alerts the rancher who then shoots the player-wolf.
* On Amethyst map, NPC animals can go beyond player border on northern side of Lamar River.
* Hare carcass doesn't glow in scent view.
* Beaver carcass doesn't get gory when consumed.
* "Smells Fishy" achievement won't unlock.
* Last surviving prey animal in a group (such as mother after calf/fawn is killed) doesn't flee properly.
* Mate when out on excursions keeps getting into fights, then end immediately (no gameplay effect, but possible performance impact).
* Tweaks to dynamic snow appearance in some seasons.
* Deep snow gap by warehouses.
* Beavers crossing long distances on land"
* Sick pup won't move away from food
* Mate doesn't help kill beaver if it's in shallow water
* Can get into a carcass fight with a golden eagle
* In certain situations, pups get lost when mate sends them to the den.
* In certain topography, beavers can get stuck and can't reach the patch to wood resources.
* Various den pathfinding and collision issues.
* Wolves can scratch repeatedly when flea load is high,
* Player can get stuck if digging a new den when Raise Pups ends.
* Mate can slack off right at the den entrance, blocking player.
* Grizzlies can do damage just beyond their swipe reach.
* Sometimes a long delay at start of den fight, before competitor comes looking for a pup.
* Long delay when finishing courtship and choosing a trial mate, if you have a large number of Family Tree snapshots.
* Multiplayer: Ungulates can lay down and go to sleep next to players who want to revive.
* Multiplayer: Game can get stuck if the reconnect attempt fails before connection to the master server is established.
* Deep snow issue at a tree den in Lost River.
* Glitch with pronghorn consumption "deflation".
* No short grass around Baer Bluffs den.
* Rejected courtables come to eat your food.
* Player can get stuck in scratching action inside den.
* When Fur is disabled, wolves still have fur when inside the den.
* On Setup New Game panel, list Territory Quest before Pack Life on Mission dropdown.
* Some issues with display of fallback generic glyphs.
* Very old save files don't load Junction Butte packs properly.
* Sometimes wolf's eyes are closed when they should not be, or vice versa.
* On Bug Reporter panel, at lower resolutions, underline on Knowledge Base link is misaligned.
* Occasionally Photo Mode shows two overlapping icons.
* Wrong Tips text in Lost River (DLC) Learn to Hunt panel.
* Lost River DLC: Error with poisoned carcass can cause problems.
* Lost River DLC: Stray dogs don't turn their heads in the direction of turns.
* Lost River boardwalks at Lil' Yellowstone are invisible from underneath.
* Lost River DLC: In certain situations, chunk-loading process throws errors, sometimes can hurt performance.
* Lost River (DLC:) Domestic Cows mooing repeatedly.
* Lost River (DLC:) A few issues with distant terrains on low quality graphics.
* Lost River (DLC): A few waterfalls are missing colliders.
* Lost River (DLC): Creek in southeast area doesn't have boulders.
* Lost River (DLC): Not enough grass around ranch area on some quality levels.
* Many minor terrain and water issues.

[h2]v1.1.0d - PUBLIC BETA[/h2]

This beta has new skulls and antlers scattered about the maps. These objects can be hard to find -- enough so that it's not intended for you to find them all in a few hours of gameplay. Rather, keep an eye out for them as you play the main quests, and eventually you may find them all.

NOTE: Game saves are not backward compatible with v1.1.0c. Multiplayer games are not backward-compatible either, so you can only play with those who have this beta. If you switch back to 1.1.0c, any newly created or saved games are hidden in the Load Saved Game panel, but they will reappear if you switch back to 1.1.0d or after 1.1.0d is released.

See instructions at bottom of this page for how to get the beta.


[h2]BETA 14[/h2]

[h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* Increased the rate that snow melts a bit in winter months.

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Lost River DLC: Some dens are black in certain circumstances.
* One Amethyst den can be pink in certain circumstances.
* If rival wolves are near the ranch and howl, that alerts the rancher who then shoots the player-wolf.
* Terrain issues.
__________________________


[h2]BETA 13[/h2]

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Multiplayer: Cattle skull does not appear in client games.
* Multiplayer: Some issues with host transfer (new issues in this beta cycle).
* Multiplayer: If two wolves try to pick up an object at the same time, then neither one can pick it up
* Wolves that are grown pups are all scaled to minimum size.
* In certain circumstances, some dens in Lost River are pink.
* Lost River (DLC): Carmella can go beyond map borders.
* Cattle skull doesn't get dynamic wetness or snow.
* On Amethyst map, NPC animals can go beyond player border on northern side of Lamar River.
_______________________________________

[h2]BETA 12[/h2]

[h3]NEW:[/h3]
* New achievement for finding a cattle skull in Lost River (DLC map). Only available in new games. (Icon for this all all achievements, new and old, by Loach)
* Lost dog has a music theme now (by Tim Buzza).

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Hare carcass doesn't glow in scent view.
* Beaver carcass doesn't get gory when consumed.
* In Slough Creek, antlers can spawn beyond world borders.
* Minor terrain issue.
_______________________________________

[h2]BETA 11[/h2]

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* "Smells Fishy" achievement won't unlock.
* Last surviving prey animal in a group (such as mother after calf/fawn is killed) doesn't flee properly.
* Mate when out on excursions keeps getting into fights, then end immediately (no gameplay effect, but possible performance impact).
* Summer pups can carry some antlers, even though they are too big for them.
* Minor collider tweaks.
_______________________________________

[h2]BETA 10[/h2]

[h3]BUGS FIXED: (All in Lost River DLC):[/h3]
* Tweaks to dynamic snow appearance in some seasons.
*Dynamic snow doesn't appear on mutts when snowing.
* Deep snow gap by warehouses.
* Carmella: In snowy conditions, colliders that should be invisible are not invislble. (And same then when switching back to player-wolf).

_______________________________________

[h2]BETA 9[/h2]

[h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* Adjusted antler spawning odds some.
* Increased rendering distance for elk antlers (on bull elk bodies).
* New mutt coats are now fully synced in multiplayer.

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Carmella: Sometimes the scent trail ends with no animal spawned. (Saves at this spot are broken and will not spawn Carmella ever, sorry!)
* Lost River DLC: Road in southwest area of map does not have collider.
* Lost River DLC: Error with poisoned carcass can cause problems.

_______________________________________

[h2]BETA 8[/h2]

[h3]NEW:[/h3]
* Collectible antlers and animal skulls. These are spawned around the map at the start of a new game (so they do not appear in existing saves). Skulls are distributed throughout all game maps except Lost River-Classic. Antlers are as well, but most are found on low ridges overlooking the valleys, where bull moose congregate in late winter.
* Five new achievements for collecting antlers and skulls and more.
* Packs of stray dogs in Lost River (DLC) now include some mutts, which have more variety of body shape and coats. (Note: Mutt coats are not yet synced in multiplayer games.)
* Bull elk get a variety of antler shapes now. One-year-old spike have a single spike and two-year-olds have a double spike.
* A lost dog has found a new home in the wilderness.

[h3]IMPROVEMENTS:[/h3]
* Reduced player intimidation multiplier on competitors from snarl and growl
* Prevent Golden Eagles from hanging at the den when not wanting to kill a pup.
* In wolf customization, changed label for Neck Ruff to Cheek Ruff
* Player injuries are now healed in April, in the 4-week time jump when pups are born.
* Increased odds of carcass spawning when player is low on health.
* Added a notification if the player's computer drive won't let the game access it.
* Improved saturation readout and controls on Territory Map Colors panel.
* Quicker eat animation when rival wolves grab a quick bite to eat during a fight or den raid.
* Lost River DLC: Adjusted world borders to better match prey animals' borders.
* When player-wolf leaves home, the notification about leaving pups outside is no longer displayed if a pup is lost.
* Multiplayer: If host migration takes too long to complete, it's now canceled so players can resume playing and try again.
* Multiplayer: For hosts, the Transfer Host button will now be always active -- and if transfer is currently not allowed (due to gameplay situations, like a player is inside the den), a notification is shown.

[h3]BUGS FIXED:[/h3]
* Lost River stray dogs don't turn their heads in the direction of turns.
* Beavers crossing long distances on land"
* Sick pup won't move away from food
* Mate doesn't help kill beaver if it's in shallow water
* Can get into a carcass fight with a golden eagle
* In certain situations, pups get lost when mate sends them to the den.
* In certain topography, beavers can get stuck and can't reach the patch to wood resources.
* Various den pathfinding and collision issues.
* Wolves can scratch repeatedly when flea load is high,
* Player can get stuck if digging a new den when Raise Pups ends.
* Mate can slack off right at the den entrance, blocking player.
* Grizzlies can do damage just beyond their swipe reach.
* Sometimes a long delay at start of den fight, before competitor comes looking for a pup.
* Long delay when finishing courtship and choosing a trial mate, if you have a large number of Family Tree snapshots.
* Multiplayer: Ungulates can lay down and go to sleep next to players who want to revive.
* Multiplayer: Game can get stuck if the reconnect attempt fails before connection to the master server is established).
* Deep snow issue at a tree den in Lost River.
* Glitch with pronghorn consumption "deflation".
* Lost River boardwalks at Lil' Yellowstone are invisible from underneath.
* Lost River DLC: In certain situations, chunk-loading process throws errors, sometimes can hurt performance.
* No short grass around Baer Bluffs den.
* Rejected courtables come to eat your food
* Player can get stuck in scratching action inside den.
* When Fur is disabled, wolves still have fur inside the den.
* On Setup New Game panel, list Territory Quest before Pack Life on Mission dropdown.
* Some issues with display of fallback generic glyphs
* Very old save files don't load Junction Butte packs properly.
* Sometimes wolf's eyes are closed when they should not be, or vice versa.
* On Bug Reporter panel, at lower resolutions, underline on Knowledge Base link is misaligned.
* Occasionally Photo Mode shows two overlapping icons.
* Wrong Tips text in Lost River (DLC) Learn to Hunt panel.
** Lost River (DLC:) Domestic Cows mooing repeatedly.
* Lost River (DLC:) A few issues with distant terrains on low quality graphics.
* Lost River (DLC): A few waterfalls are missing colliders.
* Lost River (DLC): Creek in southeast area doesn't have boulders.
* Lost River (DLC): Not enough grass around ranch area on some quality levels.
* Many minor terrain and water issues.

__________________________

[h3]TO GET THE BETA BUILD[/h3]
1) In the Steam app, go to your Library, then right-click on the WolfQuest: AE name in the left column and choose Properties.
2) Then go to the Betas tab and select the WQ current Beta option in the pulldown. No password is necessary. Steam should then start downloading it. Later you can switch back to the public version in that Betas tab, by selecting NONE in that pulldown.

We've got a few new things coming in the next patch. While Tommi makes good progress with the Saga AI (pups learning to hunt), we've also been working on more variations of elk antlers, to better reflect the actual diversity of antlers in nature. Bull elk will sport these antlers in fall and winter, though some distinct styles start appearing over the summer too. Spike elk antlers are also getting an upgrade: yearlings have merely a single spike as the double-spike is reserved for two-year-olds.

Bull elk shed their antlers in late winter -- and now you can find these sheds when exploring the map. Bulls tend to congretate in isolated areas -- for example, in Amethyst, those low ridges overlooking the Lamar Valley. That's where you'll have the best luck finding an antler or two, which you can collect (unlocking an achievement after you find eight of them) and bring back to your pups. But most antlers are too heavy (10 pounds or three kilograms) for pups to pick up, so they'll have to content themselves with spike antlers -- and also some animal skulls, which you'll also now find scattered around the maps. Collect all six to earn another achievement!

We are also adding some mutts to the the feral dog packs roaming Lost River. They will join the breeds already in the game, adding a more realistic variety to challenge you at carcasses and raid your dens.

These new features aren't quite ready yet, but we expect to have a public beta, and then the patch release, soon! So stay tuned!

_________________________

The WolfQuest saga will continue! Stay tuned for more news in upcoming devblogs about it and other new features!

Once the game is completed on PC/Mac, we will turn our attention to other platforms.

We do not announce specific release dates. We will release them when they are ready.