Police Simulator: Patrol Officers News

[h3]Fellow officers,[/h3]

let me tell you one thing: The last 13 1/2 months have been incredible. It's been an extraordinary pleasure to see so many of you having fun, interacting with the community, enjoying the duties of Brighton, and providing us with extremely valuable feedback. Just take a look at our last updates which have been heavily inspired by your wishes and we’re so excited to continue on this path alongside you.

Speaking of it: Yes, you read the headline correctly. We are indeed leaving Steam Early Access soon.

[h2]Why are you leaving Early Access?[/h2]

There are several reasons which all cumulated to our decision.

We initially planned to stay in Early Access for 'up to a year' – well, we're way past that point but have never actually updated the FAQ :D Now we're a bit late, but hey!

Since our release in Early Access in July 2021 we think with 6 major content updates including free-roam and multiplayer mode, more complex tasks, new vehicles and districts the game has advanced and progressed in a way where we believe finally leaving Early Access is justified.

Plus: The game will release on consoles at the same time as well (that means: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S). You won't believe how many requests we received for that, crazy to see that much hype! 💙

[h2]Is that it now? :([/h2]

No, not at all! Just to make it completely clear: This is not the end, we're far from done! Actually, we have soooo much more in store and can not wait to share all the details with you. Update 7, Update 8... and much much more are already in the works and AHHHHH I WISH I COULD JUST LEAK THEM ALL!

You could say… After Early Access, we’re continuing with the Early Access Definitive Hyper Premium Extended Edition™©℗®. With a few changes but more news about that soon.

BTW: We are still in the process of finding a proper date but we will most likely (not 100% safe!) have some information for you about both the release and new content coming in the future at gamescom. Stay tuned on that! :)

Oh, and not to forget: We are aware of a few issues which sneaked in with Update 6, especially when it comes to crashes. Our team is working on them and we plan to release a hotfix next week.

[h2]What will change once you leave Early Access?[/h2]

The most important thing: We'll carry out a very first (and so far only!) price increase when we leave Early Access. The game will then cost 29.99 Euro / 24.99 GBP / 29.99 USD.

Of course, if you have already purchased the game prior to that date, you will not have to pay anything additionally to cover the gap. This seems obvious but I just want to make it clear: If you already own the game, nothing will change for you. You already own it, possess it, love it. Nothing will be taken away from you.

Should something else change, we will inform you about that in time.

[h2]A gift to our Early Access players[/h2]

We can not thank you enough for your incredible support over the last few years. Seriously, even I feel personally flattered :')

On console, players who pre-order the game will receive a bonus in form of a powerful SUV – we call it the Urban Terrain Vehicle. On PC, we decided to gift this patrol car to all our existing Early Access players (= everyone who owns the game until we leave Early Access). That's just fair, you know :)

However, we don't want to make any kind of bonus content exclusive to one version or to a specific timeframe. This is why we will also offer this little bonus as a separate purchase (2.99 Euro / 2.49 GBP / 2.99 USD) to those who join us a little later!

We plan to work on additional DLC in the future which we want to offer as a way to further support the development – we're sizing up a lot of things and are thankful for every help we get, especially when it comes to feedback. Please continue doing that!

[h2]Thank you all for the support[/h2]

At no point prior to release would we have expected such success and at times it felt really overwhelming. We're incredibly thankful for every single comment – be it both positive or negative – as they help us to improve and expand the game further and further.

Thank you so, so, so much for the incredible support and we can not wait for the months to come!

Yours dearly,
The entire Police Simulator Team

[h3]Fellow officers,[/h3]
Taking control over something is always the best way to approach things. And now, you can be the master of traffic - with your cones, barriers, gestures and much more. Wait, did I just spoiler things? I hope not! Welcome to The Traffic Management Update!

Now available to all players of Police Simulator: Patrol Officers!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[h2]Introducing: The Traffic Management Update[/h2]

Safety first. We always pledged that. And that's why the Brighton Police Department invested heavily into new tools and guidelines to help all officers in their craft.

Check out the trunk of your patrol car - new goodies await you! Use your cones and barriers to block off individual lanes, entire streets, secure accident sites, or annoy other drivers! The latter one is a joke, please don't do that. Some of you did that in the beta and we received some complaints...



[h2]Use your commands![/h2]

Why do you have hands? Yes, to carry things from A to B. But more important: You can use them to perform gestures & issue commands!

With The Traffic Management Update, you receive a variety of options just for that!

You can now order...

• NPCs to stop and wait
  
• NPCs to walk to a different location and wait there
  
• NPCs to not use the sidewalk at all
  
• NPCs to turn around and use a different route
  
• NPVs to wait
  
• NPVs to turn around and use a different route
  
• NPVs to reverse drive
  

We highly recommend using a combination of tools and manual commands to redirect traffic in a way that suits your present needs.



[h2]Mod your ELS![/h2]

Oh lord, never ever could we have anticipated the huge amount of mods you would create! It was clear to us that you really want to receive even more options to modify, personalize and optimize the game.

That's why we couldn't wait to introduce ELS Modding which enables you to adjust both sirens and blipping, customize all lights on all patrol cars, change the frequency, switch up the brightness and variate the colors.

Of course, we've both updated the official mod kit and written a guide to help you with your creations! Check it out here:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2808924041



[h2]A smarter AI[/h2]

While we give you a bunch of new options to direct traffic yourself, it was crucial to optimize the AI at the same time. We're shipping a bunch of AI improvements that include a smart reaction to sirens, a better approach to intersections, an advanced lane switching behavior... and more. If you want to take a closer look at the changes, we've created an article with a few example videos:

https://steamcommunity.com/ogg/997010/announcements/detail/3337742851856313742
[h2]Bug fixes, performance improvements & other new features[/h2]

As with the last updates, the team put a tremendous focus on fixing a bunch of longstanding bugs. A huge 'thank you' to everyone that helped us in the last few weeks of beta! You can take a closer look at them in the patch notes further down below.

We also resolved a bunch of crashes - and improved performance plus framerates across the board. In addition, you can now adjust the spawn density of NPCs and NPVs while fleeing has become an official arrest reason!



[h2]Time to go on patrol again![/h2]

If you haven't seen it already, we released a new episode of #ONPATROL a few weeks ago! If you want to learn more about the development of this update and receive some exclusive behind-the-scenes insights, we can only recommend taking a look:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

[h2]Save 30%![/h2]

For a very limited time, you can save 30% when purchasing PS:PO on our official website! Click here to learn more as this is by far our deepest discount yet 👀

[h2]Here are the official patch notes for The Traffic Management Update[/h2]

Enough said - let's get to the patch notes!

Traffic Management

• Added Traffic Cones: Players can now place traffic cones around the accidents and on the road in general, to make traffic around them more manageable
  
• Added Road Barriers: Players can now place road barriers on roads and around accident sites, to make the NPVs take a different route
  
• Added Hand Gestures: Players are able to order NPVs to stop driving, continue driving, drive in reverse and do a u-turn, which makes the player to be in control of the vehicle drivers around him
  
• Giving orders to NPCs: The player now has the ability to make an NPC wait, or evacuate the area they are currently in to make the player be in control of any situation around him
  

Modding

• Added a new modding system for ELS: Players now can change their police vehicle emergency lights and sounds for the emergency siren (can't wait to see what you'll create!)
  

AI & NPC Improvements

• Improved the way NPCs and NPVs react to the police car with lights, emergency siren and lights & siren together
  
• Improved traffic behavior at intersections
  
• Added AI improvements which make the AI more human-like: NPCs react to the police cars sirens and actions around them, if there are gunshots or taser being deployed (instead of chilling like nothing has happened at all and that is just a regular occurence in their neighborhood, just like an old lady throwing flower pots at you just because you've been a biiiit louder when gaming, smh)
  
• Changed the stopping distance between NPVs in traffic and on accident sites
  
• Added more functionality to NPCs feet making their walking more realistic
  
• Changed during beta: Improved NPV lane switching logic: NPVs will not block traffic when they want to switch lanes
  

UI

• Added the names of NPCs in Encounter reports to make it clearer what actions and NPCs caused loss or gain of the CP/SP (now you know who to blame)
  
• Improved the handbook, added categories to make it easier to search through the handbook entries
  
• Added warning pop-up messages after player changes the spawn density/range settings
  
• Adjusted in-game credits (it's me!!)
  
• Changed during beta: Added more intuition feedback to assist players in placing road blockers (thanks for the suggestion, Slayer!)
  

Gameplay

• Players can now arrest someone for fleeing
  

Performance

• Improvement of overall in-game performance
  

Balancing

• Adjustment of NPC spawning range and density in multiplayer
  
• Changed during beta: Increased the speed requirement between NPV and player car to 35 mph to register as an accident
  
• Changed during beta: Increased the distance between player and accident site for despawning of vehicles
  
• Changed during beta: Increased the distance between player and NPV for hand gestures: Now players can use hand gestures from a longer distance
  
• Changed during beta: Another attempt at decreasing the frequency of wallet thefts (maybe it works out this time...)
  
• Changed during beta: Increased amount of cones to carry from 2 to 4
  

Tutorials

• Added new Tutorial "Radar-Gun" which explains how to use the Radar Gun
  
• Added new Tutorial "Stun Gun" which explains when and how to deploy a taser
  
• Added new Tutorial "Flashlight" which explains how to turn on your flashlight
  
• Added new Tutorial "Driving with a broken Windshield" which explains when a driver should be detained for their broken windshield
  
• Added new Tutorial "Open Patrol" which explains the basics of playing an open patrol shift
  
• Added new Tutorial "High Crime Area" which explains to the player what is a high crime area in the game
  
• Added new Tutorial "Fleeing" that explains what should be done, if an NPC is fleeing
  
• Adjusted Gun tutorial text to make it clearer when it is allowed to use your gun during the shift
  

Happy Birthday!

• Decorated the precincts to celebrate our one-year anniversary!
  

Bug Fixes GAMEPLAY

• Fixed a bug where a player would get stuck in a fleeing dialogue
  
• Fixed issues where SP could get farmed
  
• Fixed an issue for there being no CP loss after tasing an injured NPC
  
• Fixed issue where a player could tase a driver NPC
  
• Fixed an issue where Traffic Stop parking slots would not get properly filled by the NPVs
  
• Fixed issue where a player would not be able to give orders to a detained NPC
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed a bug where players could run around without closing the interaction wheel and could interact with other NPCs
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue where sometimes players got negative CP for justifiably asking NPC to evacuate the premises
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue where cones can not be placed in the same location twice
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue where placing cones too close to driving NPV breaks traffic
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed picking up traffic cones grants incorrect amount
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed a bug that caused the player to lose CP when giving traffic orders next to a wanted NPC
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue that made it impossible to take Traffic Cones from Patrol Car (it always said '0')
  

MULTIPLAYER

• Fixed a bug where in Multiplayer the second player would see NPC outside of their vehicle
  
• Fixed Multiplayer issue in which the second player was not able to interact with NPCs
  
• Fixed an issue where there would be almost no NPCs during a Multiplayer session
  
• Fixed patrol vehicles animations when both players interacted with it at the same time
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue in multiplayer where sometimes there could be no NPC spawning
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue where in multiplayer client did not see the animation when placing road blockers
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue when two players tried to enter the car at the same time, the client observed some graphical issues
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue where client was not able to reuse road barrier after picking it up
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue in multiplayer where the client legs do not move while sprinting + aiming cone
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue in multiplayer where the client gets stuck when ending shift while having any tool equipped
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue that caused the client to get stuck when multiple dialogues occured at the same time
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue that when the client enters a car from the co-driver's site and exits it again they are not able to interact with the car from the co-driver side
  

NPCs

• Fixed an issue with floating NPCs
  
• Fixed an issue where there were no NPCs in the holding cells
  
• Fixed NPCs clipping into vehicles in accidents after they would step out of their vehicle
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed stationary NPC standing on benches when drunk
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue where sitting NPC are floating above the bench
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue where driving NPC are standing
  

PATROL CAR & TRAFFIC CARS

• Fixed bug where Utility vehicle could get damaged too much visually
  
• Fixed NPV clipping and floating issues in accidents
  
• Fixed a bug when a police officer crashed inside a vehicle in accident it would add more evidence (technically, that's realistic, but...)
  
• Fixed issues where the cars number plates would float
  
• Fixed NPVs reacting to the Emergency Siren while they were driving the opposite direction
  
• Fixed NPV teleporting after using the police ladle
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed NPVs brake abruptly after being pulled over without enough space to change lanes
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed blipped NPVs stopping too quickly for a lane switch after intersections
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed NPVs lane switching at a too steep angle
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue where sometimes NPV drive and clip into the player car
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue where sometimes NPV were spawning in player view
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue where traffic outside Historic downtown was not moving
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed using police hand gestures while the NPV is driving in reverse make it disappear
  

WORLD & GRAPHICS

• Fixed the ability to clip into various objects after opening the trunk of a police car
  
• Fixed issues where objects at accident sites would be fallen over unnaturally
  
• Fixed Emergency Lights not showing properly on low & medium video settings
  
• Fixed issues where certain precinct walls had gaps
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue where changing to first-person view bugs our player character's face
  

UI

• Fixed a bug where video settings would not get saved
  
• Fixed a UI overlap when a player would receive "Your First Shift" tutorial
  
• Fixed tutorials not opening their correct handbook page after pressing "H"
  
• Fixed an issue where video settings would not get applied after pressing "F" button
  
• Fixed multiple text overlaps in UI
  
• Fixed various translation issues
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue where map was showing the wrong district border
  

CONTROLS

• Fixed loss of input after attempting to give directions to the NPCs
  

MISCELLANEOUS

• Fixed bugs where uniforms would have graphical issues
  
• Fixed various other minor bugs
  

Tutorials

• Changed during beta: Fixed an issue where some tutorials were not showing up when using a controller
  

CRASHES

• Fixed bug where the players game would crash after taking arrestee into prison cell hallway
  
• Fixed various other crashes (thank you, everyone!)
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed crash which happened sometimes due to NPV not being able to find a new route
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed multiple crashes relating to traffic and traffic management
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed a crash that happened sometimes when NPV wanted to switch lanes
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed a crash when arriving at accident site
  
• Changed during beta: Fixed a crash related to car siren
  

https://store.steampowered.com/app/997010

[h3]Fellow officers,[/h3]
in a complex sandbox game like Police Simulator: Patrol Officers, you can not always foresee what is happening next – and neither can you possibly make sure that the game will run on all possible hardware configurations without any issues.

However, we still want to optimize the game as much as possible but without your help, this will probably not be feasible. Especially in recent weeks, we've heard from a few users with special hardware configurations – primarily those that include an AMD CPU – that they have observed an increase in performance problems. In some areas, FPS appear to be somewhat inconsistent.

To help us in identifying the reason for these issues, we need your assistance! 🤗

We've created a Google Form which we'd kindly ask you to fill out after your recent game issues. In this Google Form, you will find all the necessary information that is required :)

Click here to get to the Google Form!

Thank you,
Your Police Simulator Team

https://store.steampowered.com/app/997010

[h2]Changelog - Beta Update 6.0.1[/h2]

New Features

• Gestures: Added the ability to order NPVs to drive in reverse
  

Improvements

• Improved NPV lane switching logic: NPVs will not block traffic when they want to switch lanes
  
• Added more intuition feedback to assist players in placing road blockers
  

Balancing

• Increased the speed requirement between NPV and player car to 35 mph to register as an accident
  
• Increased the distance between player and accident site for despawning of vehicles
  
• Increased the distance between player and NPV for hand gestures: Now players can use hand gestures from a longer distance
  
• Another attempt at decreasing the frequency of wallet thefts (maybe it works out this time...)
  

Gameplay

• Fixed a bug where players could run around without closing the interaction wheel and could interact with other NPCs
  
• Fixed an issue where sometimes players got negative CP for justifiably asking NPC to evacuate the premises
  
• Fixed an issue where cones can not be placed in the same location twice
  
• Fixed an issue where placing cones too close to driving NPV breaks traffic
  
• Fixed picking up traffic cones grants incorrect amount
  

NPV Behavior

• Fixed NPVs brake abruptly after being pulled over without enough space to change lanes
  
• Fixed blipped NPVs stopping too quickly for a lane switch after intersections
  
• Fixed NPVs lane switching at a too steep angle
  
• Fixed an issue where sometimes NPV drive and clip into the player car
  
• Fixed an issue where sometimes NPV were spawning in player view
  
• Fixed an issue where traffic outside Historic downtown was not moving
  

NPC Behavior

• Fixed stationary NPC standing on benches when drunk
  
• Fixed an issue where sitting NPC are floating above the bench
  
• Fixed an issue where driving NPC are standing
  

Multiplayer

• Fixed an issue in multiplayer where sometimes there could be no NPC spawning
  
• Fixed an issue where in multiplayer client did not see the animation when placing road blockers
  
• Fixed an issue when two players tried to enter the car at the same time, the client observed some graphical issues
  
• Fixed an issue where client was not able to reuse road barrier after picking it up
  
• Fixed an issue in multiplayer where the client legs do not move while sprinting + aiming cone
  
• Fixed an issue in multiplayer where the client gets stuck when ending shift while having any tool equipped
  

UI

• Fixed an issue where map was showing the wrong district border
  

Graphics

• Fixed an issue where changing to first-person view bugs our player character's face (it was kinda scary ☹️)
  

Tutorials

• Fixed an issue where some tutorials were not showing up when using a controller
  

Crashes

• Fixed crash which happened sometimes due to NPV not being able to find a new route
  
• Fixed multiple crashes relating to traffic and traffic management
  
• Fixed a crash that happened sometimes when NPV wanted to switch lanes
  
• Fixed a crash when arriving at accident site
  
• Fixed a crash related to car siren
  

[h2]Make sure to participate in our PS:PO Mod Contest![/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/997010/view/3363641088430631695

https://store.steampowered.com/app/997010

[h3]Hello to our new recruits,[/h3]

The Steam Summer Sale is well underway and, of course, we're part of it as well!

For a limited time only, you can save 20% on Police Simulator: Patrol Officers and get access to the streets of Brighton at a discount.

This sale runs from June 23 until July 7.

Police Simulator: Patrol Officers is even more fun as a co-op experience! If you're still looking for a partner, now's the perfect time to gift the game to a friend. And considering the next big update is just around the corner... there's no better time!

Take a look at the store page for details!

And it's not just us! Other games from the astragon portfolio are also deeply discounted - with up to 90% off.

Check out our publisher page for details.

See you soon on your next shift,
Your Police Simulator Team

https://store.steampowered.com/app/997010