CONVRGENCE news & patch notes

- Based on player feedback, Realistic difficulty has been made even more hardcore. Both you and your enemies now deal and receive even more damage. - Sniper damage in the Dead City now scales with the selected difficulty. On Realistic, being hungry or wearing a Hazmat Suit may result in a one-shot kill, so be careful! - The quest Bear now always spawns in a single location near the Sawmill, so you no longer have to search the entire map. Outside of the quest, its spawn location remains random. - Grass is now visible in the Forest on the Medium graphics preset. - Fixed several bugs related to the dog. For example, it now drops the ball or toy if it starts fighting, eating, or barking. - Fixed a bug where Kim (the Bandit Leader) was apparently firing his AKM with chewed-up paper instead of bullets. He now deals the correct damage. - Fixed the invisible wall (platform) in Dead City. Finally! - A few other minor fixes.

- Fixed an issue where some items had incorrect physics after the previous update (for example, UV grenades purchased from the shop). - Loot in bandits' pockets is now once again highlighted as soon as you get close (just like before 0.9.1). Interaction indicators now also appear correctly for all loot, including magazines. - Fixed the phantom round in the Mosin. - A few other minor fixes.

What’s New

• Added visuals for the van's Lead Shielding upgrade. Your van finally looks as protected as it actually is.

• Added a new graphics preset: Potato. Designed for the lowest-end systems.

• Added a new difficulty preset: Realistic. Both you and your enemies die in just a couple of hits.

Changes

• The Improved Scanner upgrade has been renamed to Improved PDA. After purchasing it, the PDA now also receives a new visual appearance.

• The PPSh can now jam.

• The Mosin rifle now correctly displays a round in the chamber.

Fixes

• Fixed an issue that could prevent reloading the Double-Barrel Shotgun and Revolver Shotgun on HTC Vive (hopefully - unfortunately, I can't test it myself).

• Fixed several issues related to player height:

  • Fixed cases where player height could be calculated incorrectly.

  • Fixed an issue where the player's head could collide with door frames, preventing them from walking through even when there appeared to be enough space.

  • Fixed the height offset not being reflected when opening the settings menu until the value was changed.

• Fixed an issue where the Mosin rifle could get stuck in the ground.

• Improved the quality of some textures.

• Optimized various scripts and models.

• Various other minor fixes and improvements.

- Fixed a bug that allowed artifacts to be stored in the van trunk and base storage. As a reminder, all artifacts must be transported in special containers and turned in immediately after a raid! - It is no longer possible to complete the second Scientists quest by extracting with the van. - Fixed a bug where the Saiga could not be holstered on the shoulder in Forest if the "Auto-holster" setting was disabled. - Fixed a bug where bandits could shoot through floors/ceilings in the Underground Facility if they were standing directly above/below the player. - Fixed a bug where animals could attack the player even when standing far above them (for example, on the church roof). - Fixed a bug where bandits could surrender too early (even before spotting the player). - Fixed the inability to attach the 8x scope to the Groza. - Fixed the ability to attach both an 8x scope and a canted red dot sight to the VSS. - Fixed a bug where cigars could disappear when opening and closing the pack too quickly. - Fixed a bug where a bandit's body could become invisible after death. - Fixed an issue where the PKM ammo box could not be detached after loading into a location. - Fixed a bug with the IR laser on long guns where the beam origin could jump or become misaligned. - Slightly increased the chance of Brute Demons spawning. - Made the warning text on the trapped locker more noticeable. - Weapons jammed by nearby cultists now play a unique sound effect. Yes, that's intentional - being close to cultists increases the chance of weapon malfunctions. - The "Now That’s Lucky" achievement is no longer tied to the upgraded artifact container and is now awarded simply for finding a second artifact during a raid. - Updated the Trunk upgrade description to better explain its purpose. - Updated the Insurance description to better explain how it works. - Flashlights no longer wash out red dot sights on long guns. Previously, using them with a headlamp could make aiming difficult. - Visual attachment highlights are now shown when installing attachments at the workbench during raids. - Optimized items stored in backpacks and displayed in shop stands. - Various other minor fixes and improvements. P.S. Hotfix for the Hotfix - Fixed a bug where the warning label appeared on the doors of all lockers. - Fixed a bug with the "Now That's Lucky" achievement, where it could be unlocked by finding a second artifact in a different raid. - Fixed a bug with the "Pacifist" achievement, where it could only be earned during the first raid of a game session.

- Fixed a bug where items could disappear from the van's trunk. - Fixed a bug where the Level 2 UV Defense upgrade could disappear from the van. - Fixed a bug where changing outfits during a raid would not update the actual protection values. - Fixed a bug where the 8x scope could disappear from a weapon when used together with a canted red dot sight. - Fixed a bug where the 8x scope could sometimes not be attached to a weapon. - Fixed a bug where a dead sniper's laser could remain visible. - Fixed the broken animation on the Flippo lighter after placing it in a backpack. - Slightly increased the chance of a Convergent Shift at all reputation levels. - Convergent Shifts are now guaranteed by the third raid when required for a quest. - Increased the price of the PKM ammo box from 4,000 to 8,000 (previously, buying ammo boxes was far more cost-effective than buying ammo packs). - Increased the price of the PKM from 14,000 to 16,000. - Increased the price of the SVD from 10,000 to 12,000. - Various other minor fixes and improvements. P.S. Hotfix for the Hotfix The black screen issue when buying or switching outfits at the base has now been fixed too.

- Slightly increased cigars spawn chance. They are now much more likely to appear in apartments in Dead City. - Fixed a bug where Truffle might not sell items required to unlock the Vehicle Workshop. - Fixed a bug where Prigor might not accept a pack of cigars. - Fixed a bug where the balance shown on Prigor’s screen would not update after trading with other traders. - Fixed a bug where the final quest for unlocking Reputation Level 6 would not count on the Garages location. - Fixed a bug where it was impossible to extract from Dead City after completing the final quest for unlocking Reputation Level 6. - Fixed a bug where the second artifact could disappear from the upgraded container. - Some other minor fixes.

What’s New

Reputation Level 6

Added 6 new main missions that unlock access to Reputation Level 6.

New weapons added to the shop:

• PKM machine gun

• MTs-255 revolver shotgun (secondary weapon sawed-off version)

New attachments and utility items added:

• 8x scope

• IR laser sights (only visible through NVGs and invisible to enemies)

• UV grenades for underbarrel grenade launchers

• Speedloaders for the MTs-255

New upgrades added:

• Level 4 storage upgrade

• Riffle scabbard for a second primary weapon on the backpack

• Expanded artifact container

Stash Intel

Zakharich now sells stash intel drives that guarantee a stash spawn on the corresponding location during your next raid:

• SKS stash (Garage Cooperative) - Rep Level 4 

• Groza stash (Underground Facility) - Rep Level 5 

• VSS stash (Dead City) - Rep Level 6 

New Hideout Upgrade - Vehicle Workshop

• A new Vehicle Workshop area and a new trader, the mechanic Prigor, have been added to the hideout.

• The Vehicle Workshop can be accessed through the Garage.

• After unlocking the Vehicle Workshop, hunters gain access to vehicle upgrades.

Vehicle Upgrades 

Available upgrades include:

• Installing a workbench inside the van to clean weapons or swap attachments during raids

• Additional storage space (secure container - сontents are preserved on death, even without insurance)

• And much more!

New Enemy Variants

• Added a new demon variant - Brute Demon. These demons are larger, stronger, and much tougher than regular demons.

• Added a new cultist variant - Masked Cultist. Not every cultist can now be killed with a single headshot.

Other Additions

• Added new loot items that can be found during raids, including cigars and a new lighter.

• Added several dozen new voice lines for Zakharich (mostly comments about loot).

• Added automatic save in the Hideout after leaving any trader room (for example, the armory or infirmary).

• Exit buttons in the in-game menu are now labeled “Save and Exit…” for better clarity.

• The VSS fire mode switch is now animated.

• Switching the sawed-off shotgun’s fire mode (single/double shot) now visually changes the position of the second trigger. 

• Added a small deadzone for controller sticks to reduce the effect of slight stick drift (previously the input sensitivity was too high).

• A new competitive season has begun. Leaderboards have been reset.

• 12 new achievements added.

Changes

• Item grabbing has been reworked and now checks finger areas instead of the palm, making interactions more comfortable.

• Locations now have a small chance to spawn a second artifact.

• AKM recoil slightly increased.

• AKM jam chance reduced.

• The shooting range can now return multiple ammo boxes depending on how much ammo was used, instead of being limited to a single full box. 

• 7.62x54 ammo boxes (SVD, PKM) now hold 30 rounds instead of 20 and cost 2500 instead of 1700.

• Large 7.62x54 ammo boxes now hold 90 rounds instead of 60, and the price has been increased from 4500 to 7500.

• PMM and Stechkin damage slightly increased.

• RGO impact grenades now have an additional fuse timer that guarantees detonation, like in real life, even if the impact force or throw distance was insufficient.

• Alpha Demon (boss) movement speed slightly increased.

• All scopes can now be mounted on the VSS, not just the PSO.

• Prices for some loot items were reduced (electronic game, circuit boards, tetris), but they now spawn much more frequently.

• Hybrid Scope price reduced from 5000 to 4000.

• Mines are now sold at Reputation Level 6 instead of 5.

• Sounds of ongoing gunfights with bandits now travel slightly farther and are more likely to attract nearby bandits.

• Dead bandit bodies are now noticed from greater distances by other bandits.

• Demon bodies now align to terrain properly instead of floating after death.

• Disabling attachment placement highlights no longer disables gun wall interaction hints.

• Weapon placement on the wall has been slightly rearranged to make room for the two new weapons.

• The starting room in the Underground Facility has been slightly modified to make room for the van. 

• Easy and Medium difficulty now include protection against chain explosions (for example, when a demon explosion triggers a nearby trap explosion - now only the first explosion deals damage).

• The “Free Healthcare” achievement now requires healing in the Infirmary 10 times instead of 20. 

Fixes

• Improved performance on the Garages location (another source of FPS drops was found and fixed).

• Improved performance in the player’s room in the Hideout (gun rack and storage loot optimized).

• Knocking out magazines with another magazine is now possible for all compatible magazine types and weapons where it would realistically work.

• Fixed a bug where returning an item to Vera did not display the proper text on the computer screen when playing in English.

• Fixed a bug where “High Demand” text could appear while selling items in the bar.

• Fixed incorrect fire mode switch positioning on the Stechkin.

• Fixed a bug where the ritual book could be sold at the bar.

• Fixed an issue with tripwires in Garages spawning in unintended places.

• Fixed the floating extended Groza magazine bug.

• Reload hints for the Groza and VSS now properly display extended magazines when equipped.

• Fixed a bug where it was possible to load 2 shells into the sawed-off shotgun instead of 1 when loading from a shell holder.

• Fixed a bug where the APS could be placed inside the backpack during raids.

• Improved biomass texture quality.

• Fixed a bug where a cigarette could be lit from another unlit cigarette.

• Fixed a bug where Vera’s healing voice lines could overlap.

• Fixed a bug with invisible dynamite in Dead City.

• Various other minor fixes and improvements.

Hey hunters!

Here’s your first look at the major update 0.9!

As I mentioned in the latest dev diary, patch 0.9 will introduce the long-awaited reputation level 6, bringing new gear and some seriously powerful weapons, along with a new hideout upgrade - the Vehicle Workshop.

At the Vehicle Workshop, you’ll be able to upgrade your van - for example, by installing a workbench and maintaining your gear right in the raid, just like in this screenshot.

According to the roadmap, the update is planned for early summer.

Want to stay up to date and see more behind-the-scenes development? Join our Discord - I regularly share progress, screenshots, and run closed beta tests for major updates there.

And If you enjoy the game and would like to support me a bit more, the simplest way to do that is by leaving a review on Steam or picking up a Supporter Pack. It genuinely helps the project a lot and allows me to keep working on it. Thank you for that!

Hello hunters!

As we approach the two-year anniversary of CONVRGENCE in Early Access on April 22, I just want to say a huge thank you. This project wouldn’t be where it is today without your support.

A lot of work has gone into the game over the past year, including three major updates and many smaller ones - and now we’re getting close to full release. I recently shared a roadmap to 1.0 - don’t forget to check it out!

To celebrate this milestone, I’m releasing Supporter Pack #3 - a small cosmetic DLC for those who’d like to additionally support the game and its ongoing development.

Every bit of support truly makes a difference and helps me keep moving forward as a solo developer. Thank you for being part of this journey!

NikZ

What’s New

• A new Roadmap has been added to the game.

• Extended magazines for the Groza and VSS have been added - can be found in raids or purchased from Truffle.

• Vera now allows refunds on items she just sold you.

• Based on a Discord poll (62% in favor), long gun reloading has been made more realistic - by default, you can no longer drop magazines with a button (this is still available for pistols).

• For those who preferred the old behavior, a new setting has been added: Mag Eject Button, which restores the more arcade-style reload.

• Another QoL feature has been added: magazine removal can now be set to Trigger + Grip to prevent accidental grabs when handling weapons with both hands.

• The revolver now automatically snaps shut after a spin.

• Supporter Pack 3 content has been added to the game.

• The Cosmetics section in Settings now indicates where cosmetic items can be obtained.

Fixes

• Fixed a bug where invalid items could be placed into the artifact container.

• Fixed a bug where an opened drink thrown on the ground could pour infinitely, with the sound audible from any distance.

• Fixed a bug where cigarettes could raise Energy above 100.

• Fixed a bug where alcoholic drinks could lower Energy below 0.

• Fixed a bug where some opened food items (e.g. chocolate or hematogen) could not be eaten after being stored in a backpack or storage.

• Fixed a bug where the running sound continued playing when entering the healing area.

• Fixed a bug where the The Narrow Escape achievement did not register on all locations.

• Fixed a bug where the Sacrifice achievement was granted for killing a cultist.

• Sold loot now disappears after leaving the trader room to improve performance.

• Improved performance on the Garage Cooperative location (a cause of occasional FPS drops under certain map generations has been identified and fixed).

• Various other minor fixes and improvements.

Hello, hunters!

It’s time to tell you about the upcoming updates and the game’s development plans for this year. I’m excited to present the 2026 Roadmap!

And now in a bit more detail.

Update 0.8

Patch 0.8 is already available, but I still included it in the roadmap for clarity. And yes, technically it released at the very end of winter (late February), but by that point it already felt like spring - even in the game locations the snow had stopped falling :)

Supporter Pack 3

In April, to celebrate the second anniversary of the game’s Early Access release, a new cosmetic pack will become available - something many players have been asking me about for quite a while.

Thank you all so much for the additional support!

Update 0.9

Patch 0.9 will introduce Reputation Level 6, along with new powerful weapons and advanced equipment, as well as new missions required to unlock it.

In addition, this update will add the final hideout upgrade - the Vehicle Workshop. This will allow you to upgrade your transport, for example by adding extra storage space or unlocking access to a workbench during raids. All of these upgrades will make life much easier, so be prepared - they won’t come cheap. Finally, veteran hunters will have something to spend their savings on!

The update is currently planned for late May / early June. However, the scope of work is quite large, so I marked it simply as Summer on the roadmap to leave some room for adjustment if necessary.

Update 1.0

Patch 1.0 will primarily focus on improving the game’s main storyline.

The currently separate missions used to unlock reputation levels will become more connected. Each of them will receive voice acting and proper story context. I would also like to reduce the amount of grinding in these missions (fetch quests) and introduce more unique quest types.

The game will also receive a proper ending that players can reach. A new final location will be added specifically for this purpose.

The full release will also introduce advanced graphics and difficulty settings, a new tutorial, and the long-awaited cloud saves.

Also planned

This section of the roadmap lists features that are also a priority, but which I can’t confidently assign to a specific update yet.

Some of them will most likely appear in both 0.9 and 1.0, such as optimization improvements or various QoL changes. Others - like new enemies or more variety for existing maps - could potentially move to post-release support if necessary.

Thoughts on the full release

As developers often say, the last 10% of development usually takes another 90% of the time. Because of that, the timeline for version 1.0 is the most uncertain part of the roadmap. Still, I believe it’s realistic to aim for a release this fall.

For the same reason, there won’t be an anniversary update with new content this year like we had previously. At that time, all development efforts will be focused on patch 0.9.

Final thoughts

There’s still a lot of work ahead, but slowly and steadily we’re moving closer to the full release of the game.

But that doesn’t mean development will stop afterward. I still have plenty of ideas for updates beyond 1.0 - who knows, maybe one day we’ll even reach version 2.0. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves :)

That’s all for today. Thank you to everyone who continues to play the game, share feedback, and support the project!

See you in the Zone!

- Fixed stutters on the Garage Cooperative location that appeared after update 0.8.0. - Improved performance on the Garage Cooperative and Dead City locations (optimized some models and added new LODs for certain objects). - Fixed a bug where loot could fall through furniture in apartments on the Dead City location. - Fixed a gray screen bug after descending a rope. - Fixed a bug where bandits could shoot through cover (now crouching behind cars or trash containers is finally a viable tactic). - Fixed a bug where bandits could shoot through floors and ceilings inside buildings on the Dead City location if they were directly below/above the player. - Fixed a bug where bandits didn’t use grenades on the Dead City location. - Fixed a bug where the injector case could be placed in the backpack or storage. - Added missing collision to some walls on the Dead City location. - Reduced the size of the extraction area on the Forest location. - Enemies can no longer enter the extraction area on the Forest location. - Added roads outside the playable area on the Dead City location. - Improved tree models on the Dead City location (removed floating branches). - The dog at the base now makes attention-seeking sounds less often and will stop doing so completely if you pet him. - Various other minor changes and fixes.

- Fixed a broken tutorial step related to holstering the artifact container. - Fixed a bug allowing incompatible attachments to be mounted on the Groza. - Fixed a bug where bandits could enter the area under staircases (including clipping through walls). - Fixed a bug where the dog could teleport onto the entrance roof of an apartment building.. - Fixed missing collision on some objects. - Fixed several cases where bandits could play certain voice lines at inappropriate times (for example, after surrendering). - Dispatcher messages during raids now play slightly less often. - Ammo boxes in belt slots are now rotated so the ammo count is visible while playing seated. - Added descriptions to the price tags of legendary weapon attachments (quest weapons). - Some other minor changes and fixes. I’m also investigating other annoying bugs, such as bandits sometimes shooting through walls or loot falling through objects in apartments, but these will take a bit more time to fix.

- Fixed a bug where a convergent shift could trigger before the timer finished. - Fixed a bug where car med kits couldn’t be turned in to Vera. - Fixed a bug that allowed purchases in the Infirmary even without enough funds, resulting in a negative balance. - Fixed a bug allowing incompatible attachments to be mounted on the VSS. - Fixed a bug where the Groza’s barrel didn’t get dirty. - Fixed broken jam animations on the Groza and VSS. - Fixed trees spawning inside buildings on the Dead City location. - Fixed a bug with invisible walls in Dead City (at least one of the causes - there may be others; please report if the issue persists). - Some other minor fixes.

- Reduced the chance of a convergent shift during a raid and increased its timer from 2 to 3 minutes. - Added an additional system to help with finding car first aid kits - if RNG has been especially unkind to you for several raids in a row, a guaranteed kit will spawn in the location. - City snipers no longer attack the player during the first 10 seconds of a raid. - Fixed a bug where money was being deducted from the player’s account when entering the Infirmary. - Fixed a bug where the injector case had no price tag and could be purchased multiple times. - Fixed a bug that allowed the same car first aid kit to be turned in multiple times. - Fixed a bug where undamaged skin/flesh could be obtained using a completely dull knife. - After descending a rope, the selected teleport movement mode no longer switches to smooth locomotion. - Added extra collision to apartment floors and ceilings - bandits should no longer shoot through them. - When holstering the artifact container, the hand holding the lid now automatically releases it.

- Fixed the “Knight in Shining Armor” achievement unlocking too early or not unlocking at all. - Fixed an issue where the system time could disappear from the watch after leaving the extraction zone. - Fixed a bug where the sell price of weapons was not being saved in the PDA. - Fixed an issue where RGO impact grenades could fail to trigger. Please note that they now have a minimum travel time to prevent exploding too close to the player - the grenade must be in flight for at least 1 second before it can detonate. - Fixed a bug where multiple weapon stashes could spawn on the same location. - Sold grenades and other explosives can no longer be detonated by shooting or hitting them. - Boars in the Forest now spawn slightly less often than wolves.

What’s New

Infirmary

• A new hideout upgrade has been added - Infirmary, along with a new trader - Vera.

• The Infirmary provides free post-raid healing and access to new medical items.

• New stimulants added: Regenazol – passive health regeneration, Hemostat – prevents bleeding, Appetol – slows hunger and thirst buildup.

• Injector caps can now be removed using your mouth.

• New equipment upgrade added - Injector Case.

New guns

• Two new weapons added: Groza and VSS.

• Groza can be found in one of the stashes in the Underground Facility and VSS can be found in one of the stashes in Dead City.

• 9×39 - new ammo caliber is now sold by Zakharich at Reputation 3.

Dead City - Daytime Variant

• Added a daytime version of the Dead City location.

• Added a new bandit tripwire type - shotgun trap.

• Added several new apartment variants in the Dead City, including a new stash.

• Improved environmental detail in the Dead City: more trash on roads, clutter on balconies, and additional objects outside the playable area.

New Enemy

• A new bandit enemy type has been added - Bandit Sniper.

• You can encounter them in the city location during the day.

Convergent Shifts

• During a raid, there is now a small chance of a Convergent Shift occurring.

• You will be warned in advance and must immediately proceed to the extraction point. Staying within the affected area will result in death.

• After an emission, an artifact is guaranteed to spawn on the location.

• New shift-related announcements added to base loudspeakers.

Knife Sharpening

• Knife sharpening has been added.

• Knives can now become dull - don’t forget to use a sharpening stone between raids.

• An unsharpened knife deals less damage, and a completely dull knife makes perfect skinning impossible.

Other Additions

• New equipment upgrade - Improved PDA Scanner, showing the exact item price.

• New loot items added.

• Some items sold by Zakharich (such as suits) now have more detailed descriptions where their properties were not obvious.

• Added hand animation when manually closing the sawn-off shotgun.

• Spring has arrived in Chernokamensk - snow no longer falls on locations.

• A new leaderboard competitive season has begun.

• 13 new achievements added.

Changes

• The compass (direction to extraction) is now enabled by default for all players.

• Tutorial has been updated to explain compass functionality.

• Character movement speed has been slightly increased.

• The presence of an exploding demon inside apartments can now be detected in advance via sounds and biomass.

• Headlamp visual effect has been updated, headlamp shadows are now enabled on all graphics settings.

• Glow sticks near important quest objects (hunter, stash, etc.) are now red instead of green to avoid confusion with extraction points.

• Saiga damage and effective range have been significantly increased.

• PP-9 damage slightly increased; suppressors can now be attached to it.

• SKS damage slightly increased.

• After dying in a raid, you now respawn directly near Zakharich to ensure you don’t miss the insurance reminder.

• Adrenaline is now sold by Vera.

• Anti-rad is now sold at Reputation 4 instead of 3.

• The achievement-based progress restoration message can no longer be missed - it must be acknowledged to continue.

• Improved Detector is now sold at Reputation 2.

• Base loudspeaker announcements now play slightly less frequently.

• The weapon rack in the player room has been expanded to fit the new weapons.

• Truffle’s items for side quests are now sorted by priority. For example, if you’ve already unlocked the bar and completed the hunter quest, only car first aid kits will appear in his left slot.

• Thrown weapons (grenades, knives, Molotovs, etc.) now always use hold mode, even if press grab is selected in the settings - for better throwing.

Fixes

• All game audio has been optimized to reduce CPU load. Some sounds may now be louder or quieter than before - please report any issues.

• Fixed an issue where the PMM could not be sold.

• Fixed an issue where the PMM could not be scanned using the PDA.

• Fixed a bug where firing the Energy Rifle in the shooting range returned SVD ammo (this time for real).

• Fixed a bug allowing bar items to be purchased without sufficient funds, resulting in negative balance.

• Fixed an issue where the balance display wouldn’t update for other traders after buying from Truffle.

• Fixed an issue where the PP-9 stock could not be folded/unfolded after placing the weapon in a vise.

• Fixed an issue where loot dug up by the dog appeared slightly too early - spawning is now less noticeable.

• Fixed an issue where bottle caps could be placed into the backpack and would become oversized.

• Fixed an issue where progress restoration would send players into the tutorial instead of directly to the hideout.

• Fixed a bug where Truffle’s item could go on cooldown and disappear if you exited without saving.

• Improved impact grenade logic - it should no longer explode mid-air.

• Other minor fixes and improvements.

Hi hunters! The holidays are behind us - which means I’m already hard at work on the next major update: patch 0.8. It’s planned for the first quarter and will bring a lot of new things to the game. Among the more obvious additions are new weapons, bringing a new caliber to the game: 9x39. And among the less obvious ones is a new hideout upgrade, which I’ve left a small hint about in this image. What do you think it might be - and what new possibilities could it unlock?

And of course, with 2026 now here, you might reasonably ask me: “Nik, what about a new roadmap? The one for last year is already outdated”. And yes - that’s true. But publishing it right now would mean laying all my cards on the table at once, and I’d like to keep a few surprises for now 🙂 So most likely I’ll update the roadmap and talk about my plans for this year closer to the release of 0.8 or together with it. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ That’s all for today. Join our Discord if you want to stay up to date and be the first to hear the news - I regularly share more detailed progress there and also run closed beta tests for bigger updates before release: https://discord.gg/9t79QCHvPc

If you enjoy the game and would like to support me a bit more, the simplest way to do that is by leaving a review on Steam or picking up a Supporter Pack. It genuinely helps the project a lot and allows me to keep working on it. Thank you for that!

And if you’re still just checking the game out, it’s currently available with a 30% discount until January 19. Happy hunting!

- The Holiday event has ended - Fixed incorrect Mosin physics when holding it only by the foregrip (wobbling issue) - Fixed a bug where the AI-2 syringe could get stuck floating in the air - Fixed a bug where a bandit’s body could start sliding away after death - Fixed a bug where some items were not being saved in the right hand - Fixed a bug where a weapon held in the right hand would not disappear after death when dying without insurance - Fixed a bug where demons would stand still in the Dead City location - they now patrol the streets as intended - Slightly increased the spawn chance of the AKM drum magazine in raids - Slightly reduced the AKM jam chance - The location can no longer spawn more than one SKS stash at a time

- Bandages and antirad can now also be placed into belt slots - Head-collision screen fading is now temporarily disabled when the in-game menu is open so the menu and the Stuck function remain visible - Fixed an issue where the High Noon achievement could not be unlocked after update 0.7.4 - Fixed a bug where the PPSh magazine had to be removed and reinserted to work correctly - Fixed an issue where the laser/flashlight state was not being saved for weapons in holsters - Fixed a bug where a gas mask saved in the backpack stopped protecting against artifacts at the base - Weapons held only by the foregrip are now automatically re-gripped so they can be saved correctly - Fixed an issue where an artifact saved in hand would turn into a regular item - Fixed an issue where an artifact container saved in hand would turn into a lab case - Fixed a bug where both a suppressor and a bayonet could be attached to the AK at the same time - The Saiga can no longer have both a suppressor and an underbarrel grenade launcher attached at the same time - Fixed a bug where the x4 scope could be attached to the crossbow - Fixed a bug introduced in 0.7.4 where campfires no longer ignited flammable items (cigarettes, Molotovs, dynamite, etc.) and no longer affected grenades and ammo - Fixed a bug where bandit PPSh magazines were always full - Fixed several spots near the exits on the Garage Cooperative location where enemies could enter closed garages - Some other minor fixes and improvements

- Fixed a bug where weapons would reset to a clean state after a raid - Fixed a bug where ammo boxes and food were being refilled when entering a raid - Fixed an issue where weapon camouflages didn’t always update in real time and only changed after switching locations - Fixed an issue where weapons saved in hand could behave unstably for the first few seconds (floating around the hand) - Fixed a bug where a drink cap saved in hand could be turned into a bottle - Fixed an issue where shooting the Energy Rifle in the shooting range would grant SVD ammo - Fixed an incorrect texture on the Saiga stock - Fixed a bug where the AKM bolt and internal mechanism were not getting dirty - Fixed an issue where weapons in stashes could spawn in incorrect positions - When the game is paused, the held item is now locked in the hand - this should prevent a rare issue where weapons could disappear after unpausing - Loudspeakers at the base can now be destroyed - Medical items (AI-2, adrenaline, and med syringe) can now be placed into belt slots - Some other minor changes and fixes

- Fixed an issue where spent ammunition was not replenished in the shooting range - Fixed crossbow bolts disappearing from the quiver and shells disappearing from the Obrez shell holder when loading into a raid - Fixed revolver duplication (constantly reappearing on the gun wall) - Fixed duplication of the crossbow, flamethrower, and energy rifle when saving them in the vise - Fixed a bug that allowed the revolver to be sold - Fixed an issue where it was impossible to select a different dog hat after switching to the new reindeer antlers hat (final event reward) - Fixed an issue where the SKS could not be slung over the shoulder at the base - Added a hint for discovering the new stash in the garages - Some other minor fixes

- Fixed a bug where magazines could disappear from weapons when loading into a raid. - Fixed a black screen issue when changing outfits. - Fixed a bug where the gas mask from the hazmat suit could disappear. - Fixed a gray texture issue inside the new SKS stash in the garages.

Christmas is coming, and Zakharich, as always, decided the big tree at the checkpoint absolutely must be decorated. This time, he needs blue ornaments and is more than willing to reward anyone who brings them. As an extra incentive, every ornament you turn in also counts toward your current main quest progress. On top of that, collecting 3, 10, 20, and 35 ornaments will unlock unique event rewards!

Rewards

• Log in during the event - 2024 Car Ornament.

• 3 ornaments — 2024 Dog Hat.

• 10 ornaments — 2024 Knife Skin.

• 20 ornaments — 2024 Weapon Camo.

• 35 ornaments — 2025 New Reward: Dog Hat.

The event runs until January 11. Good hunting, and happy holidays!

FAQ

Q: If I don’t collect all rewards before January 11, will I lose them forever?

A: No. You will be able to obtain them during next year’s event.

Q: I participated last year. Do I need to unlock everything again?

A: No, your previous progress is saved. You’ll continue from where you left off.

Q. Where can I track my current event progress?

A. You can track it on the special screen above the exit of Zakharich’s shop.

Q: I unlocked a reward but can’t find it.

A: You can activate it in Settings → Cosmetics. If the option is still unavailable, re-launch the game.

Q: Where is the best place to look for ornaments?

A: Ornaments spawn randomly on all locations, just like regular loot. However, they have an increased spawn chance in the Dead City. Apartments there may contain Christmas trees, and each tree has a guaranteed ornament underneath.

Q: What does it mean that ornaments count toward main quest progress?

A: For example, if Zakharich asks you to bring him three light bulbs, he’ll happily accept ornaments instead during the event. This applies to all fetch-type main quests.

Q: I still have ornaments from last year. Can I turn them in?

A: No. Last year’s ornaments are red, while this year Zakharich specifically needs blue ones.

Q: Are the rewards the same as last year?

A: No. There is a brand-new final reward this year - a unique dog hat with reindeer antlers.

What’s New

• The Holiday event has begun, featuring daily gifts and unique cosmetic rewards. More details are available in a separate news post.

• The SKS has been added to the game. It can be found in a new stash on the Garage Cooperative location.

• Weapons and other items can now be extracted from raids directly in your hands. ⚠ IMPORTANT Adding this feature required a major overhaul of the entire weapon saving system - including weapon storage on the body, the weapon rack, and several related systems (dirt system, reload hint system, and skin system). Most importantly, the new system uses a different data format for storing this information. I’ve done my best to make this transition as seamless as possible. All old save data should be converted automatically. However, while unlikely, issues such as missing weapons or attachments are still possible. Please be understanding if you encounter any problems.

Additional benefits of the new saving system:

• Laser and flashlight states (on/off) are now saved when changing locations

• The vise in the room now works as a full-fledged weapon storage slot

• The store now allows purchasing duplicates of any weapon

Other Additions

• Snowfall has been added to locations, and the base is now decorated for the holidays

• Informational announcements can now occasionally be heard through loudspeakers in the hideout

• A slot machine has been added to the bar — time to hit the jackpot!

• Stairwells in the Dead City can now be collapsed, blocking access upstairs (similar to the debris added in the previous update)

• New ambient sounds for the Forest at night

• Additional guidance voice lines from Zakharich for the first Forest raid (road signs, compass, and extraction)

• Campfire flame effects have been visually improved

• Ammunition now explodes after prolonged exposure to fire

Changes

• Some Crossbow Hunter dialogue lines have been adjusted to better explain quest objectives

• After reaching 5 reputation, access to the scientists (side quest) now unlocks immediately

• Removed bottle caps (beer, vodka, kvass) no longer snap back when released

• Removed caps from med syringes and adrenaline can now be picked up and reattached

• Fog in the Forest location is now slightly brighter

• Maximum brightness (far-right slider value) has been increased

• Night vision goggles now have increased range and field of view

• After recent field tests, scientists have doubled the damage of UV grenades — good work, hunters!

• Prices for the PPSh, Mosin, and Obrez have been reduced from 1500 to 750 rubles

• Dispatcher message subtitles no longer appear during raids

• Items no longer fall out of the hands when the game is paused

Fixes

• Fixed an issue where the high-demand item text was displayed outside the PDA screen

• Fixed a bug where visiting a stash in Dead City counted toward the Underground Facility stash quest

• Fixed an issue allowing entry into radiation zones without a gas mask if it was in the backpack at raid start

• Fixed incorrect texture on the bear pelt item

• Fixed a bug where automatic pause (when removing the VR headset) could trigger during the first seconds of a location load

• Fixed an issue where the AK from the Underground Facility stash could become invisible

• Fixed an issue where the Stuck function could teleport the player to incorrect coordinates after fast rope descents in Dead City

• Fixed inconsistent behavior of auto-run (full stick tilt)

• Other minor fixes and improvements

Until January 5, the game is available with a 40% discount, and Supporter Packs are discounted by 20%.

Happy Holidays, hunters!

Hey hunters!

Patch 0.7.3 is a collection of improvements that make the game noticeably more comfortable to play. After all, it's hard to enjoy the experience when you can’t properly adjust the game to your liking or when you accidentally lose a weapon and end up frustrated.

Many of these improvements have been requested for a long time, so I decided to pause work on new content and gather most of your suggestions into one extra, unscheduled update to make the game more comfortable and welcoming for everyone.

Quality of Life Improvements

• Weapons now automatically return to their holsters when released, just like the knife, backpack, and other gear. If you’ve never had issues with accidentally losing weapons, you can turn this setting off.

• If you exit the game or load into a raid while a weapon is still clamped in a vise on the workbench, it no longer disappears. Instead it’s placed on the gun wall and saved.

• The PDA scanner can now display information about weapon dirtiness, the number of rounds left in a magazine, and the fill level of food/drinks.

• A separate height adjustment for the pistol holster and knife sheath has been added. You no longer need to raise the entire belt if the pistol is uncomfortable to grab.

• The height calibration settings now show your current offset values.

• A vignette effect for smooth locomotion and turning has been added to the settings. It narrows the field of view to reduce motion sickness. Its intensity can be adjusted in the Controls menu. Disabled by default.

• The game now automatically pauses if you take off your headset and step away. It automatically resumes when you return.

• When selling weapons, the value of installed attachments and inserted magazines is now included. No more disassembling your weapon to maximize profit.

• The raid leaderboard now also shows the score you earned in your latest run. You can more accurately track your outings and compare them to your personal best.

• Canned food can now be eaten directly from the can by bringing it to your mouth — not only with a knife as before.

• The rail for mounting a laser/flashlight on the Saiga has been shifted to the side for more comfortable use with the newly added suppressor.

• You can now quickly descend to the street using a rope anchored at the window from the top floors of apartment buildings in the Dead City.

• Upper floors can now also be blocked off by rubble on staircases to reduce unnecessary running around. There is no loot above such blockages — instead, it is more densely distributed on the lower floors.

• The last opened vertical tab in Zakharich’s shop is now remembered and remains open if you exit and return to the shop.

• The gas mask can now be stored in your backpack simply by throwing it over your shoulder, like regular loot.

• The gas mask now stays in your backpack when changing locations.

• Dynamite, grenades, and Molotovs can now be detonated by shooting them — including those placed in tripwires or carried in bandits’ pockets. Blowing up an entire group of bandits by sniping a grenade sticking out of someone’s pocket? Sounds like a future achievement.

Fixes

• Fixed a bug where the animation of the rotating display stands in Zakharich’s shop could break, making it impossible to purchase certain items.

• A grenade launched from an underbarrel grenade launcher mounted on the Saiga should no longer collide with the suppressor.

• Fixed a bug where removing the foregrip from a weapon caused the player to lose the ability to grab the handguard.

• Fixed a bug where Zakharich’s radio instructions would not play if you went to the night version of the Forest instead of the day one during your very first raid.

• Several other minor fixes and adjustments.

Conclusion

Hunter, I hope these improvements make your time in the Zone even better! If you enjoy the direction the game is heading, a review would mean the world to me. And if you want to support the dev even more, the Supporter Packs are 40% off through the Supporter Edition until December 1st. Your support and the feedback are what keeps this game going — thank you.

- Fixed an issue where the AI-2 syringe couldn’t be taken during raids after 0.7.2.2. - Fixed a bug where cultists wouldn’t react to hits from very long distances. - Fixed a bug where the “Roadside Picnic” achievement might not trigger. - The reticles on the 6x and 4x scopes are now clearly visible when using NVGs. - Some other minor fixes and adjustments.

- The Halloween event has ended. - Breathing in the gas mask is now slightly quieter. - Fixed a bug where cultists could die from grenades or Molotovs even if they didn’t land near them. - Fixed a bug where fire would kill cultists instantly. - Fixed a bug where the Bar could disappear when using teleport movement. - Fixed a bug where the AI-2 syringe could be taken before opening the medkit. - Fixed a bug where the location tutorial (the briefing from the soldier) would repeat if the player went into the Forest at night instead of during the day on their first raid. - Fixed a bug where loot wouldn’t spawn in the burned house in the Forest. - Fixed a bug where the achievement for spending a night in the Zone wouldn’t count in the night Forest or night City. - Some other minor fixes.

- Fixed a bug where the event reward might not unlock. Players affected by this issue need to turn in one more pumpkin. - Fixed a bug where the energy rifle could malfunction near cultists. - Fixed several AI-2 related bugs: inability to put the syringe back, inability to pick the syringe up from the floor, and incorrect grab indicator. - The bolt/slide now automatically releases from the hand if the weapon is no longer being held. - Added a bit more sound variety for the Bear. - Adjusted bandit ragdoll parameters - they should now feel heavier and more realistic.