Im Bann Der Dunklen Jagd news & patch notes

Some players (especially from Turkey) have recently reported issues connecting to the online co-op mode.

While this does not affect everyone, a few users have found that the following workaround helped them establish a connection:

Several players reported that changing their Steam download region allowed the online co-op to work for them.

How to try it:

• Fixed an issue where the game could crash after losing, restarting the level, and losing again.

• Fixed a boss fight bug where the remaining player could not escape after defeating the boss if the other player had already died.

If you find any bugs, feel free to let me know. I only noticed this crash after two defeats because I happened to be watching a stream.

Note: Players in certain regions (such as Turkey) may experience connection issues due to ISP restrictions on P2P connections. If you have trouble joining, please try disabling VPNs and checking firewall settings.

After more than a year and a half of development, Im Bann der Dunklen Jagd now officially leaves Early Access.

The game first released exactly one year ago, and since then I have worked intensively on improvements, especially performance and stability.

From now on, development will mainly focus on smaller patches and bug fixes. I want to sincerely thank everyone who supported, tested, and provided feedback during the Early Access period.

And yes… happy birthday to the game 🎂

• Early Access finished: The game is now officially out of Early Access!

• English voice lines have been added.

• End credits extended, important players who supported the project are now mentioned there.

• New Emote

• Added new loading screens

• Enemy speeds adjusted, they increase the longer a chase lasts and are temporarily slowed after being stunned.

• Major performance improvements

• Flashlight has been reworked

Enemies will detect players later when the flashlight is turned off

Extras:

New Friend "Freddy"

Early Access Player Trophy: Awarded to players who achieved a specific in-game goal during the Early Access phase. (No longer obtainable.)

Achievement-Trophy

• The game may crash when returning to the main menu during an active session.

• The Early Access trophy is currently only visible for the host.

• In rare cases, both players may spawn with the same skin.

• Players in certain regions (such as Turkey) may experience connection issues due to ISP restrictions on P2P connections. If you have trouble joining, please try disabling VPNs and checking firewall settings.

Bugs can be reported here:

Community Forum

Instagram

You can also find more of my smaller projects and game jam titles on Itch.io/FabianSmi

• End Credits have been added.
• Emotes for Controller have been added.

• Interaction Icons have been revamped.
• Smoother Movement: Movement animations have been improved to provide a smoother gameplay experience.
• Enemy Flash Function has been visually changed.
• Storage space has been reduced.
• When the player dies during the Boss fight and restarts, they now land in the sequence just before the fight.

Bugs can be reported here:

• Some enemies previously had no audible footsteps, which made the gameplay feel unfair. This issue has now been fixed.

• Prologue added with a new Achievement– Experience what Falkenberg did before Act I
• Emotes added – New ways to interact in the game

• Widescreen resolution now available in the settings
• Increased sprint duration & faster movement speed
• Reworked movement animations
• Adjusted flashlight lighting
• Escape zone reworked – Now has a timer to prevent instant triggering
• Quest display updated
• Performance optimizations
• You no longer get stripped when you die

• Enemies can now see players in the closet if the door is open
• NPCs no longer trigger false notifications
• Most of the shadow flickering has been fixed.

• AI may not always function as intended
• Shadows flicker in some areas

Bugs can be reported here:

• Added more random events.
• New display: Collected objects now briefly show what has been picked up.
• Controls can now be viewed in the mainmenu.
• Mission briefings are only available once both players are ready in the lobby.
• The "Return to Menu" button for the client now appears later to prevent accidental clicks.
• Existing features have been partially optimized or improved.
• Visual improvement for enemies: They now track the player with their gaze.

New Features:

• Act II Overhaul: Act II has been completely reworked to enhance atmosphere and gameplay.
• Audio Feedback for Chases: A new sound effect now plays when you are being actively chased.
• Flashlight Stun: Players can now blind enemies with the flashlight once per level, rendering them temporarily immobile.

AI Improvements:

• Enemies can now hear players sprinting nearby.
• Further optimizations to AI behavior for smoother interactions.

🆕 New Content:

• New Act III Trailer – Now available on YouTube!
• Ghost Mode after Death – Players now respawn as ghosts and can move through doors.
• New Boss Fight Mechanics in Act III!

✨ Improvements:

• AI: Enemies patrol more actively and search players' last known positions.
• AI can reset if it gets stuck.
• New Animations: Movement, searching, chasing, and combat animations.
• Visual Updates to Menu and UI for a more polished design.
• Small Map Changes for more detail and atmosphere.
• Fireworks added in certain areas to celebrate the New Year.
• Storage Optimization: Reduced game size by 4 GB through asset cleanup.

⚠️ Known Issues:

• Shadows may flicker in some areas.
• Sync issues with poor player connections.
• Certain events may unintentionally trigger.
• AI reset may not always work as intended.

💥 Highlights of Patch 0.5:

• New animations for players and enemies – including movement, combat, and patrol animations for a more immersive experience.
• AI overhaul – enemies patrol smarter, track last known positions, and reset if stuck.
• Ghost mode – no more getting stuck after death; move freely as a ghost.
• And more small tweaks!

Happy Holidays!

• The headquarters has been decorated for the season! Dive into the festive spirit and enjoy the holiday atmosphere in the game.

Improvements and Fixes:

• AI Optimizations: Improved for smoother gameplay.
• Interaction Update: Objects now highlight for interactions, replacing the old widget system to prevent display bugs.
• General visual improvements.
• Bug Fix: The black-and-white death effect now triggers consistently.

• Fixed a bug where only the host could earn the achievement 'Race Against Time'.

New Content

• Act 3: Face fresh challenges in the narrow alleyways. This final act marks the end of the journey and will put your skills to the ultimate test.
• New NPCs and enemies: New characters and dangerous foes add variety to your experience.
• Hiding in lockers: Find safety from threatening enemies.
• Statistics system: Keep track of your progress and achievements at all times.
• Bonus level as Challenge Mode: Push yourself further and showcase your abilities in an even more intense scenario.
• News display in the main menu: Stay updated on patches, changes, and other information directly in-game.
• New projector visuals: Story-driven imagery that deepens the overall atmosphere.

Gameplay Improvements:

• Movable head and delayed flashlight movement: Enhances the immersion for a more realistic gameplay experience.
• Crosshair toggle: Switch it on or off to suit your preference.
• Enemies in Act 1 can now leave buildings: More danger, more excitement.
• Act 2 reworked: The area is now less open, offering more directed paths to heighten tension.

Technical Optimizations:

• Performance improvements: Smoother gameplay on high-performance systems.
• V-Sync option: Improved graphical stability for seamless visuals.

Known Issues:

• Shadows flicker in certain areas.
• Enemy AI occasionally jumps in unexpected spots.

• New NPCs and enemies for added variety.
• Hiding in lockers to evade threats.
• A stat tracking system to monitor your progress.
• Technical improvements and much more.

• Enemies no longer follow dead players who died from environmental hazards
• Fixed bug with jumpscare triggers
• Removed camera shake during movement
• Disabled sprint indicator upon death

• Fixed various map issues
• Corrected announcement bug after completing bonus level
• Slightly adjusted lighting
• Bonus level now playable after the first act

• Fixed host-client sync bug (may still occur with high ping; restarting the level will resolve the issue)
• Minor map adjustments to improve orientation

• Act I:Added in-game hints
• Disabled death camera switch

• Thrilling 2-player co-op gameplay
• Random elements that make each round different
• A dense, atmospheric setting to immerse you
• Gameplay that rewards attentiveness and teamwork

New Content & Features:

Bug Fixes:

Known Issues: