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Experience the world of Antarctica with the latest update, First-Person Mode!
Hello everyone,
Update 1.3 is now live!
You can now experience Nova Antarctica in a completely new way with the addition of a full first-person mode.
Explore the world up close — survive, craft, and ride across the icy Antarctic landscape from a whole new perspective. Experience the changing weather and atmosphere in a much more immersive way. This new mode adds a whole new dimension to the game, and we highly encourage you to give it a try.
You can switch between first-person and the original third-person view at any time in the options menu.
Following our previous update focused on gameplay balance and overall improvements, we’ll continue refining the experience based on your feedback — while also working on exciting new content for the future.
See you on the ice! — RexLabo / PARCO GAMES Team
Added first-person mode (can be toggled in the options menu)
Updated sky rendering across all stages
Sky visuals now change dynamically based on weather conditions
Added materials to Stage 2 (Canyon)
Adjusted brightness of certain visual effects
Expanded hitboxes for some equipment
Minor layout adjustments to the title screen
Adjusted height of interaction icons for various objects
Fixed an issue where starting a new game was not possible when suspend data existed while using a controller
Fixed threat detection in Stage 9
Various minor bug fixes
Hello explorers,
Today we released Version 1.2, the first big update for Nova Antarctica.
In our previous community post, we mentioned that we were carefully reviewing your feedback and working on improvements to the overall experience. This update is the first step in that process. Thanks to the feedback shared through reviews, social media, and gameplay streams, we were able to identify several areas that needed attention.
While we are preparing a broader roadmap that we will share with you soon, we wanted to deliver these improvements as quickly as possible. Version 1.2 introduces a number of important fixes and adjustments — including difficulty balancing, control improvements, and a brand-new checkpoint save system designed to make retrying challenging sections much smoother.
We’ll share more details about upcoming updates soon. Thank you again for exploring Nova Antarctica with us and for continuing to share your thoughts and experiences.
See you on the ice!
— RexLabo / PARCO GAMES Team
Version 1.2 Update Contents
This update includes the following improvements and adjustments:
Adjustments to Game Tempo and Difficulty Balance
We have rebalanced resource management and threat levels, particularly in the early to mid stages of the game. ▼ Adjustments
Relaxed the climate conditions and reduced the frequency of blizzards in the early stages.
Changed the reward so that players now receive 2 bonus cards upon clearing the game.
Added additional supplies to certain stages.
Developer Comment: We noticed that the early parts of the game were more punishing than intended. These changes aim to make the progression feel more natural while still preserving the tension and immersion of surviving in Antarctica.
Improvements to Controls
Action and interaction responsiveness has been refined to provide a more intuitive and smoother control experience.
▼ Adjustments
Removed the need for button input when climbing climbable builder items.
Adjusted the wind direction indicator to make blizzard conditions easier to understand.
Improved visibility for navigation elements, icons, and other UI components.
New “Flag Checkpoint” Save Feature
A new checkpoint-based save/retry system has been added. Once activated, players can restart from specific checkpoint locations instead of replaying an entire stage.
Developer Comment: Survival games can be challenging, and we want Nova Antarctica to maintain that sense of difficulty. However, restarting from the beginning of a stage after every death proved more tedious than intended. The new checkpoint system allows players to retry difficult sections much more quickly.
Bug Fixes and Performance Optimizations
Various minor issues have been fixed and overall game stability has been improved.
In addition, we are planning to introduce new features in future updates. You may notice that a mode selection screen has already been added at the start of the game. We will provide further details about this feature in a separate announcement.
For more details on the update, please refer to the patch notes.
● Adjustments / Improvements
Added save point functionality.
Modified game-over behavior so that players restart from the most recent save point.
Added a stage reset button to the pause menu.
Improved input detection when picking up items.
Further adjusted collision detection for flying debris during blizzards.
Changed abnormal-weather damage to scale with the player’s maximum backpack fuel capacity.
Adjusted wind direction for certain weather conditions.
Reduced harsh climate and abnormal weather frequency in early stages (Stage 2).
Strengthened the effect of low temperature as a balancing adjustment to the above changes.
Added navigation guidance when obtaining enhancement-type items.
Updated icon for stamina recovery items.
Added consumable item display to the hologram activation UI.
Doubled the amount of soil gained.
Modified item crates so they no longer play an animation when interacted with.
Removed the need for button input when climbing builder items.
Weather effects are now disabled inside certain buildings.
Tutorial and Archive dialogs in the inventory screen can now be closed with multiple buttons.
Optimized game-over processing.
Updated some tutorial text related to game-over behavior.
Players now receive two bonus cards when clearing the game.
As a workaround for a specific issue, stamina now recovers extremely slowly at all times.
Added a UI that displays required materials when constructing bases in each stage (excluding bonus constructions).
Auto-save now triggers after the opening cutscene of each stage.
Added a mode selection screen (details to be announced later; the modes are not yet selectable).
Added an additional line of text to the message displayed after the company logo on game startup.
A confirmation dialog is now displayed when returning to the title screen from the pause menu.
Adjusted the player character’s facing direction so it no longer follows the camera unnecessarily.
Added a tutorial for save points in Stage 1.
Removed hit detection for branches and leaves in Stage 2 and Stage 10.
Adjusted the position of certain objects used for base construction in Stage 2 (Canyon).
Adjusted climate settings in Stage 4.
Added additional supplies to Stage 6.
Adjusted the map image for Stage 7.
Changed required materials for a heating object in Stage 8.
Added additional supplies to Stage 8.
Added materials for event crafting in Stage 9.
Added visual effects when the player is under the influence of certain threats in Stage 9.
Adjusted terrain in Stage 10.
Added visual elements before the goal in Stage 11.
● Bug Fixes
Fixed incorrect success/failure judgment in certain animal rescue situations.
Fixed an issue where baby penguins could no longer be picked up if they teleported after being released.
Fixed a bug where UI elements would remain displayed after moving away under specific conditions.
Fixed inability to scroll on the tutorial review screen when using keyboard & mouse.
Fixed an issue where incorrect numbers appeared when lighting a campfire.
Fixed an animation issue with the “4” key when using keyboard & mouse.
Fixed a bug where the radial view appeared on the pause screen when using a gamepad.
Fixed an issue where temperature dropped extremely low after staying long in a stage and moving on.
(If this reoccurs, please reset the stage.)
Fixed an issue where various inputs were incorrectly processed behind certain screens.
Fixed an issue where activating a gamepad after launching the game caused input loss.
Fixed cases where the wrong game-over reason was displayed.
Fixed invisible threats appearing in certain stages.
Fixed a bug where starting a New Game after the ending carried over parts of old save data.
Fixed an issue where card effects could disappear after a game-over on a New Game after clearing.
Fixed an issue where items in certain inventory positions could not be discarded.
Fixed a problem where transitioning stages under certain conditions prevented backpack recovery, causing infinite game-over loops.
Fixed a bug where pressing ESC on certain title screen pop-ups caused temporary input lock.
Fixed inability to scroll on the controls screen in Options when using a mouse.
Fixed an issue where holding a button on a disappearing object caused progression to freeze (e.g., lighting a campfire that is destroyed by a blizzard).
Fixed an issue where baby penguins disappeared when loading Stage 2 after saving post-rescue.
※ With old-version save data, the penguin may remain missing—however, they will rejoin in the next stage after clearing.
Fixed unnecessary objects appearing in certain cutscenes during Stage 2’s stage branching.
Improved an issue where baby penguins sometimes failed to respond to calls.
Reduced the time it takes for animals to become active after being called.
Fixed an issue preventing wolf riding during blizzards.
Fixed a bug where the pause or inventory screens were operable during cutscenes.
Fixed an issue where stamina did not recover at the Stage 2 base.
Fixed an issue where Stage 4’s “DAY” indicator appeared in Stage 3.
Fixed progress of a specific event in Stage 3 being reset upon loading.
Fixed time-limit issues in Stage 8.
Fixed certain animals in Stage 8 reverting to initial states after load.
Fixed rubble in Stage 8 reappearing after load.
Fixed duplicated baby penguins appearing under certain circumstances in Stage 9.
Fixed corrupted ceiling rendering in parts of Stage 9.
Fixed unnatural no-entry areas in Stage 10.
Adjusted the goal detection area in Stage 10.
Removed unnatural no-entry blocking in Stage 11.
Various minor bug fixes.
Hello everyone,
It’s been one month since the launch of Nova Antarctica and we want to sincerely thank everyone who stepped onto the ice with us. After many years of development, it’s incredible to see the game finally in players’ hands and being enjoyed by so many of you around the world. Watching players explore, survive, and interpret the experience we’ve crafted — across social media posts, livestreams, videos, and reviews — has made this launch truly meaningful for our team.
At the same time, this release marks only the beginning. We are carefully reading all of your feedback and listening closely to what you have to say. We’re encouraged by the positive responses, and we’re equally grateful for the constructive feedback we’ve received. Your input has been invaluable in helping us understand how we can make the game the best it can be.
We are already working on several major updates that include many fixes and structural improvements to the overall experience. Specifically, we are working on:
・Adjustments to game pacing and difficulty balance
・Improvements to controls
・Addition of a new save feature (allowing you to retry hard parts without having to redo the stage from the beginning)
・Bug fixes and performance optimization
Nova Antarctica was built around the core identity of a survival experience set in the harsh environment of Antarctica. Preserving that identity remains important to us.
We’re also excited to see that the game has resonated with players beyond the traditional survival genre audience. Moving forward, we are thinking not only about structural improvements, but also about how to refine the experience for different types of players — those who enjoy challenging survival systems, and those who are drawn more to atmosphere, exploration, and narrative immersion.
Our goal is to continue balancing depth and approachability, so that the world of Antarctica feels both intense and accessible.
We will share more detailed information about upcoming updates and timing next month. This is only the beginning of Nova Antarctica. We’re committed to growing the experience together with you, and we’re excited to show you what we have in store next.
Thank you for being part of this expedition.
— The RexLabo and PARCO GAMES Teams
▼詳細
Thank you for your continued support.
Today, we have released the Version 1.1 update for NOVA ANTARCTICA.
This update includes various improvements and adjustments based on the feedback we’ve received, allowing you to enjoy a smoother and more comfortable gameplay experience.
1. Added a radial menu display specifically for keyboard controls during in‑game actions.
2. Added a new effect that shakes the stamina gauge when attempting an action without enough stamina.
3. Added a save icon that appears when saving the game (pause menu).
4. Adjusted the climate difficulty in Stage 1 to be more forgiving.
5. Added two additional resource crates to the paw-print route in the Stage 1 cat event.
6. Added several new resources to Stage 1, including an item required to activate the hologram.
7. Removed unnatural collision detection from certain objects in the northern area of Stage 1.
8. Fixed an issue where players could not place crates near the parent cat in the Stage 1 cat event unless the stone bridge was built.
9. Adjusted the terrain in Stage 1 to allow players to return to the initial area freely.
10. Added a crate-related hint at the crate tutorial point in Stage 1.
11. Removed viruses from inside the energy facility in Stage 2.
12. Reduced the number of debris objects that must be destroyed during the penguin quest in Stage 2.
13. Fixed an issue where the keycard needed to enter the building could not be obtained in Stage 2.
14. Relaxed some of the material requirements for the wolf quest in Stage 2.
15. Added footprint-based guidance for the route leading to the base construction objective in the Stage 2 wolf quest, as it was previously unclear.
16. Slightly increased threat levels in Stage 6.
17. Fixed an issue in Stage 7 where invisible threats could appear.
18. Adjusted the spawn locations of materials required to build the quest-related shelter in Stage 8.
19. Added a new visual effect for when the player takes damage from viruses.
20. Added a notification sound for messages that appear in the upper-right corner when tutorial information is collected.
21. Adjusted behavior so that some tutorial information is now unlocked immediately, even outside tutorial mode.
22. Fixed an issue where irrelevant item counts were displayed during crate hints.
23. Addressed an issue where the screen became too dark during peak radiation storms.
24. Fixed an issue where the radial menu triggered on the pause screen while using keyboard controls.
25. Slightly expanded the detection range for climbing crates.
26. Improved the action speed when using the shovel.
27. Adjusted fall damage behavior.
28. Slightly reduced direct damage from blizzards.
29. Various other minor fixes and improvements.
We will continue to develop and improve the game, using the feedback we receive from all of you to deliver an even better experience.
Thank you for your continued support, and we hope you enjoy what's coming next.
A survival adventure game set in the fantastical and harsh unknown land of Antarctica is now available on Steam!
Let's go on a harsh adventure to Antarctica 900 years later.
▼Steam Store page
To celebrate the release of the NOVA ANTARCTICA Official Visual Book “Warm?”, we are simultaneously launching the same visual book as DLC on Steam!
Featuring 14 newly written poems by artist Rintaro Fuse and 15 illustrations by RexLabo, this visual book allows you to dive even deeper into the world of NOVA ANTARCTICA.
▼ A special 20% OFF bundle sale is now live! Don’t miss this offer!
NOVA ANTARCTICA”
PARCO GAME CENTER Special Edition ✨
Starting Friday, February 6, the limited-time PARCO GAME CENTER will open at Shibuya PARCO!
Inside the venue, we will be offering a limited-quantity merchandise set, the “PARCO GAME CENTER Special Edition” of NOVA ANTARCTICA.
The Official Visual Book “Warm?” will be available as a printed booklet, just like a real picture book. 📕
Products will be available at:
PARCO GAME CENTER (Shibuya PARCO 4F, PARCO MUSEUM TOKYO)
and ONLINE PARCO.
▼ONLINE PARCO
・・・Penguin・・・
I never grew, and the herd turned its back on me. That was when I met you.
・・・Tiger・・・ My ever-annoying little companion was gone. And when silence finally settled in, I realized how terrifying it was to be alone.
・・・Bear・・・
For the one dear to me, who will surely return someday.
・・・Racoon・・・
If I could gather the brilliance of these jewels, I felt I could see you again.
■Demo Update Released Today!
・Tutorial improvements
・Added a tutorial review / replay feature
・Improved the menu screen UI
・Added an on-screen alert when the battery is running low
・Adjusted the climate difficulty in the first stage to be more forgiving
・Various bug fixes and stability improvements
To celebrate the PARCO GAME CENTER event taking place from February 6 to March 2, a special goods set from PARCO GAMES’ publishing title “Nova Antarctica” is set for release.
This three-item special set includes a Steam activation key card that allows players to enjoy Nova Antarctica on Steam, an acrylic diorama plate, and a special printed booklet of the Official Visual Book “Attakai?”, which is normally available only as a PDF on Steam.
Steam Activation Key Card
Acrylic Diorama Plate
Official Visual Book “Attakai?” – Special Photo Book Edition
Scheduled Retail Price: ¥4,780 (tax included)
In-store sales at the PARCO GAME CENTER held at Shibuya PARCO from February 6 to March 2
Online sales via ONLINE PARCO starting at 12:00 AM on February 6
ONLINE PARCO:https://online.parco.jp/shop/g/gP028873-00735/
Returns, exchanges, quantity changes, or cancellations due to customer convenience are not accepted after an order has been placed.
Product images are for illustrative purposes only. Actual product colors and shapes may differ.
Multiple products may be purchased together; however, all items will be shipped in a single package and dispatched according to the item with the latest delivery date.
Customers using convenience store payment methods must complete payment within the designated period. Orders will be automatically canceled if payment is not received by the deadline.
Delivery date and time specifications are not available.
Gift wrapping and receipt issuance are not available.
Each Steam activation key printed on the card can be used only once.
We are not responsible for any damages or issues arising from the use of the activation key.
Keys will not be reissued under any circumstances, including loss, theft, or unauthorized use by third parties.
For instructions on how to use the key and detailed terms of service, please refer to the official Steam website.
■Release Date: January 29, 2026, 12:00 AM (JST)
■Genre: Survival Adventure
■Platform ：Steam®
■Developer: RexLabo LLC (Japan)
■Special Website：https://games.parco.jp/page/novaantarctica/
To celebrate the launch of NOVA ANTARCTICA, we are excited to announce the release of the Official Visual Book. It will be available as part of a bundle with NOVA ANTARCTICA on Steam.
■NOVA ANTARCTICA Official Visual Book
Featuring 15 delicate illustrations created by the NOVA ANTARCTICA development team, along with 14 poems by artist Rintaro Fuse, expressing the unique world of NOVA ANTARCTICA.
(Total: 32 pages)
※The Official Visual Book will be provided as a PDF (Japanese only).
※Pricing details will be announced at a later date.
An artist exploring themes such as the “new solitude” in cities after the advent of the iPhone and the recovery of “being two.” Starting from his own poetry and criticism, he creates paintings, video works, installations, performances, tours, websites, and curates exhibitions in collaboration with multiple artists, poets, designers, researchers, musicians, critics, curators, and anonymous individuals.
Your progress is saved when you move to the next stage or when you open the pause menu.
There is no difficulty setting option.
However, wandering off or getting lost will make the game harder by design.
Conversely, aiming straight for the goal will feel like an easy mode.
Until you get used to the game, start exploring near the goal and expand your range from there.
This way, you can quickly exit the stage when needed.
Stamina does not recover naturally, so you need to be careful about what actions you take.
However, sprinting consumes very little stamina, so feel free to run around as much as you like—probably.
You can increase these limits by obtaining specific items.
These items can be found as event rewards or in certain locations.
The wolf’s stamina recovers naturally. If it can’t run anymore, dismount and switch to exploring on foot.
It should recover after a while.
You can also increase the wolf’s stamina limit with certain items.
These objects are randomly placed at several locations.
Using an item detector beforehand will help narrow down their positions.
If you get a game over, their locations may reset.
Using the item detector will give you a rough idea of where items are clustered,
making exploration safer. Be sure to try it out!
If possible, set up a tent or a simple shelter beforehand.
When your stamina runs out, rest inside to recover naturally.
This way, you can focus your recovery resources on backpack fuel.
There’s no need to push forward during bad weather.
Indoor areas are warm, so during a blizzard, it’s a good time to warm up and organize your inventory.
Poor visibility due to radiation or thick fog often comes with warmth too,
so resting in a tent to recover stamina is a great opportunity.
Pause the game and restart from “Continue” to improve performance.
We’d love to hear your feedback. Please fill out the survey here:
Starting today, you can play the new demo on Steam. This updated version includes major improvements:
No time limit Enjoy a more open and free exploration experience.
New story events Meet the characters who help the protagonist’s child: Penguin and Wolf. The story now unfolds in deeper and more meaningful ways.
Steam page:
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Please share your feedback here:
Alongside the demo, we’ve published Episode Movies on YouTube. Enjoy the soft, storybook-like visuals and the delicate atmosphere that reflects one of the game’s core themes: loneliness.
Penguin Episode:
Wolf Episode:
PARCO GAMES Special Trailer:
Check out the new demo and videos, and let us know what you think!
We’re thrilled to announce that NOVA ANTARCTICA will be featured at INDIE Live Expo 2025, streaming live on Saturday, November 29, 2025, from 6:00 PM (JST)!
This massive online event draws indie game fans from all over the world—and we’re bringing something special. Expect exclusive footage, brand-new updates, and surprises you won’t want to miss. Make sure to tune in and experience it in real time!
What is INDIE Live Expo?
INDIE Live Expo is one of the world’s largest indie game showcase events, streamed in multiple languages including Japanese, English, and Chinese. Hundreds of titles have been featured in past editions, generating huge buzz across social media.
📅 Date & Time: Saturday, November 29, 2025 – 6:00 PM (JST) 📍 Where: Online (YouTube, Twitch, and more)
👉 Watch Live Here:
Don’t miss out—check it out and catch the latest updates! 🔥🔥
About
This page aggregates Steam news feeds, patch notes, and developer announcements for Nova Antarctica, sourced from official Steam community posts.
Major updates, balance changes, and seasonal events often correlate with player-count spikes — cross-reference announcements here with the live charts on the main Nova Antarctica statistics page.
Articles link back to Steam for full changelogs. SteamScope refreshes news entries as new posts are published to the game's Steam hub.
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