Development Update

Since the start of SCP: Recontainment's development, we have always had a clear plan for the content and level of polish we want for release.

How far along are we?

We are now at a stage that most modes, that we want to include at launch, are being polished and balanced and very few core features are left to complete.

Our 2020 launch window was chosen based on our internal schedule and was adjusted over time from our core feature progress.

This was all done before the corona virus pandemic started. Now that we all are in this unanticipated and difficult time, the team has had less time to develop the game and have been spending more time staying safe and healthy.

The game, for the past year has been updated for our closed alpha testers through Patreon usually once or twice a week with new content and fixes. We have been and are still working hard to create the best SCP experience we can and we know that delaying this to 2021 is the best move for the project.

What have we completed this year?

Here is the set of core features that make SCP: Recontainment different. These pillars of the game brought a challenge to the team that we have now overcome:

• Unified character system - Humans and SCP characters can be AI controlled and possessed by players seamlessly during gameplay. This means mechanics are programmed once and work correctly for both AI and Players.
• Random Facility Generator - We have created a facility generation system that will fully generate new facilities every time you play that is compatible with both singleplayer and multiplayer.
• Facility Creator - Create your own facility with our in game facility creation system. Choose the layout of rooms and place SCPs where you want them. These facilities can be played in both singleplayer and multiplayer!
• Containment Procedures - In both singleplayer and multiplayer containment breach modes, SCPs can be contained! This means SCPs players need to strategize their movements and attacks based on the weaknesses of the character they are playing. Many SCPs are immune to weapons and have to be contained with the knowledge of the players.
• Mode based design: From the ground up we have designed every system to allow rapid development and iteration on new ideas and modes. Our systems are now maturing to a point where we can design a new mode and implement the features within a week. From there polish and art can be implemented.
• Multiplayer framework: We have created our net code with the goal of easily implementing new features and mechanics whilst having simple ways to play with your friends. Players have the ability to host their own sessions in game and can have other players join with minimal setup. Dedicated server systems are also being completed to give players access to create their own SCP: Recontainment game server.
• Singleplayer framework: Our singleplayer framework enables us to write and implement new singleplayer modes (subtitles, AI, items, progression tracking and more) without relying heavily on C++ code being written. The features can all be done by designers and allow faster iteration for new modes.

So what is required for launch?

Now that we have completed much of the groundwork necessary for a game of this scale, adding content and completing modes is our current phase.

As we are in the alpha stage of development, art and design is not the priority. Implementing gameplay features and loops is always first in the schedule. However, we do allow a fair amount of time in our schedule for art as it does make the closed alpha testing more enjoyable and allows us to share our vision for what the game will look like.

Once the game launches, we will improve the current systems and art before expanding into the future planned modes featured on our Steam page.

Progress for the game modes included at launch:

• SCP 575 - Core features are finished and environment work is done. Tweaks to mechanics are being done now to make the mode more enjoyable over multiple play sessions.
• Containment Breach - Both the singleplayer and multiplayer CB modes rely heavily of all pillars of our core tech. The systems that these modes rely on are being worked on to produce the best experience for a range of computer hardware specs. After SCP 106 is implemented, we will be working on assets for the surface zone as the current SZ is a placeholder.
• SCP 087 - This mode was finished and released as a standalone experience.
• Facility Riot - Gameplay wise this mode is complete. We developed this mode to test and balance our weapon and damage systems. We will also in the future be using this mode again to balance armour before releasing it to other modes.

We have decided to move SCP 096 Termination out of the list of launch modes as we wanted to spend more time and prevent this mode being rushed. SCP 096 deserves its own mode and it needs to be done right.

Releasing what we have to the public now would have a mixed response. Players who are more sensitive to bugs and glitches will have a worse experience than players who are less sensitive to these in game issues.

We believe that delaying the public release to 2021 will give more players a better experience and that rushing the game to reach the 2020 deadline would be a poor decision.

Making games is difficult and takes time. We want to release to you the experience we envisioned at the inception of this project.

Learn more about SCP: Recontainment

We post public development updates primarily on our Discord server and occasionally on our YouTube channel. To stay updated on the project consider following us through those social platforms.

We also have a Patreon page where we post early and more in depth development updates to our patrons.

Social Links:

• Discord server: https://discord.gg/v32RQQq
• YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5PUpseP8b5Ju5gaUkCo_Qw
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/lucidusentertainment

Thank you all for the incredible support.

- Lucidus Entertainment