06 Dec 2024Developer postOriginal post (opens in a new tab)

Development Update: December 6th | Info on the Next Wipe

Hey, Mercs & Aliens,

First things first: On Monday, December 9th, we will release Update 0.7, which will wipe the servers and add more content like weapons, map sectors (see teasers below), contracts, and more. The expected time for the update to go live is 17:00 CET / 8 am PST / 11 am EST.

Also, our team wants to address major community concerns and (traditionally) share some work-in-progress bits with all of you in this Development Update.

1. December Content Update

We’re seeing mentions of the December Content Update being a major one, so we want to set expectations straight. It’s more about laying groundwork than adding loads of content—it won’t be super groundbreaking.

We’ll soon introduce in-session progression for the Research Facility map and the first iteration of the Mutations upgrade system for the Alien Monster class. However, those features are still in development, untested, and far from polished. Mutations will most likely arrive later this month with an additional update, as we need more time to finish developing that mechanic properly. Plus, ongoing bugs like crashes and camera issues need fixing, so progress is steady but not instant. Development continues, and there will be plenty to adjust and improve even after the patch. A future Steam discount and influencer outreach should bring in new players.

2. Why Did We Change the Light Damage System?

With Patch 0.6.8 from Nov 29, we changed the way Alien Monsters receive light damage. Now, only sources of UV light harm the creatures. We're seeing critiques of this adjustment, and it's about time we explained the reasoning behind it.

As we expect more new players to join the community this month, we needed to make the game's mechanics more intuitive. During internal testing, we've noticed that UV light is more understandable for players and raises fewer questions. In addition, the game seems more straightforward to balance now. Overall, this new damage system is far from being finished, and adjustments still need to be made.

With the concurrent player count dropping below expectations, we felt like we must take measures and (to an extent) revamp the game's concept. Of course, all of us at Doghowl recognized that this may lead to dissatisfaction. However, we made the decision to apply alterations. It's certainly risky, but we need to undertake initiatives to turn things around. Hopefully, it pays off.

Thank you for playing, sharing your feedback, and supporting us. Now, let's peek at what's to come in future updates.