Hey everyone,
I hope you're all well! As we get closer to the full release of The Night Shift, I want to share a little of what you can expect on the 7th August.
New Shifts
There are four brand new shifts to experience in 1.0. Three of these can be encountered in a single playthrough, bringing the total number of shifts in the full game to 14. A standard run will now take you through 11 of them, with plenty of variety between playthroughs.
The new shifts introduce fresh tasks, new items to interact with and previously inaccessible areas of the store. Up until now, you’ve only seen parts of the building, these final shifts will take you deeper into the store than ever before, with more mannequins, more movement and more tension.
On top of that, there are now seven different endings to uncover, depending on the choices you make during your final shift.
Performance and Stability Improvements
One of the biggest focuses for the 1.0 update was improving performance across the board. During Early Access, The Night Shift struggled to run smoothly even on high-end systems, and that feedback came through loud and clear.
For 1.0, I spent a lot of time profiling and optimizing nearly every part of the game. Load times are faster, gameplay is smoother, and performance is more consistent across all shifts. Several areas that were prone to crashing, almost guaranteed in some cases, have been fixed and all known crash points have been addressed.
With all of these improvements, The Night Shift is the most stable and performant it’s ever been.
Updated Visuals and Atmosphere
Nearly every part of The Night Shift has seen some kind of visual upgrade for 1.0. From small polish passes to full reworks, the goal was to make the game feel more cohesive, more atmospheric and more unsettling from the very beginning.
The storefront has been updated, along with the outside world, other key areas accessible on your shifts, and a number of props and items throughout the game. Lighting has been rebalanced, and the storm outside now progresses naturally across your shifts, adding a growing sense of unease as things unfold.
Audio and UX Enhancements
A lot of small details have been added in 1.0 to make The Night Shift feel more responsive and immersive. New sound effects have been layered into props, interactions and various systems throughout the store, helping everything feel just a little more tactile (and unsettling).
The UI has also been given a refresh. Fonts have been cleaned up, menus are easier to navigate, and the HUD layout has been adjusted for better readability. The reticule is slightly larger now too, making interactions a bit more comfortable, especially on a controller.
For content creators, there's now a Streamer Mode available that disables the radio in the office to avoid any copyright concerns. Just toggle it on in the settings before you start your shift.
New Achievements
For players who love going the extra mile, 1.0 adds 10 brand new achievements to unlock. Whether you’re chasing secrets, mastering shifts or exploring new content, there’s plenty to aim for.
If you have the Supporter Pack, you’ll get access to one additional exclusive achievement, adding a little extra challenge and bragging rights.
And More...
Over 50 bugs have been fixed in the 1.0 update, ranging from minor visual issues to more serious problems like crashes and progression blockers. Several previously released shifts were also reviewed and updated to clarify objectives, smooth out interactions and reduce confusion in key areas. And much more...
The Night Shift exits Early Access on August 7th, so 1.0 is just around the corner. Don't forget, if you pick up the game before then, you’ll get access to the Supporter Pack for free as a thank-you for supporting it during Early Access.
Whether you’re coming back to finish your shift or stepping into the store for the first time, I hope you enjoy the full experience.
If you haven’t already, consider wishlisting or following The Night Shift on Steam, it really helps the game reach more players and keeps you updated on the launch.
Thanks for being part of the journey.
Chat very soon,
Marty