
This update brings several meaningful additions and refinements to NEED’s core systems — focused on making runs clearer, deeper, and more rewarding to play.
Below is an overview of what’s new and integrated into the game.

Difficulty & Progression
• Difficulty levels introduced: Initiate / Architect / Mastermind
• Difficulty selection integrated into the start flow, save data, and scoring
• Core systems pressure now adapts to difficulty, affecting resource management, production loops, automation, and survival pacing
• Difficulty context is stored and displayed in rankings to prevent score abuse and ensure fair comparison between runs
Core Survival Systems
• Self-Sustained end conditions refined, now also accounting for trained Maesters
• Scoring expanded to reflect run context and selected difficulty
• Production and survival pressure loops tightened across interconnected systems

Tutorial System
• Full tutorial system implemented and saved per run
• Tutorial stages persist, resume, and automatically disable when completed
• Tutorial reacts dynamically to player actions, inactivity, and survival pressure
DEMO
• NEED’s Demo module is fully integrated and prepared for Steam Next Fest
• The demo offers access to the core systems and gameplay features, allowing players to explore, learn, and master the survival loop
LEGACY
• The Legacy System is implemented and currently under internal testing
• Core UI flow and system integration are in place, ensuring stability and consistency across menus
• Once the Legacy System is ready for public release:
“What you build beyond a realm becomes your legacy.”
• Localization has been updated to support the newly integrated systems and features.


UI
• Major UI layout adjustments to better support longer localized text
• Buttons resized and repositioned for improved readability
• Trader UI redesigned for clearer interaction and presentation
• Ranking UI restructured to support Legacy System integration
• Language selector added to the interface
• Tutorial notification UI redesigned with new icons, VFX, and SFX
• Demo end screen UI improved
• Start Menu and Pause Menu updated to support new systems
• Tutorial flow clarified:
– Intro tutorial is now skippable in-game
– Contextual tutorial hints can be fully disabled from the Options Menu (MISC)
QoL
• Recipe hints added for Bakery and Mill, revealed through discovery during play
• Low-bread feedback improved and adjusted per difficulty level
• Tutorial intro made skippable while keeping contextual guidance active
• Notification pacing refined to reduce spam and improve readability
• Audio levels and feedback rebalanced to reduce fatigue during longer runs

BUG FIXES
• Localization issues resolved
• Tutorial notification timing and trigger issues fixed
• UI overlap issues during Game Over and Demo End addressed
• Audio spatialization edge cases corrected
• Core validation and reference safety improved
If you’d like to support NEED, wishlisting on Steam — and visiting or interacting on NEED’s Community Hub — every small action truly makes a difference.
Thank you for the support!
May your realm stay thriving, and your mind stay sharp.
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