Fossil Bound 1.0.0 is here! From the first glimpse of bone to a finished museum exhibit, this release brings the excavation, discovery and collection journey together. Existing owners receive the update at no extra cost.

For players affected by the previous update: we have corrected the Steam installation layout that could prevent the game from launching after an install or update. The launcher, game data and supporting files now install in the expected locations. Thank you to the players who reported it.

Work the ground, then get closer

• At Desert Flats, work around a deposit in the field and switch to close inspection for delicate recovery. Both views share the same fossil and excavation progress.
• Choose an approach, open seams with broad strikes, use the fine chisel around fragile joins, and brush sediment from the piece you are recovering.
• Later regions introduce roots, water, quartz, ice and volcanic rock with their own excavation cues. Upgraded tools improve your reach and control.
• Pause a dig and return to it later. Resuming the saved excavation preserves your work without charging its departure energy again.
• Optional guided aiming and brushing provide extra help with careful recovery.

See the fossil you actually found

Each of the 122 collectible parts and groups has its own specimen artwork. Excavation, the discovery tray and museum inspection now show the same identifiable piece, with a separate view highlighting where it belongs in the animal.

Inspect its condition, see whether it is new or a duplicate, and choose to store it or take it to the museum. Clearer collection views help you find the pieces ready to install and the ones still missing.

Build exhibits that fit their animals

• Restore fifteen prehistoric species across First Discoveries, the Hall of Giants, and Ocean & Sky.
• Place recovered parts onto fitted supports. Long skeletons have wide displays, and larger animals have room to take shape.
• Choose individual exhibit lighting and plinth finishes, with fern or stone decorations at fitted positions.
• Welcome wandering visitors who pay admission and react to the exhibits they see. Smaller speech bubbles include varied, species-specific remarks.
• Put museum income toward gallery seating, exhibit lighting, audio guides and museum upgrades as your collection grows.

Follow a clearer path to your Grand Opening

Explore seven fossil-bearing regions, improve your field kit and transport, and use research to pursue missing pieces. Town requests now recognize specimens you have already documented, including pieces installed in the museum. Spare fossils and mineral finds help fund the next expedition.

Your first installed part welcomes the museum's first visitors and awards 50 coins toward an upgrade. For the Grand Opening, complete six exhibits with at least one in each of the three galleries, and open the route to Volcanic Basin. You can keep playing afterward to finish the remaining exhibits, research and collection milestones.

A smoother return to the field

• Reworked town building placement and resident collisions make destinations and walking routes clearer.
• Improved guidance, menus, tool prompts and larger-text layouts help new and returning players find their next step.
• Keyboard rebinding, adjustable text size, reduced-motion and reduced-flash options let you tailor the presentation and controls.
• Fixed a startup issue that could ignore the saved fullscreen preference.
• Strengthened save and retry handling around discoveries, research rewards and museum progress. If a save fails, clearer prompts let you retry or stay where you are.

Thank you to everyone who explored Fossil Bound during Early Access and shared feedback. We hope you enjoy bringing the next missing piece home.

If you run into a problem, please post in Steam Discussions with your operating system, game version and the steps that led to it.