Hello, fellow Miners!

After weeks of testing new features on the Unstable Testing Branch, we have finally pushed Closed Alpha 0.2 to Steam. This is not the same as it is completely stable or anything (hint: it's not) - it's just good enough to get a wider audience. Closed Alpha is in itself a way for us to test the game before we launch on Early Access later this year. And a way for you to contribute to the development of the game.

As with the first Closed Alpha version, it is perfectly fine to stream and upload videos from your play sessions. We love that so many has already done so, with some of the videos reaching 100K+ views. Keep them coming :-)

WHAT'S NEW IN THIS UPDATE?

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The focus here is on the core game. This means things like Menus, HUD and other wrappings are very much placeholder and will probably be kept so for while. And while we support single-player, the design focus is still on the co-op experience.

<<< NEW MISSIONS >>>

For this update, we have added more missions with a lot more caves to explore. The mission structure is still quite generic, again focusing on the core gameplay and not the wrapping.

• First dive: Perfect introduction to the game. You will get to know your tools and weapons in a fixed level. Duration: 10-15 min, Players: 1 - 4
• Rookie grinder: The level is the same every time that you play. However, you will need to show some skills in navigation and combat to make it out alive. Either alone or in a group, practice here until you feel confident for the next step. Duration: 15-25 min, Players: 1 - 4
• Infested Chasms: Linear random level. Explore every cave, mine the Morkite and continue to the next one until you reach the objective quota. Duration: 20-30 min, Players: 2 - 4
• Black Hulrum: The longest and most challenging linear level. With many cave variations, it is the optimal experience for teams of seasoned players. Duration: 30-40 min, Players: 2 - 4
• Fractured Cavity: Open level full of intersecting caves. Make your own path, collect the minerals, and explore a very different map in every session. Duration: 20-40 min, Players: 2 - 4

<<< NEW FEATURES & CHANGES >>>

Other than general improvements and tweaks for most aspects of the game, these are the major changes and additions that you will encounter:

• Difficulty settings! Pick from mewling babby to TRUE DWARF diffiiculty. (lots more balancing to do as we progress, of course)
• Each dwarf now has a limit on the amount of minerals he can carry. Don't worry, we have a plan:
• Meet Molly, the Robotic Mule! She will carry whatever the dwarves cannot, and accompany you on your missions. Walk up to her and deposit your gold (for calling in supply pods) as well as the new Objective Mineral (called Morkite).
• The Laser Pointer will let you communicate with the rest of the team by pointing out and marking specific locations in the level.
• The Detonation Pack is our new (and probably most deadly) weapon yet.
• The caves will fight back harder than before with new enemy variations.
• We have implemented a load of new barks for different in-game actions.
• You should see a lot more variation in the caves. It's still early days, mind - we have much more work to do here.
• We are in the process of changing animations, so expect weirdness until it's done.
• Finally, rather untested, it is now possible to join a game in progress.

See you down in the darkness!

- THE DEEP ROCK GALACTIC TEAM