This beta has two significant changes: we have overhauled the AI code to make it more efficient in terms of memory, so loading times and RAM memory usage during gameplay are noticeably improved. And we fixed a bug with the AI that can hurt performance, sometime a little, sometimes a lot. This has been most noticeable at times during Raise Pups and Rendezvous Site quests, but also can occur during elk hunts and other gameplay.
NEW OPTIONS IN GRAPHICS QUALITY:
In Game Settings> Graphics Quality, two new options for customizing your graphics quality:
* Mid-Distance Terrains are disabled on low quality settings, but you can now override this to make them appear. This will substantially improve the game scenery, especially when looking out over a vista, but will reduce performance on integrated graphics. Also, by making this terrain appear, there won't be large rocks floating in the distance above the basic terrain.
* Scent Glow on Animals and Dens: This is also disabled by default on lower quality settings, but you can now enable it separately. When enabled, animals and dens will glow in scent view when you are close to them.
IMPROVEMENTS:
* Overhaul of AI code, now has smaller memory footprint (for shorter loading times and less total memory usage when playing the game).
* In multiplayer territory games, boosted player marking effectiveness, especially in games with more players.
* In multiplayer, host can give their pack a name to replace "Your Pack" in left column header.
* In multiplayer, there is now an option to cancel when the Quit/Leave Game panel is open.
* Sky at night is incorrect (lags actual star positions by a few months).
* Added tutorial tip when wolf drops carcass in water, to clarify that this is not a bug.
* Some improvements to distant tree appearances in Amethyst.
* Mate will not feed pups now if a predator is lurking nearby (indicated by the red predator alert icon).
* Tweaks to nighttime lighting and brightness.
* Improved clarity of some text in multiplayer sleep alerts.
BUGS FIXED:
* Sometimes the AI logic gets in a loop and slows down the overall game performance.
* Mate won't hunt summer mule deer fawns.
* Sometimes snow accumulates on the ground before snow begins to fall from the sky.
* Various music glitches.
* In multiplayer Fixed Sleep Schedule mode, problems ensue if player is standing in water with something in its mouth when the next sleep period arrives.
* In Fixed Sleep Schedule mode, when one minute remains until sleep, readout in Pack Info does not have correct tense.
* Grizzly cub in springtime does not have scent glow.
* A particular issue with wolf eye coloration in Wolf customizer when on Basic Sky & Veg mode.
* Occasionally the previous year's elk calves persist into spring and summer.
* Flooded oxbox ponds are white in May, when seen at a distance.
* Through circuitous effort, player can create an Ironwolf game on Easy difficulty.
* Stranger wolves often don't return to their own territory after a fight.
* Ponds in First Meadow are white, when viewed at a distance.
* Occasionally a duplicate Family Snapshot is generated by mistake.
* Scent posts are visible at long distances.
* When at rendezvous site, pupcam music does not play when in pupcam mode.
* In Lost River, when sun is low near the horizon, the terrain does not always block light and shadow.
* Wolf does not adjust its footing if standing or lying on a carcass when the carcass sinks into the ground.
* If wolf is looking to the side when Photo Mode is enabled, the right-arrow key moves the wolf's head rightward.
* In the main menu, territory config and sleep mode selections are not remembered for subsequent sessions.
* Some creeks in Slough Creek winter have vegetation when they should not.
* Terrain and water tweaks.