Happy second week of July, Explorers! Every week brings us one step closer to 1.0, and we're hard at work putting those finishing touches on the game. The ongoing positivity and support from our community is making the run up to our full launch even more special, so let's take a look at what we've been up to this week.
Core Keeper Features Tournament
We're still running the Core Keeper Features Tournament over on X, giving you the chance to have your say and let us know your favourite feature of the game. We started out the voting by pairing up 8 of our key features in a head-to-head battle: Exploration vs Farming, Crafting vs Base Building, Cooking vs Fishing, and Combat vs Skills / Talents.
There were some clear-cut victors here, though it was very close between Crafting and Base Building! In the end, you voted Exploration, Base Building, Cooking, and Skills / Talents as your winners. The next round of the tournament saw Base Building and Cooking eliminated, leaving us with just two options to choose from and decide the ultimate feature. There's still time to vote, so head on over to this post and tell us which you prefer: Exploration vs Skills / Talents?
Shrooman Brute
Did we just reveal the name of the new mushroom enemy we showcased in our 1.0 content reveal trailer? We might have done đ. This big beauty is known as the Shrooman Brute. It's bigger and stronger than a regular Shrooman, but still somehow just as adorable.
Cooking Appreciation from Zombaekillz
X user, Zombaekillz, listed us in their top-three games that make her top list for cooking mechanics! We feel all warm and fuzzy inside reading such high praise, though we do agree that there's always room for more desserts.
Malugaz Fan Art
One of our Discord moderators, bklyn, shared this awesome Malugaz fan art with us, and we wanted to share it with the world. He is definitely looking extra corrupted here.
Owlunae's Daily Emote Countdown to 1.0
There's something seriously cool happening over in the Core Keeper Discord. Community member, Owlunae, is hosting a 50-day emote countdown where they'll be posting a suggestion for a new Discord emote every day until Core Keeper's 1.0 launch! Community members will then be able to vote with a reaction of â or â on each emote post to determine its fate of joining the official Core Keeper Discord. At the end of the project, the highest-voted emotes will be added to the Discord! Discord members can cast their votes HERE!
Happy July, Explorers. This is the month before our launch month, which is incredibly exciting for us! We've got plenty of community updates to bring you, so sit back, relax, and let's jump right into it.
We Want Your Bug Feedback over on Discord!
We are so incredibly grateful to everyone who takes the time to report bugs using our bug-report form, and this should always be your first port of call. From time to time, however, there are bugs that we need a little more input on. Whether we're finding them challenging to re-create or we simply need more information, we wanted to be able to speak directly to the community and get your feedback.
With that in mind, we've updated the bugs channel over in the official Core Keeper community Discord. You'll still be able to find the bug report form link in the pinned post, but you'll also see and be able to comment on posts from the Core Keeper dev team requesting input on specific bugs. You can access this channel and start commenting here. Oh, and don't worry if you don't see a bug you reported being spoken about here, the devs are aware of all bugs that have been reported and are prioritising them accordingly.
Caveling Plushies on Tour
We brought some adorable Caveling plushies with us to TwitchCon this year and some of them even found new homes! Big thanks to GhostArya for sharing this snap of her new best friend.
What're You Looking Forward to at 1.0?
We asked our community over on X which 1.0 features they're looking forward to the most, and they had a lot to say!
"just waiting now played over 200 hours and want to see how the new stuff affects the old stuff" - Darkness Games
"Summoner. I wish yall would let me play with it in the EA build right now đđđ" - realnickib
"The world-gen features plus the minions have gotta be my fav new features. Plus I always look forward to seeing more great spritework!" - FigzBytes
"Iâm just hyped to start a complete new world and where it leads me. I had so much fun with my current world - Iâm so excited for all the new stuff and how much fun it will be to explore all of it!đ" - Aminala
Take Part in the Core Keeper Features Tournament!
We thought it would be fun to run a little tournament over on X where you can let us know your favourite features in the game and vote for an ultimate champion! We have our predictions for the results, but we always love hearing from you, so make sure you cast your votes in the polls within this thread!
Picnic, Anyone?
Discord community member, fizzter, created this beautiful and vibrant picnic area framed by cherry trees. We just love how serene this setting looks and we want to know what you'd bring in your picnic baskets! We're thinking a Radiant Moon Sandwich and a Heart Berry Soda.
Zennle's Base Build
We really love the way Discord user, Zennle, has crafted a base around The Core. From the gorgeous trees to the beautiful way the lighting bursts in, even our CEO, Fredrik, commented on how tasteful it looks!
How are we approaching the end of June already? It feels like only yesterday we were announcing Core Keeper's 1.0 date. We hope everyone in the Northern Hemisphere is enjoying a warm summer, we know we are! Let's take a look at what we've been up to...
New Spaces in the Discord!
We've made some cool updates to the official Core Keeper Discord channel, including two new channels. Firstly, we created a new matchmaking forums to make it easier for users to organise multiplayer games. This has replaced the old matchmaking channel, which moved quite quickly and was easy to miss messages in. We hope the new tagging system in the forums will help users find multiplayer games that better align with their time zones.
We've also added a new channel called "Coremmunity Comments" (can you tell that our community manager is a fan of puns?). This channel is designed to give community members a space to share their thoughts, feedback, and opinions on all kind of topics. From things to do with Core Keeper all the way to your favourite pizza toppings, join the server and have your say!
Slime Flavours
We'd never suggest that anybody attempt to eat a Slime...but we're also pretty sure that Orange Slimes would be orange flavoured. People in the comments on X had other ideas though, saying they thought orange would be anything from PUMPKIN all the way to honey flavour.
We had votes for grape or blackberry flavour for purple Slimes, raspberry for Blue, and sour cherry or cinnamon for Red. We also had someone say that Magma Slimes would be Flamin' Hot Cheeto flavour, and we totally see it.
Passage Preview
We just can't get enough of seeing your reactions to our upcoming 1.0 content, especially our new end-game biome: The Passage. What do you think of this fun little screenshot?
Ask and You Shall Receive!
Someone on X asked us for a little more info on the "cute magic bats in the trailer", and we were happy to oblige! The bats are one of a type of creature known as "minions" that are part of the new magic system being added to Core Keeper at 1.0. Minions are summoned using tomes that draw upon an upcoming resource known as mana!
Minion x Pet Combo
Oh, and did we mention that you can have Minions and Pets active in Core Keeper?
Orange Artwork by Lem!
Our wonderful community member, Lem, was kind enough to share this awesome artwork with us over on Discord and X. The theme was orange, if you couldn't guess, and we can't get over how cute the Shrooman looks and how squishy the Slime is!
Colour-Splash Challenge Winners!
We held an extra-colourful building challenge on Discord recently, which had some amazing entries. Narrowing down the winners was a challenge within itself, and we're excited to share the winning entries with you.
First up is "Cherry Waterlodge" by Balthromaw. An amazing example of the luscious plant life and otherworldly lighting in the game. Honestly, we just want to live in this base!
Next, we have "Colour Cove" by KKCrazy2013, combining elements of different biomes for maximum saturation!
And, finally, we thought the blue hues of this Crystal Base built by Boogeyman, Catastrofairy, and Socialist Viking paired wonderfully with the pinks of the cherry trees and painted glass bridges!
The automation system no longer causes significantly lower frame rate in very large worlds.
Fixed dedicated server and client using the same file paths leading to problems when both were using mods.
Fixed an issue where mobs could escape from enclosed spaces.
Fixed an issue where traveling in a minecart next to a wall would cause the player to bounce around.
Fixed an issue where dropped items would visually overshoot the player before being picked up.
The movement speed reduction effect on the Sticky Stick no longer gets weaker when the stick is upgraded.
Fixed an issue where adjacent wires visually did not connect correctly.
Community Wrap-Up: 14th June 2024
It's been a busy couple of weeks for us here at Pugstorm and Fireshine with the launch of our 1.0 content reveal trailer! We were thrilled to be a part of this year's PC Gaming Show and even more delighted to see such a great turn out of community members watching along with us in the Discord. Don't worry if you're just catching up, we're going to recap what's been going on.
Check Out Our 1.0 Content Reveal Trailer
We think you're gonna like this one, Explorers!
Deep Dive into 1.0 Content
Are you hungry for a little more info on some of the awesome stuff from our 1.0 Content Reveal trailer? We've got your backs! You can learn more about what's coming in our full launch here.
How Do You Defeat Ghorm?
Over on X, we asked you how you tackled the mighty Ghorm and your responses did not disappoint. From using a switch to detonate a whole bunch of TnT to simply running in and hoping for the best, we loved reading your comments. Personally, we like the good, old fashioned spike-trap method!
PvP
You didn't think we'd do a 1.0 content reveal and then skimp on the screenshots, did you? Here's a little look at one of the many ways you might choose to go head-to-head with our upcoming PvP feature. Oh, and just as an FYI, PvP will be entirely optional and will be togglable from the pause menu. You'll be able to band together in teams or take an every-Explorer-for-themselves approach if you're feeling brave!
Mage & Warlock
Core Keeper is going to get a whole lot more ⨠magical ⨠at 1.0 with the addition of two new combat styles: Mage and Warlock! Will you wield the Mageâs staff to unleash powerful magic attacks or summon minions from ancient tomes to fight by your side as a mystical Warlock?
Colour Splash Challenge
We've got a new challenge for you over on Discord! We want to see all the creative ways you use colour when building bases in Core Keeper. From paintable items to naturally occurring flora, fauna, and features, there are so many different shades in the underground and lots of fun and unique ways to use them in your creations. Find out more here and take a look at some of our current entries below.
We love this crystal base by Discord users Boogeyman, Catastofairy, and Socialist Viking who had the following to say...
"The mystical beauty of crystals has always captivated us - everyone is fascinated by the play of light of these stones. It is almost unbelievable that shimmering, iridescent stones in all the colours of the rainbow are hidden deep under the ground. As if they were just waiting to be lifted into sunlight."
We're also big fans of this colourfully messy raceway by ilovebunnys444 who said... "Thanks to a lot of staff quitting their jobs The Lava Raceway has a colorful mess on it. but because it is June the colorful mess is here to stay! (please do not run over any living creatures on the track)."
This challenge ends on the 21st of June, so there's still time to submit your entries!
This is it, Explorers, the BIG one! Weâre thrilled to announce that our 1.0 content trailer has just aired as part of the PC Gaming Show, which means itâs time to take a closer look at all the wonderful things coming your way on August 27th. If you donât want to see or hear about anything coming at 1.0, look no further, because here comes Core Keeperâs 1.0 content reveal!
New & Improved World Generation!
Expect lots more variety at 1.0 thanks to our new world generation system and world seed functionality! Thatâs right, you can now play with customisable parameters that determine each worldâs features and share world seeds so that you can spawn the same types of worlds as your friends. Change settings such as ore density for a richer mining experience, create worlds filled with water, and turn up the chaos to influence the way biomes spawn in and overlap. These are just some of the world generation settings you can toggle to create unique underground landscapes.
Uncover the Secrets of the Core
Whether youâve been piecing together the story of the underground in Early Access or this will be your first expedition, youâll be able to experience the conclusion of Core Keeperâs main story arc at 1.0. Discover the mysteries hidden behind this strange artefact and find out the reason you were teleported to this subterranean world. Will your adventures conclude in triumph or anguish? Youâll just have to wait and see. Donât forget that Core Keeper is a sandbox game, though, which means that thereâs plenty of fun to be had alongside the main storyline!
Player vs PlayerâŚvs PlayerâŚvs PlayerâŚ
This has been a HUGE request from the community since day one, and weâre pleased to report that weâll be introducing a PvP system at the 1.0 launch of Core Keeper. What does this mean? Well, it means that accidental bomb drops are no longer the only way you can kill your compatriots! Go head to head with other players to battle for dominion of the underground. Whether you band together in teams or prefer an every-Explorer-for-themselves approach, PvP will be togglable by the world admin from the gameâs pause menu.
Welcome to The Passage
Deep within the underground, far, far from The Core, lies an eerie new endgame biome known as The Passage. Be warned, Explorers, this biome is not for the faint of heart. With threats around every corner, a primal new resource called Pandorium, and even more mysteries to uncover, The Passage will prove a challenge for even the most seasoned of adventurers. Full of hazardous flora and otherworldly fauna, youâll want to make sure youâre well prepared before venturing into this unforgiving biome.
Mage and Warlock Combat Styles
The underground just got a whole lot more magical thanks to the addition of the Mage and Warlock combat styles. Wield the Mageâs staff to unleash powerful magic attacks or summon minions from ancient tomes to fight by your side as a mighty Warlock. Get ready for two new skills in the form of magic and summoning, new armour and equipment, and a brand-new Mana resource to draw upon. Weâve been wanting to introduce a magic system to Core Keeper for a long time now, and we know this is something youâve been hungry for as well!
Bosses, Enemies, Equipment, Waypoints, Pets, and more!
Are we about to drop the most bosses weâve ever dropped in a single Core Keeper update? You better believe it. We hope youâve been honing your combat skills in our Battle Arenas, Explorers, because youâre going to need them to take on Druidra, Cryodra, and Pyrdra â the hydras of nature, ice, and lava. Donât worry though, weâre also introducing advanced new equipment to help improve your chances of survival, and weâll be making plenty of new additions to existing biomes in the form of new scenes, exciting discoveries, enemies, and more!
Travelling through the underground is an adventure within itself, but we know how tough it can be to find yourself miles away from your base, especially early on in the game when youâve yet to build a network of Portals. Which is why weâve added a brand-new system of Waypoints to make exploration all the more enjoyable. Waypoints occur naturally in the underground and act as teleportation stations (that link up with each other and your own Portal networks) so that you can cover great distances in the blink of an eye.
Speaking of travelling through the underground, no Explorer should have to go it alone. Luckily, youâll find all sorts of cuddly companions on your adventures, from the loyal Subterrier to the squishy Slime Jrs. Well, youâll soon have two adorable new pets to choose from and a brand-new breed of cattle. Befriend the Pheromoth and Snugglygrade and go âawwwâ when you stumble across friendly-looking Dodos roaming the underground.
We could go on and on about all the new content coming in 1.0 (yes, thereâs more!), as well as bug fixes, performance optimisations, and quality-of-life touch ups, but weâll leave the rest of the discovery to you! Oh, and as a heads up â while your current worlds will still be playable at 1.0, we do recommend starting a new world for the full 1.0 experience, as some of the new content wonât be available in worlds created during Early Access.
Thatâs everything from us, Explorers. We hope youâre just as excited to get your hands on 1.0 as we are to launch it, and weâd love to hear what you think about our content reveal over on Discord, X, and in the Steam discussions!
Keep an Eye Out for Core Keeper in the PC Gaming Show!
You might have noticed that weâve been suspiciously quiet when it comes to revealing 1.0 content â only sharing the teaser here and there across X and Steam. Well, thereâs been a reason for that! Weâve got something very exciting coming up in this yearâs PC Gaming Show and, trust us, you wonât want to miss this.
Premiering on Sunday the 9th of June at 9pm BST / 8pm UTC, this broadcast marks the PC Gaming Showâs 10th anniversary, and weâre honoured to be a part of it. Weâre also really looking forward to seeing news and updates from our indie-developer peers across the industry. You can watch the event on YouTube and Twitch and enjoy an amazing showcase of new games and trailers.
Naturally, weâre not going to reveal too much at this stage, but know that weâve been planning away behind the scenes in order to bring you something worth waiting for. Weâre on the road to 1.0 and itâs full steam ahead, Explorers! Until then, make sure youâre keeping up to date with all the latest Core Keeper news, info, and announcements over on X or our official Discord server.
Hotfix 0.7.5.1
Fixed an issue where dropped items would disappear while being picked up by the player.
Core Keeper - 0.7.5 Patch Notes
Bug Fixes:Â
Fixed a long-standing bug where objects played their placement animation every time they loaded in.
Increased spawn distance of several graphical objects, most notably furnaces, to avoid them suddenly appearing too close to the player.
Fixed a bug that could cause the appearance of an Obsidian Wall in a scene from the Dirt biome.
Fixed an issue that would allow for duplication of an Ancient Gemstone in a scene from the City dungeons.
Fixed an issue that would spawn a table inside walls in a scene from the Clay biome.
Fixed an error occurring when a large bomb explodes.
Performance:Â
Reduced the update frequency of several common operations from 30 to 20 updates per second. This performance improvement is especially noticeable on devices that previously couldnât achieve stable 30 FPS, and it also reduces the CPU load on dedicated servers by a third.
Reworked part of the tile map update to be more efficient in general and also to do more work off the main thread, improving performance when the player moves around.
Several improvements to the dungeon generation systems, including a complete rewrite of the algorithms used to place paths connecting different rooms. This reduces lag spikes when exploring the world, especially when encountering large boss dungeons for the first time.
Removed several sources of memory reallocations when worlds were loaded from or written to files. These improvements both reduce lag spikes when doing autosaves, and they also remove potential increases in memory usage during long play sessions in large game worlds.
Cache various object position values instead of looking them up every frame.
Several improvements to how object data lookup is performed.
Object sprites used to be spawned as soon as the server deemed they were relevant to a connecting player. This was a frequent source of lag spikes, as large numbers of objects tended to get spawned in a single frame. When possible, spawns are now spread out over multiple frames.
Disabled inventory slot animators completely when no animations are active. This is most noticeable when the main player inventory is open.
Removed overly cautious object lifetime checks.
Plant pots now only recompute the plant sprite state from scratch when the plant type changes, instead of every frame.
Light emitted from the player is now merged into a single light source.
Looking up tile data for a single position no longer requires all tile data for the surrounding area to be copied.
Save files are now compressed directly in memory instead of while writing to file, reducing the memory usage while an autosave is in progress.
Removed expensive string processing during custom scene loading.
Shadow updates are no longer processed in areas that are being unloaded.
Other:Â
The âHide in-game UIâ option is now reset to âOffâ (i.e., the in-game UI is shown) every time the game is restarted.
Community Wrap-Up: 31st May 2024
We're closing in on the end of another month, Explorers, and this month has been a big one! We announced the date of our full launch and console release, and there's been a buzz in the community ever since. Let's take a look at what's been going on.
Core Keeper's 1.0 Release Trailer
Check out our 1.0 release date trailer below. We're going to be showing off much more 1.0 content soon, but there are definitely some little teasers in here if you keep an eye out.
Malugaz Lore
Did you know that Malugaz is a collector of rare and valuable items, and he isn't above stealing from other creatures living in the underground...
Something Looks Different About The Core...
Wow, the Core is looking extra mystical today, but is there something else going on? Hmm...
Can't Sleep?
Don't you just hate it when you lie down after a long day of defending your base and realise there are still enemies in the area?!
Ssh, He's Sleeping
Cavelings are so much less scary when they're asleep. They almost look cute!
Pixel Art Passion
We wanted to dedicate the community content portion of this wrap-up to the wonderful Explorers who won our recent pixel art challenge over in the official Core Keeper Discord! Please join us in saying a huge congratulations to...
Ryan Adamic
Ryan Adamic created this amazing pixel art Viking in a standard-mode, survival world without the use of mods (excluding placement plus). Ryan has said that this is by far their largest and most complex creation yet, taking tens of thousands of items to complete.
âŞ(ŕšâ˘Ěă â˘Ě)ŮđâĄ
Discord user, âŞ(ŕšâ˘Ěă â˘Ě)ŮđâĄ, was kind enough to share a GIF of their pixel-art process. We love the vibrant colours and attention to detail in this one.
SnapDragon987
We're in cuteness overload right now! Who else wants to cuddle up with a Bambuck?
