Dirge cover
Dirge screenshot
Genre: Shooter, Indie

Dirge

v0.5.3 - New Character: Bonnie


New Character: Investigator Bonnie





Meet Bonnie, a fiery investigator with roots deeply embedded in the vast landscapes of the old Western US. While others knew the Wild West through the lens of popular movies, Bonnie lived it—riding across plains, hunting under the shadow of towering mesas, and mastering the art of the straight-shoot. But don't be fooled by her cowboy background; she's as at home in the neon-lit streets of Wakefield as she was in the open desert. With an arsenal ranging from trusty shotguns to modern submachine guns, she's honed her skills to be lethal against any threat. As the city faces an upsurge in paranormal disturbances, Bonnie stands as a bridge between old-world grit and contemporary expertise, ready to confront the monsters that lurk in the dark.




  • Starts with an additional magazine of ammo.
  • Reloads 50% faster than other investigators.
  • Is much less stealthy, causes traps to go off from further away and minions to hear her from further away.




Additions



  • Added vaulting to Wakefield Office windows. You can now easily hop through them to get through the other side.
  • Added spot light and unique sign in front of the Asylum for better visibility.


Changes



  • All Wraith tasks now reflect putting the Wraith to rest by returning bones to the sarcophagus as the ultimate goal.
  • Tesla Coil destruction removed from Abominable Experiments tasks in favor of a Wraith Hand after burning the formulas.
  • Actual spectators no longer show their names
  • Swapped out mesh for med kit to match other items.
  • Monsters & minions can no longer open barred doors.




Improvements



  • Overhauled achievement management system for many design issues that often caused mismatch between local storage and Steam servers for what achievements you had and earned.
  • Improved quality and verbosity of Quetico singe.
  • Widened dock in Quetico to prevent Wendigo from getting stuck.
  • Improved flooring of the Hillview Office floor under the balcony door.
  • Ladders can now be pinged by spooktaters.
  • Added more physical materials to surfaces that were missing for more accurate VFX/SFX.
  • Added more details to gardening shack outside in Hillview.
  • Improved text on UI on how to use crucifix & torch.





Audio



  • Added proper ladder climbing sounds.
  • Added bone sounds that play along with skeleton death.
  • Improved soundtrack selection between MainMenu, Lobby, and Matches.
  • Added low health sound.
  • Added falling sound.
  • Added terror radius sound to monsters.
  • Improved monster jumping, grunt, death, and footstep sounds.




Performance



  • Relit Quetico lodge for better lighting and performance.
  • Improved synchronization of K98 animations to lessen likelihood of the weapon getting stuck reloading.
  • Improved synchronization of held items animations to lessen likelihood of weapons attaching at the feet.




Fixes



  • Hid ladder debugging arrow.
  • Fixed bug where rooftop would not lock & spawn key properly.
  • Fixed placement of asylum cabinets to make them easier to access.
  • Fixed door locking issues in the small hallway between Hillview's Master Bedroom & Guardroom.
  • Fixed bug where approaching the car from the side wouldn't sap spirits & wraith correctly.
  • Fixed bug where shrine in Hillview could have multiple placements of the same candle.
  • Fixed bug where minions would attempt to open lids/drawers/cabinets when trying to navigate through doors.
  • Added blocker to barred offices so not even spooktaters can get in.


Version: 0.5.3
Build: branches/Dirge_v0.5.3-DirgeSteam-UE_5.2-Shipping-365-7854

v0.5.3 - Bonnie


New Character: Investigator Bonnie





Meet Bonnie, a fiery investigator with roots deeply embedded in the vast landscapes of the old Western US. While others knew the Wild West through the lens of popular movies, Bonnie lived it—riding across plains, hunting under the shadow of towering mesas, and mastering the art of the straight-shoot. But don't be fooled by her cowboy background; she's as at home in the neon-lit streets of Wakefield as she was in the open desert. With an arsenal ranging from trusty shotguns to modern submachine guns, she's honed her skills to be lethal against any threat. As the city faces an upsurge in paranormal disturbances, Bonnie stands as a bridge between old-world grit and contemporary expertise, ready to confront the monsters that lurk in the dark.




  • Starts with an additional magazine of ammo.
  • Reloads 50% faster than other investigators.
  • Is much less stealthy, causes traps to go off from further away and minions to hear her from further away.




Additions



  • Added vaulting to Wakefield Office windows. You can now easily hop through them to get through the other side.
  • Added spot light and unique sign in front of the Asylum for better visibility.


Changes



  • All Wraith tasks now reflect putting the Wraith to rest by returning bones to the sarcophagus as the ultimate goal.
  • Tesla Coil destruction removed from Abominable Experiments tasks in favor of a Wraith Hand after burning the formulas.
  • Actual spectators no longer show their names
  • Swapped out mesh for med kit to match other items.
  • Monsters & minions can no longer open barred doors.




Improvements



  • Overhauled achievement management system for many design issues that often caused mismatch between local storage and Steam servers for what achievements you had and earned.
  • Improved quality and verbosity of Quetico singe.
  • Widened dock in Quetico to prevent Wendigo from getting stuck.
  • Improved flooring of the Hillview Office floor under the balcony door.
  • Ladders can now be pinged by spooktaters.
  • Added more physical materials to surfaces that were missing for more accurate VFX/SFX.
  • Added more details to gardening shack outside in Hillview.
  • Improved text on UI on how to use crucifix & torch.





Audio



  • Added proper ladder climbing sounds.
  • Added bone sounds that play along with skeleton death.
  • Improved soundtrack selection between MainMenu, Lobby, and Matches.
  • Added low health sound.
  • Added falling sound.
  • Added terror radius sound to monsters.
  • Improved monster jumping, grunt, death, and footstep sounds.




Performance



  • Relit Quetico lodge for better lighting and performance.
  • Improved synchronization of K98 animations to lessen likelihood of the weapon getting stuck reloading.
  • Improved synchronization of held items animations to lessen likelihood of weapons attaching at the feet.




Fixes



  • Hid ladder debugging arrow.
  • Fixed bug where rooftop would not lock & spawn key properly.
  • Fixed placement of asylum cabinets to make them easier to access.
  • Fixed door locking issues in the small hallway between Hillview's Master Bedroom & Guardroom.
  • Fixed bug where approaching the car from the side wouldn't sap spirits & wraith correctly.
  • Fixed bug where shrine in Hillview could have multiple placements of the same candle.
  • Fixed bug where minions would attempt to open lids/drawers/cabinets when trying to navigate through doors.
  • Added blocker to barred offices so not even spooktaters can get in.


Version: 0.5.3
Build: branches/Dirge_v0.5.3-DirgeSteam-UE_5.2-Shipping-365-7854

v0.5.2 - Ladders

Additions



  • Added ladders to the game allowing new access paths up and down between floors. Investigators can climb up and down them, monsters can use them as jump points.
  • All maps (Hillview/Quetico/Wakefield) now have one or more ladders for different paths to transverse the map.
  • Added broken glass alert by broken windows in Wakefield Offices.
  • Added sewing machine trap to Hillview Attic.
  • Added lootable freezer and grill in Hillview.
  • Added additional details to all maps Hillview (Ivy, gardening hut, workshop bench, grill, septic tank, punching bag, umbrella basket, sword rack) Quetico (visitor hut, signage, telephone poles, hunting lodge décor, canoes, tents, totems, taxidermy), Wakefield (hospital décor, telephone poles, busses, laundry sink).


Game Balance


We noticed that the Wendigo has won every single match that was completed in the last two releases, and the Wraith wasn't played by anyone. We've adjusted skills and values to better balance the game only slightly in favor of monsters, as well as made the power between monsters much closer together.

  • Wendigo: Reduced health regen rate
  • Wendigo: Increased Beast Leap cost
  • Wendigo: Reduced damage on all attacks
  • Wendigo: Increased cooldown of listen from 20s to 60s
  • Wendigo: Sniff footstep icons now show AFTER the animation is complete
  • Wraith: Energy changed from 50 to 60 +10per investigator
  • Wraith: Energy regen rate changed from 2 per second in Shadow to 3 per second
  • Investigators: Start with another magazine.


Changes



  • Added randomizer effect to lobby to show that a random map was selected each lobby load.
  • Flashlights are 10% brighter.
  • Jerries by the car are now removed if there is no Wendigo monster in the match as this mechanic is unnecessary for non Wendigo matches and confused new players.
  • Added shrine as notable actor on map.
  • Changed the appearance of number of doors into and out of Hillview Manor.


Improvements



  • Improved line traces & collisions for interactions so it should be easier to pick up things you intend, and harder to pickup things you do NOT intend.
  • Added unified custom combo box for better visibility
  • Drop down menus have been unified and colors complimented for much easier readability.
  • Added more lighting to Wakefield offices to see a little easier.
  • Gave each investigator office a little more personalization.
  • Added text to help Wraith Monsters know how wake from slumber.
  • Picking up jerries & jugs animate better.


Audio



  • Added all growl sounds for monsters.
  • Updated all Wendigo sounds.
  • Adjusted music system so it forces a specific track when you're in the lobby and main menu.
  • Main Menu theme plays when returning to main menu now.
  • Added in new Shot Landed sound with passive mix modifier.
  • Added new voice sounds for all investigators.
  • Added melee as soft ref to be played from each investigator.
  • Music tracks are now replicated.
  • Improved all jumping sounds.
  • Added audio reverbs for environmental aware audio.


Performance



  • Organized and downscaled ping icon textures to take up the appropriate size.
  • Reworked flooring in Hillview to take advantage of Unreal Engine performance gains with meshes and lighting.
  • Fixed some poorly optimized lights for Secret Walls.


Fixes



  • Fixed bug where you had to pickup wraith jaw twice.
  • Fixed bug where there were two doors on subway cars, there is only one now and it is locked.
  • Fixed bug where locked sound would play on all doors for all actions.
  • Fixed bug where damage widget was shown even if the monster wasn't the cause of damage.
  • Fixed bug where you couldn't pickup gun from director's desk.
  • Fixed orientation of a crucifix pickup.
  • Reworked windowed & full screen modes to work better.
  • Fixed bug with 'Case of Wraith' not being issued
  • Language selection now saves to the config to persist between reloads.
  • Fixed bug where Spectators couldn't ping the floor


Version: 0.5.2
Build: branches/Dirge_v0.5.2-DirgeSteam-UE_5.2-Shipping-360-7729

Join the Fun with Stoiss at Sommerlan 2023 with Dirge!

Hey gamers! We're super excited about Sommerlan 2023, happening from July 15th to July 22nd in Denmark. It's a full week of gaming goodness, with daily competitions and tons of opportunities to connect with other gaming enthusiasts.

We want to give a big shout-out to Stoiss, one of the rockstars in our Dirge community. He'll be there, and you can catch Stoiss on Twitch. We might not be there in person, but we're definitely there in spirit!

Now, let's talk about Dirge. It's our multiplayer horror game that's just perfect for a LAN party. It's got a creepy vibe, a story that'll give you chills, and gameplay that'll keep you on your toes. And guess what? It's available in Danish!

So, get your gear ready, grab your ticket, and get set for a LAN party that's going to be epic. We can't wait to see your pictures and hear all about your Sommerlan 2023 adventures.

v0.5.1.2 Hotfix - Quetico Out of Bounds

Fixes



  • Fixed bug where edge of map bounds were not working in Quetico.

v0.5.1.1 Hotfix - Missing Fire Escape

Additions



  • Added RagefulRiotOG's Divina Venatores cosmetic.


Fixes



  • Fixed bug where side alley fire escape stairs were missing.

v0.5.1 - Soundscapes - Procedurally Generated Ambient Sounds

Additions



  • Added Soundscapes to all levels with custom groupings of sounds that are procedurally generated to fit the feel of the area. Hear the wisps of wind outside the breezy entrance to Quetico Forest. Hear the insane cries and screams of patients past in the asylum in City of Wakefield. Hear the bats, owls, and crickets surrounding Hillview Manor.
  • Added ammo and battery dispensers to the starting car to replace the briefcase.
  • Added Epilepsy warning to Wakefield


Changes



  • Upgraded to Unreal Engine 5.2
  • Reworked Wendigo's stamina and fixed pitch aim offsets not working during attacks.
  • Lessened Revenant's blindness.
  • Adjusted navmesh of Wakefield so minions get stuck less.
  • Killing deer now gives steak loot


Audio



  • Fixed issue with candles playing sound while unlit.
  • Adding reverb to cave
  • Lowered volume of guns and doors/drawers sounds.
  • Removed electric buzz sound playing from mushrooms.


Improvements



  • Fixed pool table sizing.
  • Improved death decals for all creatures with blood that dries over time.
  • Remodeled the Hillview Manor's Master Bathroom
  • Monster attack collisions are more accurate and should pitch correctly as well.
  • Added tinting to map screen close buttons to better match the level
  • Wendigo hair around neck and torso is hidden for Wendigo player so it doesn't cover as much camera space.


Fixes



  • Removed FlareGun as from required gun for achievement "First Action Hero".
  • Disabled thunderdome & friendly fire lobby controls on clients.
  • Fixed hard crash caused by zero-scaled instances in instanced static meshes.
  • Patched a hole in the pond corner.
  • Fixed bug where gamepad keys can't be mapped if they don't already have a key.
  • Fixed bug where it would say in chat at the start of the match 'You joined the spectators team'.
  • Fixed flashlight spacing on Camilaso you can see light when looking down.
  • Fixed bug in area labels for 'exterior grounds'.
  • Corrected for bad in place bone transforms with root/hips in wendigo swimming start/stop animations.
  • Fixed bath cabinet door opening the wrong way.
  • Added corrective measures for office fan lights to always face down.
  • Alerts are now always armed/rearmed
  • Fixed missing collisions that allowed you to walk through asylum walls.
  • Fixed bug where Wraith could get stuck in physical realm if sapped too quickly on high ping client.
  • Fixed bug where office drawers didn't spawn ammo much and if they did it stuck out through the front.
  • Fixed bug where clients would see a full skeleton in sarcophagus.


Version: 0.5.1
Build: branches/Dirge_v0.5.1-DirgeSteam-UE_5.2-Shipping-351-7566

Summer 2023 Update & DevLog



Check out the latest seasonal update video containing a rollup of major highlights since that last video!

v0.5 - New Map: City of Wakefield

New Map : The City of Wakefield!







Prepare to be spooked, paranormal investigators! We're excited to unveil our latest map for Dirge, the bone-chilling horror game that's been haunting your dreams. We've worked tirelessly to create an immersive and terrifying experience for our players with the new "City of Wakefield" map, powered by the incredible Unreal Engine 5.



This map features three main sections, each with its own eerie charm: the investigator squad's office building, a nearby psychiatric hospital asylum, and an underground subway tunnel. So hold onto your flashlights, and let's delve into the dark corners of the City of Wakefield.

The Office Building:





The haunting begins at the paranormal detective squad's office building, where investigators have a 3-story playground to explore, including a basement and rooftop. Sharpen your skills in the basement's firing range or enjoy a chilling view of the city and the neighboring asylum from the rooftop vantage point.



With a realistic traffic system and street steam vents, the City of Wakefield feels eerily alive, adding to the suspense. And for a touch of supernatural mystery, each investigator's office is randomized every playthrough, ensuring that no two investigations are ever quite the same. Just beware of any unexpected "ghosts" lurking around Vince's office, as it doubles as the multiplayer lobby.

The Asylum:





A few spine-tingling steps from the office lies the psychiatric hospital asylum, where the Revenant monster is believed to have originated. We wanted each room of this once thriving hospital to feel unique, with traces of the tragic event that transformed it into a nightmarish hellscape.



The walls are adorned with blood-scribbled, randomized psychotic ramblings, some offering clues to the story, while others may simply be incoherent gibberish. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden Easter eggs and horror references scattered throughout the graffiti and signage – if you dare.

The Subway:





Finally, venture into the depths of the underground subway tunnel, where a derailed train and its valuable cargo of weapons await. This treasure trove of firepower offers a much-needed advantage in the battle against the monsters that lurk in the shadows.



The subway also serves as an alternative path between the office and asylum, giving players a chance to strategize and avoid the horrors that may await above ground. Just remember, the darkness holds its own secrets, and there's no telling what ghastly surprises you may encounter on your journey.



Wakefield:


The City of Wakefield map promises a thrilling and horrifying experience for Dirge players, with new locations, challenges, and secrets to uncover. So, gather your team of investigators, and prepare to face the terrors that lie within the shadows of the City of Wakefield. Good luck – you're going to need it!

Major Update in the Works!

Darkness falls upon us, dear thrill-seekers, as we prepare to pull back the curtain on a chilling new chapter in our supernatural saga. Prepare to tread the treacherous streets of the City of Wakefield, an ominous cityscape shrouded in an all-consuming darkness. Where light falls, it does so reluctantly, leaving shadowy corners untouched, allowing an oppressive sense of foreboding to permeate every grimy alleyway and crumbling edifice.

At the very epicenter of these paranormal disturbances stands the Investigator's Office, a beacon of hope amidst the encroaching chaos. Their mission - to peel back the layers of the city's supernatural underbelly and confront the monstrous entities that lurk within.

Wakefield is a city like no other; it is a palpable nightmare that clings to the consciousness, a dark urban labyrinth echoing with eerie whispers of the past. This haunted metropolis is teeming with hidden horrors waiting to be discovered, pushing the boundaries of your fear further than ever before.

We've been tirelessly weaving this intricate web of dread, fine-tuning each menacing alleyway, each chilling scenario, to give you a uniquely harrowing gaming experience. As we plunge into the final stages of testing and polishing, know that every ounce of our dedication has been poured into crafting this hair-raising installment.

Soon, you'll walk the eerie streets of Wakefield, flashlight in hand, facing the unknown. Are you ready to step into the shadows? The City of Wakefield awaits you, whispering your name amidst its unsettling echoes...