We’re proud to finally show you our latest update, with new content, revisited mechanics, and overall improvements that better the horror experience. We’ve been fixing a bunch of things and incorporating new ideas given to us by you, our hunters. We thank you dearly for being with us on this journey, your support is turning SO BELOW into something greater than we envisioned. Thanks.
New content:
The Bach Funeral Parlor.
- Our newest map is a creepy mortuary facility, infested with recent paranormal phenomena. This map can be played with any entity (except for the Nun, which is unique to the Church). This is our first attempt at a map that’s just been abandoned, and its medium-to-small size make it perfect for solo contracts and speedruns.
New radar system.
- The new radar system allows the hunters to detect special objects, enemies, and other hunters in their surroundings. The device is divided into two parts: the portable antenna, and the radar monitor at the base. The idea es to team up with other hunters and coordinate through radio. The hunters can choose on the monitor who to track. Communication is key.
Reworks, fixes and improvements:
Llorona madness.
This time we bring you a new revisited version of one of our most popular entities: La Llorona. For a long time, we felt that the Llorona entity was somewhat underdeveloped. That’s why we not only changed the models of the whole family, but we implemented a transformation function that reflects the state of the entities (roaming, hunting, searching, etc.), making it a little easier to navigate the maps safely. This in time inspired us to revisit her behavior and that of her children. Now the children can call upon their mother when disturbed by the hunters, as well as transforming and being able to damage the hunters if the perturbations go too far. The whole Llorona experience has been significantly improved. Now their behavior make for a very dynamic set of encounters.
Voice chat improvements.
Proximity chat and radio communications are essential to immersion in SO BELOW, and the previous implementation of the radios was—put slightly—a nightmare. Finally, after many hours of troubleshooting, we are proud to announce that the in-game voice chat is now stable and fun to use. This means we have a consistent proximity chat experience and the corresponding sound effects on radio and while dead. Please, go ahead and give it a try, for there could still be some bugs left to be found.
Player camera improvements
The hunters can now enjoy a much better camera experience with smooth transitions and improved hand object positions. This means that tools such as hand cameras are much more comfortable (and practical) to use. Additionally, we’ve decided to completely get rid of the immersive mode (headbob), for it caused many more problems than its worth.
Quality-of-life improvements.
Sprinting doors: Now the hunters can rush through a haunted location by sprinting towards doors, providing a much more agile experience. This, however, causes a lot of noise and can prompt entities to investigate the area. Escaping entities is now an important factor. And, on that same note…
General entity behavior improvements
The general haunting behavior of most entities has been improved by binding the entity speed to the distance relative to the hunter. This means that, in principle, the hunters can outrun most of the entities by sprinting gracefully across the map. This does not apply to teleporting entities, such as the shadow. Additionally, the entities now forget the player position after some time, allowing the possibility to hide (remember that crouching is your friend).
Revisited hunting objects.
We are constantly thinking about new ways to improve the hunting experience, and that’s why we’ve brought back the Geiger Counter and the Glowing Sticks with new functionalities.
- New glowstick system. The glowstick item has been revamped to offer 8 individual glowsticks in one pouch, meaning hunters can now easily mark their path through mazes or leave some sort of indicator anywhere they want. - New Geiger counter. The Geiger counter is back, and this time it offers a mor comprehensive experience. The device can detect entities and haunted objects, but it also detects overall paranormal activity, meaning that when there is an ongoing attack, its reading will go through the roof. - Defibrillator rework . The defibrillator got a new look and feel, as well as an important overhaul: it now has more charges. Now hunters can revive the player multiple times (3 times per defibrillator)
Revisited maps.
We went through all the maps in scrutiny looking for missing mechanics or weird situations. All maps were improved in systems and decorations to some degree, meaning a more consistent experience and a refreshing look (especially in older maps, like the orphanage). Some changes include: - Additional tool spawn rate increased. This was done in order to have more crucifixes and other tools available while exploring. - More audio elements and cues. Some maps lacked a few audio cues and tricks, such as haunted areas having a different reverb to evoke a haunted feeling. - Revisited decorations and lore consistency. Many paintings, symbols and other decorations within the maps were updated to fit the overarching cult narrative.
Game audio improvements
The game atmosphere is very important to us, so we added more subtle sounds and a few game sound mechanics that noticeably improve the game feeling and immersion. These things include new physical sounds, new ghost sounds, improvements to the footstep system, and more. Also, both the Nachtgeist and the Llorona sound sets were improved as a part of the Llorona madness overhaul. Additionally, thanks to your help, we fixed some character voice lines that were mixed.
Additional Bug fixes
We are always reading and learning about new bugs, and thanks to that we’ve fixed and improved a lot of small things here and there (thanks to everyone reporting on our discord server). A couple honorable mentions are:
- Doors clipping randomly. Has it happened to you? A very annoying bug where the doors clipped between positions. This caused open doors to appear closed and vice versa. - Objects changing state after changing object selection on inventory. Meaning that sometimes certain consumable objects (like crosses, defibrillators, etc.) could be “reset” by this bug.
And that’s all we have for now, dear hunters. We will focus the following weeks on performance improvements and also finishing a new map (spoiler alert: our first forest map). As always, we thank you for your continued support and, especially, for your feedback. Although we are a very small team, with all your help, this now feels more like a big and loyal community. Thank you very much everyone.
Worst Nightmares Update
Gear up, hunters!
We’re excited to release our latest SO BELOW update, where we put our most experienced hunters to the test with our new difficulty system.
Now, hunters can pick contracts with a variety of game modifiers (and get paid handsomely) and also choose the relative boss difficulty. This means more money, more action, more pain, and more gain.
Depending on the default difficulty of the contract, you will get a set of modifiers that can range from a few visual challenges to survival mode with several entities at the same time.
Environment and entity modifiers:
Unreliable electronics
All electronic devices tend to malfunction during the hunt.
Midnight Veil
All-encompassing darkness throughout the hunt. Compromised viewing distance.
Cursed destiny
No cleansing altars on the map.
No EMF
Hunt the entities without any EMF.
Light my fire
No flashlights, only lighter and environmental lights.
Diminished perception
No pin icons. Only voice lines.
Survival mode
No defibrillators, just one try.
Icy embrace
Cold weather reduces max player stamina by 20%.
Suffocating fog
Low visibility due to a high density mist in the hunt location.
Phantom menace
Additional Geist entities reported at the hunting location.
Other difficulty adjustments:
Now haunted items can spawn on different locations depending on the difficulty. Improvements to the base ghost system. This means that we can now spawn many Nachtgeists at the same time depending on the difficulty. (Challenge for expert hunters only)
Difficulty multipliers
Other improvements
New HUD feedback On the inventory HUD, you can now find your life and stamina bars, the Hunt Time, and a countdown timer before dawn (timeout ending).
New match summary The session summary screen after the hunts has been improved with much more information. This means a clearer picture of the earnings of the hunt.
Camera system improvements Smoother camera movement for a more immersive experience. More improvements to come.
Localization Full Japanese, Italian and French language localization.
Halloween season event (new entities and Zombie John).
Abyssal terrors
Additional entities from the abyss reported at the hunting location.
Oftentimes, summoning rituals can (unintentionally) invoke terrors from the abyss. These hideous creatures come in two varieties: the blind and peaceful monsters from the underworld, and the omniscient relentless hunters. Good luck. Season unlocks
HEXA Halloween event.
HEXA headquarters is under a spell. Explore the office and find the secret to unlock the new Zombie John skin (Season event). If you find it, share it to the community on steam or social media. (YOU DO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, RIGHT? )
Extras Lots of bugfixing…
The Nun of St. Philip Church.
The Nun of St. Philips Church.
Gear up hunters! We’ve been working like crazy these past months and we are proud to present a whole new experience in So Below.
New entity: The Nun.
The Nun of St. Philip Church is the most dangerous entity in the whole game, and she is currently haunting a new map, St. Philip Church. She is the most aggressive and powerful entity to date, able to spawn creatures from the underworld and a relentless hunter. For this entity we created a whole new map and a set of new mechanics and experiences, which also impact and improve the rest of the game.
New map: St. Philip Church.
Get lost within the walls of St. Philip Church, the holy seat of the Church of the Ascending Mind, an extinct cult that delved too deep into ancient knowledge and was mysteriously disbanded years ago. Traces of the cultists and their practices are still present throughout the Church. The place is thoroughly haunted by the Nun, as the locals know her. However, the intel team believes that she might be the former leader of the complex and prominent member of the Ascendants: Agnes Montrose. This new location is filled with secrets and danger, we advise going in teams.
St. Philip Church features:
Go deeper: St. Philip’s Church sits above two catacomb systems, one of which has several entrances through the Church, and a second, deeper catacomb that can be accessed through a special entrance. Be mindful, after going below, there is no turning back.
Explore the home of the Ascendants: Discover the secret rituals and practices of the Church of the Ascending Mind, learn their history, and unveil their downfall through the devastation they left behind.
Reimagined Lore to fit an over-arching cult narrative.
Symbology and new devices and puzzles: The Church of the Ascending Mind was a very symbol-driven cult, they used a few writing and symbol systems to control different rituals and challenges.
New Mechanics:
Enhanced enemy behavior.
The Nun uses different fear tactics depending on the player’s behavior. The fight can be fierce and unpredictable, or tranquil and mysterious depending on the player.
New Sanguine Cross.
New cross item to fight off entities. This crucifix cannot be destroyed by enemies as the wooden crosses. Instead, it consumes the blood of the user to refill its power. Use it wisely.
New curse mechanic.
The Nun can curse the players based on their behavior, harassing them, causing paranormal activity to rise around the player, and even teleporting them to the spirit realm. The curse of the Nun can be undone by approaching the new healing stones scattered throughout the Church. This cursing system will be implemented on past and future entities, enhancing the paranormal experience.
Enhanced ghost mode.
New improved ghost experience. Ghost players can now hold gear and objects, as well activate objects around the maps, open and close doors, drawers, and more.
Additional features:
New contract system.
New game selection system by contracts. The new system allows the player to select contracts both by location and by entity, as well as special urgent assignments. Future updates will also enrich the information provided by the contracts, as well as difficulty-to-payment balance.
The blue contracts are always free to pick, but the player cannot select the type of entity and their payment is subject to performance. The beige contracts are identified by the type of entity, but they do have an in-game cost. The new Nun contract is available through the black contracts.
Journal redesign and functionality.
The player journal is now easy to read and with more information and details regarding the entity. Further updates will improve the quality of information and also provide deeper lore.
User interface improvements.
New UI for interaction with certain world objects (doorknobs, candles, light switches, etc.)
New place mechanic implementation. Now the player can see the objects to be placed in certain expected locations (for example the burning pits in the crying lady ritual).
In-game voice chat system improvements.
Now the radio mechanic is fully functional. This is the way the dev team intended it to work. The voice used in-game exist physically in the world, meaning that it can be heard by players and ghosts. Use the radio to communicate over long distances and to listen for paranormal activity.
New colab with Random British Dude.
New skin and voice lines made by our friend Random British Dude. Available now as a playable character.
New update trailer
Attention all hunters!
Our new trailer is here.
Have a sneak peak of what we’ve been up to. New map, new enemy, new horror. 👻🔦 🔔
Also, SO BELOW is on sale on steam. Hurry up and grab a 45% discount by July 13. New challenges and enemies are in the making, and St. Philips Church and The Nun are our latest and most difficult challenges yet. Get ready and master So Below before the nun arrives.
Bring your friends, form the best ghost-hunting squad and face the horrors that lie below, SO BELOW.
Please spread the word and invite your friends to experience the fear firsthand!
https://bit.ly/SoBelowGame
Help needed
Hunters, we need your help!
As you might have noticed, we are working hard on new entities, maps, and challenges, and a lot of that is thanks to your involvement, feedback, and ideas. Thank you so much. 🔦
That is why we kindly ask you, if you like SO BELOW and would like to support the team, please take the time to leave a review on Steam. That would really help us out while we work on more challenging bosses and experiences. That, and spreading the word, of course.
Sincerely, Dan, from the Eonia Studio team.
New MAP and new ENTITY will soon be available! - St. Philips Church (TEASER)
No headbob update
Great news everyone!
We have been listening to you, and we are proud to announce that we successfully refactored the camera system to avoid the motion sickness caused by the previous camera implementation (the headbobbing issue). Now, this doesn’t mean that the old camera mode is entirely gone, you can now activate it on the menu by choosing the “immersive mode” in the game options (deactivated by default). Also, if you prefer a third-person view, you can switch modes by pressing “U”.
Other Improvements
The object-dropping system was improved; we solved the bugs regarding the dropping of objects out of boundaries.
Sprint priority. Now sprinting overrides any other character state (aiming, camera, journal, etc.), this improves escape tactics.
Added 2K resolution.
Improvements and stability when connecting to an ongoing hunting session. (Camera offset looking at the floor).
Menu cello cue correction to avoid sound overlapping.
New ending sequence for the Llorona (the Witch), new music, more time to escape the cave system, more dust and rockfall.
Improvements to the difficulty balance depending on the number of players.
Size adjustment for the Undead ritual room.
Tutorial crash fix, cockroaches removed.
However, we still need your help. If you encounter any issue with the new camera mode or any other issue, please refer to our discord channel to report it. It really goes a long way.
https://discord.gg/yg4pQyME
New beta update: NO MORE HEADBOB
Gear up, dizzy hunters!
After many requests, we have great news for all the hunters that struggle with the immersive mode (head-bob). Now you can disable the head bobbing in the menu!
However, we need your help. Please, try it out on the beta branch during the following week and let us know of any issues you encounter. If everything is good by next weekend, we will include this option for everyone.
So Below Patch Notes - Version v0.1.3.0.02f04e
Hello and welcome, fellow hunters!
We are excited to announce a new feature in So Below that we’re sure you'll love - the character store! You can now use in-game currency to purchase unique characters, skins, and backpacks.
We know how important it is to have a character that reflects your unique style and personality, and with our new character store, now you can. We are working towards the future addition of more personalization options, such as decoration for the backpacks and haunting gear skins. Now all hunters will be able to show their expertise by wearing the official Hexa uniform.
New Features:
Introducing the new Hexa Store. Players can now purchase new skins and more with the new in-game currency.
Introducing the new Character Packo! This pack includes a new character designed for our friend Packo, aka the streamer known as Gamehauntings, complete with unique cosmetic items.
Introducing the new Hunting Equipment, the Tablet! This item shows you the approximate location of the ghost and other hunters in the game, making it easier for players to track their targets and avoid getting lost.
Gameplay Changes:
Various gameplay changes have been made to improve the overall experience for players. These include improvements to hunt tracking data, experience and payment calculations and bug fixes for various achievements.
General rework of all character models to greatly improve performance and aesthetics.
Improvements to the hunt summary after each session. Players can now see a summary of their performance, including the earned experience, collected rewards, and captured ghosts.
Bug Fixes and Improvements:
Various bugs and glitches have been fixed to improve the overall game experience. Huge thanks to all the people who have been reporting bugs on our discord and on steam.
The user interface has been updated to provide a more seamless and enjoyable experience for players.
Thank you for playing SO BELOW! We hope you enjoy these new features and changes, and we look forward to seeing you in the game.
Good hunting!
So below Update!
Hello hunters! Ready up for this new update with lot of suggested community changes and improvements Hunt now in third person view! Give your experience a more cinematic feeling.
Now we implemented a new key bindings system that allows you to remap navigation keys like WASD. also, key bindings UI has been updated to show also controller keys!
Path Notes
Bug Fix - Dead players will no longer collide with other players. - Fix issue with wrong Lighter shown. - Fix issue in the Witch dungeon that shows wrong ritual altars fire state. - Possible fix to Oil lamp frame drops. - Fix some ghost spawn points.
Improvements - Third person View. - New key bindings system. - Various achimenes and stats improvements. - New animations for Shadow and Flicker. - Undead no longer glows Blue. - Deleted Headlamp and Geiger counter. - Added UV emission to various evidence objects. - Improved evidence object animation. - Light sensor will now be in hand item and can be triggered manually
Community improvements - Scroll your tools inventory with mouse wheel. - Flicker now spawn visible spark particles to help solo players. - Fix navigation issues in subway. - UV light now will show flicker body. - Ghost damage to player balance. - Flash Ghost will have different behaviors. - Player now will have 10 seconds of immortality after revived
Localization - Added missing Italian and Japanese missing texts
