There's a lot going on for the 1.3 release which is very soon. You can check out the Beta Test branch and see how its going for yourself right now, or wait for the release once the current bugs and issues are cleared out. There are so many new things to know, I felt it was best to separate each topic into its own discussion. So here you go:
1.3 is running on the latest Unreal 4.23 code which has major improvements to Ray Tracing quality and performance. Basically RT can do more and run faster than ever. There are a lot of changes involved to get it working with 4.23, and I'm covering that here in a tech thread that is all about RTX, the new choices being made and how it will be different going forward.
This is becoming a brain dump, but if you are interested in the plan you can learn all about it here. The high level story and gameplay plan is included along with lots of details. I think this post can be fleshed out more, and if there are any questions/comments they will be answered and it will keep going.
1.3 has hidden cheat codes to make the game testable and easy to beat. Want to kill Him instantly? Want all the treasure? Want to skip to any level? It's there. As I said this is really for testing purposes, and would probably go away (or at least become more buried) in a general release. But these cheat codes go hand in hand with testing, and once 1.3 is released I'll be looking to get some official testers for the game to get it to final. Check this topic if you want to know all about it.
1.3 will be a big step in resolving issues in the game. For example, one key topic is performance. A lot of people especially with high end RTX setups want better framerates. 1.3 will deliver on this. A big part of the reason why is the Unreal 4.23 update, which is significant. But other things are improving framerate too: Changes to how GI is implemented, and fixing tons of bugs and other issues behind the scenes. 1.3 is going to both look and run better than previous releases, and I think will resolve any remaining performance issues some people have had.
There will be some new gameplay in 1.3, but not every gameplay feature that is planned will be in there yet. But there will be some new additions, and more is coming.
Thanks for reading! Enjoy the game and have fun!
Game and Level Scoring
One of the things being worked on for the next beta release is this:
This is definitely an alpha feature but coming along quickly, and will be added to the 1.3 betatest branch soon if you want to see for yourself.
And yes, Traps are coming... as well as methods for you to detect and disarm them using your tools.
1.3 continues to see a rapid expansion of the game. A preview of the final level is in place, as well as a method to access it by acquiring enough treasure. It's pure spoiler though so I won't say any more than that about it. If you do check it out, keep in mind this is not a final level, rather the structure for it.
Also of note, the latest Stay in the Light Beta is now running on top of Unreal 4.23 preview 7. Epic is getting close to having the new code ready, and this is key for this project. 4.23 greatly expands Ray Tracing performance, stability and features, so making use of that code is very important. Normally most games wouldn't want to release builds that run on top of unfinished code, but the sooner Stay in the Light can take advantage of 4.23 the better.
1.30 Beta branch is active
You can check out the latest development build yourself by switching over to the betatest branch and see how the new features are coming! No password is needed, just switch to the branch by right clicking the game in your games list and you are in.
There's lots of wip updates coming in 1.3. Really the goal with 1.3 (besides improving gameplay and fixing a few more bugs) is to expand the game content. More levels, more rooms, more places to explore and see. And hopefully a preliminary but complete game structure.
Progress on the next Beta release 1.3
Lots of new content and updates are coming in for the next Beta release of 1.3. Here's what to expect:
New levels and rooms:
Work towards a complete game. Beta 1.3 will have all levels represented, although they may not be in final form, they will be present and playable. This means you will be able to play the game from beginning to end for the first time. There will be some gaps in the overall structure, but the game as a whole will take shape.
More finalized graphics. The environment especially will take another step towards being a final, shipping quality. And even though Ray Traced Global Illumination isn't completely ready yet, I'm working aggressively to take full advantage of it.
New and refined gameplay. Some additional logic will be added to Him, and a new puzzle involving mirrors and reflections is coming in.
My hope is that 1.3 will also be able to upgrade to the latest Unreal code that is nearing release. Unreal 4.23 has important ray tracing improvements included, and Stay in the Light will very likely make use of this right away.
The goal is to have the Beta branch updated to a pre-release 1.3 as early as this week so you can see all these updates for yourself. I'll post another update as soon as that's up (as well as a reminder of how to set that up if you want to give it a try).
Stay in the Light 1.2 released!
1.2 is up and contains a bunch of new content, bug fixes, graphical improvements and gameplay refinements. Some of the highlights are:
Selectable Characters. Choose one of 4 different characters each with their own backstory.
All new Treasure System. New Treasure objects to find and collect, a new system for inspecting them and learning about each one. This will lay the foundation for tying Treasure into gameplay, story and other puzzle related clues.
Tons of bug fixes.
All new left and right hand animation system.
Further refinements to enemy AI.
New and refined environments to explore.
Better Ray Tracing based defaults and preferences.
Enjoy the update! There's lots more to come, and more information will be posted soon about the next set of updates and what to expect. Have fun!
Brand new treasure coming in 1.20
There are some beautiful new treasure objects coming in the 1.20 release. This is just a sample of some of them.
1.20 is coming this week and will feature a ton of improvements in every dimension. Selectable characters that animate, new and refined graphics, new gameplay, an all new treasure system, tons of bug fixes and refinements.
Beta 1.20 is playable in the betatest branch
You can check out the latest development build yourself by switching over to the betatest branch and see how the new features are coming! No password is needed, just switch to the branch by right clicking the game in your games list and you are in.
Note of course, the betatest branch is exactly how it sounds, less stable software. There will be bugs here but they're being rapidly fixed. And of course you can always switch back to the more stable 1.1 release which has been more thoroughly tested.
Some of the new big items coming up in 1.2 is the new treasure system and selectable characters.
Treasure is ultimately going to factor much more into the story, the goal is to have puzzles and clues that are directly connected to these treasure objects. More than just being for show, treasure will have a direct connection to gameplay.
Thanks and enjoy! ːsteamhappyː
Treasure inspector coming in 1.2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNUk5-RL_Ik&feature=youtu.be
More 1.2 updates coming in, this time on the treasure inspector and collection system. Some work was done on this for the initial release but 1.2 will see a significant update. Eventually the plan is this will tie back into puzzles, and gameplay, and other elements coming up in the game.
This is all part of fleshing out the art and details of the game. Enjoy! ːsteamhappyː
Selectable characters coming in 1.2
https://youtu.be/7uIaKjsGBhQ
A lot is being done with characters, new animations, new choices and other details coming in 1.2. This video shows that development, in game you’ll have the ability to choose your character with a better interface.
Each character will have their own name and backstory, fleshing out the world a bit more.
1.1 Released!
Some of the highlights:
New Puzzle: Hidden Idols. Use your Mirror to find hidden statues along the walls, and use your Chalk to mark their location. Once marked, they become visible. Find all 3 to clear the room.
Skeleton Clues: The dead speak to you in mini-cutscenes and provide clues and context.
Progress window: Press Tab key to see the clues and treasures you find.
Texturing and environment improvements. All new assets, new textures and new detail pass. This goes along with entirely new room spaces and more detailing overall.
AI improvements. Your opponent attempts to make smarter decisions in getting closer to you and more dynamic decisions.
Achievements: First set of 15 achievements implemented.
Updated to Unreal 4.22.3. Latest release Unreal 4 code and bug fixes.
Several elements continue to be worked on and will be part of the 1.2 release. More on that real soon!
