Greetings Reagents! We released a hotfix to resolve some issues and improve game stability. We are still assessing all the feedback and data from the launch week, and will provide more details soon. Your feedback is critical for us, thank you for playing The Outlast Trials and for taking the time to respond to our survey!
Group Finder We are improving the Group Finder to queue players of similar Therapy Level together. This change should improve the player experience when playing with strangers. We will be monitoring this change and keep improving it server-side. Although the system tries to find players of similar Therapy Level, it is still possible that players end up in a group with a larger level difference.
General
Group Finder will now look for players of similar level in priority. If the matchmaking time takes too long, the system will expand to more levels in order to find a team.
Group Finder will avoid matchmaking with the same players twice in a row.
Quest items dropping on the ground due to players leaving Trial or disconnecting will now display an icon across the map to help other players locate it (Keys and Tickets).
Fixes
Fixed an issue where players could remain stuck inside a hide spot.
Fixed an issue where players could fall out of the map when exiting the shuttle.
Fixed an issue where Pusher NPC wouldn’t grab the player correctly during Mansion Tutorial.
Fixed an issue where some menus wouldn’t open correctly and players would get stuck.
Fixed an issue where players could get stuck in the Graphics tab in the Settings screen.
Fixed an issue where the equipped cosmetic would change at the start of a Trial.
Fixed an issue where NPCs could get stuck in a pass over after opening a door.
Fixed an issue where players couldn’t instant use items given by other players.
Fixed an issue where slide could make the players stuck on location.
Fixed various other bugs to improve the general stability of the game.
Graphics and performance
Fixed crash when trying to use FSR2 with certain older graphics cards.
Fixed crash when certain VR devices were connected.
Fixed recommended driver version when using older DX11 cards.
Hotfix #1
PATCH NOTES
Greetings Reagents! We released a hotfix to resolve some issues and improve game stability. We are still assessing all the feedback and data from the launch week, and will provide more details soon. Your feedback is critical for us, thank you for playing The Outlast Trials and for taking the time to respond to our survey!
Group Finder We are improving the Group Finder to queue players of similar Therapy Level together. This change should improve the player experience when playing with strangers. We will be monitoring this change and keep improving it server-side. Although the system tries to find players of similar Therapy Level, it is still possible that players end up in a group with a larger level difference.
General
Group Finder will now look for players of similar level in priority. If the matchmaking time takes too long, the system will expand to more levels in order to find a team.
Group Finder will avoid matchmaking with the same players twice in a row.
Quest items dropping on the ground due to players leaving Trial or disconnecting will now display an icon across the map to help other players locate it (Keys and Tickets).
Fixes
Fixed an issue where players could remain stuck inside a hide spot.
Fixed an issue where players could fall out of the map when exiting the shuttle.
Fixed an issue where Pusher NPC wouldn’t grab the player correctly during Mansion Tutorial.
Fixed an issue where some menus wouldn’t open correctly and players would get stuck.
Fixed an issue where players could get stuck in the Graphics tab in the Settings screen.
Fixed an issue where the equipped cosmetic would change at the start of a Trial.
Fixed an issue where NPCs could get stuck in a pass over after opening a door.
Fixed an issue where players couldn’t instant use items given by other players.
Fixed an issue where slide could make the players stuck on location.
Fixed various other bugs to improve the general stability of the game.
Graphics and performance
Fixed crash when trying to use FSR2 with certain older graphics cards.
Fixed crash when certain VR devices were connected.
Fixed recommended driver version when using older DX11 cards.
The Outlast Trials is Steam Deck Verified!
Break yourself, rebuild yourself and fight for salvation wherever you roam! The Outlast Trials is fully optimized for the Steam Deck so you can survive Murkoff's experiments alone or with friends wherever you go.
Early Access Out Now!
Murkoff's experimental program is waiting for you! Reagents will be pushed to their limits in new environments, new Trials, several Challenges including variators to enhance the experience and difficulty, as well as the elusive seasonal Program X. You will be able to customize your character and cell and experience full character progression with a narrative introduction and a surprising conclusion for each Reagent released, and more to come gradually throughout Early Access. The Outlast Trials is a complex experience, Early Access means we will be able to reiterate the game with your feedback to help us refine and balance the game. More about the Trials...
SLEEP ROOM & DENIZENS The Denizens populating the Sleep Room are now active. They live in Murkoff’s Sinyala facility and are there to help you with your therapy. You will meet:
Noakes, the Engineer, will assist you with Experimental Special Operations Platforms, also known as Rigs.
Barlow, the Pharmacist will help you enhance your physical and mental abilities with Prescriptions.
Dorris, the Shadowy Dame, will provide you with Amps to strengthen you for the Trials.
There are other surprises in the Sleep Room for you to discover…
PROGRAMS One of the biggest changes we introduced in Early Access is the concept of Murkoff Programs. Your rebirth is a journey, separated into clusters of Trials called Programs.
A Program is a list of Trials and Mk-Challenges that you must complete to earn rewards and make progress in order to unlock the following Programs.
You will receive “First Completion Rewards” for completing each Trial of a given Program, which can only be earned once.
Replaying completed Trials will still provide experience and Murkoff Dollars based on your performance.
You will get a special bonus for completing a Trial with an A+ grade.
Programs is a platform that will be populated with new content and experiences over time.
Access the Programs screen via the Terminal in the Sleep Room.
Program 1 takes place in the Police Station.
Coyle is the Prime Asset of Program 1.
The Trial “Kill the Snitch” has been revisited an improved since Closed Beta.
Program 2 takes place in the Fun Park.
Gooseberry is the Prime Asset of Program 2.
Program 3 takes place in the Orphanage.
Gooseberry is the Prime Asset of Program 3.
Each Program introduces a new set of Trials and Mk-Challenges.
PROGRAM X Once you finish all Programs, you will be able to access Program X.
Program X is a seasonal stack of Trials and MK-Challenges. Our team will renew it occasionally.
Complete Program X to attempt and earn your freedom.
REAGENT RELEASE: JOIN THE REBORN Murkoff has prepared one final Trial for you to complete once you have completed all Programs.
Complete it to earn your freedom… But be advised, once a Reagent has earned their freedom, somebody new must take their place.
TRIALS & MK-CHALLENGES
Trials are immersive story-driven therapies that take a certain time to complete.
Mk-Challenges are shorter therapies occurring in modified or redesigned sections of existing maps.
TRIAL VARIATORS
Trial Variators alter aspects of a Trial when you revisit them as part of a Program. Variators are also meant to enhance the difficulty of your Trial and is an alternative to the traditional difficulties we’ve seen in previous Outlast games (Easy, Normal, Nightmare, Insane).
The list of Variators will show when selecting a Trial in a Program.
You can also see the list of Variators when opening the Menu (ESC) while in a Trial.
ENEMIES, AI & DIFFICULTY Improvements were made to enemy AI since Closed Beta.
They are now more brutal, deadly, and relentless so make sure to use your stealth, items in the map, and your rig to evade them.
Difficulty selection has been removed from the game and instead, the challenge increases as you make progress through the Programs, and Trial Variators increase test your limits.
RECORD & THERAPY LEVELS
Look through your Records to view your Reagent Therapy Level
Therapy Levels are our progression system where you must complete Trials to acquire experience and increase your Reagent level.
The maximum level for Early Access is 40.
Therapy Levels will provide rewards:
Vouchers - a currency used to purchase Rigs, Upgrades, Prescriptions, and Amps
Murkoff Dollars - a currency used to purchase character cosmetics and cell decorations.
Cosmetics - a random cosmetic will unlock and be available for purchase with Murkoff Dollars for each level-up.
LOADOUT As you progress in your therapy you will earn currency to unlock Rigs, Prescriptions, and Amps to enhance your Reagent.
Use the Loadout to organize and activate your ideal Regimen.
You can also see the list of purchased Rig Upgrades, Amps, and Prescriptions from the Loadout screen.
Try to synergize your loadout with your teammates, or equip the best loadout for each Trial.
Setup your Loadout from the Terminal in the Sleep Room or by opening your menu (TAB)
RIGS Rigs are experimental, reusable tools designed to help with your therapy.
See Noakes in the Sleep Room to acquire new Rigs and upgrade them.
Rigs have been reworked and rebalanced since Closed Beta.
They can now be upgraded with improvements and new features.
Rig upgrades must be purchased consecutively.
PRESCRIPTIONS Prescriptions (Rx) enhance your physical and mental abilities.
Purchase Rx from Barlow in the Sleep Room’s Pharmacy.
Murkoff chemical therapy is terminal, meaning once purchased, an Rx is active forever.
There are 2 tiers of Prescriptions.
Prescriptions can be purchased in any order, but Tier 2 only becomes available once all the Tier 1 Prescriptions have been purchased.
AMPS Amps are powerful contraband that can have a big impact on your therapy.
Purchase Amps from Dorris in the cafeteria, when she thinks you are ready.
Amps become available later in the game.
CHARACTER COSMETICS You are unique. Change your appearance to reflect who you really are.
Visit the mirror in your private cell to access the appearance customization menu.
Cosmetics will be unlocked randomly and available for purchase as you progress through the game.
PRIVATE CELL DECORATIONS Make your place cozy. Change the look of your personal cell.
Visit the bed in your private cell to access the customization menu.
More decorations will be unlocked randomly and available to purchase as you progress through the game.
GRADE SYSTEM The Post-Trial Grade calculation has been revamped.
All your actions now influence your Grade.
Murkoff’s report with your grade will be visible after each Trial.
Grades influence the performance payout you get at the end of each Trial.
BADGES Badges have been revamped since the Closed Beta.
Badges are now long-term accomplishments that provide a reward once completed.
A badge milestone can be redone multiple times (although the reward only occurs once).
EVIDENCE There are illicit Murkoff documents scattered inside the Trials.
Find them to uncover the secret history of the Sinyala Facility. Many new documents have been added.
INTERFACE/HUD The Interface/HUD has been reworked to be simpler and more immersive.
Interface elements now appear when needed, then auto-hide.
We have added many interface/accessibility options to adjust the interface to your preference.
Health Display
Sanity Display
Noise Indicator Display
Darkness Indicator Display
Inventory Display
Assignment Display
Aim Dot Display
Group Display
Player Names
We have also added a new PRESET feature, allowing players to quickly change their interface settings.
[STANDARD] Standard and immersive way to play.
[ACCESSIBLE] All accessibility options are active.
[IMMERSIVE] Most immersive and challenging way to play.
[CLASSIC COOP] Focus on teammates with permanent group display.
Many menus have been introduced/revamped since the Closed Beta.
Terminal and all sub-menus
Denizens' screens (Noakes, Barlow, Dorris)
Results screen (end of a Trial)
Options screen
Pause Menu
GROUP FINDER & GROUP We have introduced a new Group Finder feature.
Use this feature to find players before starting a Trial.
Select the party size (Duo, Trio, Quad).
Access Group Settings from your Menu
Change “Group Privacy”: Friends Only, Private, Open To All
Toggle “Group Members Can Invite”
Toggle “Group Invitation Requests”
AUDIO Experience the new music and audio effects, and voiceovers for all characters. LANGUAGES SUPPORT The Outlast Trials is now playable in 13 different languages.
Voice overs only available in English and French
New subtitles options.
KNOWN ISSUES
When reviving a player who is located on the Police Station snitch cart rails, the player who is helping their downed teammate will be moved sideways
This is only a visual bug and should not affect reviving a downed teammate
In certain seeds of Police Station one of the posters in the basement cannot be grabbed, as well as some posters in the seeds of the Feed the Children Trials
There are always more posters available than required, we are investigating this issue
Some subtitles might be cut off if they are too long
Some French voice lines may not match their subtitles
Some UI and its interactions may be offset on some ultrawide resolutions
On rare occasions the Pusher is unable to grab the player in the Mansion Tutorial level therefore stalling the player's progress in that level
Players must restart the Tutorial, we are investigating the issue
FIXED ISSUES
Fixed NPCs who idle in front of hidespots instead of taking you out.
To report bugs please join our Discord https://discord.gg/outlastofficial and follow the instructions on creating a ModMail ticket to chat with a support agent. Note it is an 18+ server considering our game’s mature content.
If you wish to share your feedback about The Outlast Trials Early Access, you can do so by completing our survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OutlastTrialsEarlyAccess
The Red Barrels Dev Team
Early Access Date Announcement
We are excited to officially announce the Early Access release date for The Outlast Trials, which will come to Steam and Epic Games Store on May 18, 2023. Wishlist The Outlast Trials now
Players were first granted access to Murkoff’s Sinyala Facility last Halloween for the Closed Beta experience. Running from October 28th to November 1st, almost 1 million players signed up for the terrifying challenge, with successful players racking up a total of 35 years of playtime spent during the Closed Beta weekend. Once again we thank everyone who joined us during the Closed Beta, your feedback was invaluable!
The Outlast Trials Closed Beta gameplay data:
225,363 player deaths
656,180 players incapacitated
352,851,550 secs (11 years) spent in Night Vision
1,841,161 number of times Active Skill was used
35 years total time spent in The Outlast Trials by players during the Closed Beta
“The Closed Beta was just a taste of what’s to come in The Outlast Trials,” said Philippe Morin, Co-Founder of Red Barrels. "Our first round of willing participants to take part in the trials provided us with some insightful feedback and very interesting data, which we have used to improve the player experience. We received so many requests for the Closed Beta that we’re looking forward to welcoming even more players to The Outlast Trials when it comes to Early Access on May 18th.”
A brand new take on the acclaimed Outlast survival horror series, The Outlast Trials is set in the same terrifying universe as the previous titles, only this time you can choose to play on your own or with friends in a team of up to four people. Early Access will only be available on Steam and Epic Games Store, however, we are working to have The Outlast Trials be playable on as many consoles as possible for the game's full launch with cross-platform play but without cross-platform progression.
Further information about pricing and the content available in The Outlast Trials Early Access will be revealed soon.
Here are our responses to some Early Access questions as seen on our Steam page:
Why Early Access? “The Outlast Trials is a complex experience and the most challenging production the studio has ever faced. We need your feedback to help us refine and balance the game. Murkoff's experimental program is waiting for you.”
Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access? “It all depends on the feedback we get. Our goal is to release version 1.0 when we feel the game delivers our initial vision.”
How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version? “In addition to bug fixes and improvements on balance and core gameplay, the full version will have more of everything: trials, challenges, enemies, perks, customization, etc. Most of these will be introduced gradually during the Early Access phase.”
What is the current state of the Early Access version? “The Early Access build will include all the main features and be fully playable.”
Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access? “No definitive plans here yet, but it is likely that the price will be increased over the course of the Early Access period.”
How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process? “We currently use our Discord server as our primary ways to talk to our community. We also look forward to reading your feedback via our Steam forums and social media channels.”
Keep in touch with us and what we are up to on our socials:
Closed Beta Has Ended - Thank You to all our players!
The Closed Beta for The Outlast Trials is officially over. The Red Barrels team thanks everyone for pouring hours into our game and sharing your experiences with us.
Keep sharing your Closed Beta experiences with us here or on our other social media accounts: Screenshots, clips, feedback, pistachios; WE WANT TO SEE IT ALL!
Also please fill out The Outlast Trials Survey so we can work towards a roadmap to release with your feedback in mind.
Let's not be strangers. Let's stay in touch... and remember we are all going to get better together! 💉
- The Red Barrels Team
Closed Beta Patch Notes
Welcome to the Closed Beta of The Outlast Trials game!
The Murkoff Corporation is waiting for you at its Sinyala Facility to volunteer for a unique therapy to reinvent yourself before letting you back out into society.
The team at Red Barrels has been working hard on this project for years now; we are nearing the finish line, but need your valuable feedback to bring this game to its full potential!
Please keep in mind this isn’t a finished product, The Outlast Trials is a work in progress and we will prioritize game breaking bugs this weekend and will be working to fix other issues in the future for full launch. Some things still need to be worked on and polished, but before we go any further, we’d love to have you jump into The Outlast Trials and get your thoughts.
In this Closed Beta, you’ll be able to play the introduction of the game, explore the Sleep Room (the in-game lobby), customize your character, make your cell your own, and take part in one of Murkoff’s Trials in Police Station featuring Leland Coyle, one of our Prime Assets. The trial is playable solo or co-op with a team of up to four players, with each participant’s performance being rated by Murkoff. Enjoy, and remember, we are all in this together.
Patch Notes
It is not possible to reconnect to an ongoing Trial under any circumstances. If you get disconnected or kicked out, we suggest you to either wait for your team to be done playing so you can join them again or queue in a new game.
Unlock higher difficulties by completing the difficulty below it. Insane difficulty will not be playable during Closed Beta.
The Party Voice Chat system is activated by default, if you wish to deactivate it, you can change the settings in the Main Menu > Game Options > Audio > Voice Chat Enabled > Off.
Cinematics' audio may be out of sync on certain systems.
Problems launching the game
If you press Play on Steam, and the game window does not launch, but the Task Manager shows it’s running, you’ll have to follow these steps: Right-click on The Outlast Trials in Steam → Go to Properties → Manage → Browse local files → Right-click on the “TOTClient.exe” → Properties → Compatibility → Toggle on “Run this program in compatibility mode for” → Select Windows 7.
If you get a “DX12 is not supported on your system“ error message, please verify your file integrity on steam.
If you get a DX12 crash, go into the Properties section of The Outlast Trials Closed Beta application in Steam, and in the Launch Options type: “-dx11” This will allow you to switch the game to DirectX 11. The game might be slightly slower but it will be playable.
If you get the “Failed to find server for match” error message, please wait a few moments and try again.
Can't connect to the game? Check your firewall or antivirus software configuration to ensure it's not blocking the game from connecting to its servers.
When crashing in any way, make sure to fill up the Unreal Crash Window.
Known Issues
When a player is downed and bleeding out near walls, corners, and other objects throughout the map where it’s not possible to revive downed or dead teammates (close to wall, corners, other objects). The downed player just has to move in an open area before dying.
If the player quits to the lobby/sleeping room while being in the SAS wagon, some issues may occur.
Even if your Social Menu is accessible during your tutorial, you will not be able to invite people to play with you. It is a strictly solo experience and seeing his menu at that stage is unintended.
Slight chance of having an issue with the Generator’s cranking mini-game. Players will not be able to progress and will have to restart the trial.
The Outlast Trials is not currently supported on the Steam Deck.
The Outlast Trials Closed Beta: FAQs
Thank you for joining us during the Closed Beta weekend, going on from Oct 28 to Nov 1! Here are answers to some questions people have been asking us:
How can I play The Outlast Trials - Closed Beta
The best way to play The Outlast Trials is to Request Access on the store page of the game in Steam: The Outlast Trials
You’ll receive a notification once the game is available for you to download and play on Steam. We recommend that you add the game to your Wishlist so you’ll get a notification when the game is released officially.
When does The Outlast Trials - Closed Beta Test occur?
The Closed Beta will be live from Friday, October 28th to Tuesday, November 1st. The game will roll out gradually on the day of the release. If you’ve added the game to your Steam wishlist, you should receive a notification once the game is available for you to download so remember to keep checking.
Will everyone be able to play the Closed Beta?
Our plan is to make the game accessible globally and to as many players as possible. If some major technical issues occur though, we may have to close down the game servers temporarily or permanently in one or multiple regions.
Will The Outlast Trials have a single-player campaign, or is it full multiplayer?
The Outlast Trials is fully playable in single-player and in cooperative multiplayer. All the content of the game can be completed alone or with a group of players. There are no limitations.
Is a persistent online connection required?
You must have an Internet connection to play The Outlast Trials whether you play alone (1 player) or with friends (2-3 or 4 players). For the best experience, we recommend playing with an Ethernet cable connection or over Wi-Fi. It would be best to make sure you have a strong and reliable connection.
How does the game play out compared to the others? Will it be shorter, or longer? Are there similar game mechanics as earlier ones? (Notes, recordings, batteries, etc.) And is it more recommended to play with friends or does playing alone work just as fine?
The Outlast Trials builds on previous Outlast games by offering more variety, more exploration, new challenges, and new gameplay elements all while keeping what made Outlast so unique: horror, scare, mysteries, gore, and surprises. For the first time ever, the game can be played as a group of up to 4 players.
It is not required to have played the previous Outlast games to enjoy The Outlast Trials.
What are the Minimum and Recommended specs for the Closed Beta?
MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 10
PROCESSOR: Intel Core i5-6600 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
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When will The Outlast Trials come to Xbox, PS, and switch? Will it be old gen too?
We have no announcement to make at this point, but it is important for us to offer the game to as many players as possible.
I’ve encountered some bugs/issues, how should I report them?
Please join us on Discord to provide information on the issues you’ve encountered by submitting a modmail ticket and share your feedback through the appropriate channels. The information you provide to us will be very helpful for our team so they can analyze and resolve these issues. Keep in mind The Outlast Trials is a work in progress and we will prioritize game breaking bugs this weekend and will be working to fix other issues in the future for full launch.
My game is crashing on startup, what can I do?
If you experience crashes, please report any relevant information in the crash reporter and submit it to us.
If you crash at startup, go in the Properties section of The Outlast Trials Closed Beta app and in the Launch Options type: -dx11. This will allow you to switch the game to DirectX 11.
If the switch to DirectX11 doesn’t work, you can right click on the executable of the game (TOTClient.exe) located where your game is installed then change compatibility mode to Windows 7 and it’ll work. The game might be slightly slower though but you will be able to play it.
I cannot start one of the generator in the basement of Police Station, what can I do?
It might happen that you don’t have green target zones to crank a generator located in the basement of Police Station. If you play with other players, they might be able to see the green zone and start the generator properly but if you’re playing alone, unfortunately it’s a walk through break. You’ll need to quit your game and start a new one.
When will the game be released?
Our team is currently working hard on The Outlast Trials and we have not set an exact release date yet. When we do we will communicate it on our social media, so make sure to follow us here:
