Winter Ember
Major Patch Update - End of Community Test Branch
Please head to this announcement to see the patch notes here.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to those that stuck by us and gave us crucial feedback during the updating process. We hope you continue to voice your concerns and without any more fluff… ENJOY!
Patch Notes v1.5.7
Hello everyone,
We have spent a lot of time collecting feedback from you since Winter Ember’s launch. Much of the past several weeks was spent rebalancing and addressing the many concerns raised by the community. We hope that in this new experimental build, you will find many of those concerns dealt with.
With that said, here are the patch notes! Brace yourselves, it’s going to be a long one :)
Saving
- Quick save and quick load implemented
Combat
- Parry button moved from middle mouse button to V key
- Enemies now have health bars
- Reduced enemy attack output
- Fixed enemies hitting Arthur as they die
- Fixed player being able to hit guards on crates
- Reduced enemy arrow block chance
- Increased Arthur’s attack output
- Increased Arthur’s arrow draw speed
- Decreased dog attack output and aggressiveness
- Enemies can now get stealth-attacked while being smoked
- Increased Guard collars’ brightness to improve visibility
- Player can now aim directly after sprinting (and vice versa)
- Fixed a bug where player was able to pull sword out whilst crouched
- Removed circle block and added a block bar to player and NPCs
- Modified enemy block amount for rebalancing
- Poison now prevents enemy from blocking
- Reduced heavy attack charge time from 1.25 to 1.00 seconds
- Dynamic skill icons now display on screen when using certain skills
- Changed Full Moon Specter skill attributes - whenever player dies, skill will always activate allowing
- Arthur a second chance. Skill is on a cooldown
- Stealth attack now more responsive
Cover
- Removed minimum cover range
- Snap to cover implemented
- Exit cover now based on directional input
- Movement is now directional depending on the camera’s angle
- Stealth attack from cover improved
Optimizations
- Experimental Smooth Frame Rate disabled - PC is no longer capped at 60fps
- FOG optimization
- Window and window flap mesh optimization
- Breathing FX particle now only spawns on nearby characters to improve performance
- Improved the general game performance
Collision Fixes
- Sewers area collision improved
- Rope Anchor mesh collision improved
- Disabled collision for the following: Lamp, Candle, Broom, Bucket, Pot
- Fixed Pipe not having static collision (for cover)
- Tweaked Warehouse train track pawn collision
- Fixed many collisions causing player to get stuck in Midgown and Oldworld Stone
- Nala the cat no longer collides with the player
Localization
- Completely new Japanese localization
General Fixes
- Pulled camera distance back
- Improved jump mechanics
- Fixed warehouse issue where cart dropping barrels overlapped player, glitching movement
- Candle Wall Light no longer blocks characters
- Train level now has physics-enabled stools
- Cover icon no longer shows when carrying bodies
- Fixed glitching player cloak physics when manhole and carriage teleporting
- Fixed ladder icon appearing when player is actually too far away
- Implemented a ‘recently crafted arrows’ list
- Fixed torch light shadow
- Modified Warehouse level, opening more ways to travel to rooftop
- Increased volume on broken glass to make it more obvious
- Evening purge area has additional hiding spots and minor level changes
- Altered Midgown to include a secondary way for the player to enter Battista’s compound
- Added another electricity blueprint to Midgown
- Changes to Greater Heaven HQ which were missed on release
- Fixed interactable books with physics flying upon reloading
- Fixed player pulling sword while in vent
Community Beta Branch Info
So, you’re interested in helping improve to the Winter Ember experience, and want to try the experimental build? Read ahead! Here, you will find information about how to opt into the Community Beta Branch and what you can expect.
First and foremost, a warning about using the Community Beta Branch! We have massively refactored the save system, now including the ability to quick save! By agreeing to play on the beta version of Winter Ember, you acknowledge you may not be able to return to the original version of Winter Ember and will have to wait until we merge the beta version to the main branch.
To avoid this, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND you backup your current save by creating a copy of it and storing it in a different location before testing on the Community Beta Branch.
The path of your save file should be:
…Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\WinterEmber\Saved\SaveGames
Note: AppData will be a hidden folder.
What is the Community Beta Branch?
The Community Beta Branch is a beta test branch for Winter Ember, where we will push updated builds for community feedback before it is ready for the main branch. If you would like to help us shape the Winter Ember experience, you will be able to play the newest updated features, new systems, and bug fixes in the builds that get pushed to this branch.
How can I play on the Community Beta Branch?
Opting into the Community Beta Branch is simple and easy. Right click Winter Ember in your Steam Library and go to Properties. Click into the BETAS section and select the Community Beta Branch from the drop-down menu. You should then see Steam update your game.
What if I no longer want to play on the Community Beta Branch?
Opting out of the Community Beta Branch is the same process as opting in, except instead of selecting the Community Beta Branch from the drop-down menu, simply select ‘None’. You should see Steam update your game build back to the main branch. Make sure you swap in your backed-up save files from before you opted into the Community Beta Branch, to ensure smooth gameplay when returning to the main version of Winter Ember. Naturally, you will lose all progress made in the beta version. Using save files from the beta version of Winter Ember on the main version of Winter Ember is COMPLETELY UNTESTED.
The same logic of backing up your beta save files holds true if you plan to opt back into the beta version later, or wish to continue from the progress you have made in the beta version when we finally release the new version to the main branch.
How often will you be updating the Community Beta Branch?
We currently don’t have a specific schedule or cadence for experimental updates. We are continuing to read and address community feedback as well as feedback from our internal QA teams. As we are currently reworking many things that are larger than simple ‘bug fixes’ and contain changes to design-related features, we will first and foremost be pushing these new builds to this Community Beta Branch.
Where can I find patch notes for the experimental builds?
Patch notes will continually be posted on Steam as normal. We will be sure to make it clear if any patch notes are referring to changes in the Community Beta Branch.
How do I report issues or give feedback?
You may continue to report issues as normal either through discussion on Steam or by sending us an email at support@blowfishstudios.com
Thank you very much for supporting us as we continue to improve and update Winter Ember! Please send us your feedback about the new changes in the Community Beta Branch, even if it is just to let us know that it improves the Winter Ember experience positively! Your feedback is very much appreciated!
Winter Ember AMA on Reddit's r/games!
Send us any questions you might have about the game, its development process or future plans!
https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/uby1kd/ama_were_the_winter_ember_developer_and_publisher/
Community Feedback
We are continually collecting and reviewing player feedback to determine the best way to address any issues raised. We plan to address the most critical of these issues with a patch. More updates will follow in the future, highlighting the upcoming changes.
If you wish to provide additional comments, please feel free to email support@blowfishstudios.com
Again, we’d like to thank everyone for their support and feedback.
Sky Machine Studios and Blowfish Studios
Winter Ember | Available Now!
Greetings, stealthy gamers!
We’re very excited to announce that the time has come to roam the icy streets and shadowy halls of Anargal - because Winter Ember is available now!
Preparations continue for the Nintendo Switch version, which will be unleashed later this year. Stay tuned to our socials for further updates!
With branching levels, over 30 varieties of arrows and 3 different skill trees to choose from, Winter Ember is a modern take on the classic stealth genre. Please consider leaving a review if you enjoy it.
Get the game during its launch week for 15% off, or purchase one of our special editions for even bigger discounts!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1417880/Winter_Ember/
Special Editions
Winter Ember Ultimate Edition
The Ultimate Edition includes everything Winter Ember has to offer! Get the game, digital editions of comics issues #0 to #4 and the complete soundtrack with 49 different tracks for you to enjoy!
https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/25660/Winter_Ember_Ultimate_Edition/
Winter Ember Digital Deluxe
For our comic fans, this deluxe edition includes the game and the digital editions of the comics, issues #0 to #4!
https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/25659/Winter_Ember_Digital_Deluxe/
Chat with the developers of Winter Ember!
Rob and Lucas will be hanging out in the Blowfish Studios Discord Server on Feb 23rd 6-7pm PST/February 24th 1-2pm AEST. They'll be answering questions about the Winter Ember demo, development and just chilling the the fans of the game.
Here's the invite to the Blowfish Studios Discord - https://discord.gg/blowfishstudios
Hope to see you there!
Live Stream with the Winter Ember developers!
This stream is pre-recorded and will be looped through the duration of Steam Next Fest.
Winter Ember will be in Steam Next Fest!
Sneak into our streams from the shadows during Next Fest - taking place February 21-28, 2022 at 10AM PST.
Follow the people behind Winter Ember:
The Developers ► https://twitter.com/SkyMachineGames
The Publishers ► https://twitter.com/blowfishstudios
The Game ► https://twitter.com/WinterEmberGame
Winter Ember Comic #1 “Finding Purpose” just released!
It is within this Graphic Novel, to be released in full on August 25th, that we see the kindling origins of Winter Ember’s Anti-Hero. Between these pages, we explore the not-so-humble beginnings of Arthur Artorias and the tragic event that changes the course of his life forever. Our cogs turn as we recognise key characters from the game, as well as pivotal moments that drove Arthur to become the protagonist we play as in Winter Ember.
Winter Ember Comic #1 'Finding Purpose' is available now. The Winter Ember digital comic book series can be found on platforms such as Comic Distro and Kindle. Each edition afterward will be released monthly, with the full graphic novel available April 25, 2022. The Winter Ember digital comic book series can be found on platforms such as Comic Distro and Kindle.
More information about the Winter Ember graphic novel and comic book series
is available online at: http://www.eigoMANGA.com/winter-ember
💭 GET THE GRAPHIC NOVEL NOW ► http://www.eigomanga.com/winter-ember/
GET DIGITAL COPIES
Amazon Kindle ► https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q55BL2R?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn
GlobalComix ► https://globalcomix.com/c/winter-ember
Graphite Comics ► https://www.graphitecomics.com/title/eigoMANGA/Winter-Ember
Comic Distro ► https://www.comicdistro.com/winter-ember-dth
PRE-ORDER THE PHYSICAL GRAPHIC NOVEL
Barnes & Noble ► https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/winter-ember-kevin-grevioux/1140402433?ean=9780578988818
Book Depository ► https://www.bookdepository.com/Winter-Ember-Kevin-Grevioux/9780578988818?ref=grid-view&qid=1642287068012&sr=1-1
Indigo ► https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/winter-ember/9780578988818-item.html?ikwid=winter+ember&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=fd52b3eb4d3d8b5aba448016b83ad96b
IndieBound ► https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780578988818