The Long Dark Wintermute Redux Update and Patch Notes Now Live

Today, developer Hinterland Studio released “Redux” versions of episodes one and two of Wintermute, also known as the story mode for The Long Dark. These two “Redux” episodes are foundational improvements made to the game’s campaign based on player feedback, with the intent to carry these updates over to the three remaining, forthcoming episodes. Hinterland Studio has released the full patch notes for the update, which of course goes beyond the Redux updates.

There are a few key changes introduced in the Redux episodes. The first is a new dialogue delivery system, that makes all story delivered in first-person, with full voice acting and animation. The cinematics have also been updated. With the full voice acting and re-recording has also come re-writing, with changes to the finer details of the plot along with new locations and more. The mission structure has been changed, making it a bit less rigid than before. Side content is more clearly optional, and players can tackle certain missions at a more leisurely pace if they choose. Finally, changes have been made to the actual gameplay, from reducing backtracking, adding new gameplay such as “Bear Spear,” and adjusted balance such as ammunition availability.

You can check out the full patch notes below:

DECEMBER SURVIVAL MODE UPDATE

The “Redux” game update includes some improvements to the game’s Survival Mode, notably:

New Craftable Item: Rabbitskin Hat. This completes the suite of craftable clothing options in the game.

New Health Buff: Well Fed. If you avoid Starvation for 72 hours, you will get a buff to Condition and Carrying Capacity. The 72-hour timer gets reset every time you begin to Starve.

New Challenge: Archivist. Scour Great Bear to collect the last memories contained in several Aurora-animated computers.

Please note that the Bear Spear is currently a Story-mode only tool. It will be added to Survival Mode in a future update.

As part of the Redux overhaul, we’ve also made the following changes to the User Interface:

Revised the HUD condition indicators. The game also now defaults to an “Always On” HUD configuration, which can be changed in the Display settings.

Improved the Fire/Stove interaction interface, to clarify Firestarting, Fuel-Adding, Cooking, and Water production activities. This replaces the “direct placement” action from the Radial as the default, primary Fire/Stove interaction type, although we have also maintained the radial placement system for those who wish to use it.

General improvements to the Map, Objectives, and Knowledge areas of the Journal (for Story mode only).

Added new Load screens with gameplay and world information.

…in addition to the dozens of general improvements listed below.

THE LONG DARK v. 1.41 CHANGELIST

KNOWN ISSUES

Due to Unity issues, we are seeing lower than expected performance in some areas of the game on Xbox One and Xbox One S. We are investigating this issue and will release a fix ASAP. Xbox One X is not affected by this issue.

There are some rendering issues when using the latest NVidia drivers on Linux. We are working on a solution. This issue does not affect AMD video cards.

GENERAL FIXES

General performance improvements across the game

Widespread audio optimizations

Upgraded to a new version of Unity, enabling widespread improvements across the game

GENERAL ART FIXES

[Enviro] Numerous optimizations to improve performance

[Enviro] Fixed numerous areas the player could become stuck in

[Enviro] Fixed numerous areas the player could get outside of the intended play area

[Enviro] Fixed numerous clipping and floating objects

[Enviro] Performed various optimizations to avoid texture popping

[Enviro] Improved alignment on some power lines

[Enviro] Updated many snow banks, rocks, and fauna

[Enviro] Numerous environment improvements

[Enviro] Improved Aurora visuals; reduced the visible banding effect

[Enviro] Improved blood decal lifetime

[Enviro] Improved waterfall splash effects appearance when dark

[Enviro] Improved light flicker visuals during an Aurora event

[Enviro] Update to many items to prevent floating after an object is broken down

[Enviro] Improved decal sorting

[Enviro] Improved grass reflections lighting for time of day

[Enviro] Fixed many instances of grass clipping through trees and railway tracks

[Broken Railroad] Fixed invisible rocks near Rope Climb

[Broken Railroad] Fixed overlapping pipes and debris near the Maintenance Yard

[Carter Dam] Fixed box clipping into wall

[Mystery Lake] Fixed corpses spawning sunken into the ground

[Coastal Highway] Fixed stretched snow textures around some cabins

[Mystery Lake] Fixed visual artifacts in river terrain

[Mountain Town] Fixed flickering textures on mountain near Milton

[Mountain Town] Fixed missing texture on rocks near transition to Mystery Lake

[Mountain Town] Fixed missing collison on the barn at Paradise Meadow Farms

[Mountain Town] Fixed flickering textures on the cars outside of Milton

[Mountain Town] Fixed player being able to clip through parts of the silo

USER INTERFACE

[Mac/PC/Linux] Fixed Xbox One menu buttons appearing for 1 frame when using a PS4 controller

[PC/Mac/Linux] Fixed selection swapping back and forth when cursor placed between two buttons

[UI] Improved the visibility of HUD button prompt when using a controller

[UI] Improved Main Menu appearing off-center in 21:9

[UI] Fixed back button taking player to wrong screen when viewing a Note at the end of a Survival Game

[UI] Fixed Reticle appearing over non-interactable cabinets

[UI] Fixed alignment of UI when reading a note

[UI] Fixed Online Messaging only showing only the latest announcement, instead of all new announcements

[UI] Fixed Back button option being highlighted by mistake in certain scenarios

[UI] Fixed player being unable to back out of Save/Load menu if it was empty

WINTERMUTE FIXES

[WINTERMUTE] Improved map markers to allow merging of critical information when multiple icons are at the same location

[WINTERMUTE] Fixed frightened Wolves becoming aggressive after game is saved and loaded

[WINTERMUTE] Fixed conditions that caused players to start Episode Two holding a lantern

[WINTERMUTE] Fixed pelts not curing if partially cured when completing Episode One

[WINTERMUTE] Added option to easily start Episode Two if the player quit after completing Episode One

[WINTERMUTE] Fixed issue that caused audio to cut out when entering certain cars in Milton

[WINTERMUTE] Fixed multiple sound effects playing when climbing rope breaks

[WINTERMUTE] Fixed Neighbours Note clipping into ground

[WINTERMUTE] Fixed deer carcass disappearing when loading an autosave

[WINTERMUTE] Fixed Wolves not always fleeing from flares

[WINTERMUTE] Fixed Wolves being able to attack players while in Dialogue Mode

[WINTERMUTE] Fixed weather not restoring correctly when loading a game

[WINTERMUTE] Improved accuracy of the Episode Completion stat

[WINTERMUTE] Fixed issue that caused players to be pushed into another room when opening the vault door in the Bank

[WINTERMUTE] Numerous wildlife pathfinding updates

SURVIVAL MODE

[Survival Mode] Fixed player being able to use weapons while afflicted with a sprained wrist by saving then reloading the game

[Survival Mode] Fixed issue with mapping in Mountain Town on some legacy save files

[Survival Mode] All bedrolls now use the same skill when repairing

[Survival Mode] Prevented deer from fleeing to inaccessible areas in the Ravine transition

[Survival Mode] Fixed items becoming lost under the Farmhouse in Pleasant Valley after a struggle

[Survival Mode] Fixed animal sound effects playing when leaving Trapper’s Cabin

[Survival Mode] Fixed issue where a cairn found in Coastal Highway could be found twice

[Survival Mode] Fixed issue that could cause Rifles placed on racks to fall off when player exits the building

[Survival Mode] Fixed Bear spawning in terrain in Mystery Lake

ALL GAME MODES

[All] General gameplay tuning across a variety of systems.

[All] Improved aiming mechanics for thrown Stones, to make Rabbit Hunting a bit easier.

[All] Retuned Wolf flee behaviour to react to being hit by a thrown Stone (probability is subject to Experience Mode).

[PC/Mac/Linux] Fixed cinematic audio continuing to play when the game is minimized

[All] Bear breath effect optimization

[All] Male survivor can no longer be heard breathing when Survivor Voiceover is turned Off

[All] Fixed players arms becoming stuck if entering a wolf struggle while holding a Flashlight

[All] Decreased campfires placement size to avoid players trapping themselves

[All] Fixed condition that could result in the the player becoming stuck when picking up a stunned Rabbit

[All] Fixed exploit that allowed Encumbered players to travel uphills at regular speed by crouching and standing repeatedly

[All] Fixed Cooking Pots sinking into cooking surfaces

[All] Improved how items snap onto cooking surfaces

[All] Fixed last Cartridge in a stack dropping as a box

[All] Fixed Bows and Rifles floating above placed location

[All] Fixed placed Campfires sinking slightly after player leaves area

[All] Fixed “You are not thirsty” message appearing incorrectly when trying to drink soda or tea

[All] Fixed player becoming stuck in animation if attacked by a wolf while reloading the Rifle

[All] Fixed Distress Pistol becoming stuck in hand if the reload button was pressed rapidly

[All] Fixed instances where subtitles could play when turned off

[All] Fixed issue where the fade to black after wolf struggle hid the get up animation

[All] Fixed unplugging the controller during movie a not pausing playback

[All] Fixed Ropes becoming inaccessible if player saves and reloads while on a ledge

[All] Adjusted Flashlight lighting effect

[All] Player can no longer enter a door when a Struggle has been initiated

[All] Improved wildlife pathfinding in Milton

[All] Fixed issue that caused Aurora to not appear correctly when using OpenGL

[All] Improved wildlife pathfinding in Paradise Meadows Farm

[All] Fixed player being able to throw a Flare while opening a car trunk

[All] Fixed flickering sky that could occur during wind storm

[All] Fixed not being able to place a Campfire on concrete

[All] Fixed unlocked lockers in Trapper’s Cabin requiring a pry bar to open

CUSTOM EXPERIENCE SETTINGS

[Custom Settings] Updated several description strings to reflect specific settings more accurately.

[Custom Settings] Fixed “Struggle player strength bonus” option not working correctly

[Custom Settings] Fixed “Struggle damage received modifier” option not working correctly

[Custom Settings] Fixed “Stick, Branch, and Stone spawn frequency” always being set to high

[Custom Settings] Fixed Hidden Caches in River Valley not appearing as empty in Custom Mode

[Custom Settings] Fixed animals fleeing when Custom Mode set to Interloper mode

[Custom Settings] Fixed Blizzard Frequency not working correctly

[Custom Settings] Fixed Wildlife Respawn Frequency not working correctly

[Custom Settings] Fixed Wolf Spawn Chance settings not matching intended preset

[Custom Settings] Fixed Cabin Fever and Parasites being On when using the Pilgrim preset

[Custom Settings] Fixed Medical Treatment voice over playing when Survivor Monologue was disabled

[Custom Settings] Fixed Custom Experience options being unavailable until user scrolls to the bottom of the menu

[Custom Settings] Fixed “Interrupt If Freezing Starts While Sleeping” option not taking effect

PS4-ONLY FIXES

[PS4] Fixed missing Bear breath

[PS4] Improved stability when transitioning scenes

[PS4] Optimized Aurora performance

[PS4] Improved lighting performance

[PS4] Fixed cursor not resetting to correct position

[PS4] Improved visual effects on Flares when thrown

XBOX-ONLY FIXES

[Xbox] Fixed grass rotating to face the camera

[Xbox] Improved performance when in the Whaling Station

[Xbox] Improved performance during strong wind conditions

[Xbox] Improved performance on breath effects

STEAM-ONLY FIXES

[Steam] Episode 2 now unlocked properly when player has the “ Leaving the Old World Behind” achievement