We’re currently working on major content upgrades, like updated quest lines, but progress isn’t ready to share yet. As a result, Build 75 is primarily a maintenance update.

In this patch, we’ve improved sound design, polished new areas, added fresh assets, and enhanced NPC daily routines and AI. These changes lay the groundwork for new and updated quests coming in future builds. As always, our scripting team has tackled a ton of work, fixing numerous bugs and quest/game logic issues—many thanks to your feedback!

• New Animals: Added Meat Slugs and Flying Jellyfish (with variations).
  
• Gym Equipment: Introduced a basic workout gear set.
  
• Colonist Dishware: Added basic tableware to the game’s assets.
  
• New Characters: Included a full Meat Slug set (larvae, juvenile, ripe).
  
• Crystals: Converted all crystals to a palette-based system.
  
• Bugfix: Fixed visual glitches tied to the huge 3D model of the Leviathan spaceship.
  
• Ship Design: Reworked glass panels on the ship’s bridge and other areas.
  
• Clothing: Completed the first pass on female NPC outfits.
  
• Gamepad Icons: Added new icons for controllers.

• Environmental Sounds: Added new audio—various winds, rustling plants, small animal noises, and insects.
  
• Asset Rework: Updated some older sound assets.
  
• Sound Zones: Increased unique audio zones (10+ new ones added).
  
• Wind Sync: Synchronized sound with wind gusts in certain level areas.
  
• Spatial Audio: Improved audio processing in caves and the mine.

• New Creatures: Introduced Meat Slugs to the world—scarce for now, found in caves and underground spots.
  
• Cave Adjustments: Made minor tweaks to Pimple’s and Knuckles’ cave (not final yet).
  
• Cemetery Update: Added urns and pots to the ancient aboriginal cemetery and enhanced its lighting.
  
• Hornhogs: Paired up lonely Hornhogs in a few spots; slightly adjusted spawner positions.
  
• Quarry Revamp: Updated the Mad Outcasts’ small quarry with a new dungeon and encounter.
  
• Mine Expansion: Added a new branch to the mine’s open section—Bim’s workplace, featuring a beetle encounter.
  
• Lucky Hole Lighting: Slightly updated lighting with a precise nighttime schedule and extra workshop light sources.

• Colonist Details: Added new tableware and interior touches to Lucky Hole houses.
  
• Crystals Update: Refreshed all map crystals with a color-changing material.
  
• Workbenches: Placed crafting workbenches (non-functional for now) at Rusty Nails’ place, Scalphunters’ camp, and Lucky Hole.
  
• Scout Camp: Added a quest-related training camp in the lush southwestern area.
  
• Jellyfish Encounters: Introduced new Flying Jellyfish encounters.
  
• Paths of the Ancients: Enhanced visuals for the Paths of the Ancients and its tower.
  
• Scalphunters’ Camp: Reworked the camp and its lighting.
  
• Varlynx Lair: Added a new cave—the quest-related Varlynx hideout.
  
• Visual Polish: Applied tons of small tweaks to rocks, grass, and terrain.

• Combat Animations: Added some combat sets for Abori children.
  
• Meat Slugs: Created animation sets for Meat Slugs.
  
• Character Update: Expanded and updated animations for all characters.
  
• Daily Routines: Added new animations for NPC routines.
  
• Finishers: Introduced new finisher and backstab animations for humanoids and creatures.

• Controller Support: Made massive improvements to controller functionality and the input system.
  
• Button Hints: Added more and refined existing hints.
  
• UI Upgrade: Replaced the old terminal hologram UI with a computer UI.
  
• Scan Highlights: Updated materials—interactables are yellow, scannable info is cyan, and destroyables/enemies are red.
  
• Crafting UI: Slightly reworked the modification UI for modular items.

• New NPCs: Added a couple of new characters at the Outpost—quest roles to be revealed soon!
  
• Outpost Routines: Updated daily schedules for named characters and background NPCs.
  
• Watchtower: Refreshed routines for watchers at the Outcasts’ Watchtower.
  
• Scalphunters’ Camp: Gave each NPC a unique schedule (all renamed to Kson Kahar, by the way).
  
• Quest Fix: Corrected broken or uncompletable quests.
  
• Quest Rework: Temporarily disabled some quests for future updates—they’ll return revamped!
  
• Animal Abilities: Added new skills, like a spit attack for Crucas.
  
• Routine Features: Included new animations and features, such as wall leaning.
  
• Reactions: Added startle events—NPCs twitch at gunshots and stagger when players sneak up.
  
• Bark System: Refactored to support prefab/guild variations and future voice-overs.
  
• Takedowns: Revamped takedowns and backstabs for a more cinematic feel.
  
• Stealth: Lighting now impacts player detectability, with a new UI indicator.

• Weather Effect: Added a dust storm effect.
  
• Desert Storm: Refactored death triggers—rescaled damage and added wind howling.
  
• Save Files: Included screenshot previews for save files.
  
• Fixes: Implemented a multitude of bug fixes, adjustments, and improvements.

And in conclusion, a glimpse into some new locations for the upcoming quests—mystical and dangerous places you’ll encounter in your adventures on Tharsis. !!!Not in this Update yet!!!




We hope you enjoy the update! Share your feedback, report any issues, and join the discussion on Discord.
Until next time, space cowboys!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/531660/Exoplanet_First_Contact/

Hi all! This is a small update with the fixes of the issues that were identified as most annoying for players over the recent weeks. And fixable quickly! Meanwhile, we are already working on the next big update, which will include some exciting improvements!

• Fix module sub-icons not clearing from inventory slots.
  
• Fix items in gifting not triggering item info on hover.
  
• Add travel menu controller navigation.
  
• Add a waiting UI to the travel time skip. Previously, fast forward was initiated for the travel time depending on the distance, and the acceleration could continue even after teleportation.
  
• Fix the item modification error when holstering a weapon that will be stacked with the one being modified.
  
• Fix issues with the quest "Lost Friend".

As always, let us know if anything prevents you from enjoying the game, and we will try to address it ASAP! Thanks for you support!

We are excited to announce the release of Hotfix 0.74.1.0, which includes several improvements and critical fixes based on recent feedback to enhance your gaming experience. Here’s a detailed list of what has been addressed in this update:

• Fixed camera direction affecting dodge velocity
  
• Improved animal basic melee animation interruption
  
• Fixed delimiter buttons repeating actions indefinitely
  
• Corrected max delimiter count when removing items from gifting
  
• Fixed characters without stagger animations collapsing
  
• Moved holster to RB hold for controller, fixing its hold activation conflict
  
• Ensured doors close after the player too
  
• Addressed issues in the quest "Lost Friend"
  
• Fixed minor drone navigation issue
  
• Fixed consume not overriding dialog animation
  
• Corrected curious dialog logic exiting upon smoke gifting
  
• Fixed wrong combobox sizes upon screen resize
  
• Ensured button hints resize appropriately
  
• Many minor and invisible issues, or those that happen rarely, may not be noticeable to the gamer

We appreciate your patience and support as we improve the game. Enjoy the updated experience and happy exploring!

Greetings, space cowboys! It's been some time, and we're thrilled to bring you news about the latest Exoplanet: First Contact update. This update is all about enhancing gameplay features, level design, and optimization, with less focus on the narrative. Additionally, we've included a much-anticipated feature—gamepad support! Let's get started.



For those still playing Build 0.73: With the release of 0.74, all saves from 0.73 will no longer be compatible. To accommodate players who want to continue using their existing savegames, we have created an additional branch on Steam. To access it, right-click on the game in your library, select "Properties," go to the "Betas" tab, and choose "update_073_compatible." No password is required. This way, you can continue your previous savegame.

One of the most anticipated features is gamepad support. We know many players find this method of gaming convenient, and while Exoplanet: First Contact is currently a PC-exclusive, we've ensured full support for the most common controllers from modern console manufacturers. Older versions of Xbox and PlayStation gamepads, including those from third-party manufacturers, should also work seamlessly.



To enhance your gamepad experience, we've implemented focus and aim assist systems. Even our developers who usually stick to keyboard and mouse found themselves impressed with the results.
We've worked hard to create a convenient default control scheme by analyzing similar modern games, but players will be able to customize the controller configuration to their liking.



We plan to do extensive testing with experienced gamepad users (that's you!) and address any issues. We're also working on additional features like touchpad gestures, adaptive triggers, and various types of vibration.



After playing the new build on different gamepads, we're excited to utilize the capabilities of these devices fully. We're interested in your feedback on possible gyroscope support in Exoplanet, and whether you think we should support speakers and built-in microphones on compatible devices. Let us know in the comments!

One of the key features bringing the game world to life is Daily Routines for NPCs. We've developed our own toolkit to implement this aspect. These routines aren't just cosmetic; they're an essential narrative element. By observing characters' work, rest, and other activities, you'll better understand their lives and how to interact with them.



Now you can lunch with Lockjaw and his companions, run around the camp with the feisty Sneaky, or find the best time to check out their living quarters if you're that kind of player. Named characters now have varied routines, and our work won't end there. Eventually, even extras and some monsters will have meaningful behaviors.


What if you run out of bullets on a desert planet? Craft them yourself! Jack can now use his Tech skill to unlock recipes for different types of ammo, including advanced ones effective against specific targets.



Crafting changes in build 0.74 don't stop at ammunition. Jack can now create useful consumables like healing tinctures or antidotes from ingredients found in the world. Many seemingly useless items can also be disassembled into crafting ingredients or sold.


We have received feedback on multiple occasions that transparent stripes on certain elements of the graphic interface could lower the readability of the text. After conducting comparative tests, we decided to remove these stripes from text in many windows and fields.



This change makes icons more vivid and texts easier to read. While some stripes remain for non-critical elements to retain the retro-tech feel, please let us know if the new visuals are easier on your eyes or if you prefer the old design?




Introducing poison-spitting crucas! Jack can no longer sit on a ledge out of their reach and shoot them like fish in a barrel. Any traveler on K'Tharsis knows it's better to have an antidote and not need it than the other way around. This is the first iteration of special attacks with ranged projectiles for monsters. Ultimately, we want mobs to be capable in ranged combat and have abilities that reflect their alien biology. Crucas is the first test subject in this evolution.


While polishing the main storyline, we're adding small side stories to the game's world. These quests reveal the lives of ordinary settlers and provide a moral choice or require ingenuity to complete successfully. Jack won't find easy money on K'Tharsis.



One such quest, starting with a notice on the board in the Outcast Outpost, lets you help a complex individual overcome a bad habit—or not. We'll be adding more quests like this in future updates.




Our sound engineers have introduced effects for most interface elements, enhancing the immersive experience. Striking the right balance, these sounds are expressive yet not overwhelming, harmonizing with the game's style. New sounds have been added for interactive objects and mechanics, including climbing ropes, ladders, finishers, choking targets, melee attack shouts, and picking up bone objects. We've also designed sounds for new features like the spitting crucas.




Several new clothing sets have been added, enhancing NPC visuals. Hats and accessories can complete a stylish look, whether you're a sophisticated gentleman, a hardworking farmer, or a desert raider. Some NPCs now dress to better match their characters and occupations.




The Scalphunter faction's camp has been revised and polished. Emphasizing their nomadic and traditional lifestyle, the camp now uses more natural materials, with individual structures gaining more detail.



The camp has undergone some minor restructuring and changes in the appearance of the tents for better navigation. For example, the shaman's tent is now easier to spot from the outside and inside, there are more characteristic cult features.


A new Fast Travel point is located next to Rusty Nails shack.
Safe zones have been added at key locations where players can rest and sleep.



Other improvements include:

• Enhanced points of interest in the large desert
  
• Updated visual appearance of the Leviathan
  
• Added more stealth bushes
  
• General polishing throughout the game
  
• Additional stealth bushes
  
• General polishing everywhere

We've focused on optimization in this update. Most players should notice significantly improved FPS, up by 30% or more depending on their PC configuration. We'll continue to improve performance, so let us know if you encounter any issues.



In the options, you can now set an FPS limit to prevent GPU overload, especially in menus. The default limit is set to 90 FPS, but you can customize this in the settings.

Many players, especially streamers, prefer playing without a window frame when not in full-screen mode. Now, they have that option.



Previously, if players alt-tabbed or clicked a lot during loading, the game window could turn gray and appear as Not Responding, causing confusion and process termination. Now, the game window functions normally during loading.
We also fixed several small bugs related to screen mode switching (windowed to fullscreen etc.).



Stranger finally got his stylish hairstyle back!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's it for now—we hope you enjoy the update! Share your feedback, report any issues, and join the discussion on Discord.
Until next time, space cowboys!



https://store.steampowered.com/app/531660/Exoplanet_First_Contact/

Hello everyone!

First off, we want to share a big thank you for your feedback on our recent update.

We've been truly inspired by your positive comments and we're buzzing with excitement to tackle the new issues you've helped us uncover. They're opportunities for us to make the game even better. We're always amazed at the many nuances and unique ways to play the game. Even with our small team, we're giving our all to cover as many scenarios as possible. To keep the development ball rolling while ensuring a constant rise in quality with each iteration, we've teamed up with external partners to help us with the QA process.

On another note, our team is fully immersed in working on the next update, which is set to introduce some thrilling features that we're sure you'll love. However, we don't want any existing issues to hang around until that major update. So, we've whipped up a new hotfix packed with improvements and critical fixes.

Combat and Gameplay Fixes:

• Fix the kick perk's damage registering multiple times.
  
• Repair the issue of NPCs randomly consuming items, interrupting other animations, and unequipping weapons.
  
• Resolve the issue of weapons unequipping during daily routines.
  
• Improve drone combat.
  
• Correct the issue of not receiving kill experience.
  
• Fix the NPC fear state not functioning correctly.
  
• Correct the wrong enemy orientation after strafing.
  
• Enable auto holstering of weapons upon entering scripted animation.

Interface and User Experience Fixes:

• Address the instances where the character window closes without closing the inventory.
  
• Rectify the game freezing when item info appears at the cursor position.
  
• Fix resolution combobox click inaccuracy.

Quests and NPCs Fixes:

• Fix the issue of the Herbalist not teaching when diplomacy is greater than 2.
  
• Resolve the Lockjaw not progressing Asymmetric Warfare issue.
  
• Fix instances where NPCs cannot reach the interaction position.
  
• Address situations where NPCs refuse to exit interaction for quest tasks.
  
• Rectify the issue of Military Ruse cutscenes not equipping weapons.

Items and Inventory Fixes:

• Replace the "dog" label with "Erg Hound".
  
• Add money to Rusty Nails' trade inventory.
  
• Correct the Abori bat handle description and label.

Sound and Animation Fixes:

• Correct the endless scanning bug.
  
• Correct the issue of all sounds stopping in some quests and cutscenes.

Navigation and Movement Fixes:

• Rectify animals getting stuck in the jumping state.
  
• Fix minor bugs in the navigation system.

We're so grateful to have you with us on this incredible journey! We can't wait to deliver a fantastic game that we hope you, and many new players, will absolutely love!

Please join our Discord to say hi, share what you like or hate about the game!

Hello, space cowboys!

We are excited to tell you that update 0.73 is ready! We have put in a ton of work and made numerous changes to make your gaming experience even better. As usual, we're eager to hear your thoughts in the comments and on Discord. Now let's take a look at the changes awaiting you in the game.


We've already told you about the changes in the combat system, the introduction of new opponents with updated sounds, and improvements in daily routines. But, of course, we have more to share besides the new ability system, adding levels to Jack's enemies, character reactions, and effects.

The role-playing system underwent a significant overhaul — we've invested a lot of effort into adding systems that will diversify the ways to solve quests, increase replayability, and give you the chance to personalize your character. Thanks to numerous skills and the new perks system, your character will become even more unique. Additionally, in dialogues, there will be significantly more reactions through which you can shape your character's personality — depending on your responses, events will unfold in sometimes completely different ways!



We've introduced energy shields into the game. All drones and characters with maximum resource access — Garry, Clinta, and Eric Kraven — will have them. The best way to deal with these shields is to use energy weapons, and the best way to acquire such a weapon is to snatch them from your opponents. In future updates, players will not only be able to obtain powerful boomsticks but also acquire or craft energy shield gadgets for their personal use.

NPCs now behave more realistically in ranged combat: enemies will shoot faster, but the accuracy of their shots will decrease accordingly. Hostile shooters will behave more naturally, taking pauses before aiming. Animal attacks will also see some changes – now they will persistently pursue their prey and can block or parry attacks in combat.



On the Edge, there are now bushes that help Jack move stealthily right behind enemy backs. If he's moving openly, characters will turn towards him as he approaches.



Jack's got something new – a mushroom grenade! Just collect gas mushrooms and throw them to the enemies to poison them before the fight even starts. The grenade not only explodes but also releases a toxic cloud around it. There is a new trick available for a gunslinging hero in the game: he can aim for the NPC's helmet and shatter it into pieces with a number of well-placed shots.



In addition to the updated crucas and the hound, new types of alien beetles will appear in the game. Now, Jack will have to fend off not only ground creatures but also flying ones. Some beetles will even change color depending on the habitat.

We've revamped the approach to character pathfinding and their interaction with objects. Now, they'll move between points more naturally, following the most logical paths. We've also taught characters to organically find their way to their goals, interacting with obstacles such as opening doors, squeezing through crevices, or climbing stairs. Additionally, there are significantly more daily routine options, adding a lively touch to Edge!




Our level designers have made numerous changes and improvements to the Edge territory, ranging from the introduction of new zones to enhancements in fine detail. The most significant change is the expansion of the desert. Now, you'll have more places to explore, and in the new lands, powerful mobs will challenge you. We've also added a new cave – you can explore it almost immediately after the tutorial with A.N.N.A. In addition to valuable loot, you can find renewed crucases there. Be sure to let us know how you like the updated desert — we continue to work on this area and would love your feedback!



All the old trees have been replaced with new models. Now they look much more alien and better fit the biome. By the way, you can start enjoying the new savanna views much faster — there's a direct road to the mining town now, whereas before, a chasm blocked the way. When you get through the crash-landed Leviathan spaceship, you'll meet Curious, who will show you the shortcut to the Lucky Hole. Alternatively, you can take a longer road to reach the mining community and explore the distant cemetery or other interesting corners of Edge along the way.



Ropes have now appeared on the Edge, making exploration more interesting and easier while also increasing the number of spots to explore and search for items. We've replaced some ladders with ropes in places where it makes more sense and looks more natural. Additionally, we've enhanced the interiors of the Lucky Hole houses and worked on the design of the Abori tents, which is particularly noticeable in the Scalp Hunter location. The Herbalist now has his own space; along with his apprentice, he settled in one of the vacant houses in the mining town, arranging everything to his liking. Make sure to visit him and find out what he has to offer! Many new hideouts have also appeared in the area, and the bottom of the mine now features an updated swamp.



Many terrain surfaces have been reworked – our aim was to bring as much diversity and naturalness as possible. Now, whether in the desert, savanna, or residential areas, the terrain looks significantly more lifelike.


For the new update, sixteen quests have been revamped! We thoroughly worked on the logic and event content in the game, adding interesting details. Some quests were relocated to new places, providing you with more opportunities to quickly dive into the events happening on the Edge..

Many changes have affected the mining town Lucky Hole. Its storyline has been made more explicit, uncovering the town's past and the characters inhabiting it. Additionally, new significant characters will appear, allowing you to engage in conversations and discover something interesting.



Quests related to the Leviathan, as well as the spaceship itself, will undergo a complete overhaul in future updates. The important change in this build is that now you can navigate through the crash-landed cargo carrier as quickly as possible, thanks to the streamlined layout and changes in quests. Moreover, you can return to exploring the huge spaceship at any time, following the quests you can unlock in the Outcast's camp and mining town. Meta-quests for Scalp Hunters and Outcasts will also appear in the game in a much more comprehensive format. Now, you'll have to work harder to earn the trust of one faction or another.




We've put a lot of effort into animations, improving existing ones and adding new ones. For instance, now our hero will start moving, such as running, in a more natural and pleasant way. Additionally, facial and dialogue animations have been introduced for characters. Now they don't just stand indifferently during the conversation but vividly express emotions.



Various existing animations for combat, NPC daily routines, and animal behavior have also been improved. Some mobs, like the new crucas, now attack with jumps, making their assaults much more impressive. So, the new aiming animation for the hero will come in handy!




The sound of the Exoplanet has significantly improved in this update and deserves a special mention. We've made targeted changes in combat sound effects, animal vocalizations, and the musical backdrop. We've delved into details in previous articles, such as how bullet impact sounds now vary based on where the bullets hit—whether it's sand, rocks, or walls. It's also worth noting that the new mobs introduced in the update have received fresh sound assets. One more notable addition is the combat tracks: during combat, the music will shift to a more dynamic tune, adding an extra layer of intensity to the battles.




We've brought several significant GUI windows into a consistent and fully functional format. Additionally, we've increased the number of slots for quick saves and autosaves—providing five slots for each. Autosaves now happen more frequently and are named based on the quest phase they occur in.

That's all for now—we hope you enjoy the update! Feel free to let us know how you feel about the changes, and if you encounter any issues, don't hesitate to report them in the comments, start discussions, or reach out to us on Discord.

Until next time, space cowboys!

Hello folks!

We continue to tell you more about the world of the game and now we’d like to pay more attention to the planet K’Tharsis. In the previous post dedicated to the setting we deepened a bit into the history of the planet, and this time we want to share how exactly it was discovered and why it has such a motley population.




K’Tharsis would remain a wild planet forever but for captain Brennigan who had to make an emergency landing on an unfriendly looking planet. A precious mineral called antigravium brought fabulous riches to the captain, but he hardly managed to use them. Very soon the poor guy was found tortured to death in his new villa. And the news about antigravium Klondike spread across the galaxy with the speed of light.

K’Tharsis became the most desired aim of adventurers of all kinds including criminals and outcasts. Right after them the planet was invaded by corporations, and the biggest of them was called Terraform. To get antigravium these people never hesitated to resort to violence, having no mercy both for people and for kvargo — native population of the planet.



Kvargo was a great race that once degraded after the cataclysm. They were quite controversial about people who came to their planet. Some part of them believed that if they possessed human technologies, they could restore the greatness of the past. Others suspected that people from the stars would bring only suffering, so they had to go back home.

Nobody knows how far this confrontation could go. But suddenly the war in the galaxy makes most of the corporations go home — the planet becomes cut off from civilized worlds. Besides, the antigravium has almost come to an end, so most corporations leave the planet without any remorse.

• Kvargo, separated into multiple tribes. Most of them do nothing but small robberies, but two tribes — Outcasts and Scalphunters — are still trying to restore their former greatness. The first ones are trying to study and adapt human technologies, and the second ones are devoted to their gods and want to cope on their own.
  
• Miners, who believe that their business will come alive again — and Garry is a bright representative. Such guys don’t leave hope to get their business to life — though they hide it behind the rudeness and cynicism.
  
• Mercenaries, bandits and smugglers who hide from the police and bounty hunters in the grey zone.
  
• Simple inhabitants, people and abori, who didn’t manage to get away on time — or who didn’t have such opportunity. Somebody just tries to start from scratch. Others want to escape from the shadowy past and are ready for everything to keep their secret safe.
  
• Terraform corporation, much smaller now, but still quite powerful to reckon with it. It’s not that famous in some distant places like The Edge, but the situation will be different in bigger settlements.

That’s why one of the biggest dangers is the inhabitants of K’Tharsis who used to live according to the laws of the frontier. And that’s why you have to keep your eyes open. But you can find an approach to any of the factions if you are attentive enough.

At the moment in the game you can see only a small part of K’Tharsis history — it’s not very easy to show such a considerable lore through the exploration of the world. But we work on it step by step adding more and more elements revealing the history of K’Tharsis. And what would you like to know about K’Tharsis? Write in comments and make sure to drop by our Discord to discuss the game and just chat!

See you on K’Tharsis, friends!

Hello, space cowboys!

Today, we'll talk about one of our most vibrant storytelling elements — cutscenes. We'll also discuss what guides us in creating them, the tools we use, and the challenges we face.

When designing cutscenes for the game, we adhered to several principles, with the first being the principle of necessity. The primary goal is to simplify the player's understanding of what's happening — conveying information without lengthy dialogues, helping to assess the situation, or finding a secret passage.



Secondly, it's often easiest to reveal the personality, motives, and emotions of characters in cutscenes. They allow us to showcase the seriousness of a situation or emphasize the dramatic nature of a moment — as seen, for example, in the escape of Scalphunters leader’s favourite arphant.



And, of course, cutscenes are an additional opportunity to showcase beautiful panoramas of K'Tarsis from interesting perspectives!



Creating cutscenes is a rather labor-intensive process. We work with them directly in our own engine, using standard assets. However, the process requires meticulous directing, partly echoing the daily routine assignment process. In addition to that, we work with lighting, perspective, speed, and many other settings.



The drawback of such an approach is the time-consuming nature. Despite our efforts to use a minimal amount of resources and not make cutscenes overly complex for the sake of cinematic quality, directing one episode in the game engine can take up to three to four days and involve numerous tests — selecting angles, lighting, camera movements, and much more. However, the ability to quickly, vividly, and clearly convey the story to the player is definitely worth it!



Nevertheless, we do everything to streamline the cutscene creation process. For this purpose, we're developing special tools that significantly reduce the workload. For example, processes like simulating shots and hits on an object, playing footstep sounds in corresponding animations, and much more are automated.

When creating cutscenes, we aim to make them dynamic and concise, showing only what is essential. Due to the time-consuming nature of their production, we prioritize elements that are crucial for better unfolding of the game events. We plan to release several more cutscenes. Perhaps, you would like to see specific moments in them? Feel free to share your preferences in the comments and on Discord — and see you soon on K'Tarsis!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/531660/Exoplanet_First_Contact/

Hello, friends!

Previously, we focused on gameplay, level design, and quests, but now we're redirecting more efforts towards exploring the game's setting, which is planned for upcoming updates. So, we would like to tell you more about the world of Exoplanet, the planet Jack finds himself on, and the laws that govern it.


Exoplanet is a game set in a space western setting, where the action takes place on an abandoned planet ravaged by corporations. Here, you can find both high technology, like on a crashed spaceship, and makeshift tents made of hides and bones, as in the Scalphanter camp.



We faced numerous challenges regarding the balance of future technologies and elements that depict K'Tarsis as a backward planet. This was a crucial process to recreate the atmosphere of the frontier, where gray morality and lawlessness prevail. At the same time, it was important to consider how high-tech elements would manifest. For example, a broken terminal appeared in a mining town that Jack will have to repair. The ship contained parts that helped one Abori faction defend themselves against another. However, overall, despite the action taking place in the future, the emphasis is more on abandonment than high-tech.



It was the space western genre that seemed most suitable to us for revealing the conflict between more advanced worlds and the periphery. In the midst of this conflict is a space cowboy, used to working alone and not caring about those around him. Will he change when forced to immerse himself in the problems of the semi-abandoned planet?


K'Tarsis was colonized several centuries ago during the antigravium fever era. Antigravium is a mineral that was found in the Tarsis system many years ago. The planet under the letter K was supposed to become the new Klondike. Corporations waged massive battles for the right to extract antigravium, paying no attention to the local inhabitants, whom they called Abori. However, the Abori were not eager to cooperate either, believing that the newcomers were sent by evil star gods.



After some time, it turned out that there wasn't as much antigravium on K'Tarsis as initially thought, and due to problems in the star system where the planet is located, it was not profitable to travel there at all. So, the corporations completely ceased their operations and left the planet, leaving colonists to deal with the Abori tribes, who had turned against humans. However, humans and the local tribes managed to come to an agreement and establish not laws but at least some rules. As a result, K'Tarsis is now ruled by gray morality, and our hero will have to make every effort to fit in!

Jack encounters only echoes of the old conflict as he gets to know three main locations: the Outcast Fort, the Scalphanter Camp, and the mining town of Lucky Howl. To get his ship back, Jack will have to choose a new strategy for himself - closely interact with the factions, choosing one of the three strategies we mentioned earlier. However, despite different approaches, none of the factions can be unequivocally judged.



Scalphanters may seem bloodthirsty and cruel, but they have their reasons. Outcasts are trying to build a just society, but how effective are they? Yes, Harry from the mining town is quite a grim character, but what if you engage him in conversation and learn more about his goals? Each faction will reveal Edge's past and its harsh laws in its own way. Each will have its own goals and desires to reclaim what they've lost. And what position Jack takes is up to you!

The world of Exoplanet is a vast topic, so we've only outlined the general picture, but in future articles, we plan to delve deeper into the lore. What would you like to learn more about? About the Abori factions? The history of Lucky Hole? Or the period of K'Tarsis colonization? Write in the comments, and we'll be sure to tell you more about it! And drop by our Discord to share your impressions of the game or just chat with the developers!

See you again on K'Tarsis!

Hello friends!

While the final touches are being made in update 0.73, we would like to introduce you to two new enemies! Previously, we filled the desert and the Edge with the few mobs that were completed. Due to this, the uniqueness of the species might not have been as apparent. However, now that we have more models, we can distribute them according to habitat zones, making the fauna of K'Tarsis look much more logical. Here's what we can tell you about the behaviors and characteristics of the two new animals.




You can encounter this mob both in the desert and in the savanna, and it will take some effort to deal with them!



The dog is a pack animal, very agile, fast, and maneuverable. Due to the peculiarities of its body structure — especially its long jointed legs — animating it was a real challenge. And now the dog can run, chase prey in accelerated mode, jump on its victim, sniff around, and much more. By the way, the short front paws, with which the animals operate quite well, deserve special attention.



By the way, the dog impresses not only with its quite eerie abrupt movements but also sounds very menacing!

Due to the speed of the dogs, it's unlikely that you'll be able to keep them at a distance for long, so for now, dodging in a jump will be very helpful in fighting them. However, as the combat system is further developed, new, more interesting possibilities will appear.




Remember the chubby lizards clumsily rolling from side to side? Now they will be replaced by a completely new mob — fast, agile, and ominous.



Crucases will still inhabit predominantly dark, damp places — there's plenty of them in dungeons, for example. But they have adapted to the desert just fine, though they tend to stay in the shadow of rocks. These animals are very mobile — they jump a considerable distance and strike with their long front clawed paws. They can also loop, skillfully dodging bullets. The bite of a crucas is poisonous, so it's better to avoid it if possible — or at least stock up on something that can restore health.



The sounds that the crucas makes are particularly impressive in the dark. However, even in the light of day, this mob will make you flinch from surprise! By the way, in the future, we plan to add a long-range attack to the crucas, an acid spit that will need to be dodged. It will also be wise to stay alert when exploring tombs or caves — these animals thrive there in abundance!

That's all bout new mobs! We hope they will impress you when you meet them on the wastness of K'Tharsis, Share your impressions in comments and make sure to drop by our Discord!