Welcome to the first Flashing Lights update of 2022!
We're excited to kick the year off with not only a roadmap announcement, but also an update to the unstable branch.
This update, out now on the unstable branch, is aimed at fixing a number of priority bugs, including falling through the ground when exiting vehicles, missing NPC victims in some fire rescue callouts, as well as improvements to city and rural ground environment loading speeds.
To access the unstable branch you can do the following: - Load up Steam and head to your library - Right click on Flashing Lights and then select "Properties" - Head to the Beta tab and in the drop down select "unstable_test_branch" (no password needed) - This will then download the new update for you
Please note: The unstable update is currently for PC only. The Mac unstable update will be released in the coming days.
February - June 2022 Flashing Lights Roadmap
February – Suburban Update
In February, we'll be focusing on the new suburban area which was recently introduced. We'll be adding building interiors, and adding callouts to those interiors. This will include interactive doors and windows, with some callouts requiring you to smash windows to access homes.
We'll also be adding parked cars to the area, meaning you'll be able to patrol and issue tickets in the suburbs.
Expand your arsenal with a new weapon for police: the assault rifle.
April - Fire Update
The April update will see a focus on the fire department. We're planning on introducing a conventional fire engine, expanding upon the fleet of vehicles already available.
We'll also be improving upon fire department gameplay by updating hose mechanics, allowing you to connect vehicles together in order to transfer water. We also look forward to introducing spreading fires, making for more dynamic callouts!
June - Traffic Stop
June will see the arrival of the much requested traffic stop update, expanding upon police gameplay by introducing vehicle searches and drug tests. We'll be adding the ability to shoot out AI car tires too, as well as updating traffic car models, adding some welcome visual diversity.
Lastly, we'll be making further improvements to traffic AI.
We're looking forward to the year ahead and are committed to delivering improvements to the game, as well as introducing exciting new content!
Unstable Update Full Patch Notes
- Falling through the ground when getting out of vehicles - Missing NPC victims in Fire Rescue call ID2003 (Currently there's still some client-side desync when picking up victims) - Texture optimizations - Weapons optimization - City and rural areas ground environment loading improvements - Load time improved for main menu to game transition - Floating buildings in areas 28-44 and 32-44 adjusted - Floating street lights at 23-46 adjusted - Christmas theme removed
A new update for Flashing Lights is out now! This update starts off with a brand new interior for the hospital. You can now walk through the front doors and explore the ER.
We have also brought back some festive cheer to Flashing Lights, adding a Christmas tree in central park, festive hats, and also a chance for your cones or flares to turn into presents.
Full Update Notes
New
- Hospital update with interior - Christmas hats for players and Christmas tree in central park - Optional snow effect for the camera, turn it on and off with chat command /snow - Random possibility to spawn Christmas present prop by placing Cones or Road Flares
Fixes
- AI traffic spawning range adjusted (city vs highways) - Adjustments made when getting out of a car to prevent falling though ground - Request Transport menu for downed AI ped/suspect no longer gets stuck - Fixed NPC sliding or disappearing when player grabbed them out of vehicle - Character no longer continues to burn after being revived - Fixed an issue where calling for a Tow pickup would sometimes skip target vehicle and spawned a pedestrian instead - Addressed issues with police callouts not clearing - Missing person mission [ID 1007] should no longer end prematurely - Updated vehicle trunk props - Adjusted render distance for props depending on Prop spawn settings in Graphics menu - Speed sign fixed in area 38-9
Watch out in January, when we plan to announce the next Flashing Lights roadmap!
We wish you all a happy holidays and a wonderful new year.
A new update for Flashing Lights is out now! This update brings new sheriff liveries for police vehicles (Not including tow truck.) We have also added fire hydrants to the new map and reintroduced water carrying limits to fire vehicles.
We have also been reading all of your feedback and are working very hard on fixing as many issues as possible. Our thanks goes out to the community for reporting these issues to us and for your patience while we address these.
Full Update Notes
New
- Fire hydrants added across the map - Parked cars in front of some fire hydrants - Sliding down the pole at the fire station - Sheriff texture option for all police vehicles except tow truck
Fixes
- Pedestrian performance improvements - Keyboard and mouse interaction should now be ignored for menus when game isn't in focus (Alt+Tab mode) - Addressed an audio echo effect error for sound sources - Pressing Weapon Wheel input (Default Q) while in Vehicle menu should no longer break the game - NPC police driver in "Officer Needs Assistance" now despawns after mission end - Fixed missing concrete median object in area 26-35 - Building's props offset in area 31-35 and 32-38 addressed - Courthouse exterior concrete gaps fixed - Floating concrete medians on route 4 lowered - AI traffic reducing speed and indicating right on route 20 in area 53-9 addressed - Misplaced speed signs on route 20 area 53-10 added
A small hotfix update to address a few issues after the launch of the new map. More fixes expected soon Fixed - Missions spawning with offset instead of shown address (Call ID: 1008; 1009; 1010) - Falling through ground when getting out of car (needs more testing) - Translation error for Fan in fire vehicles trunks - Traffic spawning could get stuck on interstate highway around area 33-21 - Have to search downed suspects before calling transport for Mugging and Shoplifting missions - Blank waypoints data in areas 20-37, 23-37 and 26-37 - AI car should now despawn if spawned with false waypoints - AI traffic could drive on curbs on turns in city and get stuck on props - For EMS calls Hit and Run; Shot Wound (ID 3002; 3003) added invisible obstacle block for AI traffic - Languages update
Flashing Lights' new map update is out now for you all to play!
This is a substantial update which expands the new map with new props and buildings, plus new areas: 2 suburbs, 2 rural towns, marina, hill, desert and farm fields! We've also introduced a new vegetation system and a new gas station model/design, which you can find at 11 locations around the new map.
This update also ports all remaining callouts from the old map to the new, adds a night time mode to the new map and fixes a bunch of bugs.
With the new map now expanded, more optimised and up to date on callouts, we've removed the original map*. Finally switching over fully to the new map is a major milestone for Flashing Lights, and we wouldn't be here today without you all. We also want to give a special shout out to those of you who tested this update on the unstable branch and offered valuable feedback and bug reports.
*The original map has been removed from the main version of the game - however, the previous version of the game with the old map remains available on a separate Steam branch. If you wish to access this, simply head to your Steam Library, right click on Flashing Lights, select 'properties', click on the beta tab and select 'Old_Map' from the drop down menu.
While we're happy to offer the old map as an additional option, we sadly will not be supporting and updating it from now on - instead we will be focusing entirely on the new map.
Dev Vlog
To celebrate the release of this exciting update, we have a brand new dev vlog for you. Hear from Flashing Lights developer Nils Jakrins on where the game is at the moment and what he has planned for the future:
New - New map expanded with new props and buildings + new areas - 2 suburbs, 2 rural towns, marina, hill, desert and farm fields - Traffic on highways - Highway signs with directions - Night time added, toggle in menu before launching session - AI EMS, tow pick up and AI police van prisoner transport re-added within city limits - Graphics settings updated with resolution and quality level options - New gas station models and design introduced with a total of 11 locations around the new map - New vegetation system for the new map - Locations added to the new map ready for future additional city expansion - Full map texture updated with grid numbers - New clouds and volumetric light (adjust in Settings>Graphics) - Old map removed
Callouts Ported to New Map
Police Department 1000 = Shoplifting 1001 = Armed Robbery 1002 = Person with Gun 1003 = Mugging 1004 = Fight in progress 1005 = Suspicious Activity 1006 = Reported intoxicated persons 1007 = Missing person 1008 = Aggressive Driver 1009 = Drunk Driver 1010 = Officer Needs Assistance 1011 = Bring suspect to Court 1012 = Escaped convict vehicle incident 1013 = Arsonist 1014 = Vehicle parked without permit 1015 = Vehicle blocking driveway or access
Fire Department 2000 = Structure Fire 2001 = Dumpster Fire 2002 = Vehicle Fire 2003 = Structure Fire with Possible Entrapment 2004 = Road blocked 2005 = Cat in tree 3000 = Motor Vehicle Collision 1013 = Arsonist
EMS 3000 = Motor Vehicle Collision 3001 = Unconscious person 3002 = Hit and Run, Possible Bone Fracture 3003 = Gunshot wound 1012 = Escaped convict vehicle incident
Fixes
- Frame drop spikes reduced which was caused by CAD and pedestrians - More optimizations for the new map: texture compression adjustments - CAD fixes for registering players joining/leaving missions - Pedestrians can be hit by vehicles - Grid loading system improvements - EMS players no longer get stuck when interacting with downed NPC who were hit or shot, not related to EMS missions - CAD adjustment for join/leave function - AI traffic obstacle detection and braking adjustments - AI traffic now adjust their speed for different speed zones - Sedan FTA interior dashboard icons - Fuel nozzle location for sedan FTA updated - Emergency lights brightness increased - Fire department garage doors and interior lights added - Loading screen images - Role menu screen images - Voice chat adjustments - Texture optimizations - Language system updated
We're aiming to release some bug fixes before the end of the year. Watch out for the next roadmap, which will be revealed in January.
Thanks again for all of your support, and we hope you enjoy playing on the new map!
We are happy to announce that the new map update is now live on the unstable branch! As previously mentioned, this update expands the new map, removes the old one and ports lots of callouts over from the old to the new.
As this is a big change for the game, we need as many of you as possible to jump in and play the unstable version ahead of the public version - the more feedback, the better!
To access the unstable branch you can do the following: - Load up Steam and head to your library - Right click on Flashing Lights and then select "Properties" - Head to the Beta tab and in the drop down select "unstable_test_branch" (no password needed) - This will then download the new update for you
Please note: The unstable version is currently only available on Windows PC. Due to some technical issues with the Mac export of the unstable update, we will be releasing it as soon as possible.
What's in the unstable update?
New - New map expanded with new props and buildings + new areas - 2 suburbs, 2 rural towns, marina, hill, desert and farm fields - AI EMS, tow pick up and AI police van prisoner transport re-added within city limits - PD callout: Person with Gun [id 1002] ported from old map to new map - PD callout: Mugging [id 1003] ported from old map to new map - PD callout: Suspicious Activity [id 1005] ported from old map to new map - PD callout: Reported intoxicated persons [id 1006] ported from old map to new map - FD callout: Vehicle Fire [id 2002] ported from old map to new map - New gas station models and design introduced with a total of 11 locations around the new map - New vegetation system for the new map - Locations added to the new map ready for future additional city expansion - Old map removed
Fixes - Frame drop spikes reduced which was caused by CAD and pedestrians - More optimizations for the new map: texture compression adjustments - CAD fixes for registering players joining/leaving missions - Grid loading system improvements - Graphics settings updated with resolution and quality level options. No more start-up launcher menu - EMS players no longer get stuck when interacting with downed NPC that was hit or shot, not related to EMS missions - Sedan FTA interior dashboard icons
Between this unstable release and the full update launch we will be bug fixing, porting the remaining callouts to the new map and of course listening to your feedback.
We are currently aiming to launch the public version of this new map update by the end of the month, but this is dependent on community feedback on the unstable - so it may be later.
We wanted to keep you in the loop on a slight change of schedule. As you may know, we were hoping to get an early version of the new map update out on the unstable branch by the end of September for you all to test.
Unfortunately we ran into a few issues and need more time before we'll be releasing the unstable version for testing. Of course none of us like to delay things, but we want to do right by you, the community, and not release the update until we're happier with its quality.
We think you'll love the update and would rather take the extra time to work on it as opposed to releasing something we're not happy with, even for the unstable branch.
As we're asking you to wait a little longer we wanted to show you some more new screenshots too. Enjoy!
Watch out for more news soon - we'll let you know when the unstable version is released and you can get your hands on it! We hope you're looking forward to playing this early version and helping to test the update.
As you may know, the next Flashing Lights update will focus on three core pillars:
- Expanded new map which will replace the original map - Remaining callouts from the original map ported over to the new map, with tweaks to increase variety - Bug fixes
As this update adds various new environments to the new map, and ports lots of content over to it, we're going to need your help testing before the update releases to the public. That's why we're now planning to release an unstable version by the end of this month, and then release the update to the public in October.
We believe you'll really enjoy the new update and we hope that lots of you will join us in testing the unstable version. We really appreciate your feedback. Please do jump into the Discord and keep an eye on the #announcements channel where we'll post when the unstable version goes live.
Update Teaser
We also wanted to give you all a sneak peek at the upcoming update right now. While this upcoming update will not fully populate the new map with callouts, it will introduce lots of new environments, ready to be further developed later down the line. Enjoy!
New rural town
New dirt roads, a much requested feature for the new map. Look carefully and you'll spot the new suburban area ahead
New railway tracks hang above, with a new business district to the right
New highways with fresh details. Note the road bumps on the right.
Driving underneath the new highway. Note the different road texture, adding more variety to the world.
A look at new building types around the rural area.
What's to Come in Late 2021 and Throughout 2022
Switching from the old map to the new, more optimised, map has been quite the journey - and we're grateful for your support along the way.
We're excited to now reach the point where we'll be transitioning fully to the new map as it means that, following the next update, we'll then be able to focus on two core pillars:
1) Improving the quality of existing content and implementing bug fixes, making for a more refined experience.
2) Adding lots of new content, such as... - New map area: Suburbs with interiors - New callouts specifically designed for the suburban area - Rural towns with additional police, fire and EMS buildings - Traffic stop update with vehicle search and drug tests - Fire system rework with spreading fires, hose system update, plus a fire engine
Today we wanted to give you all your first look at what we have coming in the September update! As previously announced, this month's update will see the new map expanded, and the old map removed. We'll also be introducing the rest of the existing callouts to the new map, reworking and updating multiple languages and of course fixing more bugs.
September Update Teaser
In the September update we'll be expanding the new map to include various areas outside of the city. Here's a little look at the desert area.
What's to Come in Late 2021 and Throughout 2022
Switching from the old map to the new, more optimised, map has been quite the journey - and we're grateful for your support along the way.
We're excited to now reach the point where we'll be transitioning fully to the new map as it means that, following the September update, we'll then be able to focus on two core pillars:
1) Improving the quality of existing content and implementing bug fixes, making for a more refined experience.
2) Adding lots of new content, such as... - New map area: Suburbs with interiors - New callouts specifically designed for the suburban area - Rural towns with additional police, fire and EMS buildings - Traffic stop update with vehicle search and drug tests - Fire system rework with spreading fires, hose system update, plus a fire engine
We're excited to get the September update in your hands and we hope you're looking forward to the future of Flashing Lights!
As always, we look forward to hearing your thoughts and suggestions. Feel free to join us on Discord to discuss the game.
Flashing Lights' July update is now live! This update brings the new Sedan vehicle to the game. We have also made improvements to the loading system for the new map, and have added support for Greek, Hungarian, Norwegian, Slovak! Read on for the full patch notes.
The new vehicle has been added to all 3 services with some additional blank liveries. Here's how the vehicle looks across the different roles:
Police:
EMS:
Fire:
Of course, we have a full interior as well for those of you who prefer the first person driving experience:
Full Update Notes
New - Sedan car for all departments - Languages added: Greek, Hungarian, Norwegian, Slovak - New map ambient background sound
Fixes - New map area loading sequence improvements to now load assets closest to the player first - The player character tripping on curbs and stairs has been greatly reduced - Vehicle wind sound lowered whilst driving - Default amount of pedestrians temporarily reduced due to causing fps drops
What's Coming Up?
We have more on the way for Flashing Lights! Next up is the September update, which will see the new and expanded map replace the original city. We'll also be adding callouts for all departments and updating/reworking multiple localisations.
In case you missed it, we've also teased a little bit about what we plan to add later on in 2021 and throughout 2022. Take a look at the Steam announcement.
Thanks for the continued support, The Flashing Lights Team