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Our content update for this 5th patch offers a wide selection in character customization. It introduces the Cosmetic Vendor. Our intent is to have players’ unique styles and personalities reflected in the Deathgarden characters. The patch also includes balance changes around Dash and The Inquisitor.

NEW FEATURE: COSMETIC VENDOR

Being in the Deathgarden isn’t only about surviving and killing. It can also be about standing out from the crowd by showing your colours and style. The Cosmetic Vendor will add a styled touch to the gardens by allowing Scavengers and Hunters to buy outfits.

Each cosmetic has been tailored for an individual character and there are 5 new different sets for each Scavenger and Hunter. This means the Cosmetic Vendor arrives with 45 full sets that amount to 180 cosmetic pieces. This is just a start as we plan to add more cosmetics in the future. You can read all the details in the reveal article.

IMPROVEMENTS
GENERAL

Gameplay/Balance: Number of Health Crates Reduced

·         The amount of Health Crates is reduced by ~50%.

Design Goal: With the new Recycling mechanic, the number of Health Crates was unbalancing the match as it detracts from the value of Healing Bolt. Health Crates weren’t as much needed. This change will help balance the game in 2 ways: it will balance The Inquisitor’s “Deny Deny Deny” power by limiting the ability to chain stamina increases, and it will make the map easier to navigate.

HUNTER

Comfort: The “Recycle” and “Execution” Buttons Have Been Reconfigured

·         The default button callouts for “Recycle” and “Execution” are modified. Respectively, “E” button → “R”; “R” button → “Q”.

Design Goal: Our original intention was to incentivize “Recycling” by replacing the original “Execution” button with the “Recycling” one. Reconfiguring these actions allows for more comfortable controls, and also makes it easier for new players to memorize.

SCAVENGER

Gameplay/Balance: “Code Optimization” Perk Speed Reduced

·         Dash’s perk “Code Optimization” has been altered.

·         Level 1: Crate interaction speed increase goes from +(5)% → +(3)%

·         Each additional level: (5)% → (3)%

Design Goal: The perk was unbalancing the chase dynamics.

HUNT WITH A FRIEND PUBLIC TEST * UPDATED *
Next week, we will hold a public test for the hunt with a friend (HWF) feature. For those interested, please add it to your calendar!

The HWF public test will be on Thursday, August 1st from 6 PM to 9 PM (EDT).

Specifically, during these 3 hours, the normal 1V5 mode will be replaced by the HWF mode.

More tests are planned in the following weeks, at different times, to ensure all the community’s members can try the new game mode. Stay tuned as we’ll share more information about it.

The Hunters’ bloodlust has reached its apex, and there’s only one thing that can satiate them: Executions!

The newest update will feature a unique execution animation for each hunter.

THE POACHER

It is a travesty. The hallowed trial that keeps the unworthy from the sacred halls is being sullied. The Scavengers who compete are an insult to the Garden, ignorant to the magnificence they’re involved in. No respect, no reverence, only a brash overconfidence fueled by their endless greed.

They do not deserve an honorable death. Gut them for what they are: animals.

THE INQUISITOR

It’s a job. Honest work that requires an honest solution. There’s no harm in taking joy from it; you’re bringing purity to the world, after all. But remain professional. Don’t let them see your finger twitch with anticipation. There will be time later to revel over the moment. For now, keep it behind the mask. Do your job. Set them on their knees, put the barrel to their head and … pull the trigger.

Kill shot.

THE STALKER

Just as the hunter has its role, so too does the prey. They have grown strong, feeding on the fruits of the wilds, surviving against the odds. The Mother has provided, taking them by the hand and leading them along the path that ends here, within the Garden. What the rabbit does not know is that it has always been destined for the talons of the eagle. They will be torn, bloodied, and gutted, not of cruelty but out of respect for the natural order, set since the beginning of time.

With their hearts, we honor them, the creations of the Mother, the prey that have fulfilled their purpose: death.

Thank you!

Approximately one month ago, the Deathgarden reboot hit Steam. It was a remarkable challenge but thanks to your support BLOODHARVEST has given the game a second life.

As we’ve mentioned, Early Access is a demanding phase, but it’s also an ideal occasion to fine tune the game’s balance and up the intensity for everyone. While we’ve been working on bringing you updates and improvements, you’ve been supporting us by playing, streaming, reviewing, and offering your feedback. We want to celebrate your contributions by showing off exactly how much you’ve done—because without your efforts, there wouldn’t be a Deathgarden.

Keep the bullets flying and the blood pouring. We’ll be here to build the game you want to play.

Hey everyone!

We’re up and running with our third content update patch. We’ve received a lot of feedback since Fire in the Sky and we want to thank you for that.

We plan to keep improving Deathgarden with frequent updates, so today we’re introducing a new scavenger, as well as the Mercy mechanic.

NEW SCAVENGER: DASH

Default Vambrace Power: Speed Boost—Augments any scavenger’s sprint speed for a few seconds upon impact.

Dash is a speed freak who can push himself and his teammates into overdrive. His primary power grants an immediate boost to speed, giving scavengers a chance to escape before the hunter closes in.

“Freedom waits for no one. You have to run it down and take it.” –Darius “Dash” Shaw

To read more about his story:

Dash is available for 1,600 Iron at the character station.

NEW GAMEPLAY FEATURE: RECYCLE MECHANIC
We’ve heard the community feedback about instant executions. Affectionately called instacute, we agree that this mechanic is punitive and that it limits the fun of playing with friends. In the last patch, Fire in the Sky, we changed the XP value of executions as an incentive for hunters to down scavengers rather than executing them. We felt that our first changes to the XP value were on the right track—the number of downs leading to deaths decreased by over 10%—but it wasn’t enough. Some hunters were still executing on their first down, no matter the XP values and incentives not to do so. We’re constantly working on meeting halfway with the community and the design intent. We want to make sure that all games of Deathgarden are as fun as possible for every player. With that in mind, we decided to add the recycling mechanic.
How it works:

Every scavenger now has 1 extra life. That means scavengers cannot be executed on their first down in a match. They must first be shown mercy by the hunter.

When approaching a scavenger that has yet to be recycled, the hunter must recycle the downed scavenger. When recycled, a scavenger respawns in the Ready Room, and can enter the garden again—that means no blood, no vambrace, and the usual number of bolts. Any blood carried before being recycled will be lost.

On the other hand, when approaching a scavenger that has been recycled at least once, the hunter has the choice to recycle or execute and remove them from the match.
Scoring:
• Execution: 500 XP
• Recycling: 500 XP
• Down: 400 XP
• NOTE: Execution bonuses have been removed
'Ring outs'
• 1st time - auto 'Recycle'
• 2nd time - auto 'Execute'
'Bleed outs'
• 1st time - auto 'Recycle'
• 2nd time - auto 'Execute'
Blood Mode
• hunters can always execute scavengers in Blood Mode, even if they have yet to be 'recycled'

NEW FEATURES & IMPROVEMENTS
With the new mechanic in mind, the design intent for the latest changes is to restore balance and encourage chases.

GENERAL

Game Health: New Report Button
• A report button is now available in the post-match screen
o You can report a player for the following:
 Player/Dev Impersonation
 Inappropriate name/Language
 Hacking/Exploiting
 Griefing/Toxic Behavior
 Leaving game/AFK
 Other (please specify)

Game Health: HUD Modification- hunter Username Removed
• hunter’s username has been removed from the in-game HUD
Design goal: Reduce the instances of leaving the game when seeing a familiar username

HUNTER

Gameplay/Balance: hunter Interaction Timings Have Been Reduced
• Drone activation, and all crate collection times have been reduced by ~40%
Design goal: Improve the Hunter’s experience by encouraging the actions of tracking, chasing and killing.

Gameplay/Balance: Improved hunter Stamina Management
• Stamina regeneration cooldown reduced (2.7)s → (2.2)s
• Supercharge activation cost reduced to 0
• Note: Stamina is still consumed at the same rate when using Supercharge
Design goal: Improve the hunter’s mobility and experience.

Gameplay/Balance: hunters Can Now See Scavengers Longer When Revealed by a Drone
• Increased length of drone 'Reveal' VFX on Scavengers after they exit the reveal zone (.5)s → (1)s
Design goal: Improve the reward for hunters when they activate a drone, and make it easier for them to track and engage chases with scavengers.

Balance: The Stalker’s ‘Auto-Hack’ Unique Bonus Buff
• The Stalker: 'Auto-Hack' Unique Bonus range increased (2)m → (4)m
o Note: Hacking time is the same for ‘Auto-hack’ and manual hacking
Design Goal: Bring back the value of The Stalker’s Unique Bonus, as it was significantly lowered with the Hacking changes from the previous patch.

Balance: Swap between The Stalker and The Inquisitor’s Perks
• The Stalker’s ‘Stunning’ Perk and The Inquisitor’s ‘Hacker’ have been switched from one character to the other.
o The Stalker now has ‘Hacker’ and The Inquisitor now has ‘Stunning’
Design Goal: ‘Stunning’ and ‘Power Stomp’ used in tandem by The Stalker was a very powerful combination. Instead of reducing the value of either Perks, and lowering their value, we decided to change it to another character.
Note: Challenge progress on the Perks carry over to the new Character. No progress will be lost.

Comfort: New hunter Settings for Added Comfort
• Added a ‘Hold’ option for Supercharge in the settings
• Note: Default setting is still ‘Toggle’
Design Goal: Some people didn’t toggle off their Supercharge, draining their Stamina to the ground. We want to offer an alternative and make it more accessible for players.

SCAVENGER

Gameplay/Balance: Scavenger Domination’s Blood Delivery Requirement Increased
• Blood delivery: scavenger Domination conditions have been increased from (125) → (140)

Gameplay/Balance: Dash’s ‘Heat Shimmer’ Effect Still Occurs With ‘Active Camo’
• When affected by ‘Active Camo,’, Dash’s ‘Heat Shimmer’ effect occurs, even when not evading or firing his vambrace

Gameplay/Balance: scavengers Can Now Use ‘Clone’ on Allies
• ‘Clone’ can now clone other scavengers when they are hit with the powered bolt

Balance: ‘Ammo Opportunist’ Perk Buff
• Fog’s ‘Ammo Opportunist’ max bolt has been increased (25) → (30)

Progression: scavenger XP Income Increase
scavenger XP gain has been buffed:
• Playtime: (5) → (20) (ticks every 60 secs)
• Blood Deposit (65) → (75)
• Blood Collect (10) → (15)
• Danger Close (25) → (50)
• Escape Garden with Blood (20) → (40) (per Blood)
• Escape Chase (200) → (250)

Design goal: There was a discrepancy between hunter and scavenger XP. We decided to increase the amount of XP earned by scavengers rather than decreasing it for hunters, as the time taken to prestige a hunter would have been impacted.

Animation: Run Landing Animation Improvements
• Added more weight to scavenger run landing animation

GARDEN

Comfort: Reduced the Start of Match Countdown Timer
• Reduced start of match countdown timer (30)s → (10)s

VFX: Blood VFX Enhanced
• VFX for 'Blood Veins' when blood is being delivered has been increased in intensity
• VFX for blood that spawns when hitting a scavenger has an increased intensity/volume

Design goal: Improve the experience on certain lightning schemes that made it hard to see some blood VFX.

Level Design: Altered a Structure Preventing Execution
• Modified a structure that was still allowing scavengers to avoid Execution by hiding from the hunter's Execution distance

Audio: Updated Sound Effects
• Updated the sound effects callbacks in animations to improve immersion. Circumstantial sounds will play when performing actions (ex. Combat Roll will sound different when evading on sand vs grass)

Audio: Updated Announcer Voice Over
• Updated reverb for the announcer voice over (work in progress)

We realize that the sum of these changes will result in less ‘Dominations’ on both sides. Our design goal is to make the aspect of ‘Domination’ more meaningful, therefore rarer. This means not every team of scavengers or hunters will be able to dominate the Garden easily.

TOP BUG FIXES

[Fixed][Gameplay] Shock exploit allowing hunters to farm XP from dead scavengers
[Fixed][Art] Prestige skins are displaying incorrectly on some characters
[Fixed][Challenges] Using vambrace power while the unlimited Golden Crate is active will not progress the ‘Spend Power Cores’ challenge

NEXT WEEK’S HOTFIX

Provide a way for Hunters to know whether a Scavenger has/has not been Recycled before in the match. Our current idea is to modify the color of the Scavenger's health bar when they are hit by Hunter Weapons.
• Design Goal: provide more Hunter context, help them make better decisions and make them feel (slightly) more in control.
Blood Mode: Executions in this mode do not include a (5)s interaction time
• Design Goal: waiting for an Execution while Scavengers run out of the Exits, isn't fun nor tense for either side