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New Encounters Update

Our next big update is here!

Get ready for New Encounters 🥳 the content update we’ve been developing alongside Act II! This one’s big, and we hope it delivers everything you’ve been waiting for…

Our in-game poll showed that, aside from Act II, more random events were the most requested feature. We couldn’t keep you waiting that long, so we got to work on another major update, that’s also adding new minigames and some other exciting features.

Let’s dive into what we’ve been working on 🧐

More Random Events

As promised, we’ve added even more random events, each packed with crucial choices and intriguing outcomes. You might stumble upon a stranded survivor, pick up a mysterious radio signal, unexpectedly face a zombie horde, or encounter a desperate trader offering a mystery box.

Rumor has it that some have discovered fragments of a powerful artifact called the Shattered Eye inside that very box. Collect them all, combine them together, and you may unlock a new power. Whatever fate has in store for you this time, good luck!

Hit The Jackpot!

Progressive jackpot? You bet!

Introducing Slotomot-Z, a slot machine designed to give you a break from the usual zombie apocalypse chaos and test your luck!

Some of the taverns you’ve likely visited have already installed the Slotomot-Z, including the one in Mind Metropolis. Give it a spin and see what fortune has in store for you!

To bring a touch of shared excitement, we’ve added complementary online features to The Dead Await with this update! We’ll dive into the details below, but when it comes to Slotomot-Z, online players will find something extra, rather than a fixed 50,000-coin offline jackpot, they’ll have a shot at the massive progressive jackpot, which at the time of writing this is 89,650!

R-QANONOID

You’ve searched through countless PC files in the zombie apocalypse, hunting for clues, secrets, and anything worth the time, yet not a single game in sight. Strange, isn’t it?

Well, that’s about to change! Get ready to put your breakout skills to the test in R-QANONOID. Beat all the levels, and there’s a special reward waiting for you!

Shoutbox / LiveFeed & Unlockables

Connect with other survivors out there, our unique approach to all things online.

Before going into details we want to clarify one thing first so that it doesn’t cause any confusion. The Dead Await is and will stay with offline and singleplayer game as the main priority. But, as the game grows with future updates we wanted to introduce some complimentary online functionality that would boost the fun. Things that are online will be completely optional and even then will also work while staying offline.

Shoutbox / LiveFeed

Let’s introduce the Shoutbox (or LiveFeed), a fast and easy way to connect with other players through short messages. Each player can send a message every 30 seconds, ensuring a steady flow of conversation while keeping spam to a minimum. Offensive or inappropriate content will be automatically removed, so please keep it civil!

In addition to player messages, the LiveFeed will also showcase real-time updates on exciting in-game events, such as major player achievements, jackpot wins from the newly added Slotomot-Z, and other noteworthy moments. Stay engaged and celebrate the action as it happens! 🎉

Unlockables

This update introduces a brand-new type of unlockable: redeemable codes that grant instant rewards! These codes work both online and offline, offering two exciting ways to find them. Some can be discovered in-game during your adventures, so keep an eye out for hidden notes! Others will be distributed online for special occasions, giving you access to exclusive rewards when we decide to share them.

With this system, we can roll out smaller updates more efficiently and celebrate special events with unique items. As a token of appreciation for our amazing Early Access supporters, those who’ve been with us from the start, reported bugs, and helped shape the game… here’s our very first code:

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Redeem it before March 31, 2025 to claim your reward!

We won’t spoil the surprise, so go ahead and redeem it to see what’s waiting for you! ❤️

New Game Packages

When starting a new game, you’ll notice we’ve introduced new game packages. The first step toward even more customizable options coming in future updates!

For now, you have the freedom to skip the tutorial and prologue entirely if you’d like. Plus, you can boost your character right from the beginning with packages like the VIP Package and Caravan X, designed to give you extra advantages. These can be unlocked using the new code redeem function, with codes hidden throughout the game for you to discover.

For our returning players, if you’re starting fresh, you can redeem these codes right away:

V.I.P. Package – The0N3nOLy
Caravan X Package – XCarAVan1X

We hope you enjoy the new options!

Act II Progress

We’ve made huge progress on Act II since our last devlog! Every location, down to the smallest details is now fully completed, and we’ve officially moved on to expanding the main storyline and introducing new characters.

We truly appreciate your patience and are just as eager as you are to see Act II finished! As we’ve mentioned before, this chapter is significantly larger than Act I (which is already complete) and far bigger than Act III, which focuses primarily on the final quest.

So far, we’ve wrapped up all new enemies, items, locations, cards, perks, and recipes. What remains is creating new quests, characters, and base-building mechanics, the finishing touches to bring Act II to life!

Stay tuned for more updates, and thanks for being part of this journey! 🙏

Ambient OST

As we’ve been replaying The Dead Await, we realized that while the action-packed combat soundtrack adds intensity, sometimes a more ambient alternative would help create a calmer atmosphere—allowing you to focus better on your card choices.

To address this, we’ve added a new Ambient OST toggle, letting you switch between the two styles at any time during combat. Whether you prefer high-energy battles or a more strategic, immersive vibe, the choice is yours! 🎶

Updated Save File Format & Validity Checkmarks

We’ve got good news and bad news this time 😶.

Let’s start with the bad news… we discovered that our current save file format wasn’t as future-proof as we had hoped. Because of this, we had to revamp the format significantly, which unfortunately means that older save files won’t be compatible. There was no simple way to convert them to the new system.

Now, onto the good news! 💪 After updating the save format:

  • Save file sizes have been reduced by 80%!
  • We fixed a bug where event outcomes weren’t saving properly.
  • Each playthrough now has a unique game ID, making it easier to track and manage multiple saves.
  • A new validity checkmark detects if a save file has been modified or tampered with.

This update also opens the door for potential future features that wouldn’t have been possible before, such as an online item auction (just as an example 😉).

& More

Last but not least, we’ve added a few more items and squashed some more bugs in this update.

We hope you enjoy the New Encounters update, now that the additional random events are complete, we’re excited to see which feature will be up next based on your votes in our poll! 😇

If we haven’t responded to your feedback yet, please bear with us a little longer. Thank you for your patience 🤍

v.0.8.6.0

  • Added: New minigame: R-QANONOID.
  • Added: New OST: Sweet Memories.
  • Added: New minigame: Slotomot-Z.
  • Added: Shoutbox/LiveFeed.
  • Added: New OST: Slotomot-Z.
  • Added: New ambient tracks.
  • Added: Option to switch between ambient / action OST in combat mode.
  • Added: New loading tips.
  • Added: New loading background.
  • Added: New random event: Stranded Survivor.
  • Added: New random event: Mysterious Radio Signal.
  • Added: New random event: Zombie Horde.
  • Added: New random event: Desperate Trader.
  • Added: New item: Potion of Experience.
  • Added: Redeemable codes.
  • Added: Memlock function for values that need to be stored safely.
  • Added: Caravan X new game package.
  • Added: VIP starter new game package.
  • Added: New item: Shattered Eye.
  • Added: New item: Shattered Eye Piece.
  • Added: [ACT II] New location: Boarus.
  • Added: [ACT II] New location: Boarus Entrance.
  • Added: [ACT II] New location: South City Market.
  • Added: [ACT II] New location: South City.
  • Added: [ACT II] New location: South City Entrance.
  • Added: [ACT II] New location: Honey Heights – Chipo’s Wonderland.
  • Added: [ACT II] New location: Honey Heights – Honey Heights Sewers.
  • Added: [ACT II] New location: Honey Heights.
  • Added: [ACT II] New location: M.A. Corner.
  • Added: [ACT II] New location: Deadlands Plateau.
  • Added: [ACT II] New location: Deadlands.

    FIXED / CHANGED:
  • Fixed: UI scroll bars will now position properly while holding the handle.
  • Fixed: Incorrect saving format for cubes affecting future updates.
  • Fixed: Enabling NPC voices would get disabled back after a restart.
  • Changed: Save file size reduced by 80%.
  • Fixed: Skip tutorial / prologue option is now available when starting a new game.
  • Fixed: Holding down the left mouse button and moving over the main menu buttons would incorrectly register left-click events.
  • Changed: Save files now include a validity checkmark to verify whether the player has cheated or modified the save file.
  • Changed: Save files now include a unique game ID for each playthrough, making it easier to distinguish between different game saves.
  • Fixed: Event outcomes are now correctly saved.
  • Other minor changes & fixes.