Fun Dog Studios has just rolled out a major update for their extraction-survival game, The Forever Winter, currently available in early access. Dubbed The Descent to Averno is Easy, this patch brings substantial changes to core mechanics, significantly enhancing both gameplay depth and player experience.
One of the headline updates is the revamped water system. Gone are the days of real-time consumption; water now functions as a currency for accessing different regions. The cost fluctuates daily, adding a strategic layer to resource management. Players can even trade water with teammates before matches, fostering teamwork right from the start. To balance this new mechanic, quest rewards and map resource distribution have been fine-tuned. As a nod to those who stockpiled water in anticipation, Fun Dog Studios has promised a special bonus in the future.
Combat mechanics have also received a comprehensive overhaul. Recoil, accuracy, weapon sway, and handling have all been refined, accompanied by updated aiming mechanics, reload animations, and shotgun balance. These improvements are already implemented for several weapons, with a roadmap to extend them across the entire arsenal in upcoming updates.
The enemy AI has been upgraded to offer a more realistic challenge. Detection indicators now give players clearer feedback on how close they are to being spotted, and enemies react more intelligently to their environment and combat situations. The spawn system has also been tweaked to ensure fairer encounters by preventing enemies from materializing directly in front of or behind players.
Adding to the game's variety, two exciting new features have been introduced: the Stairway to Heaven map and a night mode for Frozen Swamp, which injects horror-inspired elements into the atmosphere. Other enhancements include an improved looting system, revamped melee combat for enemies, and a fresh batch of quests for players to explore.