The team behind the anticipated game Fractured Veil has dropped its May update, offering a glimpse into the upcoming features including new armor, weapons, and updates on the status of the Unreal Engine 5.1 (UE5.1) upgrade.

Working on the upgrade since the start of the year, the team admitted that performance issues remain the biggest roadblock to pushing the new build onto the production server. However, they have shared several ‘proof of UE5 life’ shots to showcase the progress made, and the stunningly improved visuals players can look forward to.

“One of the key areas we’ve focused on is the foliage, a character in its own right within the game. Our game’s lush jungle grows, provides cover from attacks, offers safe places to rest and recover, and adds a layer of beauty to the game world,” said the update post.

The team is also addressing the persistence issue, which they recognize is crucial to protect players’ loot from inexplicable losses. They aim to present as smooth of an experience as possible to new players, despite some potential hiccups with lower-spec machines.

In addition, Fractured Veil was recently included in the Top 10 Upcoming Survival Base Building Games video by Guns, Nerds, and Steel, and mentioned in ENFANT TERRIBLE’s New SURVIVAL BASE BUILDING Games in UNREAL ENGINE 5. “It was a ‘pinch me’ moment,” the team shared.

Newly revealed features include post-apocalyptic armor with a helmet design inspired by ancient Hawaiian dress, and a unique gun built from coconut shells and palm leaves. This and other exciting new items and activities, such as fishing, promise a rich gameplay experience for players.

While the much-anticipated Steam playtests will not happen by the end of May as initially hoped, the team is keen to prioritize quality over speed. They will announce a new playtest schedule soon and will reload keys on their pledge page so players can continue the adventure post-playtest.

“The last thing we want is players shouting to the game gods, ‘WHYYY?’ We’re taking our time to get it right,” the team concluded. Their commitment to transparency and community support continues to be a driving force behind their efforts.

The Fractured Veil developers recently hosted a Community QA session to answer questions submitted by their community. The session covered topics ranging from development updates to gameplay objectives and marketing-related queries.

The development questions addressed the inclusion of Easter eggs and recognisable elements of Maui, Hawaii, in the game. The developers confirmed that they had already included some Easter eggs in the game and would be adding more as they got closer to the Early Access release. They also revealed their efforts to preserve the native Hawaiian language by working with cultural and educational organisations to introduce a Hawaiian translation to the game.

Regarding the update to Unreal Engine 5, the developers confirmed that a public playtest would be held soon and would be available to alpha access holders. They also mentioned the different tiers of equipment and weapons available and advised players to keep an eye on the #Sneak-Peek channel on their Discord server for updates.

The Roadmap and Marketing-related questions addressed the game’s availability and progression between Steam Playtests. The developers confirmed that players could access the game through pledging and that there would be at least three playtests before the Early Access release. They also confirmed that there would be no progression carryover between Steam Playtests.

Regarding gameplay objectives, the developers talked about the game’s full quest system with a world story that players could follow. These quests would narrate the story of Veilcorp and how their global teleportation network transformed the world, leading to another scientific revolution. Players would be able to work together to restore Veilcorp equipment and systems, unlock more mysteries about what happened and survive the reality they find themselves in.

Fractured Veil, an upcoming survival game, has released its 2023 roadmap. The development team has focused on making the process as transparent as possible for its players. Before the game’s Early Access Release in September, players can expect several upgrades to the game world.

The development team has been working on upgrading the game to Unreal Engine 5.1 since January 2023. The transition has been mostly smooth sailing, despite events such as GDC, PAX, and COVID causing some minor slowdowns. However, the current player base can expect the first Unreal Engine 5.1 builds to hit their PCs next month.

In addition, the team has opened a pledge page where people can get their hands on a copy of Fractured Veil and start playing now. Steam Playtests will also be available between May and September, with at least three public playtests. These playtests will allow the development team to gather data and fine-tune the game’s onboarding experience.

The Fall Update, scheduled for 2023, will add more to the game. Players will be able to craft new weapons and armor, along with new ammo types. Food and cooking will see a major improvement, and fishing will play a role in immersion and survival. NPCs settlements will start to appear around the game world, with players able to gain valuable items.

Enemy AI will also see some improvements, alongside new enemies and a few surprises. The UI/UX team is working on bringing more of the Aloha spirit to the game’s UI. Finally, a trading system will be introduced, giving players a dedicated platform to trade items.

In Winter 2023, new biomes will be added, and the game’s society will continue to develop. More NPCs will populate the Maui landscape, and the game will feel more like a living and thriving world. Players will have more clothing options and a resting system, and crafting quality of items will give players reasons to adventure further.

Overall, the 2023 roadmap promises exciting updates for Fractured Veil players. The development team is committed to making the game as immersive and enjoyable as possible, with new content and features being added throughout the development process.