Of Ash and Steel – End of Playtest and Final Update

This message was officially released two days ago, but I only got to it now.

Your enthusiasm, dedication, and feedback have been absolutely incredible. Thanks to you, the Of Ash and Steel playtest has reached these milestones:

⦁ Over 120,000 playtesters

⦁ Over 300 bugs fixed

⦁ Over 50 quality-of-life improvements

Every step of this journey was made possible by your contributions, which helped us shape the game on its way to release, and for that, we are truly grateful!

Of course, development doesn’t stop here. We will continue internal testing, focusing on the most critical points raised during the playtest, such as AI navigation, memory management, and several other improvements from your feedback.

The playtest will conclude on August 26. But before the gates finally close, we’ve added a small surprise in a minor update:

"An unusual crystal has appeared in the Skeleton Fortress. Find it to unlock new skills, ancient knowledge, and powerful equipment. But beware—the crystal brings its own dangers..."

Will you journey to the Island one last time to uncover this final secret? Stay tuned for updates, and once again, thank you for your support!

Update Notes:

UI

• Fixed the logic of the skill assignment widget

• Fixed a bug where the rat scene could be skipped after making a decision and returning to the selection screen

• Fixed AO cross display on the gamepad

• Removed UI rudiment (weight)

• Fixed item stacking display in the UI

• All interface widgets are now cleared when loading the game (e.g., interactions with items remaining after load)

• Removed stat requirements for already learned skills

• Fixed gamepad interface for trading

• Adjusted the distance of small dialogues from NPCs

• Fixed trading and skill leveling logic with the gamepad

• Fixed smelter interface logic when pressing ESC quickly after exiting could break it

• Fixed skill display when changing in combat mode

• Added logic to prevent double-click in combat mode from causing UI bounce in some places

• Adjusted the weapon sharpening widget

• Fixed cutscene logic when cutscenes follow one another

• Gamepad track works for tasks and target selection

• Added logic for using quick slots from the gamepad

• Auto-close of player widgets when taking damage or starting dialogue

• Double-clicking while reading no longer breaks focus

• Received items during dialogues are displayed above the selection window

• Subtitle shadows do not appear if disabled

• Fixed descriptions of two clubs that were swapped

• Fixed situations where the cursor continued moving in the UI

• Fixed ESC behavior on some machines that caused loss of focus

• Expanded loot window safe zone to prevent accidental closing

• Merchants no longer see obstacles on the trading screen (and NPCs passing by)

• Fixed control loss when opening containers

• Fixed several black screen issues after loading

• Updated quest journal widget

AI

• Improved AI logic for inaccessible locations

• Adjusted chicken logic interfering with NPCs

• Adjusted NPC logic when sitting at tables during player interaction

• Random dialogue lines no longer repeat consecutively

• NPC world lines no longer overlap

• Improved NPC slot switching logic (fixes ranged and melee weapons ending in the same hand)

• Characters no longer rotate during dialogue when NPCs pass by

• Characters without weapons now run from monsters

• Added chance for NPCs to speak a line while trading

Other (ETC)

• Fixed several terrain holes

• Fixed stones without collisions in the grotto

• Updated model of discarded item container

• Spears now hide the item in the left hand

• Tristan drops the torch when losing consciousness

• Fixed barrel collisions on racks

• Disabled collision with cobwebs

• Cannot sheath sword and jump simultaneously

• Adjusted interaction zone near bonfire and fishing

• Adjusted fall animation

• Fixed sprint and crouch button assignment on gamepad

• Slightly adjusted fish-catching animation

• Improved river shader

• Adjusted terrain near goblins

• Fixed animation after hacking

• Fixed shadows on barrels near grotto

• Increased interval between tips and screenshots during loading

• Fixed effects when washing in barrels

• Several text corrections

• Adjusted reaction force of some bushes

• Fixed one description on Ranta’s deck

• Fixed NPC sheath positions

• Torch flame now always points upwards

• Fixed visual effect for indigestion

• Dead lobsters now appear without weapons

Gameplay

• Fixed bug allowing item duplication with shovels and quick slots

• Weapons cannot be changed while held

• Rings now appear in character menu

• Adjusted fall calculation formula

• Inventory sorting completely rewritten

• Skeletons now tagged as aggressive animals

• Quick slot items removed from all slots when used in quests

• Quick slot items now correctly counted when crafting

• Some actions cannot be performed in aiming mode

• Fixed unconsciousness issues while crafting bows

• Fixed weapon duplication with full inventory

• Fixed combat slot weapon removal logic

• Fixed collisions with spirits of vengeance

• Added logic for saving/loading to fix rare save corruption

• Added cutscene check on character death

• Fixed 90° camera rotation when interacting quickly with NPC after workbench

• Fixed saving/loading issues when opening doors with foxes

• Fixed loaded dug chests with keys

• Fixed duplicated campfires and interaction display on load

• Keyed chests now correctly show as open

• Stamina no longer consumed in shallow water

• Fixed unnatural finger bending

• Added logic for combat music

• Fixed duplicate statuses on inventory with debuffs and equipment changes

• Fixed phantom arrow display when taking damage

• Hunger/thirst comments no longer trigger when values rise

• Fixed collisions when quickly exiting interactions

• Adjusted tree tilt limits in wind

• Added focus point adjustment for sound during cutscenes

• Cannot draw weapon when falling on roots/puddles

• Added auto-save after sleep

• Added logic for digging treasures to prevent player death

• Arrows/bolts now stick to objects

• Improved arrow collision with objects

• Crossbow no longer reloads when put behind back or switching crossbows

• Optimized inventory item search

• Physical objects from traps no longer launch player

• Fixed arrows remaining in hand when taking damage

• Stealing now checks distance to NPCs

• Corrected night lighting in main menu

• Fixed camera collider with ranged weapons

• Fixed Tristan display in main menu

• Shovels now break on use

• Fixed torch clipping with books, food, etc.

• Fixed looping fishing sound after mini-game

• Dragged items detach when dropped

• Adjusted drinking/eating/reading/digging animations while intoxicated

• Adjusted intoxication effects during dialogues

• Inventory items cannot be used underwater or on stairs

• Mosquito blood effects no longer persist after loading

• Player loot bag now simulates physics

• Enemy attacks now knock player off the ground

• Traps now deal lethal damage

• All projectiles automatically deleted after putting away ranged weapons

• Fixed item use while falling

• Fixed hidden bonuses from some items

• Fixed torch logic in various situations

• Fixed water-jumping exploit

New

• Added current health to inventory

• Added arrow and bolt counter

• Added repeat fishing without leaving the game

• Inventory, map, and log buttons now close their windows

• Items can now be used directly from inventory

• Weapon sheath button now also draws last used weapon

• Save system expanded: auto-saves now use three different slots (quick saves too)

• Quick access panel now shows item counts for multiples

• Torch now assigned to quick slot like other consumables

• Added ability to delete a save

• Added button to open stats screen

• New UI element shows current combat stance

• Last selected combat stance now saved when drawing weapon

• Inventory slot logic updated—exceeding slots automatically increases capacity

• Added AI logic to help characters get out of water