Giving Permafrost a Second Life
Marina Bay took us almost a full year to build, and we think the result speaks for itself. It quickly became one of Liftoff's most beloved maps. But while Marina Bay was stealing the spotlight, there was another map we couldn't stop thinking about.
Permafrost has always had the ingredients to become a fan favorite. It's one of the biggest maps in Liftoff, packed with hidden locations, unique landmarks, and a theme unlike anything else in the game. Yet, despite all that, it never quite reached its full potential.
Part of the problem was that the map simply felt too big. While there are multiple levels' worth of content hidden between the hills and forests, much of the world felt empty. On top of that, Permafrost has also been one of the toughest maps to run, even for some of our most dedicated and competitive players.
So we decided it was time for a refresh.
Here's what changed:
A clearer sense of direction. We introduced a coastline to give pilots a natural point of reference, making it much easier to orient yourself and explore without getting lost.
More memorable scenery. Some of the endless hills and forests have made way for dramatic ice cliffs, scattered icebergs, and a shipwreck, giving the landscape more variety and personality.
A spotlight on one of our favorite landmarks. The crashed airplane has been given a fresh new look, and a nearby tower now subtly points pilots in its direction, making it easier to discover.
Better performance. We've continued optimizing the level from top to bottom, resulting in noticeable FPS improvements across the board.
Changelist
Permafrost expansion with an ocean, icebergs and a shipwreck
Permafrost planecrash material visual update
Two additional Permafrost races ('Iceberg, Right ahead!' and 'Unsinkable')
Permafrost optimizations
Fixed: lens effect options in graphics options
Small general ram optimizations
Reduced the install-size of Liftoff by more than 1GB (does result in a big download this time)
