Hello, Chasers!
This month, we’re taking a look at progress across several areas of OUTBRK, from the latest content update and TIV2 integration to ongoing design work, higher-resolution cloud simulations, the tornado revamp, and improvements to our weather-model workflow.
MOST RECENT UPDATE
We recently released a small content update alongside a handful of bug fixes. One of the main additions is a new system that allows players to customize their banners.
The current version is fairly simple, with color customization only, but the most important part of this update was building the underlying technology. This gives us the foundation to introduce unlockable banners and additional customization options in the future.
The update also adds a number of new achievements. Some of you may have unlocked several of them immediately, since they use progression stats that were already being tracked. For newer players especially, these achievements add more goals to work toward throughout the game.
You can read the full patch notes here:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1107320/eventcomments/563668239243231246/
TIV2
A huge amount of work has gone into the TIV2 this month, and we’ve now reached an exciting milestone: integration into Unity has begun.
Here are a few screenshots showing the TIV2 directly inside the game editor.
DESIGN UPDATES
On the design side, we’ve been mapping out the work ahead and defining how several existing systems and interfaces will evolve as we replace their current placeholder implementations.
A couple of newsletters ago, we shared some early work on the Chaser Network. This month, we’re showing some of our current exploration for the end-of-chase score screen.
You may notice elements in these concepts that we haven’t talked about yet. That’s normal at this stage. During early design exploration, we often test ideas directly inside interface mockups before the underlying systems are fully designed or confirmed.
For now, consider these screens a look at the direction we’re exploring rather than a preview of finalized features.
CLOUD RESOLUTION & TORNADOES
CLOUDS
Testing is going well on the upcoming Cloud Resolution update! Multiple issues have been identified and fixed as we get closer to making these new scenarios progressively playable through Weekly Challenges.
The difference in cloud structure and motion compared to the original scenarios currently in the game is night and day. With the weather model running at a much higher resolution, it even managed to resolve an actual wedge tornado during testing.
Here are a few captures from our current testing phase! 
TORNADOES
The Cloud Resolution update is being developed independently from the tornado revamp. In parallel, the Catalyst team is currently fixing smaller issues and implementing feedback and changes we’ve requested.
Everything is lining up so that once the Cloud Resolution update is complete, the focus can shift toward integrating the tornado revamp, which will bring better-looking tornadoes, improved blending between tornadoes and the surrounding clouds, and multi-vortex tornadoes.
OUTBRK FORECASTER
While all of this is being developed, we’ve also greatly improved the workflow between our weather model and the game engine. Weather model data can now be imported into the engine in real time as the simulation progresses, rather than having to wait for the entire model run to finish.
This is an important step toward our goal for the OUTBRK Forecaster, where players will eventually be able to play simulations based on upcoming real-world weather events.
That’s all for this month!
You can follow our detailed development progress on Trello here:
https://trello.com/b/nsBmMfIa/outbrk-game
If you’re enjoying OUTBRK, consider leaving a review on Steam. Reviews help more future chasers discover the game:
Till next time,
The OUTBRK Team
