Hades is in Early Access, which means we're actively working on it based on our plans and your feedback. We expect to keep adding features, powers, visual enhancements, music, and more, while expanding the story and fine-tuning all aspects of the experience.

Note: 📢 indicates a change inspired by community feedback! Our latest patch notes are below:

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Early Access Patch 043 - March 24, 2020

This patch contains more localized text and improvements following this month's Nighty Night Update. Thank you for playing and for your feedback, and see you again for our next Major Update in June!


Foes & Encounters

📢 'Trial of the Gods': reduced move speed penalty applied by Demeter's attack if you spurn her
📢 Splitter: will not retreat as far onto magma pools; reverted change from last patch that made them less likely to retreat (this had some negative side effects we expect to address in a future update)
• Tiny Vermin: fixes and tuning to some behaviors of this recently-added Temple of Styx mini-boss


Keepsakes & Items

📢 Companion Rib (Skelly): increased health for summoned companion


Level Design & Environments

• Minor fixes and improvements to various chambers


Art & Visual FX

• Updated visual for the Permanent Record object in the Admin Chamber
• Improved look of the defensive aura expiring with the Stygian Blade (Arthur Aspect)
• Other minor fixes and improvements


Music & SFX

• Added sound effects for shades pleading their cases to Lord Hades
• Updated sound effects for recently-updated 'There Is No Escape' and 'Boss Vanquished' messages
• Updated sound for Ice Wine (Demeter x Dionysus)
📢 Updated ambient sound in the Admin Chamber
📢 Updated ambient sound during Remembrance sequences
• Other minor changes and improvements


Voice & Narrative

• Extended Affinity Gauge for Aphrodite (you can give her more gifts)
•; Primordial Chaos now sometimes speaks via the Shield of Chaos (Chaos Aspect) after a certain point...
• Added more contextual voice lines for the Permanent Record and Security Log screens
📢 Reduced the requirement for the newer Flashback Sequence (it can occur sooner than before)
• Adjustment some Inspect Points in the newer Flashback Sequence
• Fixed scripting issues with the recently added subplot between Nyx and Dusa
• Fixed some losing-streak events for certain bosses playing too infrequently if you met the requirements
• Fixed Lord Hades judgment voice lines conflicting with his House Contractor purchase voice lines
• Fixed Hypnos consolation event for dying to the effects of Tight Deadline (Pact) not playing
• Other minor fixes and tuning to various events


Miscellaneous

• Added more localized strings for Nighty Night Update content (thank you, Community Translators!)
• Added a Victory Screen Commendation, Legendary Boon Boy, for clears with many Legendary Boons
• Updated requirements for Victory Screen Commendations that were too frequent or infrequent
• Improved presentation for vanquishing the Tiny Vermin in the Temple of Styx
•; Improved presentation timing for successive encounters with said Tiny Vermin
• Improvements to scrolling in the Permanent Record screen
• Improved House Contractor purchase presentation for Administrative Privilege and Eldest Sigil
• Added preview icon for the Bloodless Sculpture in the House Contractor screen
• Minor text changes and fixes


Bug Fixes

• Fixed a rare progression blocker on a specific event path with the Fallen Warrior in Elysium
• Fixed rare cases where boss damage limits between phases could be bypassed at the start of fights
📢 Fixed issues interacting with Eurydice after the conclusion of her subplot with Orpheus
📢 Fixed a rare issue where Zagreus and the final boss could die at the same time (there can only be one)
📢 Fixed visual issues where Zagreus could get stuck in the firing animation with the Bow
• Fixed visual issues with Long Knuckle (Daedalus - Fists)
• Fixed UI for Nectar sometimes remaining visible between chambers
• Fixed shades in the final chamber of Elysium sometimes facing the wrong way
• Fixed some trap interactions with the defensive aura created by the Stygian Blade (Arthur Aspect)
• Fixed not being able to scroll to the Fated Persuasion (Mirror) ability in the Well of Charon
• Fixed an Inspect Point that was not appearing after the battle with Megaera
• Other minor fixes


Quote of the Patch

"'True, Zeus shrank from doing a thing to outrage rushing Night.'"
~The Iliad (Homer; R. Fagles translation)

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Early Access Patch 042 - March 17, 2020

Following last week's Nighty Night Update, this patch packs more balance changes, fixes, improvements, and story events. Expect another patch before we shift focus to our next Major Update.


Infernal Arms, Aspects, & Abilities

📢 Stygian Blade: Nova special fires in the direction of the cursor (default mouse-and-keyboard settings)
📢 Stygian Blade (Arthur Aspect): adjusted hitboxes to better match attack visuals; defensive aura prevents floor traps from activating; defensive aura briefly flashes before it expires
📢 Eternal Spear (Guan Yu Aspect): fixed issues where changes to max life were not always correct


Boons & Blessings

• Heaven's Vengeance (Zeus): improved scaling from Poms
• Sunken Treasure (Poseidon): increased prerequisites (it should not be offered as early in an escape attempt)
• Holy Shield (Athena): improved scaling from Poms
• Merciful End (Athena x Ares) : fixed it sometimes not being offered by Ares
• Curse of Vengeance (Ares): improved scaling from Poms
• Wave of Despair (Aphrodite): increased damage; reduced damage radius; improved scaling from Poms
• Dual Shot (Artemis): reduced power left; reduced power scaling from Poms
• Fully Loaded (Artemis): increased prerequisites (it should not be offered as early in an escape attempt)
• Winter's Harvest (Demeter): increased prerequisites (it should not be offered as early in an escape attempt)
• Flayed (Chaos): fixed an issue preventing it from affecting the Fists' Dash-Upper


Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

• Piercing Volley (Bow): increased damage to Armor
• Relentless Barrage (Bow): fixed greater-than-intended shot count with Aspect of Chiron
• Rush Kick (Fists): reduced damage; slightly increased charge-up time
📢 Draining Cutter (Fists): life-drain effect now also activates from Aspect of Talos magnetic pull
📢 Quake Cutter (Fists): reduced damage; stomp now modified by Boon effects


Foes & Encounters

• Thanatos: fixed Shattered Shackle (Sisyphus) boosting his damage unintentionally
📢 Splitter: less likely to retreat over magma pools


Mirror of Night

• Fated Persuasion: after using it, you will now always be offered at least one new selection


Keepsakes & Items

• Lambent Plume (Hermes): timer now should stop reliably as soon as bosses are vanquished
📢 Companion Fidi (Dusa): projectiles no longer slowed by your abilities
• Fixed several cases when Summon abilities could be used while they were meant to be disabled


Pact of Punishment

📢 Benefits Package: banned certain Perks from certain types of foes


Permanent Record & Security Log

• The screen formerly known as the Permanent Record is now called the Security Log
• Permanent Record: new! Shows progress with weapons, Boons, and more (find it in the Admin Chamber)
• Note: This is a first-pass version of this screen, which we expect to continue improving in subsequent Major Updates


Level Design & Environments

• Adjusted layout in smaller chambers in Asphodel (those added in the Nighty Night Update)
• Fixed Brimstones being able to fly out of bounds in a certain Tartarus chamber
• Other minor fixes and improvements to various chambers


Art & Visual FX

📢 Further adjustments to the look of Olympian Boon pick-ups, making their colors more distinct
• Added new character model for the Fallen Warrior in Elysium
• Added animations for Lord Hades while judging shades gathered in the Great Hall
• Updated animation for Skelly when summoned by Companion Rib
• Updated animation for Dusa when summoned by Companion Fidi
• Updated visual effects for some upgrades, abilities, and animations for the Twin Fists
• Updated icons for some Mirror of Night Talents
•; Added more animations for the new mini-boss encounter in the Temple of Styx


Music & SFX

📢 Improved audio feedback when activating Ruthless Reflex (Mirror)
• Added material sounds to some objects in Asphodel
• Other minor changes and improvements


Voice & Narrative

• Added new events to a subplot between Nyx and Dusa
• Added more dialogue events with Nyx, Chaos, Artemis, Zeus, Aphrodite, Achilles, and others
• Minor fixes and tuning to various events


Miscellaneous

• Added and updated more localized strings for content from the Nighty Night Update
📢 Reduced requirements to fully unlock River Denizens entries in the Codex
📢 Updated placement of fishing points in various chambers
📢 Updated placement of Infernal Troves in various chambers
📢 Updated placement of Chaos Gates and Infernal Gates in various chambers
• The Eldest Sigil has an updated look after you restore it through the House Contractor
• Shades in the Administrative Chamber may emote from time to time
• Added unique tutorial objectives in the Courtyard while using Aspect of Demeter (Fists)
• Removed the Triathlete Victory Screen Commendation, which was appearing too often
• Minor presentation improvements when purchasing Eldest Sigil Restoration and Administrative Privilege from the House Contractor
• Minor formatting improvements to Security Log screen
• Minor text changes and fixes


Bug Fixes

📢 Fixed an issue where you could get limited Cast ammo using Routine Inspection (Pact)
📢 Fixed various display issues with Nourished Soul (Demeter)
📢 Fixed visual effects not appearing correctly with Flying Cutter (Daedalus - Fists)
📢 Fixed Boon Info not appearing reliably while interacting with characters such as Sisyphus
• Fixed a graphical issue with Valuable Urns in Asphodels
• Fixed a graphical issue unlocking new Mirror of Night Talents
• Fixed audiovisual issues with Ice Wine (Demeter x Dionysus)
📢 Fixed requirements for fulfilling Close at Heart (Fated List)
📢 Fixed requirements for fulfilling Goddess of Seasons (Fated List)
📢 Fixed voice lines sometimes not playing when encountering the Bone Hydra
📢 Fixed voice lines not playing reliably after making purchases from the House Contractor
📢 Fixed incorrect instruction text appearing in some contexts in the Pact of Punishment
• Other minor fixes


Quote of the Patch

'Then he drew his sword Excalibur, but it was so bright in his enemies’ eyes, that it gave light like thirty torches. And therewith he put them a-back, and slew much people.'
~Le Morte D'Arthur (Thomas Malory; A. W. Pollard translation)

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Early Access Patch 041 - March 11, 2020

This patch contains bug fixes, art and UI improvements, and new story events, following yesterday's Nighty Night Update. We expect to patch again in the coming days. Thank you for playing!


Infernal Arms, Aspects, & Abilities

• Twin Fists: improved input buffering after flurry attack; reduced hit pause on Cutter special and Dash-Special (note: this was added as part of a hotfix yesterday)


Boons & Blessings

• Huge Catch (Poseidon): this recently added Legendary Boon now has a chance to be offered in subsequent escape attempts following its unique introduction event


Foes & Encounters

• Skull-Crusher: slightly adjusted attack timing under the effect of Middle Management (Pact)
• Megagorgon: reduced Blink ability timing variance under the effect of Middle Management (Pact)


Pact of Punishment

📢 Benefits Package: banned certain Perks from certain types of foes; reduced bonus Armor from Bruiser Perk


Level Design & Environments

📢 Removed several urns that had no real business being in the Final Boss chamber
• Minor improvements to one of the new chambers in Asphodel


Art & Visual FX

📢 Further improvements to the look of Olympian Boon pick-ups, making Olympians easier to spot
• Added unique visuals for text presentation when Zagreus dies
• Added unique visuals for text presentation when Zagreus vanquishes a boss
• Added animations for the new mini-boss encounter in the Temple of Styx
• Improved visual effects on Twin Fists (Demeter) Giga Cutter special
• Added unique icon for Broken Resolve (Aphrodite)
• Slightly reduced the visual size of the interact object for the Shield of Chaos out in the Courtyard


Menus & UI

📢 Adjusted Armored foes' health bars so depleted Armor looks more distinct from depleted Life
📢 Updated damage numbers presentation so Critical numbers appear on their own
📢 Updated Cast tooltip while using Stygian Soul (Mirror)


Music & SFX

• Updated sound effects for Twin Fists (Demeter) Giga Cutter special
• Updated sound effects for the new mini-boss encounter in Temple of Styx
• Other minor changes


Voice & Narrative

• Added quite a few more narrative events with and about Nyx
• Added more Inspect Points to the Admin Chamber
• Minor fixes and tuning to various events


Miscellaneous

• Added some additional localized strings for content updated or introduced in the Nighty Night Update
• Updated Credits with additional Community Contributors
• Various minor text fixes and presentation improvements


Bug Fixes

📢 Fixed a game freeze that could occur when multiple characters speak simultaneously
📢 Fixed a crash involving assembled shades in the House of Hades
📢 Fixed several other crashes reported by users
📢 Fixed music issues and soft locks as part of the Orpheus & Eurydice subplot
• Fixed an issue where the incorrect Olympian appeared in one of the new Duo Boon conversations
• Fixed tooltips not reliably showing up while mouse-highlighting Talents in the Mirror of Night
• Fixed incorrect Dash-Strike visuals using Twin Fists (Talos)
• Fixed Affinity Gauge unlock animation not appearing as expected with certain characters
• Fixed an issue where insufficient Darkness was refunded in some cases (involving the Pact)
📢 Fixed incorrect text appearing in some Death Defiance tooltips
• Fixed a pathfinding issue with Thanatos in a certain chamber in Asphodel
• Fixed a visual issue with some door animations in the Temple of Styx
• Fixed an issue in Thanatos encounters with Benefits Package (Pact) where you got credit for slaying self-destructing Exalted Shades
• Fixed Skelly sometimes talking while Skelly was already in the middle of talking
• Minor art and visual effect fixes
• Minor text fixes


Quote of the Patch

'Goddess of phantoms and of shadowy play, whose drowsy pow'r divides the nat'ral day:
By Fate's decree you constant send the light to deepest hell, remote from mortal sight'
~The Hymns of Orpheus - "To Night" (T. Taylor translation)

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Early Access Patch 040: The NIGHTY NIGHT Update - March 10, 2020

This Major Update opens up even more ways to battle out of hell, with a powerful new weapon, new weapon Aspects, and lots more story to sink your teeth into! As always, we will be closely monitoring feedback and are planning on at least a couple of follow-up patches. Thank you very much for playing!


Highlights

• Malphon, the Twin Fists: pummel your foes into the ground with this furious close-quarters weapon
• Mirror of Night Rework: now with twice the Talents, inviting more choices to fit your playstyle
• Aspect of Arthur: wield the might of Holy Excalibur with this legendary Aspect of the Stygian Blade
• Improved Visual Effects: we've made frenetic combat easier to parse without compromising the oomph
• New Pact of Punishment Conditions: see if you can survive Benefits Package and Routine Inspection
• Administrative Chamber: access your Permanent Record beyond a mysterious locked door in the House
• New House of Hades Events: the god of the dead's residence is livelier than ever
• Expanded Story: hours of added narrative featuring Nyx, Chaos, Artemis, Zeus, and more


Infernal Arms, Aspects, & Abilities

• Twin Fists: new! Unlock earlier weapons to reveal this (once you return from an escape attempt)
• Twin Fists (Zagreus Aspect): new! Gain attack speed and dodge chance
• Twin Fists (Talos Aspect): new! Drag foes to you with the power of the Magnetic Cutter
• Twin Fists (Demeter Aspect): new! Obliterate foes with the power of the Giga Cutter
• Stygian Blade (Arthur Aspect): new! Seek Nyx to learn more (unlock Guan Yu and Blade aspects first)
• Eternal Spear (Guan Yu Aspect): Spin attack now bounces off obstacles rather than passing through
• Adamant Rail: increased accuracy; now the sixth weapon to be unlocked, after the Twin Fists
• Added one more frame of invulnerability to the Dash (you now are fully invulnerable until you can move)


Boons & Blessings

• Reduced base offering rate of Legendary and Duo Boons; a new Mirror Talent lets you boost this
• Huge Catch (Poseidon): new! Increases chance of finding fishing points
• Holy Shield (Athena): fixed Evergreen Acorn (Eurydice) activating at the same time when you are hit
• True Shot (Artemis): reduced damage scaling from improved rarity
📢 Unhealthy Fixation (Aphrodite): can now be offered if you have Broken Resolve; fixed issues where Charmed damage bonus did not expire
• Battle Rage (Ares): expires after first hit from Aspect of Zeus Throw special; no longer expires when recalling the Spear's Throw special
📢 Urge to Kill (Ares): improved scaling from Poms
• Snow Burst (Demeter): now correctly fires at your position while loading ammo using Aspect of Hera; no longer hits through obstacles
📢 Mistral Dash (Demeter): increased damage
📢 Atrophic (Chaos): fixed issues causing incorrect adjustments to Life Total
• Roiling (Chaos): duration no longer reduced by Boss encounters (since it does not affect those encounters)
• Auto Reload (Hermes): new! Regenerate Bloodstones faster (if you have a certain Mirror talent)
• Bad News (Hermes): new! Deal bonus Cast damage to foes without Cast ammo in them (if you have a certain Mirror talent)
• Greater Recall (Hermes): now requires first having one of Hermes' Cast-affecting Boons
• Flurry Shot (Hermes): reduced power scaling from improved rarity
• Quick Reload (Hermes): increased power scaling at Heroic rarity


Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

📢 Double Nova (Blade): reduced penalty to damage radius
📢 Cursed Slash (Blade): reduced penalty to Life Total
📢 Charged Volley (Bow): increased minimum range; no longer offered while using Aspect of Chiron
• Relentless Barrage (Bow): fixed an issue where it sometimes stopped working with Aspect of Chiron
• Chain Shot (Bow): shots no longer bounce off of invisible Chamber boundaries
• Minotaur Rush (Shield): increased Bull Rush Power Shot damage
📢 Charged Shot (Shield): increased minimum range
• Explosive Return (Shield): slightly reduced damage
• Exploding Launcher (Rail): slightly reduced damage
• Cluster Bomb (Rail): adjusted firing pattern
• Hazard Bomb (Rail): now fires on press (rather than on release); fixed interaction with Inescapable Blast
• Spread Fire (Rail): reworked; now fires as a single, powerful blast
• Long Knuckle (Fists): new! Attacks have improved range and damage
• Rolling Knuckle (Fists): new! Attack combo ends in a powerful hook punch
• Concentrated Knuckle (Fists): new! Successive attacks against the same foe deal more damage
• Breaching Cross (Fists): new! Your Dash-Strike pierces foes and deals bonus damage to Armor
• Explosive Upper (Fists): new! Your Dash-Special (unique to Twin Fists) deals bonus area damage
• Rush Kick (Fists): new! Dash toward foes with a powerful kick
• Flying Cutter (Fists): new! Hold Special for a stronger, longer range strike
• Draining Cutter (Fists): new! Slay foes with your Cutter special to restore some Life
• Quake Cutter (Fists): new! Deal area damage while landing from your Cutter special


Foes & Encounters

• 'Trial of the Gods': updated many effects from spurned gods; no longer occur in smaller chambers
• Thanatos: reduced appearance rate in Tartarus; removed Flame Wheels from appearing in these fights
📢 Larger chambers in Asphodel now only appear later in the region
• Bone Hydra: a wider variety of heads can appear (note that no new types have been added)
📢 Exalted Longspear: attack visual more closely matches its hit box
📢 Splitter: updated pattern of split-firing projectiles (it should look better)
• The Minotaur: updated spin attack, specific to the effect of Extreme Measures (Pact)
📢 Theseus: can no longer invoke Demeter's aid before you have met her
📢 Crawler: Elite variant no longer appears, although...
• ...added a terrifying new mini-boss encounter to the Temple of Styx...


Mirror of Night

• Reworked! More choices, improved usability, reduced total Darkness cost; in more detail:
• Added a new flip-side Talent for each Talent! Only one Talent per pair can be active at a time
• Removed ability to subtract ranks in a given talent; added a full Darkness refund option
• Talents are no longer all visible at the start of the game; they are now unlocked two rows at a time
• Later Talents cost less Darkness; if you had more invested than is now required, it has been refunded. Total Darkness required to max all Talents is less than before (when there were half as many Talents)
• Fiery Presence: new! Deal more damage vs. undamaged foes
• Dark Regeneration: new! Recover health when you collect Darkness
• Stubborn Defiance: new! A single Death Defiance effect that replenishes in each Chamber
• Ruthless Reflex: new! Dash just before taking damage for bonus damage and dodge chance
• Stygian Soul: new! Your Cast ammo regenerates automatically (instead of dropping from foes)
• Golden Touch: new! Earn money between Underworld regions based on how much you have
• High Confidence: new! Deal bonus damage while your Life Total is high
• Abyssal Blood: new! Foes with Cast ammo in them move slower and deal less damage
• Family Favorite: new! Deal bonus damage for each different Olympian whose Boons you have
• Olympian Legacy: new! Improves chance of finding Duo or Legendary Boons
• Gods' Chosen: new! Improves chance of finding chambers with Boons, Hammers, or Poms
• Fated Persuasion: new! You can randomly alter Boon and Well of Charon choices offered
• Note: We have plans to do even more with the Darkness resource in future updates


Keepsakes & Items

• Lucky Tooth (Skelly): reduced healing at higher ranks (bringing it in line with other defensive Keepsakes)
• Broken Spearpoint (Fallen Warrior): fixed issues with it not working against some Final Boss attacks
• Black Shawl (Nyx): reworked; now gives bonus damage vs. undamaged foes and while backstabbing
📢 Companion Mort (Thanatos): no longer blockable by shield-bearing foes
• Companion Rib (Skelly): increased resistance to wall-slam damage
• Companion Shady (Sisyphus): resource drops now affected by certain Boons; reduced money drops
• Touch of Styx (Well): new! Improves healing from Stubborn Defiance
• Touch of Styx Dark (Fallen Warrior): new! A superior version of the above
• Trove Tracker (Well): no longer offered in the Temple of Styx (Lord Hades wouldn't put troves there)


Pact of Punishment

📢 Budget Cuts: cut from game; replaced with...
📢 Routine Inspection: new! Disables Mirror of Night talents, three at a time from the bottom
📢 Benefits Package: new! Gives Dire (a.k.a Armored) foes an assortment of nasty Perks:
• Shifter: teleports around from time to time
• Bruiser: extra armor
• Puller: surrounded by a field that pulls you in
• Savior: intermittently makes nearby foes briefly invulnerable
• Slugger: hits harder
• Speeder: moves and attacks faster
• Linker: links to other foes via a continuous beam that damages you
• Cloner: summons 1-Life copies of itself
• Burner: spews molten puddles
• Seeker: ranged attacks track you
• Popper: bursts into Exalted Shades that self-destruct
• The Condition previously called No Choice now is called Approval Process


Permanent Record

• new! Added a screen summarizing each of your escape attempts; find it in the House's locked chamber
• Note: This is a first-pass version of this screen, which we expect to continue improving in subsequent Major Updates


House Contractor

• Added items specific to certain subplots...


Fated List of Minor Prophecies

• Whence Night and Darkness Came: new! Nyx and Chaos shall be reunited
• Musician and Muse: new! Orpheus and Eurydice shall be reunited
• The Holy King: new! The Aspect of Arthur shall reach the surface
• Slashed Benefits: new! Foes with all Benefits Package Perks shall be slain
• Denizens of the Deep: new! A variety of fish shall be caught
• Dark Reflections: new! Successful escapes shall be completed using all Mirror Talents
• End to Torment: aiding Sisyphus is more involved than before (if you haven't done this yet)
• Updated requirements to fulfill several other Prophecies (won't affect you if you've already fulfilled them)


Level Design & Environments

• Added two new chambers to Asphodel
📢 It is easier to reliably dash across gaps in several Temple of Styx chambers
📢 Updated, clearer cover layout in the Final Boss chamber
• The lounge's kitchen area in the House of Hades is easier to get to
• You can now get into one of the locked chambers in the House of Hades...
• Other minor fixes and improvements to various chambers


Art & Visual FX

• Updated main menu based on new Major Update
• Added new portraits and character model for Nyx
• Added new character model and animations for Hypnos
• Added new animations for Dusa
• Added some new animations for Lord Hades
• Added unique art, animation, and VFX for the Twin Fists and its Aspects
• Added unique art, animation, and VFX for the Aspect of Arthur (Blade)
• Updated the look of Olympian Boon pick-ups
• Updated the look of the House Contractor screen
• Updated the look of the Well of Charon screen
• Updated the look of the Pool of Purging screen
• Updated the look of the Fated List screen
• Updated the look of information panels (e.g. the one that says THERE IS NO ESCAPE)
• Added presentation while resetting offered choices using Fated Persuasion (Mirror)
• Added and updated some icons in the Mirror of Night and Pact of Punishment
• Added graphical icons for various new Boons, Aspects, and Upgrades
• Updated the look of one of the locked doors in the House of Hades
• Made various improvements, detailed below, that in aggregate should improve clarity during combat
• Updated on-hit visual effects (they are cleaner and now have directionality)
• Updated on-hit visual effects for rapid-fire attacks
• Updated on-hit visual effects for foes with Armor
• Updated visual effects when foes are slain
• Updated the look of damage shroud (i.e., when you get hit; this no longer reduces visibility as much)
• Updated the look of the Power Shot full-screen effect (not as jarring as before)
• Updated the look of Trap floor panels (they should be easier to spot)
• Foes' Summoning Circles now are sized relative to the foe; they have varying sound effects as well
• Minor improvements to the look of the Underworld Map between regions
• Minor improvements to Weapon Unlock presentation
• Other minor visual changes, fixes, and improvements


Menus & UI

• Updated Mirror of Night screen and presentation based on new functionality
📢 Added category-specific indicators when House Contractor has new items or is sold out
📢 Added reminder to activate Legendary Keepsakes in certain contexts
• Added feedback when failing to power up Pierced Butterfly (Thanatos) or Lambent Plume (Hermes)
• Added ammo-regeneration indicator while using Stygian Soul (Mirror)
• Improved sorting of resources along right screen edge
📢 Improved feedback using Charged Throw (Spear)
• Made various improvements, detailed below, that in aggregate should improve clarity during combat
• Updated Damage Numbers presentation to reduce clutter (successive damage now ticks up a single number)
• Updated Boon Sidebar to show only relevant Boons (everything is still in the Boon Info screen)
• Updated Status Curse stack feedback on foes
• Other minor fixes, changes, and improvements


Music & SFX

• Added new sound effects for the Twin Fists
• Added new sound effects for the Aspect of Arthur (Blade)
• Updated sound effects for the Well of Charon and Purging Pool
• Updated sound effects for the House Contractor
• Updated sound effects for some attacks from spurned Olympians
• Added and updated ambient sounds in some chambers
• Other minor changes, fixes, and mix improvements


Voice & Narrative

• Extended Affinity Gauges for Nyx, Chaos, Artemis, and Zeus (you can give them more gifts)
• Added many narrative events (with Nyx, Chaos, Orpheus, Eurydice, Artemis, Zeus, Hades, and more)
• Added new Remembrance sequences (when Lord Hades appears at the start of some escape attempts)
• Added several new Duo Boon interactions for some pairings
Added many new Zagreus voice lines to various contexts for additional variety
📢 Added more voiceover variety in the Final Boss encounter
• Added Codex entry for Malphon, the Twin Fists
📢 Added Codex entries for Underworld Regions (i.e., various locations)
📢 Added Codex entries for River Denizens (i.e., fish)
• Added Codex entries for Fables (use Legendary Keepsakes to unlock these)
• Updated Codex entry for Nyx
📢 Added utterly nightmarish new Flashback Sequence...
• Added yet another new Early Access Ending variant
• Minor changes to effects on Nyx voiceover
• Updated requirements and other minor changes to various narrative events
• Fixes and tuning to various contextual voice events
• Added several missing subtitles


New Settings

📢 Added Master Volume setting to Settings
📢 Added Screen Shake toggle to Settings


Miscellaneous

• Updated Development Roadmap to reflect our plans for our next Major Update, slated for June
• Added community-translated content in some languages (translations are ongoing for newer content)
• Added a number of new Victory Screen Commendations
• Lord Hades will sometimes judge the shades gathered in his Great Hall
• Dusa and Megaera will sometimes be gossiping in the lounge
• Hypnos will sometimes fall back asleep
📢 Wretched Broker now has a Limited Time Offer letting you exchange Darkness for Gemstones
📢 While switching auto-aim targets with the Bow and Rail, Zagreus quickly rotates instead of snapping (this is a cosmetic change with no effect on aim speed)
• Urns can now be broken as a result of some knock-away effects (not just direct attack)
• Added a visual hint when trying to exit chambers before collecting the reward
• Keepsake Screen no longer shows available Ambrosia before it can be used there
• Minor improvements to door interact presentation in the Temple of Styx
• Minor improvements to Rod of Fishing presentation
• Sisyphus now tosses items in your general direction
• Updated Credits with additional Community Contributors (Thank you for all your help!!)
📢 References to lava changed to magma (as is well known, magma is beneath the earth, lava is above it)
📢 Various text fixes, updates, and clarifications


Bug Fixes

• Fixed lag issues using Switch Pro controllers (if you run into input issues, please report them by pressing F10)
• Fixed rare instances of foes taking wall-slam damage multiple times from a single knock-away effect
📢 Fixed damage effects playing after Death Defiance activation, rather than before
📢 Fixed Splendid Lyre sometimes not making a sound when used
📢 Fixed God of War (Fated List) coming from Artemis rather than Ares
• Fixed an issue where gifting Thanatos during an escape attempt made him noninteractive in the House
• Fixed being able to use exits in some Chambers while using the Rod of Fishing
• Fixed certain story events in the Prince's Bedchambers not queuing properly
• Fixed issues toggling some House Decor items from the House Contractor
• Fixed a graphical issue exiting the Temple of Styx
• Fixed a visual issue where Chill effects would tint a character's speech bubble
• Fixed a visual issue when Wave-Makers are affected by Chill effects
📢 Fixed weapon charge-up sounds sometimes persisting between chambers
📢 Many other minor fixes


Quote of the Patch

'Nyx, whom the Romans called Nox, is a scarcely personified abstraction... Alone she spawned a large and generally unpleasant brood that included Moros (Doom), Thanatos (Death), Hypnos (Sleep), the Fates, and Nemesis.' ~Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology (E. Tripp)

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Patch Notes Archive

For patch notes from the previous Major Update, check out The Long Winter Update Patch Notes (March, 2020).

Hades is in Early Access, which means we're actively working on it based on our plans and your feedback. We expect to keep adding features, powers, visual enhancements, music, and more, while expanding the story and fine-tuning all aspects of the experience.

Note: 📢 indicates a change inspired by community feedback! Our latest patch notes are below:

---

Early Access Patch 044: The BLOOD PRICE Update - June 23, 2020

Our third Major Update of the year has officially arrived, and it's our biggest ever, chock-full of new content across the board!! Thank you for playing, and special thanks to our beta testers for helping us get here. Expect a follow-up patch soon to address any lingering issues, and then... onward to our v1.0 Launch!


Highlights

• New Boss Fight: see if you can find this dangerous new encounter, and reap the rewards
• New Legendary Aspects: discover the hidden forms of the Bow, Shield, and Rail
• New Foes and Mini-bosses: face the Wretched Sneak, Dracon, Doomstone, and more
• New Boons & Upgrades: gain dozens of new powers, including Duo Boons for each Olympian pairing
• New Goods in Stock: look for many new items from Charon and the House Contractor
• New Art & Visual Effects: bask in the atmosphere, with newly added character models and animations
• Expanded Story: experience new narrative events for nearly every single character in the game
• Updated Code Base: our newly optimized game engine offers smoother performance for many players


Engine & Tech

• Updated our code base for improved performance and compatibility. The game should now run on more PCs above the minimum system requirement, and run faster for most players.

• Note: Please make sure to update your graphics drivers to the latest version to take advantage of these improvements! If you cannot start the game, or experience worsened performance relative to past versions, please reach out to us at discord.gg/Supergiant and we will work with you to get it resolved.


General Gameplay

📢 Upgraded Chthonic Key rewards grant Fated Authority even while using Routine Inspection (Pact)
📢 Hell Mode no longer forces you to play at escalating Heat levels
• Slightly reduced base chance Olympians offering Duo Boons (now that there are many more of them)


Infernal Arms, Aspects, & Abilities

• Heart-Seeking Bow (Rama Aspect): new! Seek Artemis to reveal it (unlock Guan Yu and Bow aspects first)
• Shield of Chaos (Beowulf Aspect): new! Seek Chaos to reveal it (unlock Guan Yu and Shield aspects first)
• Adamant Rail (L------ Aspect): new! Seek Zeus to reveal it (unlock Guan Yu and Rail aspects first)
📢 Stygian Blade (Arthur Aspect): improved hit box on second swing in the Attack sequence
• Eternal Spear (Guan Yu Aspect): slightly reduced Throw special width and damage


Boons & Blessings

• Each Olympian now offers a new, alternate Cast Boon while you have Aspect of Beowulf (Shield)
• Lightning Reflexes (Zeus): new! Dash just before being hit to counter-attack with a lightning bolt
• Smoldering Air (Zeus x Aphrodite): new! Your God Gauge charges up automatically, but caps at 25%
• Rip Current (Poseidon): new! Makes Poseidon's Aid last longer and pull foes in
• Hydraulic Might (Poseidon): new! Your Attack and Special are briefly stronger at the start of Encounters
• Unshakable Mettle (Poseidon x Athena): new! You can't be stunned, and resist damage from bosses
• Curse of Drowning (Poseidon x Ares): new! Your Cast is a pulse that deals damage to foes around you
• Parting Shot (Athena x Aphrodite): new! Your Cast deals backstab damage and gains related bonuses
• Spent Spirit (Athena x Aphrodite): now from Athena x Dionysus, called Calculated Risk
• Stubborn Roots (Athena x Demeter): new! While you have no Death Defiance, your health regenerates
• Blood Frenzy (Ares): new! After using Death Defiance, deal more damage in that Encounter
• Dire Misfortune (Ares): increased power level
• Ares' Aid: reduced duration; increased damage to compensate
• Curse of Nausea (Ares x Dionysus): new! Your Hangover effects deal damage faster
• Freezing Vortex (Ares x Demeter): new! Your Cast inflicts Chill, but is smaller and slower
• Blown Kiss (Aphrodite): new! Your Cast shoots farther and is stronger against undamaged foes
• Cold Embrace (Aphrodite x Demeter): new! Your Cast beam fires at your position, dealing more damage
• Curse of Longing (Aphrodite x Ares): increased damage
• Dual Shot (Artemis): now a Duo, called Mirage Shot (Poseidon x Artemis)
• Support Fire (Artemis): reduced scaling from Poms
📢 Fully Loaded (Artemis): reduced bonus Cast ammo; adjusted requirements for this to be offered
• Splitting Headache (Artemis x Dionysus): new! Hangover-afflicted foes more likely to take Critical damage
• Strong Drink (Dionysus): new! Using Fountains restores all your health and gives you bonus damage
• Glacial Glare (Demeter): new! Your Cast fires for a longer duration and inflicts Chill
• Frozen Touch (Demeter): new! after taking damage, damage and completely Chill your foe
• Arctic Blast (Demeter): reduced effectiveness
📢 Winter's Harvest (Demeter): adjusted requirements for this to be offered
• Quick Favor (Hermes): new! Your God Gauge slowly charges up automatically
• Side Hustle (Hermes): new! Gain some money each time you enter a chamber
• Rush Delivery (Hermes): new! Deal bonus damage based on any bonus move speed
• Halting (Chaos): new! Your Dash has reduced range
• Brilliance (Chaos): new! Any Gemstones you find are worth more
• Assault (Chaos): new! Deal bonus damage striking undamaged foes
• Ambush (Chaos): new! Deal bonus damage striking foes from behind
• Ruin (Chaos): new! Traps deal bonus damage to foes


Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

• Hoarding Slash (Blade): new! Your Attack deals more damage the more money you have
• Snap Nova (Blade): new! You lunge forward when you use your Special; use again to lunge back
• Greater Consecration (Blade - Arthur Aspect): new! Your Special aura is larger and makes foes slower
• Concentrated Volley (Bow): new! Your Special deals bonus damage for each consecutive hit to a foe
• Point-Blank Shot (Bow): Added back to the game; makes your Attack deal bonus damage to nearby foes
• Repulse Shot (Bow - Rama Aspect): new! Your Attack creates a Blast Wave that knocks away nearby foes
• Flaring Spin (Spear): new! While charging your Spin Attack, you pulse damage and cannot be stunned
• Triple Jab (Spear): new! Your Attack strikes 3 times in a spread pattern
• Winged Serpent (Spear - Guan Yu Aspect): new! Your Serpent Slash ability travels longer
• World Smasher (Shield): cut from game
• Empowering Flight (Shield): new! After your Special hits, your next 3 attacks deal bonus damage
• Ferocious Guard (Shield): new! After blocking a foe, briefly gain bonus damage and move speed
• Dashing Flight (Shield): new! While you Dash, your Throw special is faster and deals more damage
• Unyielding Defense (Shield - Beowulf Aspect): new! After using your Cast, you briefly cannot be stunned
• Kinetic Launcher (Fists): new! Your Cutter special becomes a charged ranged attack
• Heavy Knuckle (Fists): new! Your Attack becomes a stronger, slower 3-hit sequence
• Colossus Knuckle (Fists): new! You cannot be stunned while using your Attack or Special
• Consecutive Fire (Rail): cut from game
• Spread Fire (Rail): now has a penalty to max. ammo again; reduced damage and area of effect
• Inescapable Blast (Rail): now also causes foes to take more damage; now called Targeting System
• Seeking Fire (Rail): new! Your Attack seeks the nearest foe and deals bonus damage
• Concentrated Fire (Rail): new! Successive shots against the same foe deal more damage
• ...Plus 4 new Daedalus Hammer Upgrades unique to the Rail's new L------ Aspect


Foes & Encounters

• Thanatos: increased rate of attack for his single-target Death Sentence
• 'Trial of the Gods': increased frequency and tracking of Artemis attacks; increased frequency and quantity of Dionysus attacks
• Wringer: new! This Tartarus foe grabs and briefly stuns you
• Wretched Sneak: new! This Tartarus mini-boss is elusive and deadly
• Doomstone: new! This Tartarus mini-boss is what Brimstones want to be when they grow up
• Bloodless Slam-Dancers, Wave-Makers, and Burn-Flingers no longer appear as Tartarus mini-bosses
• Megaera: ground blast attacks detonate slightly faster
• The Fury Sisters: increased health and attack speed under Extreme Measures (Pact)
📢 The Bloodless: improved leaping behavior for all varieties
• Wave-Maker: reduced Elite health and armor
• Bloodless Bone-Raker: new! This Asphodel foe attacks with consecutive swipes
• Dracon: new! This Asphodel foe burrows and uses ranged attacks
• Witches Circle: new! This Asphodel mini-boss encounter pits you against elite Spreaders
• Gorgon: increased Elite armor and firing sequence
• Skull-Crusher: slightly increased the duration the Elite version stays on the ground
• Bone Hydra: reworked; the main head now has 4 new variants you may encounter instead of the original, each with their own attacks (based on what the smaller heads can do)
• Elysian Spear Trap: now link their attacks whenever one is activated
• The Exalted: increased damage for Brightswords, Greatshields, and Strongbows
📢 The Minotaur: slightly reduced turn speed on Bull Rush attack; updated various other attacks
📢 Theseus: reduced damage of explosive attack under Extreme Measures (Pact)
📢 Fixed Styx Poison effects sometimes not clearing after an Encounter


Mirror of Night

• Family Favorite: slightly reduced effectiveness; you now can see your current bonus from it in Boon Info
• Olympian Legacy: moved to be the counterpart to Gods' Pride; now called Gods' Legacy; reduced the max. benefit this could provide (now that there are many more Duos; invested Darkness will be refunded)
• Dark Regeneration: slightly reduced max. benefit


Keepsakes

• Companion Antos ( ? ? ? ): new Legendary Keepsake! Summons ? ? ? to skewer your foes
📢 Companion Rib (Skelly): summoned companion no longer auto-locked using Aim Assist
• Shattered Shackle (Sisyphus): reworked; your basic moves are stronger while not empowered by Boons


Well of Charon & Other Items

• Anvil of Fates: new! Removes one random Daedalus Hammer enchantment, then gives you two
• Mystery Boon: new! Gives you a Boon from a random Olympian; costs less than a Boon
• Pom Slice: new! Gives a random Boon •1 Lv.; costs less than Pom
• Gaea's Treasure: new! Provides some Gemstones.
• Centaur Soul: new! Raises life total (without healing).
• Price of Midas: new! Provides some money, in exchange for some life.
• Chimaera Jerky: new! Your Special deals more damage.
• Fateful Twist: new! You gain a random item from the Well of Charon.
• Nemesis Crest: new! You deal more damage striking foes from behind.
• Eris Bangle: new! You deal more damage to undamaged foes.
• Nail of Talos: new! You deal more damage against armor.
• Aether Net: new! You start Encounters with your God Gauge partly full.
• Stygian Shard: new! Traps deal significantly more damage to your foes.
• Skeletal Lure: new! Guarantee a Fishing Point at the next possible location
• Night Spindle: new! Gain •1 use of your Chthonic Companion
📢 Flame Wheels Release: new! Guarantee Flame Wheels will not appear
📢 Kiss of Styx: now only offered if you are missing a Death Defiance charge
📢 Charon sometimes sells Gemstones (only when he would have offered Darkness, Chthonic Keys, or Nectar)


Pact of Punishment

📢 Routine Inspection: no longer prevents getting Fated Authority charges during an escape attempt
📢 Forced Overtime: added foe-specific limitations in cases where this was particularly unfair...
📢 Benefits Package: reduced how much bonus Armor could be provided by the Bruiser Perk


House Contractor

• Added dozens of new jobs to order with your hard-earned Gemstones and Diamonds, such as...
• Bat Cage, All-Seeing: survey the entire House with these specially-trained reconnaissance bats
• Aquarium, Cubical: since all those river-denizens you're procuring out there do need a place to live...
• Sundial, Imported: surely this will settle the mystery of whether it is day or night at any given point...
• Gallery Paintings, Landscapes, and Portraits: revamped gallery space with bigger, bolder images
• Darker Thirst: speaking of hard-earned Gemstones, this new upgrade lets you hard-earn them faster
• Downgraded the poor House Contractor's work desk, even after all that (though you can upgrade it)


Fated List of Minor Prophecies

• Divided by Death: new! Help settle a difficult matter between Achilles and the Fallen Warrior
• The Preserver's Avatar: new! Bring the Aspect of Rama to the surface
• The Dragon's Rival: new! Bring the Aspect of Beowulf to the surface
• The Dawn Bringer: new! Bring the Aspect of L------ to the surface
• Amusing Chaos: new! Vanquish the Final Boss bearing the Cosmic Egg
• Sea-God's Spite: new! Vanquish Theseus using Extreme Measures (Pact) for Poseidon
• War-God's Bloodlust: new! Slay how many foes for Ares?
• Customer Loyalty: new! Purchase each of Charon's goods
• A Friendly Wager: new! Prevail in a certain battle twice without failing for Hermes
• Updated requirements to fulfill several other Prophecies (won't affect you if you've already fulfilled them)


Permanent Record & Security Log

📢 The Security Log now shows your Mirror and Pact configuration per escape attempt


Level Design & Environments

• Added new chambers to Tartarus, Asphodel, Elysium, and the Temple of Styx
• Updated the layout of Charon's shops to make room for a certain item that appears from time to time...
• Other minor fixes and improvements to various chambers


Art & Visual FX

• Updated main menu based on new Major Update
• Added new portrait and character model for Charon
• Added new portrait variant for the Fallen Warrior
• Added new portrait variant for Zagreus
• Added new character models for Achilles, Orpheus, Sisyphus, and Skelly
• Added new animations for Achilles, Sisyphus, Hypnos, Nyx, and more
• Updated Bone Hydra look and animations; each type of head is more distinct
• Updated artwork and visual effects in various chambers
• Updated visual presentation making contact with Olympians
• Updated visual presentation initiating Trials of the Gods
• Updated the Tartarus Overlook in the House Courtyard
• Updated various other assets in the House of Hades, such as the Prince's Wall-Scrolls
• Added visual effects dashing from the Pool of Styx in the House of Hades
• Added a unique chamber preview icon for the transitional chambers between regions
• Added visual effect for the appearance of Duo and Legendary Boons
• Added new look variations for some types of information panels (e.g. forging bonds with characters)
• Updated visual effect for enhanced rewards
• Updated Skelly's animations using Companion Rib
• Updated visual effects for equippable Infernal Arms in the Courtyard
• Updated the look of the Mirror of Night object in the Prince's Bedchambers
• Updated the look of the Underworld Map
• Updated the look of Chaos' Boon
• Updated the look of Inspect Points
• Updated the look of selection indicator in some menu screens
• Improved visual effects when striking armored foes
• Improved some visual effects on the Fury Sisters
• Improved presentation fulfilling Prophecies about bringing Legendary Aspects to the surface
• Improved presentation buying out Sealed Documents from the House Contractor
• Improved look of going through chamber exits in the Temple of Styx
• Many other visual fixes and improvements


Menus & UI

📢 Improved messaging and feedback in the Pause menu when choosing between Quit and Give Up
• Updated some formatting on the Keepsake Screen
📢 Some powers with range-specific bonuses show an indicator on their aim previews
• Fixed Underworld Map showing mystery rewards after clearing the highest Heat level for rewards
• Improved feedback on successful Backstab attacks
• Updated feedback activating Ruthless Reflex (Mirror) (enhanced the visual, removed the text)
• Added Info button on the Pact screen for a reminder about how it works
• Updated presentation when new Boons and other powers are added to the sidebar
• Updated some tooltips on the Mirror of Night
• Added improved error messaging if auto-save fails for any reason
• Other minor fixes, changes, and improvements


Music & SFX

• Added a new music track for a certain new encounter...
• Added many new sound effects to various contexts (such as the new foes and Legendary Aspects)
• Updated sound effects for Theseus and The Minotaur
• Updated sound effects for the Final Boss
• Updated sound effects using the barges in Asphodel
• Updated impact sounds on foes (so they are distinct from impact sounds on the player)
• Updated interact sounds for each Olympian Boon and some other rewards
• Updated some sound effects while using the Rod of Fishing
• Updated audio presentation for Olympian Aid effects
• Fixed some Asphodel obstacles missing impact sounds
• Minor improvements to Eurydice song scripting after completing her subplot with Orpheus
• Other minor changes, fixes, and mix improvements


Voice & Narrative

• Added many new narrative events, some for nearly every character (with roughly 3,500 new voice lines!)
• Extended Affinity Gauges for Achilles, Cerberus, Charon, Poseidon, Hypnos, Hermes, Athena, Ares, Dionysus, and the Fallen Warrior (you can give them more gifts)
• Added Duo Boon interactions for all Olympian pairings that didn't already have them
• Added many, many new Zagreus voice lines to various contexts for additional variety
• Added Codex entries for various new Perilous Foes and Artifacts, plus a new Fable
• Added a number of new Inspect Points to new chambers and some House Contractor items
• Updated dozens of older Zagreus voice lines for performance consistency
• Updated Codex entries for Achilles and the Fallen Warrior
📢 Added still another new Early Access Ending variant
• Spurned Olympians will speak over the death presentation if you perish during a Trial of the Gods
• Chaos will speak over the death presentation if you perish after taking damage from a curse
• Added emote animations and other minor improvements to various narrative events
• Updated requirements and other minor changes to various narrative events
• Fixes and tuning to various contextual voice events


New Settings

📢 Added Bright Cursor setting to Settings menu; it can make the mouse cursor easier to spot
• Added VSync setting to Display menu; toggling can help improve performance in some cases


Miscellaneous

• Updated Development Roadmap to reflect our plans for our next v1.0 Launch, slated for later this year
• Added more translated text content in supported languages (translations are ongoing for newer content)
• Cloud Saves now supported for the Epic Games Store version of the game
• Added Community Translators to Credits (Thank you for all your efforts!!)
• Added more Community Contributors to Credits (We really appreciate your support!!)
• Reduced minimum system requirement to DirectX 10 (was DirectX 10.1)
📢 After Thanatos encounters, he will sometimes teleport toward the chamber exit to get there faster
• Thanatos now shows an invulnerable effect when struck
• Reduced requirements to unlock Perilous Foes entries in the Codex
• Infernal Trove pedestals should interact with projectile attacks more consistently
📢 Sisyphus gives more Darkness
📢 Added more contextual tips when learning to use the Rod of Fishing
📢 The gameplay timer now stops during Thanatos encounters
📢 You now can pet Cerberus without having to give him Nectar
📢 The Keepsake Screen has unique messages for each character with whom you forge a bond
• The crowd has more dynamic reactions in the final chamber in Elysium
• The Head Chef in the House of Hades now cuts onions ceaselessly
• You now can interact with the Featured House-Servant Wall in the Lounge; more characters eligible
• You now can interact with the Motivational Wall-scrolls in the Administrative Chamber
• You now can irritate caged shades in Tartarus
• Tuned interact distances on some characters and House of Hades objects
• Removed the shimmering halo on the portrait of Lord Hades (the Olympians can have it)
• Shades in the House of Hades have more to say
• Improved presentation confronting the Tiny Vermin in the Temple of Styx
• Improved presentation exiting the Administrative Chamber in the House of Hades
• Updated flavor text on various screens
• Updated boss nameplates in some encounters
📢 Various text fixes, updates, and clarifications


Bug Fixes

📢 Fixed Aphrodite's Affinity Gauge sometimes not unlocking as intended
• Fixed an issue where Black Out (Dionysus) would sometimes not apply its damage bonus
• Fixed unintended interactions using Aspect of Hera with Auto Reload (Hermes)
• Fixed an issue where Boon icons could remain stuck onscreen
• Fixed incorrect icon for Exit Wounds (Artemis)
• Fixed presentation issues with Boon upgrade feedback while using Rare Crop (Demeter)
• Fixed an issue preventing situational Chthonic Companion Summon voice lines from playing
• Fixed minor animation issues with Hypnos and Dusa
📢 Many, many, many other minor fixes


Bug Additions

• Hopefully not too many, thanks to our diligent Beta Testers!


Quote of the Patch

'Never, never again shall I return from Hades once you have given me the soothing rites of fire. Never again will you and I, alive and breathing, huddle side-by-side, apart from loyal comrades, making plans together--never...'
~The Iliad (Homer; R. Fagles translation)

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Patch Notes Archive

For patch notes from the previous Major Update, check out The Nighty Night Update Patch Notes (March, 2020).

Hades is in Early Access, which means we're actively working on it based on our plans and your feedback. We expect to keep adding features, characters, weapons, foes, powers, environments, and more, while expanding the story and fine-tuning all aspects of the experience.

Note: 📢 indicates a change inspired by community feedback! Our latest patch notes are below:

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Early Access Patch 039 - January 28, 2020

This patch includes more localized content, balance changes, fixes, and improvements for last week's Long Winter Update, as we shift focus to our next Major Update. Until then, thank you for playing!!


General Gameplay

• Reduced prices of Boons sold by Charon
📢 Titan Blood sold at the Wretched Broker now yields more Gemstones


Infernal Arms, Aspects, & Abilities

• Shield of Chaos: slightly reduced Bull Rush charge-up time (to how it was before the Long Winter Update)
• Adamant Rail: increased autolock radius while using gamepad


Boons & Blessings

• Reduced offering rate of 'Exchange' Boons
• Reduced offering rate for Olympian Aid Boons (in general, they should appear less early and often)
• Divine Dash (Athena): slightly increased Deflect duration (still less than before the Long Winter Update)
• Proud Bearing (Athena): improved scaling from Poms
• Holy Shield (Athena): increased duration of Deflect revenge effect
• Curse of Pain (Ares): fixed an issue causing this not to scale correctly with improved rarity
• Urge to Kill (Ares): effect now can scale with Poms
📢 Aphrodite's Call: no longer blockable by shield-bearing foes; no longer stopped by Final Boss urns
📢 Artemis' Call: no longer stopped by by Final Boss urns
📢 Crystal Beam (Demeter): increased tracking speed
• Killing Freeze (Demeter): improved scaling from rarity
• Rare Crop (Demeter): slightly reduced appearance rate
• Demeter's Aid: increased speed at which winter vortex reaches full size
📢 Blizzard Shot (Demeter x Poseidon): increased damage
• Defiance (Chaos): increased appearance rate


Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

• Piercing Wave (Blade): increased damage
📢 Cursed Slash (Blade): increased life-steal effect
📢 Charged Volley (Bow): slightly improved charge-up time
• Charged Shot (Shield): fixed an issue causing it to stop you longer than intended
• World Smasher (Shield): slightly reduced damage; no longer fully automatic
• Cluster Bomb (Rail): staggered firing sequence; reduced damage penalty; increased area of effect


Foes & Encounters

• Thanatos: reduced appearance rate (it is still significantly higher than before the Long Winter Update)
• The Fury Sisters: adjusted some of their attack timings under Extreme Measures (Pact)
• Wave-Maker: adjusted attack pattern; reduced armor; reduced appearance rate in Asphodel
• Burn-Flinger: adjusted attack pattern; reduced appearance rate in Asphodel
• Bone Hydra: reduced tracking of projectile attack
• Gigantic Vermin: Mini-boss creates fewer Poison puddles
📢 Final Boss: improved hit box on some attacks; urns no longer deal damage while being summoned


Keepsakes & Items

• Broken Spearpoint (Fallen Warrior): reduced cooldown


Pact of Punishment

📢 Budget Cuts: no longer locked in as part of Hell Mode
• Lasting Consequences: first rank now locked in as part of Hell Mode
• Underworld Customs: increased Heat
• Forced Overtime: increased Heat; reduced number of ranks (though each rank has a greater effect)
📢 Convenience Fee: no longer raises cost of Bounty resources sold in Charon's shop in Styx


Art & Visual FX

• Added new visual presentation when vanquishing bosses with Winter Harvest (Demeter)
• Improved visual presentation when slaying other foes with Winter Harvest (Demeter)
• Improved visual presentation when revealing Spear (Aspect of Guan Yu)


Music & SFX

• Added new sound effects for Final Boss urn destruction attack
• Adjusted sound effects volume for Mistral Dash (Demeter)
• Fixed sound effects on Charged Skewer (Spear)
• Fixed Delta Chamber (Rail) always playing low-ammo sound
• Fixed victory music stinger being inaudible if a song is being performed in the House of Hades


Voice & Narrative

📢 Restored post-defeat voice lines from Final Boss
📢 Added one-time voice hint about how to get to Eurydice while outside her chamber
• Added new voice lines for various Wretched Broker interactions
• Fixed two Inspect Points in the House of Hades that were not playing or appearing correctly
• Fixed voice lines sometimes not playing when confronting the Bone Hydra
• Fixes to narrative scripting to some events
• Additional fixes and tuning to various contextual voice events


Miscellaneous

📢 Added more new localized strings for content introduced in the Long Winter Update
📢 Improved text and icon distinctions between Max Life increases and Healing
📢 In ultrawide resolutions, sidebar artwork no longer occludes the edges of the display
• Added controller vibration while using the Rod of Fishing
• Reduced frequency of visual effects while taking damage from Lava
• Fixed Cyclops Jerky Select (Fallen Warrior) text to match the effect (the text was less than the effect)
• Minor fixes and improvements to Splendid Lyre interact presentation
• Added subtle visual effect when collecting Bloodstone ammo
• Other minor text fixes and presentation improvements


Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue where too many different Olympians could appear in a single escape attempt (note: this has no effect on Boon offering rates, only on total number of different Boon-giving characters per escape attempt)
📢 Fixed an issue that could stall progress on Dusa's lounge renovation quest
📢 Fixed instances of invisible collision in the House of Hades
📢 Fixed Boon Rarity markers disappearing from Ambrosia Delight (Eurydice) or Rare Crop (Demeter)
📢 Fixed one more case of being able to use the Rod of Fishing while standing in lava
• Fixed Trippy Shot (Dionysus) sometimes being destroyed unexpectedly
• Fixed an interaction between Bow (Hera Aspect) and Crystal Shot (Demeter)
• Fixed a graphical issue in the biome map travel sequence from Tartarus
• Fixed an animation issue with the floating bobber while using the Rod of Fishing
• Fixed alert icon always appearing on House Contractor even when new items were not available
• Fixed conditions for certain Victory Screen Commendations
• Fixed a minor graphical issue while closing the Fated List
• Fixed instances where icons could remain visible in the Boon Info sidebar unexpectedly
• Other minor fixes


Quote of the Patch

'On the middle 7th cast Demeter's holy grain on the well-rolled threshing-floor, keeping a sharp eye open; and have a woodcutter cut house planks, and all the ship-timbers that are appropriate for ships. But begin building narrow ships on the 4th.' ~Works and Days (Hesiod; M. L. West translation)

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Early Access Patch 038 - January 24, 2020

This patch contains various fixes following this week's Long Winter Update. Expect another patch with more localized content and additional changes before we switch focus to our next Major Update.


Infernal Arms, Aspects, & Abilities

📢 Eternal Spear (Guan Yu): improved hit box while using Deflect effects


Boons & Blessings

📢 Wave Pounding (Poseidon): damage bonus now correctly applies to your Special as well as Attack
• Support Fire (Artemis): fixed an issue causing Pom bonuses to scale incorrectly (the first one used gave too much of a benefit, while subsequent ones gave too little)


Fated List of Minor Prophecies

• Fixed God of the Seas requirements to include Wave Pounding (Poseidon)
• Fixed A Simple Job being completable below the stated requirement


Rod of Fishing

• Fixed an issue causing Fishing Points to appear more often than intended in the Temple of Styx
📢 Added cannot-interact feedback on fishing points when they cannot be used (such as during combat)
📢 Adjusted positions of some hard-to-reach fishing points
• Minor fixes to some graphic issues related to fishing


Art & Visual FX

📢 Further adjustments to visual clarity while poisoned in the Temple of Styx
• Minor updates to one of the many rugs available from the House Contractor
• Minor updates to some Demeter visual effects
• Minor graphical fixes in the House of Hades and Bedchambers
• Minor graphical improvements to House Contractor screen
• Minor visual improvements to Eternal Spear (Guan Yu)
• Minor visual improvements to a pillar destruction animation in Asphodel
• Minor improvements to one the biome map transitions


Voice & Narrative

📢 Fixed instances where Dusa could not be gifted for no apparent reason
• Fixes to narrative scripting to some new events
• Fixes and tuning to various contextual voice events


Miscellaneous

• Added some new localized strings for content added in the Long Winter Update
📢 Adjusted some player on-hit effects fighting the Minotaur and Final Boss
• Removed money sometimes dropping from destructible pillars in Asphodel
• Added several missing subtitles for Dusa
• Added work-in-progress presentation when Winter Harvest (Demeter) slays a boss
📢 Using Charm effects on Exalted Strongbow now clears their targeting reticle
• Minor text changes and fixes


Bug Fixes

📢 Fixed a crash that could occur while inflicting Chill effects on the Bone Hydra
📢 Fixed crashes with certain Polish-language text strings
📢 Fixed additional cases of being able to use the Rod of Fishing while standing in lava
• Fixed Mistral Wind (Demeter) sometimes activating Dodge effects
• Fixed Eternal Spear (Guan Yu) breaking after swapping a Boon affecting your Special
📢 Fixed a Boon text issue with Deadly Strike (Artemis) and Deadly Flourish (Artemis) (their Critical chance was higher than the text stated)
• Fixed incorrect icon for Nourished Soul (Demeter)
• Fixed several issues where World Smasher (Shield) could be offered with incompatible upgrades
📢 Fixed an issue where Brimstones or Snakestones sometimes could be knocked out of bounds
• Fixed an issue causing life-steal effects to work against ambient shades (they have no life to steal)
📢 Fixed being able to dash out of bounds in a certain Tartarus chamber
• Fixed Daedalus Hammer sometimes appearing as a chamber reward in Styx when not supposed to
📢 Fixed a watery sound effect continuing to play unexpectedly after fishing
• Fixed Court Music items in the House Contractor continually showing as new
• Fixed several issues with toggling certain House Contractor decorations
• Fixed a missing hit reaction on certain obstacles when facing the Final Boss
📢 Fixed Codex entries with special requirements not unlocking as expected
📢 Fixed a display issue in the Fated List while navigating with gamepad should buttons
• Fixed a graphical issue with Demeter's Aid Greater Call and certain visual effects
• Fixed a visual effect popping away unexpectedly in the Final Boss encounter
• Fixed minor collision issues in the House of Hades
• Many other minor fixes


Quote of the Patch

'He had eyes like a phoenix's and fine bushy eyebrows like silkworms. His whole appearance was dignified and awe-inspiring. Presently, Liu Bei crossed over, sat down beside him and asked his name. "I am Guan Yu," replied he.' ~Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Luo Guanzhong; C.H. Brewitt-Taylor translation)

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Early Access Patch 037 - January 22, 2020

Thank you for all your feedback and excitement about yesterday's big Long Winter Update! This patch addresses several issues it introduced. Some changes we fully walked back and marked with * below. We're continuing to monitor impressions as we prepare additional patches for the coming days (or nights?).


General Gameplay

📢 Reduced prices of Boons sold by Charon
📢 Reduced price of Daedalus Hammer sold by Charon *
📢 Reduced price of augmented Boons and Poms sold by Charon in the Temple of Styx


Infernal Arms, Aspects, & Abilities

📢 Stygian Blade (Nemesis): increased Critical chance *
📢 Eternal Spear (Zagreus): reworked; now gives bonus damage, range, and speed to Skewer special
📢 Eternal Spear (Guan Yu): reduced penalty to life total and healing; replaced Skewer special with the new Firework Skewer, which deals area damage on its flight path and does not require retrieval
• Shield of Chaos (Zeus): increased damage rate of Throw special


Boons & Blessings

📢 Wave Pounding (Poseidon): newly added! Boons with knock-away deal bonus damage to bosses
• Blinding Flash (Athena): fixed an issue causing bonus damage from this to be less than expected
📢 Divine Dash (Athena): fixed an issue preventing this from activating Blinding Flash and Merciful End (Athena x Ares) as intended
• Life Affirmation (Aphrodite): increased power level at higher rarity
• Support Fire (Artemis): increased damage; increased power level at higher rarity
• Deadly Strike (Artemis): increased Critical chance; reduced damage to compensate *
• Arctic Blast (Demeter): increased damage
• Quick Reload (Hermes): significantly increased effect at higher rarity
• Increased power level of Chaos blessing effects at higher rarity *


Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

• Double Nova (Blade): slightly increased damage radius
• Cursed Slash (Blade): now restores 1 Life per hit (instead of a percentage)
📢 Charged Volley (Bow): slightly increased minimum range
📢 Charged Skewer (Spear): slightly increased minimum range
• Quick Rush (Shield): no longer removes the Bull Rush's innate knock-away effect
📢 Charged Throw (Shield): should now be more responsive to short button presses
• Hazard Bomb (Rail): increased damage; reduced self-damage
• Rocket Bomb (Rail): increased damage
📢 Explosive Fire (Rail): it's back; now briefly slows foes instead of staggering them


Foes & Encounters

📢 Thanatos: reduced maximum number of waves of foes in encounters with him in Elysium and Styx; slightly reduced total enemy counts in those encounters
📢 'Trial of the Gods': reduced radius of Demeter's attack if you spurn her
📢 Wave-Maker: reduced appearance rate in Asphodel
📢 Splitter: reduced appearance rate in Elysium
📢 Reduced damage rate of Poison effects in the Temple of Styx *
📢 Final Boss: toned down a particular combo attack...


Keepsakes & Items

• Evergreen Acorn (Eurydice): increased instances of damage absorption *
• Lucky Tooth (Skelly): fixed an issue causing this to restore less health than intended


Pact of Punishment

• Convenience Fee: reduced effect on shop prices (making this somewhat less punishing than before)


Rod of Fishing

• Fixed an issue causing Fishing Points to appear more often than intended in Tartarus
📢 Fish in the Temple of Styx now net you a tidy sum of Gemstones
📢 Increased how often fishing opportunities occur in the main hub in the Temple of Styx
📢 The Gameplay Timer and Tight Deadline (Pact) Timer pause while fishing ("Relax, boyo!" --Skelly)
📢 Taking damage now interrupts any fishing attempts ("Have you tried NOT standing in lava?" --Hypnos)
• Fish fake-out jukes are harder to detect
• Additional adjustments to timings trying to catch those blasted little...


Art & Visual FX

• Added reveal animation in the Weapon Aspects screen for the Aspect of Guan Yu
• Added unique icon for Demeter's Keepsake (note: this was included as part of a hotfix yesterday)
• Updated visual effect for Aspect of Guan Yu's Moon Cutter Spin attack
• Slightly reduced visual effect for Bloodless Burn-Flinger bomb blast
• Minor updates to some Elysium chambers and artwork
• Minor updates to the recently added chamber in Tartarus
• Minor updates to Charon's Shop in Tartarus
• Minor art fixes in the House of Hades
• Minor art fixes to visual effect for Mistral Dash (Demeter)
• Minor art fixes to Keepsake icons


Voice & Narrative

• Fixes to narrative scripting to some new events
• Fixed Inspect Point for the new Massive Weights decoration appearing prematurely
• Moved an Inspect Point about decorative pillars to a more appropriate-looking set of pillars
• Fixes and tuning to various contextual voice events


Miscellaneous

📢 Added mouse-wheel scrolling to the House Contractor screen
• Added simple interaction to Intricate Contraption and Bloodless Sculpture
• Small adjustment to gameplay timer formatting
• Minor text changes, clarifications, and fixes


Bug Fixes

📢 Fixed a progression blocker opening the Codex or Boon Info screens while fishing
📢 Fixed a progression blocker renovating Zagreus' bedchambers after a character conversation
📢 Fixed some House Contractor decorations being unavailable after deactivating the Scrying Pool
• Fixed Eternal Spear (Guan Yu) causing your burst-damage shield to activate more often than intended
📢 Fixed Crush Shot (Aphrodite) not destroying some obstacles as expected
📢 Fixed Atrophic (Chaos) curse removing more health than intended
• Fixed an issue causing Demeter Duo Boons to only show up from her, not her extended family
📢 Minor fixes to Cluster Bomb (Daedalus - Rail) blast preview
📢 Fixed Dusa's conversation indicator sometimes remaining visible after she bails on you
📢 Fixed Dusa sometimes not being visible after using Companion Fidi
• Fixed Skelly Codex entry showing incorrect unlock conditions in some cases
• Fixed Cursed Slash (Blade) stealing life from urns or even poor Cerberus in the Temple of Styx


Quote of the Patch

'Demeter's true concerns were not on Olympus, but on the earth. She presided over the crops, and over the grains in particular. For some reason she held the bean in contempt as impure.' ~Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology (E. Tripp)

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Early Access Patch 036: The LONG WINTER Update - January 21, 2020

We wanted to start the year off with a bang with this Major Update! It features a new Olympian, a new weapon variant, new activities, more story, and many other improvements. We plan to follow up with a couple of smaller patches while keeping a close eye on your feedback. Thank you very much for playing!


Highlights

• Demeter: the Goddess of Seasons brings winter to the Underworld! Seek out her powerful Boons
• Rod of Fishing: capture (& sell!!) Underworld river denizens with this new House Contractor item
• Aspect of Guan Yu: earn this unique new Aspect of the Eternal Spear , and vanquish your foes!
• Underworld Decor Galore: scores of new items are available at the newly renovated House Contractor!
• New Legendary Keepsake: forge an unbreakable bond with Dusa, and summon her to petrify your foes
• Boon Info & Victory Screen Update: pin multiple Boons onscreen for easy reference and sharing
• New Daedalus Hammer Upgrades: look for multiple new upgrades for each weapon
• New Story Events: uncover new secrets in hours of added narrative (with more than 1,000 new voice lines)


General Gameplay

• Increased prices of Boons sold by Charon
• Increased price of Daedalus Hammer sold by Charon
• Increased price of augmented Boons and Poms sold by Charon in the Temple of Styx
• Slightly reduced healing from tasty-looking Health Drops
• Reduced healing from Fountain Chambers; however, new House Contractor upgrades can increase it
• You may now encounter fishing points in various chambers, once you have the Rod of Fishing. Deliver your stock to the Head Chef in the House (who will take very good care of them)


Infernal Arms, Aspects, & Abilities

📢 Stygian Blade (Zagreus): now also increases Dash distance
• Stygian Blade (Nemesis): reduced Critical chance
• Eternal Spear (Guan Yu): newly added! Seek Achilles to learn more (once you have several Aspects)
📢 Eternal Spear (Zagreus): now increases Attack damage and Dash-Strike damage
• Shield of Chaos: slightly increased Bull Rush charge up time; slightly reduced Bull Rush damage
• Shield of Chaos (Zagreus): reduced damage resistance
• Shield of Chaos (Zeus): increased damage of Throw special
• Shield of Chaos (Chaos): now throws additional Shields in a radial pattern
• Adamant Rail: no longer briefly slows foes on-hit


Boons & Blessings

• Demeter: newly added! Seek out 11 new Boons and 4 new Duo Boons
• Billowing Strength (Zeus): reduced power level; increased effect duration
• Zeus' Aid: reduced power scaling from improved rarity
• Scintillating Feast (Zeus x Dionysus): reduced damage
• Divine Dash (Athena): slightly reduced Deflect duration
• Athena's Aid: increased God Gauge cost and effect duration (it cannot be used quite as often)
• Merciful End (Athena x Ares): reduced damage; reduced appearance rate
• Spent Spirit (Athena x Aphrodite): reduced slow effect on foes' projectiles
• Reduced power level of Aphrodite's Weak Status Curse
• Broken Resolve (Aphrodite): newly added! Improves potency of Weak Status Curse
📢 Passion Dash (Aphrodite): now affects foes near your dash destination (rather than at the starting point)
• Crush Shot (Aphrodite): formerly Shatter Shot; updated effect
• Curse of Pain (Ares): slightly reduced damage
• Battle Rage (Ares): adjusted scaling from rarity and Poms (overall power level should be similar)
• Ares' Aid: reduced damage; increased move speed
• Hunting Blades (Ares x Artemis): reduced speed; reduced tracking
• Deadly Strike (Artemis): reduced Critical chance; increased damage to compensate
• Support Fire (Artemis): reduced damage
• Nasty Dash (Dionysus): now deals several instances of damage and Hangover (formerly called Poison)
• Second Wind (Hermes): increased effect duration; increased power scaling from improved rarity
• Passing Through (Hermes): cut from game (Demeter is the new curator of slowing effects)
• Relative Speed (Hermes): cut from game, same reason
• Quick Reload (Hermes): now offered by Hermes (donated by Artemis, who felt sorry for him)
• Slothful (Chaos): reduced how badly this curse can impair your move speed
📢 Defiance (Chaos): increased appearance rate
• Reduced power level of Chaos blessing effects at higher rarity


Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

• Cursed Slash (Blade): newly added! Restores health on-hit, but your life total is heavily reduced
• Shadow Slash (Blade): newly added! Deals bonus damage when striking foes in the back
• Serrated Edge (Spear): newly added! Your Dash-Strike hits multiple times but your Dash is shorter
📢 Charged Skewer (Spear): newly added! Press and hold to power up your Skewer special
• Quick Spin (Spear): no longer quite as quick
📢 Charged Throw (Shield): newly added! Press and hold to power up your Throw special
• World Smasher (Shield): newly added! Your Bull Rush is replaced with a powerful up-close strike
• Chain Shot (Bow): newly added! Your attack bounces between targets, dealing bonus damage
📢 Charged Volley (Bow): newly added! Press and hold to power up your Volley special
• Cluster Bomb (Rail): newly added! Your Bombard special fires a spread of 5 smaller bombs
• Hazard Bomb (Rail): newly added! Your Bombard special fires a big bomb that blasts the area around you, but can damage you ("Have you tried not standing there when it blows up?" --Hypnos)
• Delta Chamber (Rail): formerly Infinity Chamber ; now also fires in a 3-round burst
• Explosive Fire (Rail): cut from game


Foes & Encounters

• Introduction to Olympian Aid now gives you some God Gauge to use Poseidon's Call
📢 Thanatos: should show up more frequently (once you encounter him for the first time in Elysium)
📢 After the other Fury Sisters show up, it is no longer possible to randomly avoid one indefinitely
📢 Alecto: reworked her Rage Gauge (you can knock her out of her rage-building move, but watch out)
• Skullomat: Elite is more powerful; reduced appearance rate in Asphodel
• Burn-Flinger: Elite attack pattern adjusted
• Wave-Maker: non-Elite throws one wave at a time (rather than two); adjusted Elite attack
📢 Reduced number of foes on the Asphodel Barge of Death under Middle Management (Pact)
📢 Bone Hydra: reworked aspects of this encounter to be faster though deadlier to compensate; one fewer phase; removed urns containing health (the Hydra finally realized they were there and ate them)
📢 Elysian Arrow Trap: attack now dissipates as soon as combat is over
📢 Flame Wheels: reduced health and Elite armor
📢 Nemean Chariot: no longer can hit multiple times in one charge
📢 Exalted Greatshield: appearance rate reduced; non-Elite no longer has a spin attack; reduced rotation and increased vulnerability times
• Soul Catcher (Elite): now more aggressive under the effects of Middle Management (Pact)
📢 The Minotaur: no longer gains brief invulnerability when low on health in the battle with Theseus
• Increased damage rate of Poison effects in the Temple of Styx
📢 Final Boss: various changes to attack patterns; resolved issues where cover sometimes did not work reliably against ranged attacks


Keepsakes & Items

• Companion Fidi (Dusa): newly added Legendary Keepsake! Summons Dusa to petrify your foes
• Companion Mort (Thanatos): increased effect radius; increased damage; reduced pre-attack time
📢 Companion Shady (Sisyphus): dropped goodies no longer block foes' movement
• Companion Battie (Megaera): increased damage
• Frostbitten Horn (Demeter): newly added! Raises chance to find Demeter Boons with improved rarity
• Broken Spearpoint (Patroclus): now has a cooldown between uses; slightly increased effect duration
• Evergreen Acorn (Eurydice): reduced instances of damage absorption
• Myrmidon Bracer (Achilles): reduced damage reduction at higher ranks
• Chthonic Coin Purse (Hypnos): reduced bonus money at higher ranks
• HydraLite (Well): reduced healing


House Contractor

📢 Screen now shows all available options by category (instead of a random set of just three)
📢 Screen now shows which items you have purchased, and lets you toggle some decorative items
• Added many new decorative items to the House Contractor inventory (some with light interactions)
• Added renovations that improve health recovery from Fountain Chambers
📢 Reduced costs for many items for this grand reopening


Fated List of Minor Prophecies

• Goddess of Seasons: newly added!
• A Place of Revelry: newly added!
• The Fated Saint of War: newly added!
• The Gift of Song: newly added!
• Updated requirements to fulfill several Prophecies (this won't affect you if you've already fulfilled them)
📢 Increased rewards for Daedalus Hammer and Olympian Prophecies


Pact of Punishment

• Heightened Security: reduced to a single rank
📢 No Choice: increased Heat
📢 Hard Labor: re-scaled to 5 ranks
📢 Tight Deadline: timer pauses in non-combat chambers with characters such as Sisyphus


Level Design & Environments

• Added one new chamber to Tartarus
• Added two new chambers to Elysium
• The first chamber in Asphodel now offers more picturesque views...
• Updated layout of Megaera's chamber to have fewer places to hide
• Updated look of Bone Hydra's chamber
• Updated layout of Final Boss's chamber
• Minor changes to layouts of some chambers to helpfully accommodate the Rod of Fishing
• Minor changes to layout in the House of Hades
• Other minor fixes and improvements to various chambers


Art & Visual FX

• Updated main menu based on new Major Update
• Lord Hades can now be seen toiling away in the House
• House Contractor has a new look in the House
• Added many new optional decorative items to the House of Hades
• Added many new visual effects for Demeter Boons
• Added new art, visual effects, and animations for the Eternal Spear's Aspect of Guan Yu
• Updated various animations for Exalted Shades in Elysium
• Added a couple of portrait variants for Dusa
• Updated visual effect for Crush Shot (Aphrodite)
📢 Reduced visual effects of poison in the Temple of Styx (making it easier to find curing pools)
📢 Reduced visual effects of Zeus' Aid (making it easier to see what's going on)
• Updated texture and Codex portrait for Wretched Thug
• Other minor visual changes, fixes, and improvements


Menus & UI

• Boon Info Screen: updated layout shows Mirror and Pact setup; you now can 'pin' Boons for comparison
• Victory Screen: as above; also added various text Commendations based on your performance
• Added graphical icons for each Mirror of Night Upgrade
• Added graphical icons for each Pact of Punishment Condition
• Version number watermark and current Heat switched screen positions as part of these changes
• Songs are now subtitled
• Slightly reduced size of critical damage numbers
📢 Gamepad shoulder buttons now page through the House Contractor and Fated List
• Improved look of choice selection in narrative events
• Other minor fixes, changes, and improvements


Music & SFX

• Added new sound effects for Demeter and her Boons
• Added new sound effects and emotes for Eternal Spear's Aspect of Guan Yu
• Added new sound effect when Zagreus is stunned
• Added new sounds for other miscellaneous contexts
• Added equip sounds for the two new Keepsakes
• Other minor changes, fixes, and mix improvements


Voice & Narrative

• Added many narrative events (with Demeter, Dusa, Achilles, Hades, Aphrodite, the Storyteller, and more)
• Added narrative events around the Eternal Spear's Aspect of Guan Yu
• Added many new Zagreus voice events for contexts such as House Contractor and the Rod of Fishing
📢 Zagreus has more to say to the Bone Hydra and certain other monsters and shades
• Extended Affinity Gauge for Dusa (you can give her more gifts)
• Updated Codex entry for Dusa
• Added Codex entry for Demeter
📢 Primordial Chaos now responds to certain interactions in their realm
📢 In the 'Trial of the Gods', you now hear from the god you choose
• Updated requirements and other minor changes to various narrative events
• Fixes and tuning to various contextual voice events


Miscellaneous

• Added new localized text for some content (note: translation still pending for much of the newer content)
• Updated Development Roadmap to reflect our plans for our next Major Update in March, and beyond
📢 Orpheus: due to the House Contractor redesign, the item to release him can be found more reliably
📢 Most characters impervious to your attacks no longer knock you back when struck
• You need a bit more Darkness now before Nyx upgrades the Mirror with the ability to refund it
📢 Gameplay Timer pauses in non-combat chambers with characters such as Sisyphus
• 'New!' tags on Prophecies in the Fated List clear on selection (rather than after closing the List)
• Credits: Demeter (Laila Berzins) added to voice cast; added new Community Beta Testers (Thank you!!)
• Text: Renamed various Dionysus Boons and effects to be more in-theme with his lifestyle choices
• Minor changes to presentation when the Minotaur leaves his chamber
• Adjusted behavior of mouse-and-keyboard controls while the default 'Attack at Cursor' is disabled
• Zagreus now will always enter chambers at a standard speed (such as when his speed is reduced by Chaos)
• Various text fixes, updates, and clarifications


Bug Fixes

📢 Fixed various text overflow issues in non-English languages
• Fixed Achilles not telling you about Titan Blood and Ambrosia soon after you first find them
📢 Fixed a rare issue where Death Defiance could cause a permanent slowdown
📢 Fixed Numbing Sensation (Dionysus) having a reduced power level at Heroic rarity
• Fixed Black Out (Dionysus) unintentionally being upgradeable by Eurydice
📢 Fixed Companion Rib (Skelly) causing 'Trial of the Gods' effects to occur unexpectedly
📢 Fixed Infernal Gates blocking the aim preview for the Shield's Bull Rush
• Fixed a key narrative event with Megaera sometimes playing twice unexpectedly
• Fixed narrative scripting around events involving Orpheus and Dionysus , which could become unavailable in some cases
• Fixed Bother foe having incorrect material sounds
📢 Many other minor fixes


Quote of the Patch

The Earth did not send up any seed. Demeter, she with the beautiful garlands in her hair, kept them covered underground. Many a curved plough was dragged along the fields by many an ox—all in vain.
~Homeric Hymn to Demeter (Anonymous; G. Nagy translation)

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Patch Notes Archive

For patch notes from the previous Major Update, check out The Welcome to Hell Update Patch Notes (December, 2019).

Hades is in Early Access, which means we're actively working on it based on our plans and your feedback. We expect to keep adding features, characters, weapons, foes, powers, environments, and more, while expanding the story and fine-tuning all aspects of the experience.

Note: 📢 indicates a change inspired by community feedback! Our latest patch notes are below:

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Early Access Patch 035 - December 17, 2019

This small patch focuses on localization improvements and bug fixes, thus wrapping up our Welcome to Hell Update. Next up is our Major Update in January! Until then, we're looking over all your feedback, and making plans for an exciting year to come. Happy holidays, and thanks so much for all your support.


House Contractor

📢 Orpheus' release paperwork now is more likely to appear, and is required for some later upgrades


Music & SFX

• Updated on-hit sounds on Wretched Pest and Bother
• Other minor changes


Voice & Narrative

• Added several new narrative events for Sisyphus
📢 Minor fixes and improvements to some narrative events and contextual voice lines


Miscellaneous

• Added first-pass Polish localization!
• Added new localized text for content recently added in the Welcome to Hell Update
• Added localization notice on boot-up announcement screen in non-English languages
📢 Ongoing improvements to localized content display issues in some languages
• Foe indicators on Chamber Reward previews should be more consistent
• Added missing subtitles for newer voice lines
• Minor text and subtitle content fixes


Bug Fixes

📢 Fixed a rare crash while using the Codex
📢 Fixed Zagreus referring to Orpheus having returned to the House while Orpheus is still away
📢 Fixed instances of incorrect Fury Sister portrait appearing in some pre-boss scenes
📢 Fixed Premium Vintage (Dionysus) sometimes causing Nectar to spawn out of bounds
📢 Fixed Slothful (Chaos) sometimes causing Zagreus to fail to board the Barge of Death in Asphodel
📢 Fixed some instances of escape attempt clear times not updating correctly
• Other minor fixes


Quote of the Patch

'No, Mother! Why do you not stay for me,
and let me hold you, even here in Hades?
Let us wrap loving arms around each other
and find a frigid comfort in shared tears!'
~The Odyssey (Homer; E. Wilson translation)"

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Early Access Patch 034 - December 12, 2019

This patch improves display issues with localized content, adds several narrative events, and makes several balance changes as we close out an exciting week! Expect another patch in the next few days.


Infernal Arms, Aspects, & Abilities

📢 Shield of Chaos (Zeus): the Bull Rush charge-up is no longer interrupted by retrieving a thrown shield


Boons & Blessings

• Divine Protection (Athena): no longer upgradeable using Poms
• Life Affirmation (Aphrodite): reduced power level
📢 Roiling (Chaos): now only adds foes to standard encounters (no longer affects mini-boss encounters)


Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

• Daedalus Hammers can no longer be purchased in the first few escape attempts
📢 World Splitter (Blade): slightly increased damage
📢 Flurry Slash (Blade): slightly increased damage


Foes & Encounters

• Survival encounters can no longer occur on the very first escape attempt
📢 Theseus and The Minotaur: increased damage when facing them under Extreme Measures (Pact)


Keepsakes & Items

📢 Trove Tracker (Well): now causes an Infernal Trove to spawn soon, even if you have not yet commissioned the House Contractor upgrade that normally causes them to appear


Art & Visual FX

• Minor visual improvements to some chambers


Menus & UI

• Removed button shortcut to close the Pact screen (this introduced new issues requiring a different solution)
📢 Improved mouse pick boxes when choosing a Save Slot
• Other minor improvements


Music & SFX

• Minor changes, fixes, and mix improvements


Voice & Narrative

• Added several new narrative events for Megaera and Lord Hades
• Added various new contextual voice lines for Skelly
• Updated several older Zagreus voice lines with newer recordings
📢 Minor fixes and improvements to some narrative events and contextual voice lines


Miscellaneous

📢 Various improvements to localized content display issues in some languages
• Various improvements to presentation of the encounter in the final chamber in Elysium
• Removed Polish and Japanese language settings for now (we do not yet have localized content for these)
• Minor text and subtitle content fixes


Bug Fixes

📢 Fixed a rare crash while using the Codex
📢 Fixed Exit Wounds (Artemis) not correctly interacting with Skull-Crushers
📢 Fixed some issues using Companion Rib (Skelly) in the battle with Tisiphone
• Fixed Heart-Seeking Bow (Chiron) not firing the correct number of Volley shots at certain ranks
📢 Fixed Exploding Launcher (Spear) sometimes causing the thrown spear to remain in the field
• Fixed certain attack behaviors for the Bone Hydra
📢 Fixed a rare soft lock while gifting Thanatos; fixed sometimes being able to gift him after he departs
📢 Fixed one of the Final Boss attacks being canceled by the effects of Death Defiance
• Fixed the effects of Zeus' Aid continuing during the effects of Death Defiance
• Fixed incorrect values listed in the Collection for Shattered Shackle (Sisyphus)
• Fixed Skelly voice lines not playing as expected after pummeling him
• Other minor fixes


Quote of the Patch

'Within my heart plunge all your torches, rend me, burn;
For lo, my bosom open to your fury's stroke.
O brother, bid these vengeful goddesses depart
And go in peace down to the lowest shades of hell.'
~The Tragedies of Seneca: Medea (Lucius Annaeus Seneca; F. Justus Miller translation)

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Early Access Patch 033 - December 6, 2019 (Happy Birthday, HADES!)

This patch builds on our recent Welcome to Hell Update with new balance changes, additional story content, and for the first time... multi-language support!! It's a lovely time of year in the Underworld!


Highlights

• Localization: added first-pass text translations in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese!! We also have Polish coming soon.

Additional details:
1. To set the game's language, go to Options > Languages in the Main Menu.
2. We are just beginning to localize this game! Not all translations are fully up to date.
3. Stay tuned for more information about how you can contribute to localization as part of Early Access.


Infernal Arms, Aspects, & Abilities

• Stygian Blade (Nemesis): reduced critical chance; adjusted scaling per rank
• Heart-Seeking Bow (Zagreus): increased critical chance
• Heart-Seeking Bow (Chiron): reduced max shots per Special


Boons & Blessings

📢 Heaven's Vengeance (Zeus): normalized damage (to be generally greater than before)
📢 Typhoon's Fury (Poseidon): increased power level; adjusted power scaling from improved rarity
📢 Poseidon's Aid: increased damage
• Blinding Flash (Athena): reduced power scaling from improved rarity
📢 Dying Lament (Aphrodite): increased damage
📢 Curse of Vengeance (Ares): increased damage; adjusted power scaling from improved rarity
📢 After Party (Dionysus): increased healing effect
📢 Premium Vintage (Dionysus): drops upgraded Nectar if you have the right Contractor Renovation
• Black Out (Dionysus): fixed an issue preventing its damage bonus from applying reliably
• Merciful End (Athena x Ares): no longer upgradeable using Poms
📢 Roiling (Chaos): now only affects standard encounters (it no longer adds foes to mini-boss encounters)


Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

• Relentless Barrage (Bow): now adds a flat bonus of additional shots (instead of a percent increase)
📢 Charged Shot (Shield): increased damage


Foes & Encounters

• Survival encounters can no longer have both elite foes and standard foes of the same type
📢 Splitter: Deflect effects now work correctly against their split-up projectiles
• Bone Hydra: improved target tracking for its wave-shooting heads
📢 Soul-Catcher (Elite): reduced number added by Middle Management (Pact)
• The Minotaur: updated some attack timings under the effects of Extreme Measures (Pact)...
• Temple of Styx: Daedalus Hammers no longer offered as rewards for the clearing mini-boss chambers
• Final Boss: improved pathfinding in some corners of the environment


Keepsakes & Items

• Pierced Butterfly (Thanatos): slightly reduced damage scaling
📢 Cyclops Jerky (Well): increased power level; reduced cost
• Cyclops Jerky Select (Fallen Hero): slightly increased power level


Pact of Punishment

• Middle Management: increased Heat
• Extreme Measures: increased Heat for ranks 2 and 3
• Tight Deadline: countdown now pauses during Thanatos encounters (DEADline, get it??)


Level Design & Environments

• Minor fixes and improvements to some chambers


Art & Visual FX

• Added a unique icon for the Boon effect while using God Mode
• Updated textures for the Wretched Thug (this was in the previous patch but not previously noted)
• Other minor improvements


Menus & UI

📢 You can use the Interact command as a shortcut to proceed through the Pact screen


Music & SFX

• Minor fixes and improvements


Voice & Narrative

• Added several new narrative events, mostly for Achilles
• Added 100• more contextual voice lines in a variety of contexts related to our latest updated
• Added an Inspect Point to a chamber in the Temple of Styx
• Updated several older narrative events with Lord Hades, Achilles, Nyx, and Skelly
• Minor fixes and improvements to some narrative events and contextual voice lines


Miscellaneous

• Asphodel transit barges no longer appear at entrance points you did not use
• Added last-hit presentation to The Minotaur and Final Boss encounters
• Spectators in the final chamber in Elysium no longer emote as vigorously
• Added some missing subtitles for Thanatos
• Minor text changes


Bug Fixes

📢 Fixed a rare crash caused by Charon responding to some voice lines
• Fixed some narrative events not displaying correctly vs. the Fury Sisters using Extreme Measures (Pact)
• Fixed music sometimes stopping unexpectedly in the Temple of Styx
• Fixed several issues with toggling God Mode
📢 Fixed Theseus not gaining his shield effects correctly under Extreme Measures (Pact)
📢 Fixed Legendary Keepsake inactive presentation occurring in the House of Hades
📢 Fixed Chaos Gates not appearing in a certain Asphodel chamber despite using Light of Ixion (Well)
• Fixed some issues with the clear conditions for Chthonic Colleagues (Fated List)
📢 Fixed some Chaos Boons not showing Fated List Prophecy hints in the choice menu
📢 Fixed a minor UI issue that could occur from the effects of Boiling Blood (Mirror)
📢 Fixed a presentation issue in the first chamber of Elysium
• Fixed various minor visual issues in some chambers
• Other minor fixes


Quote of the Patch

'Some writers identify three of \[the Erinyes\], whom they name Alecto, Tisiphone, and Megaera, but they are usually neither named nor counted. They were described by Aeschylus as frighteningly hideous, but were seldom shown so in art.' ~Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology (E. Tripp)

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Early Access Patch 032: The WELCOME to HELL Update - December 3, 2019

Welcome to our eighth Major Update, filled with new content and features for our early adopters as well as new players delving into the Underworld for the first time! As with all such updates, we plan to follow up with several smaller patches, closely monitoring your feedback as we go. Thank you for playing!


Highlights

• Hell Mode: a more challenging way to play for veterans of the cycle of death & rebirth
• God Mode: a more forgiving way to play for those who struggling to progress through the story
• Underworld Renovations: the House Contractor has many new improvements available for commission
• The Fated List: acquire this special parchment, & fulfill the Fates' prophecies! (for a reward, naturally)
• Forge Bonds: you now can deepen your relationships with several key characters...
• New Keepsakes: ...& if you do, you might just get something special!
• Extreme Measures: engage the Pact of Punishment, & face Theseus & the Minotaur like never before!
• New Story Events: we have added more new narrative events & voice lines than any previous update!


General Gameplay

• Updated requirements for when many characters and game systems are introduced, to pace out the early-to-mid-game better; Orpheus, Chaos, Alecto, Tisiphone, and Thanatos can be revealed sooner
• Updated Gifting System: several characters' Affinity Gauges can now be maxed out; this involves achieving certain conditions to unlock their gauges past Lv.6
• Wretched Broker: now presents a consistent set of offers plus a Limited Time Offer
• Death Defiance: most items and Boons that previously added charges now replenish spent charges
• Infernal Troves: now lose reward value faster over time while you slay foes summoned to guard them
• Bounty rewards are no longer random; they are now specific to clearing each Underworld region
• Removed Valuable Urns from inter-region chambers


Infernal Arms & Abilities

• Eternal Spear: increased damage of second and third thrusts in the Attack sequence
• Adamant Rail: Bombard special can no longer deal backstab damage
• Increased bonus to Darkness collected while using a weapon imbued with Dark Thirst


Boons & Blessings

• Tidal Dash (Poseidon): slightly increased damage
• Sunken Treasure (Poseidon): now can also drop Gemstones
• Divine Flourish (Athena): removed brief invulnerability period
• Last Stand (Athena): now replenishes a spent charge of Death Defiance (rather than giving you an extra)
• Deathless Stand (Athena): same as above
• Passion Dash (Aphrodite): now deals damage only at the start of the dash; increased damage
📢 Ares' Aid: increased damage
📢 Artemis' Aid: arrow shot now has a chance to deal Critical damage
• Nasty Dash (Dionysus): now deals damage only at the start of the dash; increased damage
📢 Dionysus' Aid: increased damage; reduced power scaling from improved rarity
• Numbing Sensation (Dionysus): this and other Slow effects now affect bosses (to a reduced extent)
• Merciful End (Athena x Ares): reduced power level
• Deadly Reversal (Athena x Artemis): reduced chance of Critical damage
• Heart Rend (Artemis x Aphrodite): increased power level
📢 Black Out (Dionysus): reduced requirements, making this more likely to appear
📢 Defiance (Chaos): rarity set to Legendary (still adds a charge of Death Defiance as before)
• The gods no longer offer 'Exchange' Boons from the start (they will after several escape attempts)
• Several Boons have updated scaling for Heroic rarity


Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

• Double Nova (Blade): reduced damage radius
• Double Edge (Blade): increased damage bonus
• Super Nova (Blade): reduced damage bonus


Foes & Encounters

• Theseus and The Minotaur: they challenge you to confront them using Extreme Measures (Pact)...
📢 Adjusted foe compositions in Thanatos encounters
📢 Erebus challenge chambers now have varied foe compositions based on which region you came from
📢 'Trial of the Gods': reduced duration of Athena shield effects
📢 Updated several mini-boss encounters under the effects of Middle Management (Pact)
• Megaera: increased damage of her whip attack; slightly increased speed of her tackle attack
• Megaera and the Furies: adjusted their encounters under Extreme Measures (Pact); expect to face the Furies in a variety of combinations (sometimes in pairs as well as all together)
• Gorgon: less inclined to fly out onto lava
📢 Bone Hydra: increased lunge damage; attacks slightly less often under Extreme Measures (Pact)
📢 Temple Poison Trap: improved hit box; fixed an issue where they could keep spewing after combat
📢 Temple Axe Trap: improved hit box
• Snakestone: added mini-boss variant in the Temple of Styx
• Bother: added mini-boss variant in the Temple of Styx
• Gigantic Vermin: added mini-boss variant in the Temple of Styx
• Satyr Cultist: added mini-boss variant in the Temple of Styx
📢 Final Boss: slightly reduced duration and frequency while Unseen
• Other minor changes and improvements to encounters
• Bosses now absorb excess damage between phases; previously, very damaging attacks such as Aphrodite's Aid could be used to bypass phases of these fights


Mirror of Night

• Death Defiance: reduced cost of first rank; increased cost of subsequent ranks
• Additional adjustments to ordering and costs of some upgrades


Keepsakes & Items

• Legendary Keepsakes: newly added! See if you can discover all four currently available.
📢 Shattered Shackle (Sisyphus): now also increases damage foes take from traps
📢 Lambent Plume (Hermes): now gives you a bit more time to clear Thanatos encounters
• Kiss of Styx (Well): reduced cost; now replenishes a spent charge of Death Defiance
• Tinge of Erebus (Well): now yields more Darkness, as does the Darkness item sold by Charon
• HydraLite (Well): reduced cost
• A third Daedalus Hammer can no longer be purchased in the Temple of Styx
• The Fallen Warrior now offers a Kiss of Styx Premium, which replenishes all Death Defiance charges
• Skeleton Keys: functionally replaced with Chthonic Keys
• Resource Formerly Known as Chthonic Keys: functionally replaced with Titan Blood
• Resource Formerly Known as Ambrosia: now called Nectar
• Ambrosia: newly added Bounty resource used with gifting, Wretched Broker, and more


House Contractor

• The House Contractor can now be used to permanently upgrade certain resource pick-ups, such as...
• Darkness: can now be upgraded to also slightly increase your life total
• Gemstones: can now be upgraded to also give you some Charon's Obol
• Chthonic Keys: can now be upgraded to also give you a charge of Fated Authority
• Nectar: can now be upgraded to also give a random Boon +1 Lv. (as though you used a Pom of Power)
• The House Contractor is now also the key to upgrading certain aspects of the Underworld, such as...
• Breakable Urns can be upgraded to contain Charon's Obol (and must first be unlocked)
• Infernal Troves can be upgraded to contain greater riches (and must first be unlocked)
• Fountain Chambers in each Underworld region now must first be unlocked
📢 Reduced costs for some outrageously priced House Decor


Fated List of Minor Prophecies

• You are destined to obtain this newly added system from the House Contractor


Pact of Punishment

• Increased max. Heat threshold for earning Bounties (doubling the previous cap)
• The max. Heat threshold for earning Bounties is even higher in Hell Mode
• Snake Oil: cut from game as a stand-alone Condition; its effect is now part of...
• Extreme Measures: now affects bosses region-by-region, from Tartarus through Elysium
• Middle Management: reduced to one rank; now affects each mini-boss encounter in a distinct way
📢 Tight Deadline: countdown pauses at the same times as the 'Show Timer' setting; adjusted timers per each region; the out-of-time effect now can deal lethal damage
• Personal Liability: newly added! Limited to Hell Mode, this removes your post-damage invincibility
• Increased Heat clear requirements for earning Skelly's unlockables; these are now introduced later, after several successful clears (so you can first get used to the Pact)


Level Design & Environments

• Added four new chambers to the Temple of Styx
📢 Some Chaos chambers now have multiple exits; the exits now have Chamber Reward previews
📢 Exits from Chaos chambers can now be altered using Fated Authority
📢 Reduced appearance rate of Pools of Purging; they no longer appear in Tartarus
• Other minor fixes and improvements to various chambers


Art & Visual FX

• Map of the Underworld: updated look and presentation when traveling between regions
• Sisyphus: now has a new portrait and character model!
• Added portrait variants for Zagreus, Megaera, Thanatos, Theseus, and The Minotaur
• Updated portraits for Megaera and Hypnos
• Minor changes to portraits for Eurydice, Aphrodite, and Zagreus
• Added various emote animations to some narrative events
• Added several new expressive character animations for Megaera, Thanatos, and Zagreus
• Updated look of Brimstones
• Updated look of Satyr Cultist mini-boss
• Valuable Urns now glint in a tastefully attention-grabby way
• Death Defiance: updated effect presentation to be clearer and more dramatic
📢 Toned down the look of Zeus lightning effects (don't tell him)
📢 Added a new screen effect for when foolishly trudging through lava in Asphodel
• Further visual improvements to various chambers, such as the final chamber in Elysium
• Some of the shades in Asphodel now writhe for eternity
• Updated look of narrative panels and tooltips
• Updated visual FX for the Throw special using the Chaos Shield
• Updated visual FX for the Raging Rush using Achilles' Spear Aspect
• Minor improvements to Heart-Seeking Bow charge-up recovery animation
• Optimized textures and animations on the Bloodless
• Other minor visual changes, fixes, and improvements


Menus & UI

• Hell Mode: added option when starting a new game. Makes you have to use the Pact from the start
• God Mode: added to Settings Screen. Instantly makes you tougher; effect increases when you die
📢 Boon Info Overlay: minor presentation improvements; changed default hotkey; can now be accessed while interacting with characters such as Eurydice
• Updated look and screen position of subtitles (formerly called 'captions' but they are officially subtitles now)
• Subtitles now have a unique color depending on which character is speaking
• Subtitles now enabled by default on new save slots (a majority of players were toggling them on)
• Wretched Broker: screen has an updated look
• 'Play' Main Menu Screen: updated look; added one additional Save Slot
• Underworld Codex: screen has an updated look; updated alert prompt
• Updated look for the Affinity Gauge in the Codex (for characters you can give gifts to)
• Other additional presentation changes around Gifting
• The House Contractor may prompt you to stop by from time to time
📢 Additional minor improvements to Pact screen feedback and usability
📢 Minor improvements to Weapon Aspects screen feedback and usability
• Added distinct Chamber indicators for elite, mini-boss, and boss chambers
• Minor updates to the sorting of resources on the right side of the screen
• Added Fated List indicator when choosing Boons and Upgrades tied to Prophecies
• Added keyword tooltips to distinguish types of Well of Charon items
• Improved feedback when trying to Cast while out of Bloodstone ammo
• Improved feedback when trying to enter Infernal Gates with too little Heat
• Added keyboard selection input in Well of Charon
• Other minor fixes, changes, and improvements


Music & SFX

📢 The song of Eurydice does not always start from the beginning when you find her
• Added many new sound effects to accompany new and updated systems, such as the Fated List
• Added new sound effects for the Map of the Underworld
• Added new sound effects for Death Defiance activation
• Added new ambient sound in and around the final chamber of Elysium
• Added sound effects for Hera's Bow Aspect special ability
• Updated some sound effects for the Bone Hydra
• Added different sounds while choosing Boons or Upgrades based on the god or upgrade type
• Added impact sounds to Support Fire (Artemis) arrow shot
• Added impact sounds to Nasty Dash (Dionysus) and Dionysus' Aid
• Updated impact sounds for Tidal Dash (Poseidon) and Poseidon's Aid
• Added ambient sound to the Lounge in the House of Hades
• Other minor changes, fixes, and mix improvements


Voice & Narrative

• Added many new narrative events (including with Megaera, Thanatos, Sisyphus, Skelly, Lord Hades, Achilles, Theseus, the Minotaur, Ares, Dionysus, and more)
• Extended Affinity Gauges for Megaera, Thanatos, Sisyphus, and Skelly (you can give them more gifts)
• Normalized the Affinity Gauges for some other characters, capping them to Lv.6
• Updated Affinity Gauges for certain characters.
• Added many new Zagreus voice events for various gameplay contexts
📢 If Meg blames her losses on the Mirror and you face her without its effects, she will acknowledge it
• Added Codex entries for Titan Blood and Ambrosia
• Added to Codex entries for Megaera, Thanatos, Sisyphus, and Skelly
• Updated Codex entries for Nectar and Chthonic Keys
• Added presentation the first time you enter a Chaos Gate
• Updated requirements and other minor changes to various narrative events
• Fixes and tuning to various contextual voice events


Miscellaneous

• Updated Development Roadmap to reflect our plans for our January 2020 Major Update, and beyond
• The final chamber in Elysium is now quite a bit livelier
• A certain letter written to a certain god appearing in a certain scene has a new look
• Sisyphus: we are investigating reports of unusual interactions with an inanimate object in his chamber
• Orpheus: you now have to do something to 'unlock' him (if you haven't met; he can be unlocked sooner now)
• When you first get the Codex , it now is back-filled with any entries you would have already unlocked
• The alert prompt to open the Codex will no longer play during combat (it will show up after)
• Zagreus has lost the will to senselessly somersault in the House (reminder: no fighting in the House!)
• Adjusted Thanatos entrance and exit interacts during his encounters
• Added an animation for when Zagreus is stunned by certain attacks
• Pausing the game now reliably pauses any voiceover in progress
• Pausing the game now possible while Boon Info Overlay is displayed
📢 Damage numbers from Deflect attacks show up in Athena's colors
• Added a custom weapon objective hint in the Courtyard after equipping Achilles' Spear Aspect
• When starting a new escape attempt, a perfect landing must be executed with greater precision
• Updated Credits; including with some more exceptional Community Contributors (Cheers!!)
• Various text fixes, updates, and clarifications


Bug Fixes

📢 Fixed a crash that could occur while rapidly switching pages in the Codex
• Fixed several additional scripting issues with the Eurydice & Orpheus story subplot
• Fixed an issue where deflecting attacks from Skull-Crushers could still deal damage
• Fixed various issues that could occur while exiting a chamber during an Infernal Trove battle
• Fixed an issue causing the special shot of Hestia's Rail Aspect to fire unexpectedly
• Fixed Hestia's Rail Aspect not interacting properly with certain Boons and Hammer Upgrades
📢 Fixed Tipsy Shot (Dionysus) not interacting properly with Flurry Cast (Hermes)
• Fixed Divine Dash (Athena) sometimes hitting twice unexpectedly
• Fixed Battle Rage (Ares) not benefiting from improved rarity
📢 Fixed several issues with switching between different Weapon Aspects
• Fixed some obstacles in Asphodel not having impact feedback
📢 Fixed Tight Deadline (Pact) timer appearing in the House
📢 Many other minor fixes


Bug Additions

• Will get back to you next patch


Quote of the Patch

'And I saw Sisyphus too, bound to his own torture,
grappling his monstrous boulder with both arms working,
heaving, hands struggling, legs driving, he kept on
thrusting the rock uphill toward the brink.'
~The Odyssey (Homer; R. Fagles translation)

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Patch Notes Archive

For patch notes from the previous Major Update, check out The Superstar Update Patch Notes (October, 2019).