Launch update — new content
The "What's new since the demo" update shipped alongside the July 15 launch.
Weapon Upgrade Anvil — a new station on the ship that spends tokens to improve or upgrade the weapons contracts issue you. The token system finally has a home.
Hand-drawn art now accompanies logbook narrations on the rowboat map.
New guidebook page at the ship's combat dummy, covering combat mechanics.
A new sanity effect — the developers won't say what it is.
Launch update — fixes & improvements
Several came straight from demo feedback. The headline: the end-of-mission timer people hated is gone.
The mandatory hard timer at the end of missions is gone — you can now stay on the mainland as long as you can survive.
Push-to-talk added (alongside the existing proximity voice).
Camera smoothing fixed: disabling all camera effects now gives 1:1 mouse-to-camera movement.
FOV slider range expanded from 85–115 to 75–125.
Accessibility: a centre-screen dot option for motion sickness.
Multiple players can now use the ox-wagon inventory at the same time.
Better treasure-shrine variety and more treasure pickups per mission; improved contract weapon balance.
A language column on the find-games screen; contracts now show more mission info and treasure variety.
Solo: new gestures to tell your AI companion to switch between silent weapons and a louder, more effective rifle.
Improved Doppelganger behaviour, multiple sanity-effect tweaks, 3D voice spatialization, and a stack of crash/visual/loading fixes.
What's coming next
A first post-launch patch is testable now on the Open Beta branch (crossplay is disabled while on it). ACE Team says these are in progress:
Crossplay invites
Crossplay itself works, but inviting friends across platforms is bugged. A fix is in progress; the current workaround is to find your friend's server in the online server list.
Inventory management
A keyboard-and-mouse inventory overhaul is coming in the next patch (controller support to follow) — the direct answer to launch week's loudest complaint.
Cross-platform friend passwords
A server-finder password so you can play with friends on different platforms more reliably.
Block & counterattack
A defensive system for certain weapons is in development — the long-requested answer to "there's no way to defend yourself."
Optimisation
FPS and performance work is a priority on the Open Beta branch, plus a camera preconfig screen (Cinematic vs Default) for players who feel input lag.
How to try the Open Beta patch
Restart Steam, right-click The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu in your library → Properties → Game Versions & Betas, and pick the beta branch from the dropdown. Two catches ACE Team flags directly: crossplay is off on the beta branch (you can only play with others on the same branch), and re-check your graphics settings after it downloads. You can swap branches back any time. If you just want the stable game, the full patch ships to all platforms shortly after the beta test. Meanwhile, our performance guide and crash fixes cover what you can do today.
Update questions
What did the first The Mound patch change?
The day-one update added the Weapon Upgrade Anvil, removed the hated end-of-mission hard timer, added push-to-talk, fixed camera smoothing (1:1 mouse when effects are off), widened the FOV slider to 75–125, let multiple players share the ox-wagon inventory, and shipped a large batch of balance, sanity-effect and crash fixes.
Is crossplay fixed in The Mound?
Crossplay works, but inviting cross-platform friends is bugged. ACE Team is fixing it; for now the workaround is to find your friend's server in the online server list. A cross-platform friend password is also in development.
When is the inventory / block system coming?
A keyboard-and-mouse inventory overhaul is confirmed for the next patch (controller support later), and a block & counterattack system for certain weapons is in development. A first balance/performance patch is already on the Open Beta branch.
How do I get on the Open Beta branch?
Restart Steam, right-click the game → Properties → Game Versions & Betas, and select the beta branch. Note crossplay is disabled while on it, and re-check your graphics settings after it downloads.