Greetings everyone,

When I began this project as a part-time hobby to learn game development, I had limited experience in programming, creating artwork, and designing characters and objects. This led to the implementation of systems that, while functional at the time, weren't ideal for long-term development.

Moreover, the rapid evolution of Unreal Engine introduced better methods as it progressed through several versions since my project's initiation. These advancements included game-changing features like Metahumans with complete facial animation rigs ready for performance capture, Nanite for creating breathtaking scenes, and Lumen for lighting those scenes in real-time with ray tracing.

Over the past few months, I've dedicated considerable effort to completely reworking the game. I've restructured and integrated systems in a more coherent and, dare I say, the "correct" way. This version of the game benefits from several years of experience and a clear vision for its future. I've aligned the systems to harmonize with this vision, and the results speak for themselves. I'm excited to share the first public build with all of you.

To be clear, this is a brand-new game developed from the ground up, while retaining the original game's story, characters, and quests. Once this version is completed, we can concentrate on enhancing the narrative and introducing new partners to have fun with.

 Amidst all the changes, there are several key features for your attention:

• Complete integration of Unreal Engine Metahuman technology. In simpler terms, all characters are now Metahumans, capable of full facial animation capture.
• A new world design with a smaller yet more densely populated map, reminiscent of titles like Metro Exodus rather than Fallout. This also opens the door for other biomes to travel to.
• The potential for NPCs with AI conversations.
• A menu system that supports a narrative driven game, with a glossary section to read about newly discovered people or creatures.
• Full body physics and IK support, everything now jiggles while you’re having intercourse.

This significant transformation entails that all the existing features of River’s End will be fully realized in the new game. Furthermore, to avoid confusion among new players, the new game will have a new name, called “Secrets of the Wastes” or “SOTW” for short.

Currently, all major systems and quests have already been implemented, rendering the game playable. However, the main map is still very empty as I start laying out the settlements.

I hope you find this news exciting. I assure you that the wait and effort will be well worth it. I want to express my gratitude for your continuous support. Without it, I wouldn't be able to bring this game to life. As I've mentioned before, this is not just a quick and simple adult game; it's a passion project that I'm dedicated to.

 You can find Secrets of the Wastes here.

Wishing you a wonderful rest of the week and safe weekend!

Stark