All the news > What's Coming in the Next Major Update

Published on May 19, 2025

Hello Survivors!

It's been a while since we last updated you about the development of Rooted, so it’s time to catch up!

These past months have brought exciting news for Headlight Studio. We’ll soon share more details about the big steps we've taken to continue on our mission from the start: remaining fully independent! Headlight Studio is moving forward thanks to you, so a huge thank you!

Now, let's talk about Rooted and the next major update that will officially kick off Phase 3 of the Alpha. Discover now the main features of Phase 3 on our Productboard.

Starting Zone: Lore and Gameplay

Phase 3 will represent the true beginning of the player experience as we originally envisioned. This area introduces each survivor to the lore, immersing you psychologically into this post-apocalyptic adventure.

Here, you'll discover who you are and unravel your story, key aspects for a deep immersion. This zone is also where you'll make your first discoveries regarding gameplay elements, from basic interactions to initial experiences with hunting, fishing, weapon handling, combat, and much more. I’d love to spoil the setting and story, but I’ll limit myself to sharing a few blockout screenshots, so you can enjoy discovering everything yourself when the update goes live!

Communication Tower

The Communication Tower plays a central role in the lore of Rooted. Present since the very first Alpha build, you'll finally experience it as initially imagined. Majestic yet ravaged, bearing witness to past battles, violence, and a time when humanity lost itself to the fear of death, the Comm Tower will become a landmark.

Remember the days when you built scaffolding around it with unlimited resources? (This is not a challenge!)

 

Survival Gameplay

The environment evolves, and so does gameplay! With hunting, fishing, gardening, and all the related gameplay, the survival experience really takes shape. Food management becomes crucial and diverse. You'll have to juggle various methods of obtaining food, influencing where you decide to set up your base.

New tools will make your life easier. Remember, the game takes place around the year 2100... Remnants of past civilization that you find during expeditions will start becoming useful in your everyday survival!

Firearms (and Early Phase 4)

Although combat was originally scheduled for Phase 4, it arrives earlier in a lighter form tied to hunting. This phase introduces your first firearms, helping you survive encounters with animals looking to turn you into dinner. Rr the other way around, for you to prepare substantial meals!

Character Rework

You've frequently mentioned on social media that character animations weren't our strongest suit. While motion capture allowed us to level up in this unfamiliar domain, we've listened to your feedback and are making adjustments to enhance your gaming experience.

We're also now using Mutable, a cutting-edge technology for character customization, perfectly suited for our ambitions.

Have You Named Your Drone Companion Yet?

For a few months, you've had a small drone attached to your backpack, never leaving its spot until now. You know where I’m going with this, right? :)

Beware of Severe Weather Conditions

I can’t reveal more, otherwise, that would be too much of a spoiler. Sorry!

Optimizing the Open World

This is a huge topic, and we're committed to delivering an experience worthy of Rooted. Leveraging Unreal Engine 5 technologies, we're doing everything possible to ensure smoother gameplay. While we can't promise incredible framerates yet, you’ll notice significant improvements in Phase 3.

UI Overhaul

We admit, we haven't focused much on the UI through Phase 2.

That's because many elements were evolving rapidly, and UI wasn't our main priority in the early Alpha stages. Although UI isn't becoming our top priority now either, we’re leveraging recent experience to improve it and make your gameplay more enjoyable.

When Will It Be Released?

This question comes up frequently, and we love that! You're eager to play, and we're eager to see you play! Many of the new elements and improvements I’ve mentioned are interconnected, making it challenging to release updates piecemeal as we've done previously.

Expect releases throughout this year. We've fallen a bit behind our initial timeline because we've been working extremely hard in the first half of the year to maintain our independence. And we've succeeded! But that's another story, because what matters here and now is Rooted! (Spoiler: Headlight Studio just reached an exciting new milestone!)

A Huge Thank You!

Massive thanks to everyone who continues supporting us daily, pledging to the game, and trusting us. You're amazing! Even though we've been quieter on social media lately - totally focused on development - you remain incredibly active and supportive. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! <3 

Mat