[p]Greetings, Hunters.
The year is coming to an end. For some, it was filled with artifacts and impressive sums on the bounty board. For others, with contracts that were anything but easy.[/p][p]At times, the beam of a flashlight trembled in your hand, and footsteps behind you sounded far too close… yet you endured. You stood where others wouldn’t dare remain for even a single minute.[/p][p]We want to thank you.[/p][p]For coming back.
For exploring.
For never turning away from the darkness.[/p][p][/p][p]Happy New Year, Hunters.
May the year ahead bring you more quiet nights, trusted partners, and successful banishments. Take care of yourselves — and of those fighting at your side. But remember: the job never waits.[/p][p]And now — on to the update.[/p][p][/p]

There he is again…

[p][/p][p]The closer the New Year draws, the heavier its footsteps become.
The creak of floorboards, the dull clatter of chains, and a breath so cold it leaves frost creeping along the walls… Krampus has returned to his favored lair. And this time, he intends to ruin the holiday for everyone.[/p][p][/p][p]The village of elves — yes, those elves, not exactly easy on the eyes — is in danger once again. Their laughter has long since faded, the lights have gone out, and the path to the New Year Tree is sealed.
To restore hope to the elves, you must gather cookie-keys of various shapes and unlock the way back to the tree upon which the very celebration depends.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Stealing the gifts and sealing the door to the New Year Tree was not enough for Krampus. He went further — abducting the villagers and turning them to stone, leaving only twisted figures in the halls of his mansion.[/p][p]Recover the stolen gifts.
Find the petrified elves.
And remember — Krampus is always close.[/p][p]The celebration can still be saved.
If you make it in time.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p]

The clang of prison bars

[p][/p][p]This place was built to contain evil.
Now, evil rules here.[/p][p]The prison was shut down more than twenty years ago. Officially, the building was deemed unsafe. Unofficially, no one wanted to work here anymore. The cells stand empty, shift logs end on the same dates, and a howling echoes through the corridors — and it doesn’t sound like the wind…[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p]

Did you hear that?

[p][/p][p]— Why do we have to test the new equipment?
— Stop whining. It means they trust us.
— Yeah… or it means we’re the scapegoats.[/p][p]— Wait… did you hear that?[/p][p][/p][p]At first, we mistook it for interference — but it was something far more sinister. It was as if it had been waiting to be heard…[/p][p]Grimmua is a new type of otherworldly entity whose presence manifests through sound, symbols, and distortions of space itself. Extreme caution is advised when monitoring audio sensors.[/p][p][/p][p]1. When listening to the sound sensor in its favorite room, a piercing scream can be heard. [/p][p]3. During a hunt, while outside its favorite room, the entity becomes significantly stronger and faster. [/p][p]5. The entity creates invisible seals within its favorite room that weaken the player by disabling perks and extending the duration of the hunt. These seals can be detected and destroyed using a UV flashlight.[/p][p][/p][p]— But you’ll say, “Boss, how are we supposed to listen to sound sensors? That’s not what they’re for. We were never trained for this.”
They are. Now.[/p][p]And as for learning… you’ll figure it out yourselves.[/p][p][/p][p]You can now listen to audio from deployed sound sensors directly from the tent.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Yes, this feature was originally implemented to support the new entity type. However, it shouldn’t be viewed as a narrowly specialized tool. In the future, this system may find additional uses.[/p][p][/p]

More to come.

[p][/p][p]Added a new ghost model: an elderly man.[/p][p]This model includes all variations of possible causes of death that can be determined during the investigation. The entity’s appearance will change depending on the circumstances of his death — watch the details closely.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p]

Atmosphere & Horror

[p]A new jumpscare has been added, and several existing ones have been reworked. No details here — we don’t want to spoil the surprises.[/p][p]New ambient sound effects have also been added.[/p][p][/p][p][/p]