In about 7 hours from now, Switchcars will be released out of Early Access! With that you'll get a massive update 1.1, a new trailer, store page overhaul and some extra videos! Stay tuned for the second news post later today!

In the meantime, I thought you'd like a tease with the update changelog below. Enjoy!



v1.1 - April 30, 2021 Customization: - Added Vehicle Editor - Used to create sets of vehicles, animals and props, in-game - Accessible as a game mode - Features simple icon-selection interface for most object parameters - Features colorized input fields for easy behavior overview - Features sprite browser - Features object operators (copy, delete...), with keyboard shortcuts - Features previewing of sounds (e.g. horns) - Features automatic paint-area and collider settings - Features simple descriptions for every setting - Made vehicle features into pre-installed passive powerups (e.g. Neon Light) - Added mod manager - Used to enable/disable mods, in-game - Accessible as a database category - Human readable data files, easy to edit directly - Created a color palette for modders - Menu controls can now be mapped too - This makes DirectInput controllers usable now Gameplay: - Added Rally game mode - Reach stage 5 in The Run to unlock - Player has 3 minutes in 3 rounds, to outrun previous record distance - Features no aliens and no grappling hook - Offers 4 categories, each set in a certain year - Doesn't spawn alien-related powerups (Spikes, etc.) - Added button to remove powerups (default Q) - Fuel is no longer being consumed in Safe Zones - Changes to draft - Increased intensity - Now only happens on racetracks - Prevented drafting if pushing object ahead - No longer works at low speeds - Added sound to draft effect - Has its own tutorial tip - Only happens after seeing the tutorial tip - Changes to wind - Increased intensity - Installing Helium Balloon makes you affected by wind on ground-level too - Storms affect wind power - In extreme weather (e.g. sandstorm), wind affects even vehicles on ground-level - Added two wind sounds, depending on direction - Has its own tutorial tip now - Only happens after seeing the tutorial tip - Increased powerup deck to 4 in Hardcore mode - Reduced chance to fuel leak by 25% - Reduced hitpoint loss induced by powerup installing - Drogue Parachute now activates when braking, no longer an active powerup - Removed Grapple Hook from most offroad vehicles, might find one inside instead - Merged Hull and Ballast Tank int oa single powerup - Added ability to hide in objects (e.g. entering a tree) - Hiding objects will remain in place when you leave them - Hiding objects don't replace vehicles in your inventory - Improved quality of powerups in Hardcore game mode - Removed Nuclear Reactor speed penalty and beefed up power - Removed Offroad Wheels speed penalty - Reduced top speed of Helicopter Rotor powerup - Nerfed acceleration of supersonic airliners - Doubled rate of alien soup health regeneration - Added Chauffeur powerup (same behavior Road AI, different art) - Added rare chance of naval battle area type to appear on sea free roam theme - Improved case of accidentally entering a vehicle behind player - EBS no longer works when diving/drilling or using Siren - Horn no longer uses stamina Content: - Added 195 new vehicles - Remade how props work, now having procedural paintjobs and production years like vehicles - Added 4 new engine sounds (old truck, old car, medium electric, old prop) - Added "vtolplane" air lift type, for winged VTOL vehicles - Added complex tags to all vehicles - Reduced pitch of SUV revving sound - Updated various vehicles' behavior and sounds - Renamed various vehicles - Improved future lane graphics (constrast) - Older vehicles now have yellowish headlights - Redesigned a few vehicles for size/style consistency - Renamed Alien Pollen to Alien Decoy - Renamed Laser to Ion Cannon Cosmetic: - Traffic no longer honks at player when using Siren powerup - Alien Decoy and smashing through Alien Cyst now paint player vehicle cyan Interface: - Updated main menu GUI - Current stage is now written in "Stage n/10" format when exiting Safe Zone - Added speedometer to HUD - Includes meter of wind and draft strength - Includes odometer (per vehicle) - Shows speed yellow when going over the top speed - Shows speed orange when below stall speed, if plane - When leaving Safe Zone, a notification stating current Stage pops up - Free Roam mode now allows choosing theme with Z/X keys both - Renamed "vehicle suggestion" option to "UI hints", with more descriptive choices - Some alerts no longer show, depending on the UI hints setting - End-screen vehicle history now spaces out based on amount of vehicles used - Unlocked vehicle is now listed at the bottom end-screen text - Prevented tutorial tips from showing during segment transition - Added to Rail Wheels powerup description that it increases speed - Lowered "warning: low framerate" threshold - Added limits to camera scroll option - Removed option for lane age variants - Fixed "press enter to remap" on unmappable buttons (autorun, back...) - Instead of "Enter", menu now shows the Menu Confirm key - No longer suggesting how to unlock database entries if all are unlocked - No longer writing "Stage progress will be lost" if on game over screen - Tweaked wording of win ending messages - Renamed Thruster powerup to Rocket Thruster - Changed Tutorial description to "Learn the basics in 2 minutes." - Removed black dither from logo on preloader posters - Fixed missing error sound when trying to change resolution in windowed mode Major Bugs: - Fixed going left in tutorial with a vehicle in slot 2 crashing the game - Fixed super-rare crash caused by alien jumping on player - Fixed rare crash caused by being a human character when slot lock tutorial activates Minor Bugs: - Fixed first segment in stage able to have unfitting weather - Fixed falling through abyss or underground passage buggy-ing player position - Fixed mine-resistant vehicles not being mine resistant - Fixed shield not lifting vehicles when out of fuel - Fixed animal EBS alert having no background - Fixed beating the game twice in a row unlocking the same vehicle - Fixed Rocket Thruster powerup not refueling pre-existing Rocket Thruster - Fixed Disposable Power Bank fuel being minimal when installed on fuelless vehicles - Fixed installing Helicopter Rotor removing Rocket propulsion - Fixed hover and flying vehicles unable to use Drill - Fixed glitching sound when holding left and right with Autorun turned on - Fixed vehicle not getting destroyed if exited during mine strike - Fixed parked vehicles sometimes spawning damaged - Fixed showing recharging glow when braking airborne with electric vehicles - Prevented alerts from showing on game over screen Code: - Converted all vehicle/prop data to a new format - Converter for old savegame to new format (for vehicles/props) - Overhauled data parsing and handling, for Vehicle Editor support - Overhauled how scenery props are handled, to be editable - Various code cleanups Other: - Optimized clouds to not render twice - Other minor tweaks