Our server maintenance has concluded and our servers are now back online. Please update your game to ensure you can access Online Mode once again. The below items will not apply to the Offline Mode until you update the game. It's recommended to restart Steam/Epic or verify your game files to make sure you're on the latest version. The game version shows in the main menu when you start the game. Watch the Winter Update Overview video here: [url=https://youtu.be/gVUp3JPgnic]Winter Update Trailer[/url] As winter’s frost settles across the Faewilds, the season brings numerous new features, improvements, and festive surprises to Nightingale. With today’s Winter Update, there’s plenty to explore. Read on for the highlights of this magical winter season. [b] Player-Hosted Servers[/b] Player-hosted servers are now available, offering greater flexibility in how you experience the realms with friends. Two new options await when starting the game: Host a Friend and Connect to a Friend. [b]Key Improvements:[/b]

• Characters are now shared between offline mode, hosting a friend, and connecting to a friend.
• Download your online characters to play on friends’ hosted servers.

[b]Host a Friend:[/b]

• Select "Host a Friend" and enter a port number for players to connect.
• Confirm settings, choose or create a character.
• Share your IP address and port with connecting players (find your IP via tools like icanhazip.com).
• If connecting outside your LAN, forward port 7777 (or your selected port) on TCP and UDP from your router to your PC.

[b]Connect to a Friend:[/b]

• Select "Connect to a Friend" and enter their IP address and port.
• Join their hosted game and play as usual, with the host managing realm travel approvals.

[b]Resource Automation[/b] Automate resource harvesting for your Estate using recruited Survivors! This feature will continue to evolve with future updates. [b]How It Works:[/b] [olist] [*] Recruit an NPC as a Survivor. [*] Assign them as a Resident of your Estate. [*] Build a Resource Automation Station. [*] Assign an Estate Resident to the station. [/olist] [b]Recruiting a Survivor:[/b]

• Interact with Survivors to obtain their Calling Cards.
• View Calling Cards in the "Calling Cards" tab of your inventory.

[b]Estate Cairn Management:[/b]

• Access the Estate Management menu from the Estate Cairn.
• Assign up to 15 Survivors per Estate by upgrading your Cairn in the Progression menu (one Cairn per realm).

[b]Automation Stations:[/b] Choose from the following Resource Automation Stations in the Progression menu:

• Wood Station
• Mining Station
• Hunting Station
• Farming Station

Assign a Resident to collect resources. Only Tier 1 resource stations are available in this update, with more to come. [b]Winter Event[/b] Celebrate the season with festive challenges and holiday-themed rewards! Check the Special Event tab in the Progression menu for unlock requirements. [b]New Weapon:[/b] Snowballs: Unlockable via the Progression tree and craftable at the simple workbench. Use the Charm of the Brawler to enable friendly fire for snowball fights. [b]New Outfits & Decorations:[/b]

• Jolly Dress
• Winter Child’s Garb
• Magician Top Hat
• 16 festive estate decorations

[b]New Food Recipes:[/b]

• Roasted Seeds
• Pumpkin Pie
• Spiced Latte

[b]New Pet:[/b]

• Grimalkin

[b] New Snow-Themed Minor Cards:[/b]

• Cozy Winter Card: A peaceful snowy realm.
• Winter Wonderland: Increased gliding speed and height, with slippery ground.
• Naughty and Nice List: Creatures will drop coal and presents.

[b]Improved Build Mode[/b] Building has never been easier or more immersive!

• Press “B” to enter Build Mode.
• Switch between Search Mode (advanced functionality) and Free Mode (immersive building).
• Customize crafting benches via the Station Traits tab to apply desired Augments.

[b] New Spells[/b] Harness the power of the arcane with three new spells:

• Darkness: Create a shadowy orb that inflicts increased damage.
• Grasping Mire: Summon tentacles that slow and damage enemies.
• Life Drain: Absorb health from enemies to heal yourself.

[b]Ring Course[/b] Test your gliding skills with four new ring-gliding courses added to the Abeyance realm and Sylvan’s Cradle. [b]New Tileset[/b] A festive Obsidian Tileset is now available in The Watch. [b]Additional Change Highlights[/b]

• Public Realm chat enabled.
• Fixed performance drop on Glamour Station.
• Resolved broken lighting on chandeliers.
• Charm of Brawling refresh issue fixed.
• Fixed hunger bar reset bug after eating food.
• Small violet flowers now count as “flower” resources and can be grown.
• Improved placement rules for ramps and planks.
• Fixed incorrect animation for bolt-action rifle aiming.
• Fabled Humbaba meat now spawns in Swamp Vault reward chests.
• The cold status effect is removed when players are sheltered.
• Resolved stuttering when wading in swamp water.
• Double-clicking clothing no longer unequips similar items.
• Players animate when using CapsLock for Auto Walk.
• NPCs retain health when changing areas.
• Improved collision resets for Sentinels and Sheliak in Boss Rush.

[b]Known Issues[/b] While the Winter Update brings many enhancements, some issues remain under investigation:

• Quests in the journal are shown as Nightingale cards.
• NPCs with blocked beds may get stuck wandering.
• Resolution change confirmation timer doesn’t work.
• On player-hosted servers, Eotens may float into the sky.
• Toggling the HUD hides boss health bars permanently.
• Inventories don't recognize controller focus until either Sort or transfer all are used (or mouse click/tap)