It's been two months since the biggest event in our studio's history: the official Early Access launch of SCP: Fragmented Minds, and we could not be happier with the reception so far! The game is holding an incredible 93% positive rating on Steam with well over 600 reviews, completely blowing away our expectations.
We want to thank everyone for the amazing support and also outline what players can expect in the upcoming months as we gear up for Chapter 02, so let's dive into what's coming!
Reflecting on Chapter 01's Launch:
The launch for Chapter 01 went very well, and we were thrilled by the number of players, streamers, and YouTubers who decided to give the game a shot! Watching people play live during that first week was extremely helpful, and combined with the feedback from the many players who joined our Discord and used the Steam discussion pages, we managed to patch out quite a few bugs very quickly!
These critical bug reports helped significantly polish the experience, and we are truly grateful for everyone who played, provided feedback, or simply told friends about the project. Your contributions will continue to be extraordinarily valuable throughout the game's development, and we can't wait to bring you Chapter 02 and take this journey all the way to 1.0 and beyond!
Chapter 01 Feedback:
The feedback we received on the first chapter was phenomenal and has helped immensely in planning the pacing, SCPs, and story elements that will feature in Chapter 02 and beyond. However, we have also made several changes to Chapter 01, set to be introduced in a small update shortly. These adjustments aim to improve tension, music, and environmental interactions, as well as hint at a particular character featured in upcoming chapters, and we'll let you discover these specifics once the update is launched!
As development continues, you can also expect some small adjustments to Chapter 01 to ensure everything lines up correctly with future content. But fear not -- the chapter itself won't see major changes to its story or encounters since most tweaks will focus on performance enhancements and atmosphere.
Chapter 02's Plans:
About two months prior to launching Chapter 01, the team began working on Chapter 02. This next chapter picks up right where the first left off, finally letting players take their first steps into Site-113 -- where the majority of the game will unfold. This is where we plan to introduce the rest of the story, crank up the horror, introduce some SCPs you know and love (plus a couple of new ones!), and introduce more gameplay mechanics that we are VERY excited about!
Chapter 02 will feature several key new elements, which we'll go over below, alongside showcasing some new concept art and fresh environments.
Chapter 02 [Tunnels WIP]:
In the tunnels, players will learn some interesting new lore that will prove VERY important later on. They will also use the core mechanics again in a short interaction, while also building upon them with a new addition to their mechanical roster – but we'll leave exactly what that is for you to discover when you play.
Chapter 02 [West Wing WIP]:
The West Wing is one of the earlier parts of Chapter 02 and introduces some interesting new interactions, along with the new, more open level design we have adopted to increase player choice in the paths they'd like to take. This approach ensures both stealth and combat styles are supported and also allows players to open up their own paths by interacting with elements in the environment.
Chapter 02 [The Museum]:
In Chapter 02, we plan on massively expanding the SCP, Site-113, and SCP Foundation lore. Within the museum, you can find interesting details about Site-113's history, as well as specifics on the objects that have shaped the SCP Foundation into what we know it as today. There will also be side puzzles and interesting interactions within the museum, making it a compelling place to explore and begin piecing together the larger narrative.
Chapter 02 [The Elevator]:
Part of the new Central Residential Area contains a very important elevator featuring a fun sequence that we cannot wait for players to experience! Work on the central areas is also nearly complete, which means Chapter 02 is currently coming together well ahead of schedule!
You'll see some additional map changes included in the next update too, so stick around to see those when they drop!
New Character [A-34 Android]:
The newest character coming to the game are these autonomous A-34 androids, lovingly known as "Reapers" among Site-113 personnel. These androids will be heavily armored targets that will be extremely difficult yet highly rewarding to take on whenever they are found. As you progress through the game, you will also find additional tools and weapons to take them on, so always keep an ear out for their signature mechanical movement.
New Character [MTF Nu-1 "Aegis Protocol"]:
We're also excited to introduce MTF forces in Chapter 02 and beyond. They will help tell the story of Site-113 and appear in the environment as discoverable bodies, lending weight and atmosphere to the surroundings – and perhaps even serving as an infection vector for a certain creature later on...
These characters are also planned to be featured in the multiplayer component down the line, once development shifts to that experience. For now, however, we remain squarely focused on the singleplayer story to avoid diluting either experience, as we work to make the campaign as interesting and fun as possible.
New Mechanics [Security Cameras]:
The hacking PDA can now hack certain cameras, allowing players to gain entry into otherwise inaccessible places through a new feature called camera chaining. This enables more optional puzzles and increased world interaction, since you'll be able to more accurately see and assess threats before diving headfirst into them.
The PDA is also due to receive an upgrade for scanning certain objects, and its scan can provide more details on the object and may even assign a new side mission related to it.
New Mechanics [Weapon Upgrades]:
One of the newest upgrades introduced in Chapter 01 (inspired by significant player feedback) is the enhanced weapon system. This will be built upon further in Chapter 02 with the addition of Crafting Benches and new weapons/tools to upgrade. This system allows you to create powerful modifications for certain weapons, which are able to have unique effects during combat.
Crafting Benches will be the main hubs where you'll upgrade future equipment, repair weapons, and ultimately create the tools you rely on for survival. You'll continue to find blueprints throughout the game too, so check every corner since you never know where you might find something extremely powerful!
The Art Gallery and Community Events:
Located within the decrepit walls of Chapter 02 lies the art gallery... This place was once the premier location for Site-113 and the SCP Foundation to display works by many fine artists from Earth and beyond. However, it now lies dormant and without purpose – which is where YOU might come in!
We're excited to be exploring the possibility of new Community Events! These would allow players like you to win cool prizes and even get your art featured in-game for thousands (and perhaps one day, many more) to see!
Details about community events will be posted across our social media channels, so be sure to follow us there so you don't miss out!
What's Next?
We are beyond thrilled with the reception to Chapter 01! We've been eagerly watching the many videos made by YouTubers and streamers, and this feedback has given us a very clear idea of what can be improved and where Chapter 02 and beyond should head in terms of gameplay and story elements that tie everything together with the SCP Foundation.
Chapter 02 will delve much deeper into SCPs, lore, and game mechanics, and we cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on it at launch.
Early Chapter 02 Playtesting?
We've had many players asking how they can playtest Chapter 02 before its release. Luckily, there is still time to get the Kickstarter/Pledgemanager perk for playtesting access, which you can find here in the $50 tier and above: https://hst-studios.pledgemanager.com/projects/scp-fragmented-minds/participate/
If you're already a backer with this perk, you will have ongoing playtest access!
Closing:
Thank you, everyone, for your amazing support for this project and for sharing your ideas, struggles, and fun moments with us – it has been incredible to watch this game and community come alive, and we are so excited to take everything to the next level in future chapters! You can expect more exciting trailers and other content updates in the coming months, so be sure to follow along!
SEE YOU ALL IN THE NEXT UPDATE!