Chapter 02 Update: Player Animations, Skill Trees & Playtest 03!

Hey everyone!

It has been a while since our last update post, but we are back and extremely excited to show off what we have been doing to get Chapter 02 ready for release! In the last update, we previewed some new areas, characters, and animations. Today, we are thrilled to show you those areas in a much more polished, near-final state -- along with a couple of brand-new additions we’ve made along the way!

Updated Areas [West Wing]:

As part of an ongoing effort to finalize lighting, we have completely revamped how the West Wing looks. We aimed for an overall more refined atmosphere, making it easier to spot enemies and identify alternative paths through the darkness.

Updated Areas [The Museum]:

One of the latest areas to receive final polish is The Museum. This location is home to some of the SCP Foundation's biggest achievements -- and, as you will soon see, their biggest failures. We are extremely happy with how this level turned out, and it also features a fun new enemy that you will encounter when you play.

Updated Areas [Overseers Office]:

One of the most stylish areas of Chapter 02 is the Overseer's Office, where the head of Site-113 spent most of their days. Extremely important events took place here, and visiting this location will grant you one of the most unique mechanics we have ever added to the game!

Updated Areas [Maintenance Sector 02]:

A massive station like Site-113 has plenty of industrial rooms to traverse, and we are really excited to introduce a new tool that makes navigating these vertical spaces exceptionally smooth and fun! The lighting for this area focuses on creating clear player guidance while maintaining that "rundown" aesthetic that was a staple of Chapter 01.

Updated Areas [Tunnel 01/Substation 04]:

Hidden deep beneath Site-113 lies Substation 04, home to a local reactor system. However, the heat generated by these reactor pylons has created the perfect climate for a particular creature to fester unabated...

SCP-149 [WIP]:

Fluttering gently near their fleshy nests is SCP-149, a large variety of mosquito that harbors a deadly secret. While not particularly aggressive on their own, these little creatures can infect a host with a deadly virus capable of killing in a single bite. Fortunately, a cure exists for the infection -- though it comes with its own set of downsides.

A-34 Android Enemy [WIP]:

While Site-113 is full of hostile anomalies, it is also home to several advanced robotic units. These androids are extremely dangerous in close quarters but also pose a massive threat at range. These enemies are treated as optional "mini-bosses," but taking them down will provide access to nearby areas containing seriously powerful gear, so don't shy away from a fight if you think you can handle it!

These enemies are also fully voiced and will feature a killer combat soundtrack, both of which will be added shortly!

SRA Mechanics:

Those of you who joined us for previous updates hopefully remember the Scranton Reality Anchors (SRAs). These nifty devices are capable of anchoring reality within a localized vicinity. This has interesting effects in areas with very low "hume" levels -since activating them can stabilize an object's physics, causing floating debris to fall and form bridges, while disabling an active anchor might clear out rubble to reveal new paths.

Wrist Device Demo:

In the last update, we saw a glimpse of the new Wrist Device. We have since fully designed and finished the audio and mechanics for this handy new tool. The wrist device is exceptionally useful for traversal, but be warned: interacting with an active SRA field will render the device non-functional until you leave the area or disable it!

Skill Tree:

One of the biggest points of feedback from Chapter 01 was that players wanted to upgrade their character and feel like those choices actually mattered. We have taken this to heart and created a new skill point system. This system allows for new traversal paths, special character upgrades, and a whole slew of fun rewards for players who take special care to search every nook and cranny of the facility.

New Player Animations:

Just like in Chapter 01, we have been working hard on fun new animations to help tell the story of Site-113 and make the world feel alive. We are implementing quite a few animations specifically for the two side missions in Chapter 02 too -- so make sure you check every door, because you never know who you might end up meeting.

UV Flares and MTF Field Symbols:

Something players wanted from Chapter 01 was an expanded scanning feature for the PDA. We absolutely agreed with this feedback! We have created a new scanning mechanic and scattered scannable Field Symbols throughout the game. These symbols provide clues on what lies ahead, mark nearby loot dumps, and even warn you about new anomalies.

To uncover these secrets, you will sometimes need the new UV Flares. While traditional flares are useful for lighting your way and drawing away enemy attention, using a UV Flare in conjunction with your PDA will reveal these hidden MTF symbols -- helping you locate secrets and entirely new paths. We are also happy to announce that we will be back-porting this entire mechanic to Chapter 01, hiding symbols there for players to find as well!

Environmental WIP Animations:

While Chapter 01 had a couple of scripted environmental events, we really wanted to ramp this up in Chapter 02. We have created several special animations that play in the world to hint at upcoming threats and connect everything thematically -- ensuring a facility overrun with anomalies actually feels overrun.

We are making a few more of these in-world events and are very excited for you all to see -- and maybe even be startled by them!

Chapter 02 New VFX:

Since Chapter 02 goes much more in-depth with subjects like reality-bending and time dilation, we wanted to make new effects that bring these concepts to life while retaining that classic "SCP" feeling. We are also working on a couple of massive effects for special sequences in Chapter 02, and we can't wait for you to see them in-game when they are finished!

Upcoming Story Trailer Teaser:

With the release of Chapter 02 quickly approaching (yes, really!), we wanted to make a fun teaser trailer featuring a VERY well-known character... can you guess which one?

We're extremely excited to have this teaser go live in the coming days, so be sure you are following our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@SCPFM

Where are we?

This place doesn't feel quite right, and yet it's so familiar...

Chapter 02 features some pretty unique environments, but none are as unique as the special upcoming one you will visit when you play, though it might be smart to watch your step since you are anything but alone here...

Playtest 03 is LIVE NOW!

It's a pleasure to announce that Chapter 02 is now fully playable from start to finish, with only some cinematics and SFX left before the chapter is release-ready! As always, we have given our amazing Kickstarter backers playtest access, and they have done an incredible job finding bugs and giving feedback to help improve the overall flow and game design.

It's not too late to get early access to the chapter and help us improve it! If you wish to join the test, you can grab your testing privileges here with the $50 tier and above: https://hst-studios.pledgemanager.com/projects/scp-fragmented-minds/participate/

(If you already backed at $50 and above, you are good to go! If you need any help upgrading your tier, please send us a message on PledgeManager, and we will get it handled for you.)

What's Next?

For the rest of this month and most of January, we will be polishing the chapter based on playtester feedback, finishing the cinematic performance capture, and overhauling the sound system to make sure everything sounds incredible. We are also getting a couple of new songs composed for the game, which we are very excited for everyone to hear!

As we head into the actual launch of Chapter 02, we will post more fun trailers just like we did for the initial Early Access release. Stay tuned to see what’s in store when launch time comes!

The feedback from Chapter 01 has been incredibly valuable for shaping Chapter 02. We cannot wait to see how players interact with the new SCPs, puzzles, and mechanics we have been perfecting over these last few months.

We cannot thank those who have chosen to take time out of their day to help us playtest enough, and we welcome everyone who decides to join us on this journey to create the best update possible!

The launch of Chapter 02 is quickly approaching. While we cannot announce the specific date yet, know that more information is coming very soon—so make sure to stay updated on our YouTube channel, Steam, and website.

PS: Don't forget to get your playtesting access so you can get first dibs on playing Chapter 02 before it goes live! https://hst-studios.pledgemanager.com/projects/scp-fragmented-minds/participate/

As always,

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!