- New Random Rooms! - 21 May 2026
Hello everyone,I’ve been closely following your feedback, and there was one recurring issue that I knew I had to address: The dead ends. Many of you felt that hitting a closed door after a long walk and having to backtrack all the way to the start was making the experience frustrating.I hear you. I read every single comment, from Steam reviews to YouTube videos. Even though I’m working hard on the upcoming chapters, I couldn't leave the demo in a state that didn't meet your expectations. I don’t make games just for myself; I make them to challenge, entertain, and immerse you.What’s New in Version 1.71?With this update, I’ve completely overhauled the randomization logic to end the "walking back" fatigue:The Three-Door System: At the start, you will now face 3 doors. One of them is a guaranteed path to the exit. Which one? That’s up to your luck!Purposeful Dead Ends: The other two doors l…
- Think Big, Act Small: The v1.7 Scale Update - 19 May 2026
v1.7: The Perspective Shift Update is Now Live!The world of Poolside Vigil is no longer just a place to explore—it's a tool for you to manipulate. We’ve overhauled the core gameplay to bring you a deeper, more interactive puzzle-horror experience.What’s New in v1.7?Manipulate Reality: Use the new Scaling Mechanics to grow or shrink objects. Whether you need a massive block to reach a high ledge or a tiny key to fit through a gap, your perspective is the key to solving surreal puzzles.Intuitive Contextual Tutorials: No more guessing games. We’ve added a Dynamic HUD system. When you look at an interactable object, the UI will now clearly display which buttons to use, making the gameplay smoother than ever.World Redesign: Every corner of the poolrooms has been touched. We have redesigned the maps specifically to accommodate the new physics-based puzzle systems.New Puzzle Challenges: Prepar…
- V1.6 Major Update - 19 April 2026
Hello everyone!While working on Chapter 2, I’ve made some significant changes and improvements to the demo. Since Chapter 2 will feature underwater missions, I’ve already implemented new mechanics like swimming to the current build. Additionally, as the game has now entered the full narrative phase, I’ve refined the storytelling elements to better reflect the final experience. I wanted to share these evolutions with you early, so I’ve added all these updates directly to the demo for you to experience right now!Complete Environment Overhaul: All locations have been meticulously reworked and updated with significantly more detail to enhance the atmospheric depth.Enhanced Water Shaders: Water shaders have been improved and made more realistic to provide a more immersive and unsettling poolroom experience.New Rooms & Models: Added new environments and unique 3D assets to expand the variety…
- v1.55: The Community-Driven Final Update - Save System, Safe Mode & More! - 8 March 2026
Hello everyone,I’m excited to bring you the final major update for the demo. This version represents the culmination of all the feedback I’ve received from you.As a solo developer, I’ll be the first to admit: I tried some things that sounded good on paper but didn't quite work in practice. I’ve had my share of trial and error, and I know there were some frustrations along the way. But without those experiments—and without your honest critiques—we wouldn't have reached this point. You are the ones who truly build the game; as a developer, I can sometimes get lost in the details and miss the bigger picture. Thank you for being my eyes and ears. Your ideas have been invaluable, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who shared their thoughts.Here is what’s new in v1.55:💾 Persistent Save System & Steam CloudOne of the biggest requests was the ability to save progress. I heard you!Save Game:…
- 🌏 Localization Update: 15 Languages Now Supported - 2 March 2026
Hi everyone!As an indie developer, my biggest goal is to make Poolside Vigil accessible to as many people as possible. While I would love to work with professional translation teams for every language, my current budget as an independent creator doesn't allow for it yet.To bring the game to your native language, I have used AI-assisted translation for this update. I know it’s not perfect, and there might be some grammatical errors or awkward phrasing.I would truly appreciate your help! If you spot any mistakes while playing, please let me know through the Steam Discussions or our community channels. Your feedback will help me polish these translations and make the experience better for everyone.Currently Supported Languages:English, Turkish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Portuguese (Brazil), Italian, Ukrainian, Spanish, Polish, Thai, Indonesian.If your l…
- v1.5: THE ANOMALY UPDATE - ECHOES OF THE PAST - 25 February 2026
Developer's Note: The Story Behind v1.5Feedback from Steam, Discord, and emails regarding Poolside Vigil highlighted a common point: while the atmosphere was engaging, the game lacked a clear objective.To address this, we went through countless discussions and brainstorming sessions. Our test team pointed out that the models already looked like "anomalies" within the pool environment. This sparked the idea: What if we turn this into a core mechanic? We decided to create anomalies that you can hunt, which tie directly into the game's ending and explore its hidden past.My mission was to listen to you, program the entire system, and model the visuals as a solo developer. Finally, with v1.5, the true "Gameplay Purpose" is live. I hope you enjoy the hunt and uncover every single anomaly!v1.5: THE PURPOSE UPDATE - PATCH NOTESTo address the "lack of goal" and enrich your experience, here is ev…
- 📢 Update Notes: V 1.44 - "Silent Echoes & Screams" 📢 - 11 February 2026
Hello everyone! As a solo developer, I’m continuing to pour my heart into the world of Poolside. This update is a big one—focusing on making the atmosphere more dynamic, fixing those pesky physics, and adding new ways to survive your encounters with Phone Head.Here is what’s new in V 1.44:🧠 AI & Survival MechanicsPhone Head is Listening: The creature now reacts when you shout. Silence is your best friend, but sometimes, you have to find your voice.The "Like Button" Infection: Phone Head now radiates a "Like Button" disease. If you get too close, the infection will spread to you!Your Voice as a Weapon: Use the \ key to shout. Shouting now destroys nearby Like Buttons and gives you a desperate window to escape Phone Head's grasp.No More Memorizing: Both Phone Head and loot lockers now spawn randomly across the maps. Every run is a fresh nightmare; you’ll never know what’s waiting behind…
- Update v1.42: Luck or Loop Mode & Randomized Loot System - 28 January 2026
Since v1.2, we’ve implemented a series of major updates leading to v1.42, making the experience more immersive and polished.NEW CONTENT & MODESLuck or Loop Mode: Do you trust your luck or the cycle? A new challenge awaits.New Rabbit Model: The Rabbit has been completely redesigned. Be careful; it reacts to your choices, and it won't be happy if you pick the wrong path.The Watchers: The giant phone in the "Phone Worship" area now tracks your movements. Plus, a new "Angry Emoji" entity will follow you through the maze.SYSTEM OVERHAULRandomized Loot System: Item placement logic has been rewritten. Inhalers and batteries are no longer static, making every run unique.Environment Props: Replaced the out-of-place iron lockers with 3 different types of children's lockers to match the liminal pool aesthetic.Navigation & Glitches: Exit doors now feature an 'X' mark. Approaching blocked paths will…
- You Asked, We Delivered! Update v1.2 is Live - 21 January 2026
Greetings Poolside Vigil Community!Your feedback is our greatest guide. After the v1.1 release, we carefully reviewed your suggestions and implemented key changes in this v1.2 update to make the experience even better:📱 The Digital Temple Room: Many of you pointed out that a room specifically reflecting "phone addiction" was missing. We listened! We've designed the new "Digital Altar" room to merge modern addiction with our signature liminal atmosphere.🚪 Exit Door Polish: We received feedback that the phone near the exit door felt "out of place" or broke the immersion. You were right! That phone has been removed, making the exit sequence much more cohesive.🔊 Audio Settings Fix: We’ve fixed a bug where menu atmospheric sounds couldn’t be adjusted. You now have full control over your audio levels.We are building Poolside Vigil together with you. Thank you for your support,
- Update v1.1: FOV Fix, Faster Movement, and Unique Room Generation - 19 January 2026
Hello everyone!As a solo developer, I’ve always believed that the best games are the ones built together with their community. Poolside Vigil isn't just my project; it's a journey I want to take with all of you. Every comment, every critique, and every idea you share helps me shape this nightmare into something truly special.I’m working hard to ensure that when the public demo opens, it feels polished and "right." I want you to know that I am listening to everything you say. Based on our early community discussions, Version 1.1 is now live with these improvements:Our Shared Vision: Many of you asked for a wider view. FOV is now increased to 90° for a better PC experience.Fluid Movement: Sprinting speed has been boosted to make your exploration more responsive.Smart Navigation: I’ve reworked the generation logic so every room is unique per run. No more confusing duplicates!Visual Cues: I…
- Official Demo Gameplay Trailer & New Screenshots are LIVE! 🌊 - 14 January 2026
Hello everyone!We’ve completely refreshed our store page to give you a closer look at the world of Poolside Vigil. A brand-new Gameplay Trailer and high-resolution screenshots are now live!With this update, you can experience the game's eerie atmosphere, the vast areas you’ll explore, and the mysteries you’ll encounter more clearly. Remember, this is just the beginning...When is the Demo? Preparations for the demo are in full swing! It will be available very soon as part of the Steam Next Fest. We can’t wait for you to dive in.Thank you for your incredible support! If you haven't already, please consider adding Poolside Vigil to your Wishlist. It helps us tremendously during development.Enjoy the trailer!
