The venerable survival game UnReal World, first launched in 1992, is set to receive a significant update this October that will introduce a complex new clothcrafting system. This addition underscores the game's enduring dedication to realistic and time-intensive survival simulation.
Developed by Sami Maaranen, UnReal World is recognized as the first open-world survival game, a distinction even acknowledged by Guinness World Records. Despite its age, the game continues to receive substantial updates, with Maaranen expressing no plans to halt development. "When I accomplish one feature, I always have two more waiting," he stated.
The upcoming "The Survivor's New Clothes" update will overhaul the game's approach to clothing by adding fundamental new clothcrafting features. Unlike many modern survival titles where crafting attire is a quick process, UnReal World's new system emphasizes the considerable effort required for creating even basic garments.
Materials for clothing are presented as valuable commodities. In one example from the patch notes, a character named Heta attempts to barter for nine feet of linen cloth, offering a hunting bow, five arrows, and a handaxe. Even with these items, the seller is unwilling to complete the transaction, highlighting the scarcity and cost of such materials. This length of linen is noted as being just enough to craft an undershirt, with the developer explaining that "there is really a price to pay for that."
The process of creating complex garments is described as taking "days and days to craft." Players will find themselves dedicating evenings or short winter days to developing their clothcrafting skills and producing high-quality clothing. The developer shared an anecdote illustrating the depth of this new system: "Heta has spent several moonlit evenings making socks for herself. Few more evenings to go, and she can finally try them on." This slow, deliberate approach to crafting is a hallmark of UnReal World's design philosophy.
UnReal World is available on Steam, and further details about the update can be found in the full announcement. The game's development history and ongoing support are also chronicled in features examining the work of developers Sam Maaranen and Erkka Lehmus of Enormous Elk.