Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night didn't quite live up to expectations when it arrived on the Switch. Since then, Koji Igarashi the team have been releasing patches and updates to fix the game.
The next significant update was outlined earlier this month and now in the latest post over on the Kickstarter page, the senior community manager from 505 Games has revealed the next two major updates are expected to be launched by the end of November.
Work on the Nintendo Switch graphical and performance update continues. We apologize for the long development cycle. Most of the changes are on a room-by-room, enemy-by-enemy basis so there are a significant number of assets being reworked and it’s taking more time than initially expected.
We are pleased with the progress that has been made so far and look forward to getting it into your hands. While the teams are working on an extensive list of myriad improvements, their focus is on four principal areas: Visual Fidelity, Loading Times, Particle Effects and Input Lag.
Visual Fidelity - The way that backgrounds and environments are rendered are being significantly updated. This will result in noticeably sharper environments in most areas throughout the game.
Loading Times - Load times between scenes are being greatly improved, but are still not where we would like them to be, so work remains.
Particle Effects - We have already replaced hundreds of particle effects with new assets and more yet remain. The new ones look the same to the user, but are much less impactful on the performance of the game. This has been one of the main culprits for framerate drops during fights.
Input Lag - Input lag times have been significantly reduced, once work on this is completed the game should feel much more reactive when playing.The improvements are expected to be released in two separate updates. The first update will contain the vast majority of the improvements. The second update will improve performance with a couple of especially troublesome areas and enemies.
We expect these updates to be launched by the end of November. We will give more specific timeframes when we are closer to release.
After the Switch upgrade is live, there will be a handful of assets/enemies that we want to improve like the Doppleganger enemy for example. These improvements will be part of our regular development cycle and updated when ready.
This update also mentioned how the team was working on making Zangetsu a playable DLC character.
Will you be returning to Bloodstained when the Switch version is updated? How has your experience been so far with the game? Tell us below.
[source kickstarter.com]
Comments 73
Well if it’s not getting fixed until November, the least they could do is give switch players the dlc for free or heavily discounted. If they needed that much time to fix it they should have never released it in the first place.
I'll believe it when i see the updates.
@Kobeskillz that’s kind of where I’m at with it. August becomes November, November becomes 2020. It sucks because I’ve been holding off playing it until it’s fixed because after playing it for several hours it’s easy to tell it’s not polished. At least ori came out today. Sounds like they can port an Xbox one game to switch at least.
Switch owners were unpaid play testing and quality assurance for this game.
Bummer it’s taking so long,, looking to be a good game to fill in the early part of 2020..
Wow. I'm so happy I skipped this train wreck. May never buy it now because of how long and how poor this is.
Way to release garbage and take forever to fix it. Super disappointing.
Should've never released.
It probably would have been easier to just complete the game in the first place 💁🏻♀️💁🏻♀️💁🏻♀️💁🏻♀️💁🏻♀️
I've been waiting for it to play the game. I think I could have a good enough time now as is but I more then likely will never play it again after beating it so I wait for the better experience.
Sucks that this took so long.
They should have just delayed the game. I already played through and beat the PC version, gave up on the Switch version after it crashed for the fifth time.
Every Bloodstained article disappoints me all over again. Such a shame.
Played it 30 minutes on launch day and haven’t touched it since. That input lag was a killer for me.
This is unacceptable. Five months to fix something that could have been addressed in weeks, months before the release. A simple delay for Switch version could have been better for everyone, a lot of people paid $40 at launch to find out the game was barely at a playable state.
I would've moved on by then.
I agree that the game should have never shipped in the state it was in, but at least they are fixing it. I’m not averse to picking it up once they are done.
So basically they launched the switch version 5 months before it was finished....classy.
Getting tired of unfinished releases. Getting tired of the mass public being the new beta testers. It’s great that they recreated such a faithful successor to Castlevania, but it’s such a shame that the current state of the game just isn’t worth the asking price.
Just started it on PC Game Pass - the game is pretty good. Hopefully they fix the Switch version.
this is the reason why iga needs to not have 505 dev team ever make a switch version ever again or help on any future sequels these guys screw up big time
There should definitely be some sort of consequence to releasing games this way. Consumers pay money out of their hard earned pay checks to support developers, but in kind, developers should think more about the final product they release. Updates this far out should mean this title should have been delayed at the least. Nobody would want a brand new pair of shoes that had the seems fall apart as soon as they put them on, same with a video game. Quality should be a standard, not an eventuality.
All I can really say is that I'm so glad that for once I made the right call and went with the PS4 version instead when I was choosing my Kickstarter copy, getting it on my preferred system was very tempting but I was always a bit suspicious when they said that the Switch port would be outsourced.
The game is a bit too silly and "anime" for my tastes at points but the gameplay is still top notch and definitely a worthy successor to the Metroidvania style Castlevanias, hopefully at the end of this Switch will have a passable version of the game as well.
I was hoping it would be patched in time for Halloween. Oh well.
I saw the update and find it funny how extensive their performance fixes need to be. Room-by-room fixes and reworked assets sounds like the game was released as a beta(it was) without much in the way of optimizations, only to be properly worked on in the months after release. It is a ridiculous situation. The development of this game was not a smooth one and they've made a lot of bad decisions and angered a lot of people along the way. I hope people remember things like this when these people try to sell the next game to them. I was affected by a different issue during development, and I'm done with 505 and, sadly, Iga.
I'll believe it when I see it. Anyway, I've already beat the game.
Too little, too late. I bought it on Switch initially and dropped it for Xbox One version the next day. I already beat the game and I don't see it getting redownloaded to my Switch. 👎🏿
Every update I read on the Switch version just solidifies for me that cancelling my physical pre-order was the right call. I played this for about an hour on a friend’s Switch a few months ago, the majority of Steam Early Access games I’ve played were more polished than this. Sadly, I think I’ll end up skipping this one altogether. I won’t be buying it on Switch or any other platform down the road, they don’t deserve to be rewarded with my money for screwing up this bad.
Too late playing on Gamepass
Rented this recently on gamefly. The only thing that bothered me was the Input lag. The game felt extremely heavy. My favorite games of all time are super metroid and castlevania sotn (also hollow knight). Got into about 2 hours of this game and it's definitely a future purchase. $40 is too high though. Ori was released today for $20 and a day one purchase for me. Bloodstained should be priced closer to this and I'd buy.
Hey, I'm happy they're working this hard on it. I'd rather wait and have a good patch.
Thank God I waited it's on Xbox one x game pass in 4k!
Train wreck of a release and I regret backing them on kickstarter. Was a mess pre-release when it became apparent I'd paid $100AUD almost (local currency) for something that was releasing for $60 retail (and some stores had for $50) locally as they decided late project to make it a budget retail release with no real benefits added to the physical $60USD tier backers. Not only did we get shafted but I haven't touched the game and won't for almost 6 months post release given the universal reports it shipped in a bad state and there's been a long running promise of fixes.
Lesson learnt and while I wouldn't outright dismiss a sequel or other project from 505 or Iga, I certainly would not back either party again. Happy to deal with delays common to kickstarter projects but some decisions and communications by the project were verging as completely dismissive of the backers which I think was rather terrible and inexcusable.
Fantastic this game gets the support it deserves!
A shame this wasn't fixed before release, but glad they're at least fixing it.
"Thank you for buying our game upon launch in June. We will have the finished version of it with you in half a year from now."
Unfortunately I had no choice in my region but to buy the physical Switch version.
So I have an unopened port of a game that has been unplayable since launch, and 5-6 months in they will make a patch available - I hope - and now I will be able to play it.
This is just sad. What's with Kickstarter projects and being such messes?
Picked up the cartridge for half price last week, it sits unopened and returnable in case it goes cheaper in the near future. I would’ve preferred to wait for an updated cartridge in the future, but at that price it’s like a glorified digital version for me. Glad it sounds like they’re fixing the game. Hopefully Way Forward really sorts everything out for them.
Probably should have done that in the first place......
It is good they are fixing it, but they owe Switch players now big time and need to bring us something to repay us
It's quite frustrating that people make excuses for this sort of crappy behaviour, where publishers release glorified betas and have the audacity to ask for our patience while they get their crap sorted out.
The physical cartridge is just a glorified launcher at this point. Some people have no pride in their work whatsoever.
@LoneGaymer just make sure you turn off the HDR on your console because it is broken in game.
This game has plenty of issues no matter where you play it but the Switch version clearly wasn't ready for launch and should have just been delayed. Hopefully when they're done with that and the HDR fix for Xbox they can finally address all of the other bugs in the game. So far I've had Miriams head fail to load on a couple of occasions and I've fallen through the floor of the twin dragons boss fight, all amongst some smaller and minor hiccups. Great game when it is working properly though
I’m also waiting to play this game on my Switch. Even though I also own the PS4 (Pro) version. It’s frustrating, that the patch gets delayed over and over again. They should at least release a physical “complete version” for a budget price, once they’ve finished patching it on Switch.
I haven't purchased and won't purchase this until the updates are out there and we have confirmation that they have made a significant impact on the performance.
20 hours, 99 percent, not one crash in handheld mode. Not sure how that's possible since its supposedly unplayable accrding to these comments. But hey, Nintendo can remake a 20 year old game with slowdown and it's charming. Anyone passing on this game because of some slowdown and load times is missing out on the best Metroidvania on the console. One of my favorite Switch experiences of 2019.
SO many XBOX ONE fanboys in the comments! Is this Nintendolife or XBOXLife?!!
Personally I can't wait for this game to have a true playable handheld version. And I am happy they take their time to fix the Switch version. Honestly, I don't want it to be rushed.
Glad I held off on this one after hearing about the problems, especially as the last few months have been so crowded with releases. My cash is waiting in hand Mr.Igarashi, ready when the updates are.
Give me 60fps and I would get on Switch over PS4. If not then PS4 Pro it is when it goes on sale.
This is why I will never pay anything for a game before it's released.
They should have delayed the launch. But now it's out there, in a mess waiting for fixes that are only coming months after release. Not exactly the kind of rep a developer wants to get.
Too much other stuff that was actually ready for release has come out since June that this game got bumped right off my radar. Not into supporting releasing a game in this state either, so maybe someday down the line during a drought and if it's actually fixed and on massive sale, I'll pick it up then.
.
I mean the developers might be idiots but Im afraid more of this is what the Nintendo audience should expect with the difference in power between systems growing. Developers are going to first make games for the ps5/xboxTWO and then try to squeeze the games onto the switch. That or more mobile ports. All the switch pro needs to be is get to the og xbox one power to solve a lot of these issues.
I have this game and haven't opened it yet, guess I'll wait till after the update to give it a shot.
@Jaalsky .......you do realize it isn't a Switch exclusive game right?
It's on other platforms too
You're acting as if the Switch's technical shortcomings devalue the game in its entirety
100% completion and game+ experiencing zero crashes, zero input lag and loads of fun. Plays just like all the other castlevanias in my eyes. Maybe I'm getting old. I Kickstarted it because I really wanted a new castlevania, that's what Kickstarter is, you invest money in what you want made. It's not a way to cheaply pre order a game.
it's crap like this that make the physical version of the game completely redundant. shoddy version of a game that I'm glad I passed on
They should be ashamed. It’s been months and we still have to wait months.
@m8e3point1415
After this fiasco, I’ve finally been sticking to my guns about not buying any game until after it launches.
I should just start playing my backlog and waiting an extra year to get all the complete editions of games. That’s what I’m trying to force myself to do now.
Hearing about how some people didn't experience major problems like crashing while others had their game crash quite often reminds me of my experience with Windows ME back in the day. That was the one everyone hated(before the other ones everyone hated). It was funny to know that because I had a machine with it installed and it was rock solid. Some time later, I had to or wanted to start over and I reinstalled it on the same machine, and that thing crashed all the time. Bloodstained sounds inconsistent in its performance in that way. But it seems clear that, while it may work well enough for some, it has stability and performance issues for many, and reinstalling it over and over hoping to get a lucky break isn't a solution. On top of that, the developer and publisher made a lot of questionable decisions along the way. I regret backing, but I was only willing to back it at the lowest digital tier, and I was able to regain what I spent.
@Spoony_Tech
Picked it up on launch because it was right around my birthday and was tired of waiting. It is still fun as hell, but I stopped playing around 47% as I hear 50% is when it starts to bog down.
I only put a couple of hours into the Switch version and it seems like a really good game. I already purchased the game, so I'm fine with patiently waiting. They definitely made a mistake releasing the game before it was properly optimized for Switch. I have so many other great games to play through, that I probably won't have a chance to play through Bloodstained until the beginning of next year. As long as it's optimized by then, I'm fine with it.
Was really looking forward to this but held off getting it because of poor feedback. It's been so long now that I've actually lost all interest, too many other complete games coming now.
I can’t believe how many commentators have more than one version of this game. There is no way I would reward a developer that put out a bad version on one system by buying it again on another system.
@Jaalsky you should never play a games then.
@Airsqueeble the dlc is free. It was always suppose to be. That has nothing to do with the developers failed attempt at distribution of the game.
@Dirty0814 ah, I just assumed it was paid since hardly anyone does free.
Point blank, this is ridiculous.
Switch owners must wait or buy it on another console, but I’m not double-dipping on a game unless I really like it. And from what I played - despite liking it - no way should they get a second helping of my wallet.
With all the people like, “well you should expect that on a Switch.” Uhhh, NO! How many different games have been ported to the Switch that work stellar(not scoring gameplay at all)?
I have no choice but to wait, and that’s fine, but there’s still no excuse for this. I’d have been better off with waiting for a delayed release than waiting this long for an update after purchase.
Right...
And in November it will be delayed again.
It is an absolute disgrace that company can release half baked crap like this then take months to fix it. Companies like this should be fined heavily for producing rubbish like this.
Shame on them !!!
In fact. People should start to demand action. Nintendo need to start vetting properly what gets released on their system or are they happy for crap like this to get out.
I think on reflection I will still download this game pending analysis that the issues actually have been largely fixed.
@Airsqueeble Lol $5M head start and still no multiplayer.
Reworking an entire game isn't easy, but at least they are trying. Once the fixes come in to where I feel confident in the product, I will consider buying.
What frustrates me is all of the people that bought physical copies of this game, including myself. A patch is a patch I guess, but it sounds like it might as well be a remaster.
At this rate they're practically making it into a custom Switch release. This was one of my most anticipated games, but I refuse to play it while the devs work to get it up to the standard it "should've" been. I will disappointingly wait. Thank goodness I have stuff to play.
Good. Too bad it took so long to fix. I'll pick it up when this patch releases.
@Kejomo My thoughts exactly. This game kinda seems like another Mighty No 9 anyways, a game that was built with promise but in the end disappointed everyone.
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