Firewatch

The December 16, 2021 technical update focused on graphics performance, Metal rendering, battery life, and broader controller support in Firewatch. It added Nintendo Switch Pro Controller support, auto-detection for major Sony and Microsoft controllers, and a follow-up on December 21 improved mixed-input handling.

• Controller support: Nintendo Switch Pro controllers gained wireless support, while DualShock 3, DualShock 4, DualSense, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series controllers gained automatic detection.
• Input handling: The December 21 update added simultaneous gamepad and mouselook input, dynamic controller icons, and a fix for third-party software that could capture mouse input.
• Performance: Metal-supported devices received rendering, graphics-performance, and battery-life improvements through the December 16 update.
• Reliability: The December 16 update addressed rare save/load bugs and stopped pickup items such as turtles and beer cans from falling through the world; the December 21 update also fixed an issue that prevented some users from launching Firewatch.

Japanese subtitles expanded Firewatch’s language support, while native DualShock 4 support improved the Windows experience. The version 1.09 update also tightened performance and addressed several platform-specific problems, but no new story content or major gameplay systems shipped.

• Japanese subtitles: Japanese-language subtitles were added, alongside accuracy and performance improvements for subtitle handling across all languages.
• DualShock 4 support: Native DualShock 4 controller support was introduced on Windows.
• Version 1.09 performance and stability: Performance and threading were improved across all platforms, including a fix for frame-rate drops when examining objects. The update also resolved load-screen crashes and corrected black-screen or graphic-corruption issues on certain Mac models running High Sierra.

The Firewatch Audio Tour launched with more than three hours of developer and actor commentary, collectible audio tapes, and forest exhibits. Thorofare Free Roam also expanded the Shoshone with a dynamic 24-hour cycle and new discoveries.

• New modes: The Firewatch Audio Tour added a commentary-focused way to revisit the story, while Thorofare Free Roam let players explore the Shoshone at their own pace.
• Technical upgrades: Unity 5.4 replaced Unity 5.2, bringing performance and platform benefits; the Mac OpenGL renderer also gained multithreading for improved performance on dedicated GPUs.
• Localization: French, German, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese subtitles were added, alongside Cyrillic font support for fan-made localizations and updates to Russian strings.
• Gameplay and presentation: Restart Current Day let players replay the active day from the pause menu, while Minimum HUD Mode removed the reticle and tooltips. Early progression fixes also addressed Day 77, Day 78, interruptions involving Delilah, and the red radio pickup.