What changed in The Long Dark in 2026

Particles such as snow incorrectly appearing inside the Prototype Train Cab.

Only food at greater than 50% Condition will count towards the calorie total.

Words could overlap other UI and some vocalizations were not captioned.

Fixed issues with dragging and dropping items and calorie counting.

Only displays fire/spark effects the first time it is lit after a transition.

Sound effects added for open and close animation.

Includes Fuel Tower Tanks and Water Towers.

Added visible undercarriage and improved interior boiler pipes.

Including floating objects, incorrect lighting, and terrain seams.

Wildlife now flees from the Prototype Train while in operation.

Including incorrect item spawns, navigation issues, and environmental interactions.

Warnings triggered in locations that did not make sense.

Items placed in certain locations would become buried beneath the ground.

Improved terrain blending in Track Section 1 and 2.

No clear indicators for selecting reverse gear; right-click for mouse and left-trigger for controllers.

Fixed an issue where players could climb around and over the gate to Track Section 1 from Port Remnant.

Fixed an issue where Wildlife could path to and attack the player when inside the Fulmar cockpit.

Fixed an issue where Carter Hydro Dam bins could be found in Track Section 2.

Fixed an issue with invisible collision around a damaged Cabin in Port Remnant.

Fixed an issue where the Cabin in Looted Grotto would load the incorrect scene when entered.

Fixed an issue where players would become stuck in the ocean after falling in near the Fulmar at Hibernia.

Fixed a visible gap in doorways on the exterior of Train Repair Depots.

Fixed multiple issues with invisible collision in Train Repair Depots.

Fixed an issue where Distress Pistol skipped the aiming animation, resulting in a jarring motion.

Fixed an issue where the Train could intersect with the gate to future islands when rammed.

Fixed an issue where the Fulmar was unintentionally available in Challenge Modes.

Fixed an issue where duplicate Lockers were placed in the same location in Train Repair Depots.

Fixed an issue that caused the camera to bob and sway after transitioning while in the Train Cab.

Fixed an issue where the door to Train Repair Depots could be opened without initiating a transition.

Resolved an issue where Research Books, Polaroids, Weapon Variants, and Interloper Item tables were not correctly spawning in new games.

Removed Safehouse Customization as an option in the Desecrated Church.

Fixed multiple Safehouse Customization issues with item placement, movement, and removal in Train Repair Depots.

Fixed an issue that resulted in snow footstep sound effects while walking inside Train Repair Depots.

Find and utilize the Portable Whale-Oil Heater and collect Wax Cylinders for clues.

Discover the first 30 kms of track and four more islands in the Iron Road DLC.

Explore Cauldron Island and discover the mysteries of the train and its surroundings.

IRON ROAD will be developed in Early Access, allowing for player feedback to shape the game's evolution over time.

Official forums and Steam forums will be the main channels for player feedback and bug reporting for IRON ROAD.

The new Early Access Expansion DLC for THE LONG DARK, IRON ROAD, adds a new island, a train, and a deep mystery.

Players can use their current TLD saves with IRON ROAD without compatibility issues, but are advised to consider starting fresh due to potential bugs.

IRON ROAD will launch for $24.99 USD with a 10% launch discount, with planned price increases at roadmap milestones.

Current focus is on the Steam version of IRON ROAD, with potential console release discussions planned for 2027.

Players will have access to an Experimental Branch for early testing of key systems before they are pushed to the Release version.

IRON ROAD introduces significant new gameplay systems, including a train that serves as a mobile shelter with maintenance needs.

IRON ROAD launches on October 27th.

A new Survival Expansion introducing a new island, gameplay features, and a train.

New railway system to navigate while uncovering mysteries.

Explore Cauldron Island and utilize a train in the sandbox environment.

Items like the Shotgun and Crank Lamp from Episode Five will be added to the base game.

Two new DLCs are planned, expanding the TLD experience in novel ways, with one similar to the TALES FROM THE FAR TERRITORY.

Discussion about stopping support for older platforms (Switch 1, Xbox One, PS4) to focus on current generation consoles.

The team is considering increasing the price of Survival Mode and future DLCs to reflect content value.

The team will prioritize ongoing support and development for Survival Mode following the completion of Episode Five.

The team plans to shore up the core TLD experience by addressing bugs and improving quality of life.

Previous two volumes updated to include lossless FLAC versions of tracks.

Volume 3 includes music from WINTERMUTE Episode Four and Five, and TALES FROM THE FAR TERRITORY DLC.

Removed duplicate track 'Hope' from Volume 2 and added never-before-released Survival Mode music.

Players' hands will now be cleaned off after harvesting is complete.

Addressed multiple terrain traps and visual issues in various regions.

Fixed issues where closed captions would run concurrently with cinematic dialogue.

Corrected multiple instances where map markers did not update or referenced incorrect objectives.

Corrected instances where character comments and sound effects triggered inappropriately.

Adjusted the spawn rate of shotgun ammo to appear less frequently.

Resolved problems that prevented older WINTERMUTE save files from being resumed or caused incorrect save file information.

Resolved an issue that caused the Mission Panel Log to close unexpectedly on Steam Deck.

Addressed multiple crash issues including those triggered by mission objectives and specific save file conditions.

Optimized performance to enhance gameplay experience in specific areas.

Volume 3 offers nearly 2 hours of original music and launches on April 22nd, 2026.

Improved performance.

The hotfix will address issues where players get stuck or can exit the intended play area.

The hotfix will address confusion related to objectives in Perseverance Mills.

Players are encouraged to consider purchasing the Tales from the Far Territory DLC as The Long Dark returns to Xbox Game Pass.

Fixes for multiple issues with progression and UI objective text in Suzuki are included in the upcoming hotfix.

Episode Five of The Long Dark has been successfully launched, attracting a peak concurrent player count of 14,878 on Steam.

Fixes for issues related to Jace while traversing the Mine will be included in the hotfix.

A hotfix is scheduled for release on April 8th, addressing approximately 300 bugs including progression blockers and UI issues.

The hotfix will fix issues with certain trailers trapping players.

Plans to incorporate Episode Five regions and mechanics into Survival mode are being considered.

Adjustments to the shotgun will be made in the upcoming hotfix.

The hotfix aims to fix issues causing unexplained deaths during gameplay.

Volume 3 of the soundtrack for The Long Dark will launch on April 22nd.

The hotfix will resolve multiple crashes and progression blockers involving checkpoints and autosaves in Part 2.

Episode Five launches on March 31st, 2026.

Episode Five emphasizes storytelling and cinematics, with both open-world and linear sections.

The completion of Episode Five marks the end of the WINTERMUTE storyline.

Episode Five of WINTERMUTE launches on March 31st, 2026.

Completes Story Mode with the addition of Episode Five.

The Switch version of Episode Five will not launch on March 31st due to certification delays.

Episode Five of WINTERMUTE will launch on March 31st at 10AM Pacific Time.

Play as Mackenzie and Astrid as they battle the elements and uncover the mystery of the Aurora.

Players can expect 12-15 hours of playtime for Episode Five.

90% discount on The Long Dark extended during the launch window for Episode Five.

Showcases the dual struggles of Mackenzie and Astrid in Episode Five.

Screenshots from Episode Five have been shared to give players a preview.

A recap video covering the main story beats from Episodes One to Four has been created.