Grounded Update 0.8.0 Patch Notes: New Crafting Content, Photo Mode, Better Performance, and More

The early access game by Obsidian Entertainment, Grounded, received a major update yesterday. The March Update 0.8.0 brought new content, new features, and changes to combat, world, and interface. The developer also released a vlog on YouTube, which you can watch below.

After downloading the update, you can now craft a Door Frame, Triangular Stem Wall, and Inverted Triangular Stem Wall. New features like Password Protecting online games and Photo Mode are now available for players. Don’t expect much about Photo Mode since it's still in phase one.

Some QoL features are introduced to the game. A new message will be shown if you try to place an invalid building. If you find loose arrows, walk over them for easy collection. If you connect to a zipline, the anchor will be highlighted for guidance.

The update improved certain aspects of the game to optimize performance. Now, games around Large Bases and with lots of Storage Baskets or Storage Chests should be smoother. Some CPU optimization has been made too. Additional tweaks to some existing systems are added by the update. You can read about them in detail below.

Additional Features

• When you are holding a Repair Tool, nearby damaged buildings will display an icon.
• Structures will now collapse much more dramatically when unsupported.
• The Armor Dummy UI now has a button that swaps your gear with the dummy's. You can also do this without entering the UI by doing a "hold" interact action on the Armor Dummy.
• Player nameplates in multiplayer will show if a player is knocked out and how much time they have left to be helped.
• Player nameplates will show a "busy" state above it when said player is navigating a menu.

Changes/Tuning

Systems

• Dirty water will now apply a status effect that shows your character is sick. The more dirty water you drink, the worse the effect gets. Resting will make you feel better.
• Smoothie Station functionality has been reworked:
  • Goop Base determines the effectiveness of the smoothie.
    • Grub Goop creates a normal smoothie.
    • Muscle Sprout creates a "beefy" smoothie that heals for twice the amount.
  • Flavor ingredients can consist of any combination of other items and have the same functionality as before.
  • All smoothies now require a "Goop Base" and three "Flavor Ingredients."

Others

Mutations

• Reduced the damage reduction of "Dare Devil."

Combat

• More intense combat music will play when fighting spiders.
• Infected weevils now move slightly faster.
• Ladybugs have a new set of attacks to pick from.
• Improved the accuracy of aiming with a bow using the third-person camera.

Interface

• Player nameplates will transition into smaller character icons when not in the center of the screen.
• The Interact HUD has been revamped to support showing multiple interaction types at the same time.
• BURG.L chips in the world have a small arrow icon that pops up when you approach them making it easier to not miss them.
• New SCA.B audio when getting hungry/thirsty/ health alerts.

World

• Big sap nodules now take longer to respawn than individual saps.
• "Base music" now plays during the daytime as well. A new track has been added specifically for the night "base music."
• Updated the terrain around the upper hedge.

Buildings

• Structures will be less likely to be considered obstructed when placed underneath static props like leaves.
• Walls will now often pivot around corners they are snapped to when rotated.
• Added the facing helper arrow to the Acorn Storage.
• Dew Collector recipe and unlock changed: now unlocks with woven web and requires woven web to build.

Crafting

• + Smoothies have been replaced with "Beefy" smoothies:
  • Double the healing power as normal smoothies.
  • Same bonus status effect as normal smoothies.
  • Require the same "flavor" ingredients as normal smoothies.
  • Uses Muscle Sprout as a "base" instead of Grub Goop.

Optimization

• Improved performance of games that have a lot of Storage Baskets or Storage Chests with icons set.

Creatures

• Bees now drop pollen into the world in addition to collecting it on their legs when pollinating flowers.

As you would expect, the update included numerous bug fixes, which you can read at the official site.