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Version History

Idols of Ash
Patch Notes

Every update from launch to the current v1.15 — what changed, when it shipped, and how each patch affected gameplay, technical compatibility, and speedrun categories.

Version overview

Idols of Ash has received steady post-launch updates focused on technical compatibility, AI tuning, and content additions. No version has invalidated save files or changed the core game design.

VersionDateKey changeImpact
v1.15 ★Apr 2026Controller sensitivity slider, rebindable controlsAccessibility
v1.14Jan 2026Inverted modes, Ashen Hook cosmeticNew content
v1.13Oct 2025ANGLE rendering — black screen fixTechnical
v1.12Aug 2025Linux build, performance improvementsPlatform
v1.11Jun 2025Murderpede AI aggression fixBalance
v1.10May 2025First Kiln mode launchNew content
v1.05Mar 2025Nightmare difficulty tuningBalance
v1.00Feb 2025Initial releaseLaunch
New content
Bug fix / technical
Balance / AI change
Performance / rendering

Detailed patch notes

v1.15 April 2026 Controller sensitivity, rebindable controls, audio fix Current ▼

New features

  • Added controller sensitivity slider in the settings menu. Adjustable independently from mouse sensitivity.
  • Rebindable controls for both keyboard and controller. Access via Settings → Controls. All actions can be rebound except Pause.
  • Added Reduce Pixelization rendering option. Improves visual clarity for recording and streaming; may reduce performance slightly on lower-end hardware.

Bug fixes

  • Fixed a rare audio desync where the Murderpede's chittering sound cues could lag up to 1.5 seconds behind its actual position. This was most reproducible in the Aqueduct section and the final dark area.
  • Fixed generic and third-party controllers failing to register inputs on some Windows configurations. Controllers that previously required Steam Input may now work natively.
  • Fixed a crash that could occur when exiting to the main menu immediately after a First Kiln completion.

Speedrun & gameplay notes

  • The audio desync fix has no effect on Murderpede routing in practice — the actual creature position was always correct; only the audio representation was delayed. Existing routes remain valid.
  • No changes to physics, fall damage, grapple mechanics, or enemy behavior. All existing Any% and Hookless% routes are unaffected.
v1.14 January 2026 Inverted modes & Ashen Hook Content ▼

New content

  • Added Nightmare (Inverted) — Nightmare mode with the megastructure flipped vertically. Unlocks on completing Nightmare.
  • Added First Kiln (Inverted) — First Kiln mode with the structure flipped vertically. Unlocks on completing First Kiln. No completion record exists at time of release, including from the developer.
  • Added Ashen Hook cosmetic — blackened hook skin unlocked by completing First Kiln. Equip from main menu cosmetics screen.
  • Added completion-unlock tracking to the main menu, showing which modes and variants have been unlocked.

Important notes

  • Inverted unlocks are not retroactive. Players who completed Nightmare or First Kiln before this update must complete those modes again on v1.14+ to receive the Inverted variants.
  • The Murderpede pathing is fully recalculated for the Inverted geometry. Chokepoints that were safe in normal orientation are not guaranteed to be safe inverted.

Speedrun categories

  • v1.14 introduced two new speedrun categories: Nightmare (Inverted) Any% and First Kiln (Inverted) Any%. The community speedrun board was updated at the same time.
v1.13 October 2025 ANGLE rendering — black screen fix Technical ▼

Technical changes

  • Added ANGLE rendering mode support. This resolved the black screen on launch for the majority of affected users, particularly those with AMD GPUs, integrated Intel graphics, or certain laptop configurations.
  • Added rendering mode selector that appears at startup on systems with known compatibility issues. Allows switching between ANGLE and the default renderer without launching into a black screen first.
  • Added support for --rendering-driver d3d12 and --rendering-driver vulkan launch flags as manual overrides.
  • General performance improvements: reduced average frame time on the lower depths section by approximately 15% on tested mid-range hardware.
  • Fixed volumetric lighting option toggle not persisting between sessions.

Context

  • The black screen issue had been reported since launch. v1.13 was the first update that comprehensively addressed it. If you still experience black screen on v1.13+, see the full black screen fix guide.
v1.12 August 2025 Linux build & performance Platform ▼

Platform additions

  • Added official Linux build (IdolsOfAsh_v1_12_LINUX.tar.xz). Available on the itch.io page.
  • Linux build tested on Ubuntu 22.04 and Arch Linux. See the Linux installation guide for setup steps.

Performance

  • Reduced VRAM usage in the upper structure section by approximately 20% through texture atlasing improvements.
  • Fixed memory leak that caused gradual FPS degradation on very long runs (60+ minutes). Most noticeable in First Kiln marathon attempts.
v1.11 June 2025 Murderpede AI aggression fix Balance ▼

AI & gameplay

  • Murderpede pathfinding overhauled. Pre-v1.11, the AI had a tracking bug where it would lose the player when approaching from certain steep angles. This created unintended safe zones — spots in the mid-section and lower depths where the Murderpede would reliably lose interest and stop pursuing.
  • The tracking bug is now fixed. The Murderpede maintains pursuit consistency across all approach angles. Previously exploitable positions are no longer safe.
  • Nightmare and First Kiln Murderpede aggression values were also slightly increased alongside the pathfinding fix, making both modes demonstrably harder than pre-v1.11.

Speedrun impact

  • v1.11 is a significant version boundary for speedruns. Runs submitted before v1.11 used AI exploit routes that are no longer reproducible. The community speedrun board distinguishes pre- and post-v1.11 records for historical purposes.
  • World record times increased by 15–30 seconds across most categories immediately after v1.11 due to the removal of safe zones that had been used for route optimization.
v1.10 May 2025 First Kiln mode launch Content ▼

New content

  • Added First Kiln mode — no checkpoints, four simultaneous Murderpedes, fully dark final section, and the true ending text (Viper's Pit).
  • Replaced vitality shards with embers in First Kiln for a different health economy (fewer pickups, higher per-item value, more off-path placement).
  • Added the Aqueduct route, accessible in all modes but most impactful in First Kiln routing.
  • Added the lower depths final section — new geometry not present in Normal or Nightmare.
v1.05 March 2025 Nightmare difficulty tuning Balance ▼

Balance changes

  • Nightmare Murderpede base speed increased by approximately 12%. Community feedback after launch indicated Normal-to-Nightmare felt too similar in difficulty.
  • Nightmare checkpoint count reduced from 9 to 6. Spacing adjusted to concentrate more of the difficulty in the lower sections.
  • Vitality shard placement in Nightmare rebalanced — fewer on the main path, more in off-path positions. Net shard count unchanged.

Bug fixes

  • Fixed Nightmare mode sometimes starting with Normal mode Murderpede speed values on first launch after Normal completion.
  • Fixed Ash Urn checkpoint text occasionally displaying in the wrong language on non-English system locales.
v1.00 February 2025 Initial release — Normal & Nightmare modes ▼

Launch content

  • Initial release on itch.io. Windows-only at launch.
  • Normal mode and Nightmare mode included at launch.
  • Full lore text at Ash Urn checkpoints, checkpoint memory sequences, and both the Normal and Nightmare endings.
  • The Murderpede AI, grappling hook physics system, fall damage, and vitality shard health economy established at launch. These have not changed since.

Known launch issues (since fixed)

  • Black screen on launch (AMD / integrated graphics) — fixed in v1.13.
  • Murderpede AI tracking exploit — fixed in v1.11.
  • No Linux support — added in v1.12.
  • No controller sensitivity controls — added in v1.15.

More guides

Technical
Black screen & crash fixes
Content
Inverted modes & Ashen Hook
Speedrun
Post-v1.11 Any% routes
Gameplay
Murderpede AI after v1.11