The beta version includes Chapter #1 of the game and is available in the Windows version for all owners of the full game on Steam.

The beta testing will also be available for the Demo version of the game later today or tomorrow so everyone interested has an opportunity to dive in. We’ll post an update and edit this post when the Open Beta can be accessed through the Demo version.

1. Right click the game in Steam and open the Properties window
   
2. Open Betas-tab
   
3. Type "poolsvrpublicbeta" without the quotes into the text field and click the button next to it
   
4. Click “opt into vr-beta-public”
   
5. Steam should then download the VR beta build of the game for you
   
6. You can opt in & out of the beta version from the “Beta participation” drop down menu whenever you like

Note: VR is only available for Windows version at the moment. Unfortunately Unity game engine doesn't support building with OpenXR on Linux.


Feel free to have VR mode related discussion, feedback and thoughts on Steam Forums.


If you wish to leave feedback anonymously, we’ve created a Google Form[forms.gle] where you can give your thoughts about the VR mode.


You can also always contact us at our Discord-server[discord.gg] or via e-mail at support(at)tensori.fi


We're especially looking for feedback on how the VR mode works with different types of VR devices, such as Valve Index or Pico VR headsets. We’ve developed and tested the game using Meta Quest 2, 3 and a PlayStation VR2 headset on PC, so any comments about the play experience and SteamVR input rebind tool on different devices is incredibly helpful.

The VR mode has a suite of comfort and accessibility settings. We’d love to hear if you are able to find a combination of these settings that allows for a comfortable VR experience. If you’d like to see a new setting added to the VR mode, please let us know about it on this thread, feedback form, Discord-server, or e-mail.

Have fun!
- Tensori

Apart from new settings and features, this update includes a lot of internal changes for VR, such as improving on how the game looks on lowest graphics settings and adding underwater effects for every pool.

There's now crouching (control key) so feel free to dive underwater where ever you see fit!

VR-beta will begin later this week (hopefully) on our Discord server.

Full changelog:

• Ensure cursor is always visible when its moved
  
• Add bubbles effect when going underwater
  
• Add lens wet effects after exiting underwater
  
• Mac: Fix issue with Steam achievements
  
• Fix issue with alt-tab sometimes crashing the game
  
• Add new audio setting called footstep panning, to adjust distance of left/right footsteps from player
  
• Add console commands for manual saving: "save" and "load"
  
• Automatically lower resolution and graphics quality if poor performance (for new installs only)
  
• Update translations
  
• Add language selection to accessibility settings
  
• Add "move with mouse click" setting
  
• Add crouching
  
• Add walking and running speed sliders to settings
  
• Unlock post-processing effects to settings after completing the game
  
• Add "delete" console command to delete spawned objects
  
• Add underwater view to every pool in game
  
• Fix rare issue where achievements are not unlocked

PS. New chapter is progressing nicely, and will be likely released with VR later this year

Hello everyone,

Yes, you’ve read the heading right - POOLS is coming to your PC VR headset. This has been something that a lot of you have requested from us, ever since we released our demo. Being able to bring this to you is a blast and an honour. So, let’s make it official. Watch our POOLS VR trailer below:

Our work on this mode is all possible thanks to your support. We never dreamt that our little experience would be so well received by you all. So this VR update that’s coming, is a gift from us to you. It’ll be available for free to everyone who already has, or will buy POOLS in the future. We hope you’ll enjoy it. And for those of you without a VR headset - don't worry. We haven't forgotten about you either. We'll tell you more in our next updates.

Thanks so much for all your support and we’ll give you all the details on when the update is coming real soon.


Until next time,

- Team Tensori

Hello there,

The POOLS Weeklong Steam Sale has just kicked off! Dive in and grab the game at a 20% discount.
The sale ends on July 29th.


See you next time and don’t get lost

Your Tensori Team

https://gtm.you1.cn/storesteam/app/2663530/POOLS/

Another batch of bug fixes and improvements is here! We recently got our hands on a Steam Deck and we have been testing and improving the play experience on the device.

Added UNIKAT label as co-publisher to Steam page. UNIKAT is a collection of independent, unique, and minimal games. It's brand new venture from Michal Napora who has helped us in marketing. No changes to relationship, we will still operate as an indie company.

• Added graphical presets dropdown to settings menu
  
• Fixed a bug where chapter 6 autosave would not get deleted when finishing the chapter
  
• Adjusted glass material
  
• Updated localizations
  
• Changed controller trigger inputs from sprint action to camera zoom in/out actions
  
• Added camera look sensitivity multiplier to zoom action. Zooming in reduces the look sensitivity linearly depending on the level of zoom.
  
• Fixed a bug where settings menu dropdown elements would not scroll vertically when using a controller
  
• Fixed a bug where UI navigation would drop inputs when using a controller's directional pad at low frame rates
  
• Fixed positions of some spawned objects using "spawn" command from dev console
  
• Fixed a rare bug where water dripping got stuck in a loop when exiting water
  
• Loading screen now automatically skips the play button after player has finished chapter 1
  
• Adjusted camera behavior in water slides:
  
  • In bends, the camera now adapts more strongly to the shape of the slide and anticipates the player's future movement path. This improves the visual presentation of those spots where the camera would look straight ahead at a wall instead of the incoming path.
• Added bloom lens dirt effect toggle to the graphics settings menu
  
• Fixed incorrect controller button icons in settings menu when using certain Xbox controllers
  
• Fixed a bug where player could get stuck in air when walking on a ledge

• Steam Deck has these custom graphical presets:
  
  
  • Performance (60fps)
    
  • Balanced (40fps)
    
  • Quality (30fps)
• Added Steam Deck input icons to settings screen

We are also now looking into performance optimizations for "interactive water" setting to allow Steam Deck users to enable it without tanking the performance.

• Fixed missing audio output on some Linux devices
  
• Fixed video file playback (.mp4 format was not supported)

You can now sink into the sounds and ambience of POOLS no matter where you are, where you go, and what you’re doing.

These soundscapes were created by four amazing artists: Erik Nyholm, Mikko Tarmia, Sjellos & tohmei, Jackson Derby. Without their work, POOLS would not be the experience that it is today.

You can buy the soundtrack right here:
https://gtm.you1.cn/storesteam/app/2976480/POOLS_Soundtrack/


And as always, thank you for your support.

Your Tensori Team

First week after launch is now behind us, and what can we say - the launch was successful, beyond all our expectations.

The amount of positive reviews and feedback we've received so far is absolutely overwhelming.

We are really grateful to all contributors, Beta testers, Patreon supporters, content creators, journalists, reviewers, everyone in our discord and everyone who have bought the game.

We will continue development of POOLS and post updates.

Thank you everyone for your support.

To celebrate, let's enjoy cake with these distinguished gentlemen.
There is a cake, it's just behind the camera. We promise.

PS. The thumbnail screenshot for this Steam announcement was by our dedicated fan - JANITOR.
Here is the original:
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3237987385