Once again I would like to thank every who has taken the time to play my early access game! I'm extremely grateful to everyone who has written a review or left me feedback about the game!

One of the most popular suggestions was to add multiplayer into the game. This is something I really wanted to work on personally but I had very zero experience with networking games. Since my previous game update at the beginning of February, I have spent the last month and a half working on adding multiplayer into the game. I decided to do this early on in the development process because with each and every feature that I add it would take more work down the line to backport into multiplayer. Now that I have the update ready in its beta form I will be getting back to adding more levels and features!

As a solo developer, with only one VR headset I'm at the point where I've done all the testing I can alone. Because this game is Early Access, I decided to release this update as is. This is the fastest way for me to gather feedback and bug reports. If you have any suggestions or run into any bugs please leave a post in the community thread.

Multiplayer is still very much in its alpha stage so you can expect bugs but overall everything is working as it should! There is still quite a lot of polish that needs to be done to this system and I hope to improve the experience in future patches!

This update is will be available as a Beta Branch for the next week. This will allow everyone to leave me feedback and report bugs. Once everything is ironed out I will switch this update to the default branch.

To access the Beta Branch -> Right Click on the game in your Steam library and click "Properties" from there click "Betas" and then select the "Multiplayer" from the beta list. Steam should automatically download this update. You will know found a lobby browser menu similar to the Leaderboard.

In its current state, this update is best suited for playing with your steam friends in a discord call.

1. First click "Create Lobby" -> You can pick if the lobby is either public or friends only.
   
2. After creation, your lobby will appear on the list. If its public, anyone can join up to 4 players. If private, you can use your Steam Friends List to invite your friends to join your lobby, or your friends join you.
   
3. Once you are ready, click "Start Host". This will then start the multiplayer server. After it syncs, you should then see everyone.
   
4. Each additional player in the game currently increased monster health by 10%.

• Selecting a level - > This will also sync the desired game mode.
  
• Quiting a level.
  
• Start a wave
  
• Purchase Talents - > All host talents are synced to each player.
  
• Modding Tools - If you have customized the game data via the included modding tools all of the host changes will sync with each user.

• Buy / Sell / Upgrade Towers

• NonVR Support - There is now unofficial support for NonVR users. This feature is still SUPER early access. If you start the game without a headset you will find a basic UI that allows you to interact with and play the whole game! It even supports multiplayer and playing with VR users. My goal is that eventually, I will have a full NonVR version of the game as well. The controls in this mode are very rough at the moment. Using the Bow, in particular, is very rough.

• After you finish a level on Multiplayer, every player will have that saved to their local game save. Each player will also unlock any achievements applicable.
  
• While anyone can join a server that has already started, I recommend that you start a lobby, allow players to join first, and then once ready click "Start Hosting". This will cut down on some bugs.
  
• Currently, there is a sporadic bug that will sometimes cause the selected Level not to spawn for non-hosts. This can be fixed by the host quitting the map and reselecting it.
  
• Nearly all errors in regards to multiplayer are handled and shouldn't crash the game. Errors will usually result in either the Host stopping the server or a non-host leaving the server. Players should be able to join again without requiring a game restart.

• Private/Friends Lobby Improvements -> Currently, the host can use the "Invite Friends" button to show an overlay, or either a host/client can join a friends-only lobby by using their Steam Friends list and either Invite or Join via an active friend.
  
• Lobby Management -> Currently, any player can join a public lobby. I plan to add a popup that lets a host decide if they will allow the player to join. I also plan to add the ability for a Host to kick a player from the lobby.
  
• Host Game Options -> Currently, the only change with multiplayer is that each additional player increases monster health by 10%. I plan to add a more robust options menu that will allow a host to customize the scaling of all monster stats, and tweak other game options.

• 3/18/21: Fixed an issue where host talents weren't properly syncing to clients in certain cases.
  
• 3/19/21: Fixed an issue where selecting quick-mode would crash the level and cause it to show 0 gold. There is also a new "Invite Friends" button to make it easier to add friends to your multiplayer game.
  
• 3/20/21: Fixed a multiplayer issue where starting a wave would sometimes cause two monsters to spawn at the same location. Fixed an issue where a non-host would shoot for 0 bow damage.

If you haven't already, please leave a review!

Link to game modding tools guide

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/1322370/Uphold_The_Realm/

I've made great progress in regards to multiplayer. There are some visual bugs for a few things due to network position syncing, but it's mostly bug-free in regards to the internal code.

I haven't decided on it yet, but if you have any interest in having beta access to a private Multiplayer build leave a comment below. Performance seems to be fine on my end, but it might be helpful to have a range of computer configurations.

I've been testing the game out by running both a Server/Host Client with a 2nd Client on the same PC. Performance should still be just a solid as it was before.

In the previous post, I mentioned I was targeting this multiplayer patch to be released this week and that it would also accompany a Week-Long Sale @ 40% Off. I will most likely still have the patch ready this week, but since a Steam Week-Long Sale has to start on a Monday, I will probably push the update back to Monday 3/15/21.

Below is a list of the current progress. As is, the game is currently playable with up to 4 people.

EDIT: 3/15/21 1 PM EST - I'm working on the final polish of the update and it should be out later today and if not early tomorrow morning. I ran a Windows Update and it's completely broken my computer since this morning. The weeklong sale will be active today though. Thanks! Sorry for the delay.

Edit: 3/15/21 8:50 PM EST - I just now finally fixed my computer after the failed windows update from this morning. I'm going to start my final round of bug testing and hope to have the update out tomorrow evening. Once again I apologize for the delay!

Edit: 3/17/21 9:50 AM EST - The update will be out after I get home from work! I will create a new post with more information at that time.

• Players - Head and Arms Syncing
  
• Levels / Maps - Selecting & Quitting Maps. Game Mode Selection.
  
• Towers - Buy / Sell
  
• Monsters - Health / Position Syncing
  
• Floating Damage Text
  
• Gold Syncing
  
• Lobbys - You can hot join an existing game with ease with up to 4 players per lobby.
  
• Lobby UI
  
• Host vs Client Permissions

Link to Previous Multiplayer Development Roadmap
https://steamproxy.net/games/1322370/announcements/detail/3022449021141980512