Hi everyone,

First of all, I want to thank everyone for playing Anoxia Station. I am thrilled to see that so many of you are already enjoying my little game and discovering the truth underground. Please keep enjoying it and sending your feedback through Steam discussions and reviews. Posting a positive review helps us, small developers, reach new players.

I've been listening to all your feedback and suggestions, and I am releasing a new update. Anoxia Station V.1.0.1 includes several improvements and bug fixes. You can read the complete changelog below:

• New Scribble version implemented.
  
• Game Maker has been updated to version 2024.13.1.193.

• Changed the sound at the beginning of Chapter 1.

• Added missing Chinese characters.
  
• Corrected the 'Hg' index entry, which was incorrectly appearing as an image; this has been fixed for all languages.

• Updated credits.
  
• Optimized water shaders in Chapters 4 and 6 for improved performance.

• Fixed a bug where clathrate could block gate entry in Chapter 5.
  
• Resolved a crash in Chapter 2 related to Al-Kaw.
  
• Fixed an issue that occurred when simultaneously creating a new character card and a building card.
  
• Fixed fire-related bugs affecting all buildings.
  
• Added an extra check for the stats drawing process.
  
• Fixed a softlock in Chapter 3 that prevented the construction of additional Gasbohrungen.
  
• Research points are now refunded when a building is cancelled.
  
• Fixed potential Chapter 4 crashes when playing in Chinese.

I also have good news for Steam Deck users. Valve has tested the performance of Anoxia Station on the portable console and confirmed that it is fully playable. All game functionalities are accessible using the default controls.

The game now displays Steam Deck icons, and the default graphics configuration performs well on the device.

Yakov & Daria

The wait is over. Humanity depends on you now. Decide who dies and who lives in Anoxia Station.

For those just joining the mission, Anoxia Station throws you into the decaying husk of an underground research facility. As the station's overseer, you'll face a desperate struggle for survival. Manage dwindling resources, maintain vital systems, and confront grotesque, colossal creatures that lurk in the shadows. Every decision counts, and one wrong move could plunge your crew – and yourself – into the abyss.

The journey to bring Anoxia Station to life has been a deeply personal one, fueled by a love for atmospheric horror and strategic gameplay. From the claustrophobic dread of Alien to the the eerie isolation reminiscent of The Lighthouse, these inspirations have been instrumental in shaping the game's core experience. You'll also find echoes of the unsettling atmosphere of Gloomy River and the cosmic horror of Lovecraftian tales woven into the narrative and creature design. The biomechanical artistry of H.R. Giger has subtly influenced the nightmarish entities you'll face.

https://steamproxy.com/steamstore/app/2924310/Anoxia_Station/

Developing Anoxia Station as a solo indie dev has been a challenging yet incredibly rewarding experience. From the initial concept and countless lines of code to the intricate pixel art and nerve-wracking sound design, every element has been crafted with meticulous attention to detail. There were moments of triumph, where a system finally clicked into place, and moments of frustration, staring blankly at a bug that seemed impossible to squash. But through it all, the vision of creating a truly immersive and terrifying horror strategy game kept me going.

And speaking of keeping me going, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to the incredible community that has rallied around Anoxia Station. Your support, feedback, and enthusiasm throughout the development process have been an absolute lifeline. Every wishlist, every comment, every shared post has fueled my determination and helped shape the game into what it is today. Knowing that there are players out there eager to experience Anoxia Station has been the greatest motivation a solo developer could ask for. Thank you for believing in this project.

Now, the station awaits. The power is flickering, strange noises echo through the corridors, and something ancient stirs in the darkness. Are you brave enough to take command and face the horrors that lie within?

I can't wait to hear about your experiences in Anoxia Station. Share your stories, your triumphs, and your most terrifying encounters in the Steam forums and on social media.
Thank you again for your incredible support. Prepare for a chilling descent!

Yakov Butuzov

Hello, survivors. The end is near.

It's hard to put into words the mix of emotions I am feeling. This project has been my life for the past couple of years, and in many ways, it feels incredibly personal. And soon, you will be able to enjoy it.

Some of you might know my previous work. I've been tinkering with game development for a while, and even though Anoxia Station is a very different beast, lessons from past projects, Loretta and Dom Rusalok, have shaped how I approached this. There's always that desire to create something that sticks with you, that gets under your skin.

Anoxia Station is, at its core, a survival strategy game. But it's also a product of my fascination with dark settings, desperate situations, and the resilience of the human spirit (or lack thereof!). I wanted to make a game where every decision counts, where the atmosphere is as oppressive as the environment, and where the story unfolds as you struggle to stay alive.

And I couldn't have done it alone. A huge part of Anoxia Station's identity comes from the incredible work of Daria Vodyanaya. Her art, her vision for this world, has been essential in bringing it to life. She has this incredible talent to make the player feel the cold, the despair, the sheer wrongness of this place.

Thank you to all of you who have wishlisted, followed, and supported Anoxia Station throughout this journey. It means the world to me.

I also feel very honored by the coverage and interest Anoxia Station is receiving. The reports that have appeared in media outlets such as Rock Paper Shotgun or Edge Magazine and the gameplays published by SplatterCatGaming, Nookrium, Raptor... and so many other content creators have been a huge boost during these last weeks of development. Thank you so much to all of you.

Now that the game is finished, there are only a few additional details left to polish, and we await the first reviews. On May 9th, it will be available for everyone. How far will you be willing to go to save humanity? I look forward to reading the players' impressions, seeing what sensations the game evokes in them, and how they face the difficult situations that Anoxia Station presents, almost as if it were a puzzle.

See you very soon, in the darkness below.
Yakov Butuzov

Hello survivors,

I am incredibly excited to finally announce the release date for Anoxia Station! Mark your calendars for May 9th, 2025! After years of development, late nights, and a whole lot of coffee, I am ready to unleash the chilling depths of Anoxia Station upon you.

This isn't just a milestone for artist Daria Vodyanaya and me; it's a culmination of our passion for crafting a unique horror strategy experience. We've poured our hearts into creating a world that's both terrifying and captivating, a place where the oppressive atmosphere of a decaying underground mine meets the unsettling dread of the unknown.

• A Claustrophobic Nightmare: Prepare to manage a failing station, where every creak and flicker of light amplifies the tension.
  
• Strategic Survival: Resource management is key. You'll need to balance dwindling supplies, repair critical systems, and maintain your crew's sanity.
  
• A Dark, Unraveling Mystery: Explore the depths of Anoxia Station, piecing together cryptic messages and environmental clues to uncover the terrifying truth. Will you find the petroleum deposit that could mean the salvation of mankind?
  
• Horrors Beyond Comprehension: Face creatures that defy explanation, pushing you to the edge of sanity.
  
• Decisions That Matter: Your choices will shape the fate of the station and its crew. Find traitors, make difficult sacrifices, and survive extreme heat, radiation and the lack of oxygen.

In the lead-up to this announcement, I've been focusing on:

• Final Polish: Ensuring a smooth and immersive experience from start to finish.
  
• Optimization: Maximizing performance so you can focus on the terror, not technical hiccups.
  
• Balancing: Fine-tuning the difficulty to provide a challenging but rewarding experience. Be aware Anoxia Station won’t be an easy game.
  
• Sound Design: Creating an audio landscape that amplifies the atmosphere and dread.

Your feedback has been invaluable throughout this journey. I've listened to your suggestions and incorporated them into the game whenever possible. Thank you for your patience and support.

Wishlist Now!

If you haven't already, please wishlist Anoxia Station on Steam. It really helps us out. I can't wait for you to experience the chilling depths of Anoxia Station on May 9th, 2025. Prepare to confront the unknown.

Stay safe,
Yakov Butuzov

Abylight Studios, the talented solo developer Yakov Butuzov and artist Daria Vodyanaya, the brilliant and twisted minds that brought us Loretta and Dom Rusalok, invite you to try Anoxia Station updated demo on Steam Next Fest.

https://steamproxy.com/steamstore/app/3376980/Anoxia_Station_Demo/

Anoxia Station is the horror, strategy and survival game coming in 2025. A dark challenging experience, set in a dystopian 1988. Now you can discover its secrets in the new demo for Steam Next Fest.

After listening to our amazing community, we introduced lots of improvements, upgrades and fixes in this demo. Here you can find some of the new features included in the latest version:

• Added camera shake effect for syndrome events
  
• Added ability to toggle research for technologies
  
• Added in-game menu tutorial
  
• Added GUI stripes indicator when base is moving
  
• Added extra magma warning icon and sound effects
  
• Added timer as an optional feature (pause on Spacebar)

• Added new tips and tutorial improvements
  
• Improved in-game tutorial system

• Optimized animation code
  
• Optimized hovering code
  
• Added “actvate all building at once” button
  
• Restored moth tutorial
  
• Updated deployment icon
  
• Added tile tips for base movement
  
• Added tile masking during base movement
  
• Shorter jumpscares
  
• Added base upgrade notification sound
  
• Restored moth to creatures with eyes category
  
• Fixed monster movement sounds
  
• Added bonus destruction sound
  
• Added skill learning cancellation with technology point refund
  
• Added scan status tip
  
• Added new pause button sounds
  
• Added camera shake tip

• Laboratory, buttons, and in-game menu now function during manual pause
  
• End day button turns red during manual pause
  
• Added new music tracks
  
• Updated on/off pause button sounds

On top of that, we fixed the bugs in previous versions, so you can have a polished experience of this unique game.

Take life or death decisions, manage your scarce resources and trust no one. Anoxia Station will arrive on Steam in 2025 published by Abylight Studios. Wishlist now

We proudly announce you can play the Anoxia Station demo now on Steam. This is a new build, we tested and updated according to our community feedback. Now, we can bring you a refined taste of this horror, strategy and survival game, coming in 2025.

https://steamproxy.com/steamstore/app/3376980/Anoxia_Station_Demo/

Anoxia Station is a dark, challenging experience, set in a dystopian 1988, after a supervolcano eruption. Now you can discover its secrets in this new demo, which includes several improvements over the first build, published on itch.io:

• Localization (German, Japanese, Chinese). Fonts optimized, GUI refined.
  
• Radar Button updated
  
• New character portraits
  
• The camera now highlights buildings if a rock fragment is falling on them.
  
• The warning screen effect has been removed.
  
• The "Clear Tile" button no longer consumes resources.
  
• Fixed a bug where resources were being consumed in deactivated buildings.
  
• Damaged buildings can now be cleared.
  
• Tooltips are automatically removed at the end of a turn.
  
• Story-related tiles can now be removed or neutralized after information is obtained.
  
• The "How to Play" screen has been modernized.
  
• Frozen monsters can now be destroyed.
  
• A new demagmatization ability has been added to the Gasbohrung facility.
  
• Parasitic moths now increase mercury levels.
  
• New tooltip has been added when the building is damaged.

The team formed by dev Yakov Butuzov and artist Daria Vodyanaya is still working on improving this strategy game with puzzle elements. Download and play the demo, give us your feedback and wishlist the game, as this will help other players discover this unique title.

During development, I mentioned many games that inspired me in one way or another. But if I shorten the list, the closest analogs are Into The Breach, Polytopia, and Frostpunk. The objective in the game seems simple: discover resources, extract them, complete tasks, and leave the sector before a strong earthquake hits.

But it's not that simple!

Each level represents a new biome with its unique set of monsters, "flora," and points of interest. In each sector, the rules change slightly, and new mechanics are added.

While in novels or quests the player experience remains relatively consistent, in a strategy game, it's quite different. I offer tools, rules, objectives, and methods of achieving them, but the player has to decide every second what to do next and exactly how to achieve the result.
I aimed to make the gameplay as random as possible, so initially, the map of each level was generated completely randomly. I like it when players are encouraged to explore when there's no complete understanding of what awaits them. Even plot objects may be hidden in one playthrough but revealed in another.

Incidentally, I also don't have a visual map editor. Maps are created through code. In my case, it works, but I wouldn't recommend this approach to others.

Naturally, randomness led to imbalance: playthroughs could be either too easy or excessively difficult. Although it sounds obvious now, the idea initially seemed good to me.

As a result, I had to return to the map generation code many times. Today, in the story campaign, the map is created taking into account predefined rules: the base, resources, and plot objects are distributed in "fair" regions, avoiding extremes.

Another rule I followed: to make sure something crazy happens every turn. In a good way. The thing is, if you don't invest, don't use perks and a special locator, you're essentially drilling blindly...

The following resources are present in the game:

• Petroleum
  
• Fuel
  
• Energy
  
• Water
  
• Oxygen
  
• Gas
  
• Technology Points

People are also a resource. They are set at the beginning of the first chapter. You lose the game if you lose your entire team. In addition, their mental state needs to be constantly monitored. Gameplay is influenced by various factors such as temperature, radiation, and other biome features.
Also, to not make life too easy, I implemented some abilities as randomly obtained perks for special Innovation Points, which can only be obtained by completing story quests and killing monsters.

Anoxia is led by a high command of heroes – officers with various specializations and unique abilities. At the start of the game, you choose your hero-avatar. Their death means game over.

Anoxia Station offers two game modes:

• Story Campaign: The main mode with a narrative.
  
• Quick Game: This mode has a significantly higher element of randomness, creating unique challenges for players. The difficulty setting also influences this randomness.

I think the game turned out challenging. And possibly, not everyone will enjoy the plot. But my theory is that interest in a game is born in the learning process. When you first encounter the rules, begin to understand them, make mistakes, find new paths – that's where the magic lies.

Unfortunately, in Game Maker, at least currently, there is no visual UI editor. This means that I have to manually place each button at specific coordinates. Then I need to compile the game, see how it looks, and if something is wrong, repeat the process. And so for each available resolution.
At some point, I started using a special extension that allowed me not to recompile the game every time. This slightly sped up the process, but still didn't completely solve the problem and didn't save much time.

The save system in a strategy game with hundreds of variables is a nontrivial task.
I'm proud that I managed to implement exactly what I wanted. The game only has one save slot, but technology and characters are carried over between chapters. Of course, players can replay chapters as they wish.

Generally, a strategy game is essentially a collection of arrays and loops; lists. Therefore, I didn't reinvent the wheel, I simply save the objects at the current moment. However, then, when the level is recreated on reload, I simply delete everything and load the objects and their variables that I saved. It's crude. But it works.