timetakers

Steam Playtest Patch Notes

This update brings a new Training Ground, improvements to the new-player experience, balance changes for Travelers and weapons, and a rework of Pod buffs. We’ve also updated the Loadout, Lobby, and UI to make preparing for battle smoother and easier.

 

Pre-download is now available, so you can download the update in advance and be ready for the upcoming test.

 

Check out the full details below.

 

Combat Prep & Play Experience Improvements

Tutorial

We've improved the guidance flow so players move naturally into Time Race after finishing the tutorial.

  • A Time Race recommendation popup now appears on tutorial completion.
  • The same popup appears if you leave mid-tutorial and complete it after re-entering.

 

New Player Experience

  • We've improved early matchmaking so players new to Time Takers can adapt to the game's core combat and flow before experiencing more varied play.
  • We've also updated the matchmaking logic to better account for player experience and skill level, providing a smoother experience as new players get accustomed to the game.
  • Character select time has been set to 60 seconds, plus 15 seconds of confirmation time.
  • The starting tier for new players has been changed from Silver 3 (0 pts) to Bronze 1 (80 pts).

 

Region Matchmaking

We've added region matchmaking so you can choose where you play.

 

Default Regions and Region Selection

  • On first install, the two regions with the lowest ping are selected by default.
  • If you select only one region, matchmaking runs in that region only.
  • If you select multiple regions, matchmaking follows the priority order below.

 

Region Priority

North America (Virginia) → Asia (Korea) → Europe (Frankfurt)

  • If you select both Virginia and Korea, matchmaking searches Virginia first.

 

Party Play

  • In a party, matchmaking follows the party leader's region settings.
  • For example, if the leader has Virginia selected and a member has only Korea, the party searches in Virginia.

 

Training Ground

We've added a Training Ground so you can test Travelers and weapons more freely before jumping into combat. Try out different Traveler, weapon, and upgrade combinations for yourself.

 

Traveler Balance

We've adjusted the skills and upgrades of several Travelers including Rokuro, Berty, Raven, Edu, Arthur, Andrei, Zaza, and Ep0ch. Some skills had their damage, healing, shield values, and effects changed, and some skills and upgrades had functional changes.

 

Skills

We've adjusted the performance and effect descriptions of some Traveler skills.

Traveler Skill Changed Item Before After
Rokuro Asura Execution Post-use delay 0s 0.2s
Bertie Fly, Bertie! Guaranteed height on skill use - 8m
Raven Raven Storm Initial projectile count - 4
Edu Red Protocol Barrier durability 3,000 2,000
Knockback damage 128 100
Arthur Hold the Line Additional shield 180 150
Shield of Protection Barrier durability 2,500 1,500
Shock damage Base ability Removed from base ability → moved to skill upgrade
Glorious Charge Damage taken reduction Existing effect applied Removed
Additional shield - 450
Shield duration - 5s
Andrei Jelly Explosion Healing display Healing Health and shield healing
Additional shield - 100
Shield duration - 3s
Jelly Pistol Damage display Poison gas damage Poison gas damage per second
Poison gas damage per second 20 40
Let’s Goo! Damage display Area damage Area damage per second
Area damage per second 20 80
Jump attack range - 16m
Movement speed increase 50% 80%
Damage-dealt absorption Existing effect applied Removed
Continuous healing - 30

 

Skill Upgrades

We've adjusted the effects and composition of some Traveler skill upgrades.

Traveler Level (Key) Upgrade Changed Item Before After
Rokuro Lv. 9 (E) Smoke Screen Smoke range 13m 26m
Bertie Lv. 9 (E) Triple Banana Throw count 6 3
Edu Lv. 13 (Z) Recovery Protocol Increased barrier durability 4,000 3,000
Initial health restored on skill use - 100
Healing visual - Added in-barrier healing visual
Enhanced Protocol Knockback damage 300 250
Arthur Lv. 5 (Q) Hold your ground! Additional shield 270 220
Lv. 9 (E) Sturdier Shield Barrier durability 3,500 2,200
Shock Shield Electrocution damage Base skill effect Changed to skill upgrade effect
Damage per second - 200
Increased duration - 6s
Reduced cooldown - 38s
Lv. 13 (Z) Vanguard Upgrade effect Damage taken reduction Bonus shield enhancement
Increased additional shield - 520
Increased shield duration - 7s
Increased movement duration - 4s
Andrei Lv. 5 (Q) Hardened Jelly Effect display Bonus shield Increased bonus shield
Shield duration - 3s
Lv. 9 (E) Larger Jelly Projectiles Increased explosion radius 6m 12m
Lv. 13 (Z) Strengthened Jelly Transformation Upgrade name Jelly Regeneration Strengthened Jelly Body
Sustained healing Upgrade effect Removed (moved to base skill effect)
Jelly Elastic Explosion Upgrade name Speed Jelly Jelly Elastic Blast
Movement speed increase Existing effect applied Removed
Jump height increase Existing effect applied Removed
Increased attack range - 20m
Zsa Zsa Lv. 9 (E) Gravity Field Recharge Upgrade Wider Gravity Field Gravity Field Recharge
Upgrade effect Range increase Cooldown reduction
Reduced cooldown - 43s
Ep0ch Lv. 13 (Z) Weakening Drone Effect display Increased damage taken by enemies on hit Applies Damage Taken Increase Effect
Increased damage taken by enemies 10% 30%
Duration - 3s

 

Weapons

 

Weapon Renaming

We've overhauled weapon names across the board.

Before After
PM-1 Assault Rifle V-41 Carbine
PM-3 Burst Rifle V-16 Pulse
A-6 Rocket Crossbow Chaser
A-10 Energy Rifle Flux
PM-2 Railgun Deadeye
PM-5 Marksman Rifle R-12 Watchman
B-2 Flamethrower Blaze
B-6 Lightning Storm
A-3 Rocket Launcher Comet Launcher
A-5 Life or Death Life or Death

 

Weapon Balance

We've adjusted the combat performance of some weapons.

Weapon Item Before After
R-12 Watchman Left-click overheat buildup 5 7
Blaze Left-click damage 38 34
Storm Left-click damage 25 27
Comet Launcher Damage falloff over range 30% reduction 70% reduction
Right-click damage 25 22

 

Weapon Upgrades

We've adjusted the upgrade effects and options for some weapons.

Weapon Upgrade Item Before After
V-41 Carbine Lv. 7 Combat Boost Movement speed increase Movement speed increased for 3s on hitting an enemy Split into Movement Speed Increase (%) \[20] / Duration (s) \[3]
Flux Lv. 3 Shield Conversion Shield durability per overheat 6 10
R-12 Watchman Lv. 7 (fully reworked) Rapid Cooling - Weapon overheat recovery speed increase (%) \[40]
Double Tap - Projectile count increase \[1] / Main features damage reduction (%) \[40]
Storm Lv. 3 Forward Grab Max range 36m 25m
Lv. 7 Current Overload Weapon fire rate increase 2% 2.5%
Max stacks 50 40
Initial current thickness 1 0.8 (increases with stacks, max 3)
Comet Launcher Lv. 3 / Lv. 7 Upgrade order Lv. 3 Weapon Cooler / Lv. 7 Piercing Round Lv. 7 left: Weapon Cooler / right: Piercing Round

 

Pod System Improvements

We've reworked Pod buffs so you have more options depending on the combat situation and your playstyle.

All existing Pod buffs have been removed, and 9 new Pod buffs have been added.

Pod Buff Effect
Jump Height Increase Jump height +300%
Movement Speed Increase Movement speed +50%
Weapon Damage Increase Weapon damage +30%
Weapon Range Increase Weapon range +100%
Time Energy Collection Range Increase Time energy collection range +30m
Weapon Heat Reduction Weapon heat buildup -100%
Bonus Shield Gain Gain 600 bonus shield
Level Increase +1 level
Skill Cooldown Reduction Skill cooldown -50%

 

Lobby & Convenience Features

 

Loadout Overhaul

We've reworked the Loadout screen so you can check Traveler, weapon, and upgrade information all in one place.

  • The existing Traveler and Weapon menus have been merged into the Loadout.
  • Accordingly, the Weapon Research menu in the Lab has been removed.

 

Voice Chat

We've added lobby voice chat so you can prepare for battle more smoothly with your party.

  • Voice chat is available in the lobby once you've formed a party.
  • Press ESC to view the voice chat participant list.
  • Players not connected to voice chat are shown as NOT CONNECTED.
  • Added an indicator so you can easily see who is currently speaking.
  • Party: green
  • Team: blue

 

Voucher

A new Voucher Shop has been added. You earn Voucher XP by acquiring items, and reaching certain XP thresholds unlocks the next page.

  • Purchasing Voucher items with Chronostone earns Voucher XP.
  • Collecting enough Voucher XP unlocks the next page.
  • Unlocked pages let you view and purchase new customization items.

 

Other Improvements

 

Traveler Appearance Updates

Some Travelers' appearances have been updated.

  • Yuna's appearance has been changed.
  • Cassie's appearance has been changed.

 

In-Game UI/UX

We've improved several in-game visuals and HUD elements so you can read the combat situation and your teammates' status faster.

  • You can now check downed teammates' respawn timers on the respawn screen.
  • Added a sequence that briefly shows the opponent who eliminated you before switching to the respawn screen.
  • Improved the UI shown when the final two teams remain.
  • Unified the health display colors on the status HUD and the respawn screen.
  • When healing an ally with Life or Death, a support effect is now shown on the target's Player Tag.

 

OP.GG Stats Support

Time Takers is now live on OP.GG.

 

Let us know how these changes feel. See you in the game!

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https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3596040/view/670627391477908080