Persistent Packs

Our new persistent packs system is shaping up. Raul has been working on it for more than six months and just last week got it far enough along to merge into the main project, so we can really give it a workout and see what needs fixing and refining. This new system replaces the old static pack system, which I talked about in the last devblog "Saga Switchbacks." Now, instead of having hard-coded stats, rival packs are dynamic, with each member going through all the stages of life that you and your pack will go through in the Saga. Over time, packs will grow, shrink, and sometimes leave the game map or even disband entirely, creating a vacancy for another pack to move into.
While many of the features of this new system won't be functional before the Saga is released, we decided to add it to the game sooner, since it does make the eco-simulation substantially more naturalistic. You'll especially notice the effects of dynamic packs if you use the Jump Ahead option in Endless Summer, as that will carryover the current rival packs, with some changes for the skipped months, into the next year.
When designing this system, we had to decide how much detail was necessary. It's easy to get carried away and build a pretty complex system, only to find that with all those variables running simultaneously, the result isn't much different than simply rolling the dice periodically. For the player, it's all opaque, hidden away, and they don't benefit from all that complexity. But given how much, and how intently, many of our players play the game, we decided it was probably worth the effort to put a lot of detail into the system. We don't expect players to see or track much of the information that the game is tracking, but we do think that information will manifest itself often enough, and in interesting enough ways, to be worth the effort.
Persistent packs also includes the new wolf naming system. We wanted to base this on the actual method used in Yellowstone, but park biologists only give numbers to wolves who have had their blood sampled and DNA analyzed. That mainly means wolves with radio collars, though biologists do sometimes locate dead wolves and sample their blood as well, giving them a number postumously. Since only about 25% of wolves in the park have radio collars, this means that nearly 3/4 of wolves in the game would have no identifying number, which just isn't viable for us. We entertained a few other ideas but finally settled on the simplest one: every wolf gets a number when they are born. This is applied retroactively to existing wolves, so those who are now five years old get numbers in the 600-800 range, and so on, with the first litter of pups in a new game getting numbers starting at 1600. The names you may have given your mate and pups are now their nickname, which you can change at any time -- but their number is a permanent identifier that stays with them for their entire life.
Your packmates won't be the only wolves with nicknames. Now all NPC wolves have them, and if you encounter a rival wolf in a fight or a dispersal wolf in courtship, they'll be listed in the new Known Wolves panel, where you can give them a nickname if you like.
This is a pretty big new system in the game, and it'll take some time to work out the bugs and polish it up, but we do plan to release it in an update somewhat soon -- and definitely before the Saga (which won't be before next year). So stay tuned for more!
_________________________
The WolfQuest saga will continue! Stay tuned for more news in upcoming devblogs about it and other new features!
Once the game is completed on PC/Mac, we will consider porting the game to other platforms.
We do not announce specific release dates. We will release them when they are ready.

[@samgeorge1452]

Oh, this is so cool! The ability to track wolves you've met before isn't something I knew I needed, but that's gonna be so helpful! Especially for the roleplayers or people making a really big story.

[@cloudedfreedom6286]

I hope it’s available for wolves you met before the update, I don’t think it will be tho because that’s hard to implement… But one of my wolves had a same sex dispersal friend!! Like, they hunted together and gave each other food and played and never attacked. It might’ve been a glitch but it was so cool

[@ilikeminecraftgaming9331]

I know a couple of KZbinrs who are going to freak out when this update is finally released lol.

[@DinosaurNick]

Same!@@ilikeminecraftgaming9331

[@madheretic4423]

@@ilikeminecraftgaming9331 Who is it because I might know them too, lol.

[@ilikeminecraftgaming9331]

@@madheretic4423 Cupicate and Seri!Pixel Biologist! (:

[@PalmKitty]

EVERYONE WAKE UP WOLFQUEST POSTED

[@RETURNING_TO_THE_DARKNESS]

IM HERE!!!

[@katerinaweathers3286]

@@RETURNING_TO_THE_DARKNESSSAME!!!!!!!

[@simcha10000]

Been here since 2008, I promise I’m not going anywhere. (I will play until the day I die.)

[@yummygummys]

IM AWAKE

[@briannawoods6840]

I'm up im up im here I'm ready

[@spicyykels2416]

This is EXTREMELY cool. I’ve been giving my wolves number names for fun, but now I won’t have to!!! Also love the NPC tracker. That’s a really nice touch so you can keep track of who you have and haven’t met yet.

[@lionguardfan2019]

Although my question is when the list gets too long, what happens? Some of us make little challenges like to never kill another wolf no matter what, even if it killed a pup.

[@towa.3295]

@@lionguardfan2019 Can't answer your question, but i just wonder.. Its challenge to never kill another wolf?-

[@Sauce_0]

Ikr? The little details the developers make is beautifully well done. My wolf who is currently 5-6 years old is numbered 86 but now the game is deciding which super exciting!

[@joymersmann9853]

I've been doing the same! The idea that the game will now assign those numbers is really exciting -- I can't wait :DDD

[@Kilathasaurus]

I would actually love to have a "minigame" where you now can attack the other pack's dens and pups, like they do with us, specially for multiplayer, it would be fun terrorizing damned junction

[@shanellemurrey9300]

Yeah, I hate junction, they’re always the one causing loads of trouble. I’m fine with prospect peak though, they usually leave me alone, but there’s like 2 saves where they’re on thin ice with me because they’re the only ones that attack those 2 wolves

[@dianthuslykaios1434]

It's always Junction 🙄

[@TwoSidedTriangle958]

Yes! MUST CAUSE AS MUCH CHAOS AS I CAN!!!!

[@ThemagpieBird734]

⁠well I always thought crevice lake was the most aggressive

[@winstonlewis5630]

They’ve already said that feature won’t be in the game

[@silverwing1587]

With this courtable breeder thing, would it be possible to join one of the established packs if you court their remaining breeder? that would be really cool imo

[@shanellemurrey9300]

Oh hey that was something I was wondering about too! Hopefully we get an answer, if not then it might be something we have to explore and see what happens with it :)

[@twlightnightfall1315]

That's what I was wondering. However, it probably wouldn't be a priority.

[@winstonlewis5630]

Yea that’s something that happens in Yellowstone very often and doesn’t really happen other places in the world.

[@PoloWolf47]

I'd love that

[@jinx6573]

I remember seeing on JayPlays channel of one courtable male alpha(junction butte i think), He was in fact courtable, so that might happen!

[@fruitsplats]

I am legitimately so excited for this new pack system. The rival wolves having funny nicknames is such a wonderful concept! but I’m super pumped for… well, everything! Every new devblog makes me smile and I’m always on the edge of my seat while watching about development. ❤❤❤

[@scarlettvlach255]

Same!!

[@herodepretto4257]

A couple of questions about rival packs' pups with this new dynamic system: -Will it be possible to bump into wolves from rival packs that are a year old or younger? -If one of the breeders dies in a pack, the remaining becomes a "Courtable Breeder." Currently if you find a new mate when one of yours dies, the new mate becomes a step-parent to your pups. Is it possible to court one of these breeders and not only will they become a step parent for your pups - But you take in theirs as well and the packs merge together? (I imagine this would also result in the territories merging?)

[@Bonniethebunny]

Honestly i have wondered this same thing

[@lionguardfan2019]

Since rival packs can abandon the area now (from video), what if only a pup or two was left orphaned? Would love to be able to adopt said pup/s to help them survive as a wolf. Don't care if that makes it a bit harder to raise my 7 pup litter, the orphan pups also deserve a chance!

[@rainiidraws]

the pack merging would be cool but I think real wolves wouldn't do that since they see each other as competition, but I'm not a wolf expert so I could be wrong lol

[@WolfQuestGame]

Breeders stay with their packs even if they lose their mate. So courtable breeders would be looking for dispersals. (Packs don't merge)

[@ashmanemundodalugaby1874]

​@@lionguardfan2019Wolves don't leave pups behind, they are always looking behind to see if the puppies are following them. Also, if a wolf found an orphaned pup, it would kill it on spot, not take it onto the pack. Real life wolves aren't docile and kind, I have never seen a wolf taking a stranger pup onto their pack before, I've only seen the pup getting killed.

[@cretinouswhelk]

I absolutely adore the idea of being able to keep track of the wolves you've met along the way of your wolves story. Being able to see if you ever cross paths with them again, or if they met there fate. Its such and interesting addition to the game, along with the packs just having their own little lives, or new packs moving in! Amazing work as always Wolf Quest Team! ❤🐺

[@hotbread1004]

I tend to murder rival wolves, personally it would be nice if we got the chance to take the vacant spot once a pack disbanded since we will eventually be a full size pack with the saga

[@freyadoesitall]

Its always a good day when Wolfquest uploads

[@wolfsong4720]

Keeping track of known wolves will be very exciting! I'm pretty sure in one of my saves in Lost River my wolf ended up accepting the brother of her first mate as her second, but a way to confirm or even track him separately sounds really cool.

[@oligamer6710]

That happened to me! When I was courting my mate, he had a brother with him. When we went to the cattle ranch one day, he got shot and died. I found his brother and we became mates!

[@avalikus47]

This is absolutely phenomenal! I very, very rarely post comments on anything, but I think it's amazing the level of effort and care you guys are putting into this game. It's just mind-blowing, and I wanted to thank everyone on the team for the love shown toward this game!

[@feelyaalien3099]

I'm honestly so happy that the Saga's moving along now and starting out to be a solid plan :) I remember vividly waiting for the original game to update so that we could raise our adolescent pups, but this is just so much better when we can actually see the development of new features being explained to us in detail! I hope you guys take your time to perfect the game so no bugs are visible.

[@flixie.doesnt.sleep.66]

i can already sense the amount of comments for people trying to be first saying “the amount of dedication yall put into this game”

[@shaibright11]

lol

[@Bonniethebunny]

It isn't wrong though. They have been very dedicated, and the passion shows. To be wuite honest, wolfquest is one one of the best gamed in existence right now. Especially in the animal simulator genre. No other simulator i have seen or played put as much effort in as WolfQuest's team has. Not only that, but they're still making it better and better! That's why i love this game so much, and i also love how transparent this dev team is with their work, showing us new systems when they have them in good shape enough to show off. I remember when they released videos weekly on their progress of making this game. It's my all-time favorite game, and i don't think that will change

[@flixie.doesnt.sleep.66]

@@Bonniethebunny oh absolutely i completely agree, i just mean when everyone comments 1 second after the video is posted LOL

[@xanethebacon]

So cool! I’m honestly really excited for the ‘Known Wolves’ panel, as I’ve already been writing that down in my own time on my own notepad, but it’ll be amazing to have that as a feature! Can’t wait to see what the team has in store for us next!! ❤

[@fox-fluffl9002]

Being able to keep track of other wolves has been something I've wanted when looking for a mate, but keeping an eye on other pack wolves will be extremely fun! Watching to see which ones are alive, how old they are, if they die will make everything feel so much more alive than it already does :D

[@TheMightyGodJimmy]

Very excited! You guys are doing great so far. Literally had a dream about something similar a few days ago 😂

[@traumavulturee]

The amount of detail you put into this game genuinely excites me. You are all amazing. Thanks for the amazing childhood, WolfQuest devs!

[@ashmanemundodalugaby1874]

Question Time! (It's okay if you do not have time to answer those) 1. Once some of your pups disperse, you may run onto them again, right? If so, how would the interaction between you and the pups be? 2. If you nickname a stranger wolf, if you ever ran onto them again, would their nickname appear above their health bar? 3. What will happen to the Family Tree system? Once you raise your 4 month old pups, will you still be able to play as them once you jump over to the next year, or would you wait until they disperse?

[@WolfQuestGame]

Great questions. Stay tuned :D

[@RETURNING_TO_THE_DARKNESS]

OMLLL IM SO EXITED!!! EVEN JUST THE THOUGHT OF THE SAGA IS GIVING ME CHILLS!!! im so glad you guys have made WolfQuest 3 :D Edit: i am curious, if you dont find anew mate within 30 days too, will you disband? (Move away with our pups into a diffrent map, or just have to restart a save?)

[@emmascott7181]

No words can describe how excited I am for the Saga! You guys are doing an amazing job on this game

[@DinosaurNick]

I 100% appreciate all the effort y'all put into this! I can't wait!

[@user-q8ij3ak9oi]

This game is so cool and well-crafted. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such effort and care put into a game before, you guys are doing so well !! Thank you for continuing to make this game incredible:)

[@shaibright11]

this dev blog will be great! i can't play the game but i love getting to know stuff on it as an old wolf quest player.

[@shanecampbell439]

Every time you guys post I get very excited

[@MiscFlower]

This all looks amazing! I’ve always been more a speed runner with how I play, but this will definitely give me something to slow down and watch! I especially love the known wolves tab as that’s one thing I love to think about as I’m playing.

[@starrysaur]

This is SO COOL!!! The amount of detail and work put into this game is so amazing. I'm genuinely so excited to see all the little things that will be added over time. Saga is going to be awesome!!

[@mysteriouswolven]

LOVE the known wolves tracker, and that all your wolves will have a pack number. I always kept the numbers on my pups anyway along with their name.

[@adrienhorrell5612]

I literally can't wait!!! Every time you post I start replaying WolfQuest. Such an involved development team you guys are the best!!!

[@mctab3079]

The game is coming together nicely, keep up the good work! Can't wait till the update and new map comes out!

[@purplepuddlesuwu]

We appreciate all the effort you put into this game! 💜

[@cloudedfreedom6286]

This is honestly so cool. You guys work so hard on this game, and i’m so grateful :D

[@lilhedgehog8576]

Thank you for all you people’s work. We appreciate what you have done. I love Wolfquest and what it has become.

[@sir_paranoia]

God, watching this game progress and get better and better throughout the year and watching update videos is so fun and exciting, I'm really excited for what the future of the game will hold

[@kerisen6574]

Oh wow I love this!! This makes for interesting story telling during out play throughs

[@canisabel4072]

THIS IS SO COOL!!! Majorly appreciate this, the potential for stories always evolves with the game and I'm so happy to see it. Thank you team for keeping in touch with who your players are and developing the game to be a fun and immersive experience

[@Angeldust.-105]

I LOVE when they post especially the saga updates!

[@kannaredpanda]

This absolutely blows me away! I am beyond excited, this is such an amazing addition!!

[@doe4003]

I adore how nuch time and effort you guys put into this game. You're amazing devs and I'm so so happy WolfQuest is in your hands.

[@emmalou7704]

Oh my gosh I never thought about how complicated this part of the process is. Makes me respect y'all that much more

[@spoiledrottenpets5409]

I love the level of detail!! Omg! You guys are awesome 🤩 wolf quest is the best game ever! It even first came out on the year I was born!

[@lunawoo7956]

I haven't been able to play for about a year now but it always lifts my spirits to see these updates and makes me even more excited for when I can play again 🥰

[@paxtonbrady]

I love everything about this!! So excited!!❤❤❤

[@lord_moose5252]

This is so cool! This will be so helpful now that I think about it. Thank you devs!

[@ny0omi]

Love it! Great job WQ Team. I can't wait for these next up and coming updates.

[@keely3564]

Im absolutely in awe of this new system, its so cool! I LOVE the NPC tracker it will be so great for storytelling and keeping up with the state of the game!

[@marshstarz]

this is gonna be one of my favorite updates yet, cant wait!!

[@Ash_rabbit.]

I’m so excited for this I can’t wait!

[@TheSpiderOfRome]

This video is really interesting! It’s kind of sad to see the old naming system where you could give your pups any number go, especially when you’ve been using the same pack and their numbers for years, but it’s going to be exciting!

[@WolfQuestGame]

You can still nickname them as you like, if you have a system you like.

[@HM-gn1qo]

There has yet to be an update that doesn’t blow my mind. Every change you guys make end up making this game even more perfect for my play style and insterests. Literally my perfect game

[@Luvvc1ara]

finally! ive been waiting for something like this for ages, im happy to see the development with this game, excited for the saga.

[@-Alari-]

This is amazing! I remember watching a wolf documentary where the packs were very dynamic like this, so I think it's great that you are adding this detail! Now I wonder if you court and alpha of an existing pack will you immediently join a packof wolves that aren't your pups? All of the updates you add make the game more realistic each time, great work!

[@TheLunaticWithaCamera]

Thank you Wolfquest team for all the hard work and attention to detail put into the game for the fans, I'm a huge fan of wolfquest (ever since I was a little kid, and I first played it at a zoo!), but it's awesome seeing how the team cares and puts extra details into the game, and it I personally believe it's made a lot of differences when I play. I imagine relationships between wolves in the game so it's cool that in other packs we will be able to recognize ones we've seen before like how it is mentioned in this video, and how the wolves will have their own lives outside of just your own wolves life, so cool!

[@Sphinxzs]

This is such a nice update, really breaths more life into wolfquest!

[@aliciaonline8576]

Keep it up! I love your hard work

[@jencrawford2686]

This game just keeps getting better! 💜

[@leafycat03]

I appreciate the complexity! 🥺🥺 this new system looks exciting I cant wait! I love how realistic the game is becoming!💖

[@tsunami1707]

This is so cool i love this game. You guy's deserve an award for best game developers.

[@jessicamackay1998]

Wow, that's so cool. It's gonna add so much more life to the game! I'm excited.

[@maisienotte]

I think possibly making so you could attack other packs’ dens would be interesting if possible! Keep up the good work!

[@aspendespain4606]

YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING! This looks SO GOOD. Like, I'm getting to excited to play this with this update! I love how the wolves feel fluid and not just immovable forces now! Had no idea I wanted the feature of being able to remember wolves I've met but I now really want it very badly cause it'd be so nice! Would also be nice to be able to attack them too like they do us, but that might be a bit hard to do and you guys are already working so hard to give us all this other wonderful stuff. ^^ But seeing the courtable breeder did make me wonder if we could join another pack through them, like a new mate joins us if we lose the previous one. It'd be fun! But again, might be a bit hard to figure out. Thank you guys sooooo much for all the work you put into this game! It's HIGHLY appreciated and we adore you guys for it. You can feel all the love and careful attention that was put into this game and it just makes you love it all the more. You guys have done something amazing here and we're so lucky to have you as our devs. ^^ Take care of yourselves, and thank you so much for all you've done to make this game such a wonderful experience!

[@PetalThorn]

Oh this looks awesome! The thing that makes me extra happy is that the 'home base' tile changes when a pack disperses. XD Sometimes, I'm shaping my territory and then they have a home base right where I want a hex to keep my den/site safe in the center. And here, I can sometimes still get that hex I want if I'm patient with waiting out that pack and then snagging that hex, so that's super cool!

[@warriorcatsplayer_1]

I love y'all sooooo Much maybe one i be playing your game every day 😁

[@fadedandfriends5612]

All that sounds really cool and fun to see

[@mysterykit6893]

This looks amazing, I can't wait for the release and for the saga to happen. i know i be playing a lot of hours in this game to finally go further into an endless loop exploring the life of the worlves/pack ^^

[@kathysliva3530]

Yeah i toldly agree! Your doing a great job! I have been waching for years and i remember when WolfQuest was just a game you play, just a game, and you upgraded so much its amazing!! Can't wait for the Saga!

[@Misto_deVito6009]

Man packs shifting and leaving with add SO much life to these wolves!

[@AllycatQuotev]

the amount of detail in this game is astounding and we always appreciate more details going on in the background, it adds realism and interest to what would normally be generic npcs. I have two questions. 1: would the introduction of this system spark other details, such as the den and pups of the other packs being discoverable but risky to approach? 2: if you lose your mate and the other breeder of a pack has as well, can they become an option for you to court?

[@canisXpolaris]

Thank you SO much for this 😍😍

[@DAISYDEVIL2007]

This is so neat! Especially the keeping track of wolves you know. Whenever me and my partner play we always end up having beef with one of the packs, so it'll be fun to know who we're truly spatting with! :D

[@MysticFoxWildlifeArt]

Getting it name stranger wolves, and keep track of who you’ve met will be super cool!

[@peanutbutter3126]

I'm so excited for the known wolves part!

[@sorrellacious]

Very excited for this, especially the ability to track wolves outside your own pack after meeting them! I know you've mentioned that pack mergers will not be included in this update, and I understand how difficult it could be to even begin to create a system that would allow it to happen- but I must admit, it would be really cool to see that become a reality some day, too. I always liked 926F ("Spitfire")'s story of bringing her pack from the brink by charming the dispersal males who had her and her litter cornered, and it would be amazing to be able to one day recreate such scenarios in-game.

[@Zoopal55]

Nice, time to take a look at pack changes xD

[@falcolf]

This is competely rad, I hope I can play it again someday❤

[@Delphinium5420]

This looks really cool!!! Looking forward to seeing stranger wolf pack drama🍵!!

[@gladeseason3462]

I love this!!!! So exciting :D

[@Artemisfallow]

Looove the naming theme. Love!

[@melvinleven2163]

Omg this game keeps getting better and better 🤟

[@Gingerkittiethewarriorfan]

im really exited for this new update!

[@faith6731]

This game just keep getting better !

[@eleanormb3706]

This is so cool! Can’t wait!

[@letalbe]

great job 👏🏼👏🏼

[@lacklusterluke5855]

I LOVE THIS UPDATE im so excited!

[@wolfgirl112]

This is amazing thank you

[@Bonniethebunny]

I always kept track of only my mate wolves. Like after courting, i would put in their desc what wolf they are. Like "Lucky 43F", "Junction Butte 1M" etc, etc. Now i won't need to do that. This is also very exciting! I can't wait to see it! I'm jittery just thinking about it!!

[@iphonecharger2707]

oooh, i wonder since one of the parents is courtable would that mean that we as players will have a chance (however small) to _join_ an already established pack and continue its growth?

[@flintfoster8010]

I'VE WAITED FOR THIS SORTA THING FOR YEARSS

[@hayleyspurin8286]

YESS WOLFQUEST!! That is so call I can’t wait for it to be added!!!!

[@RavenStar..]

In public servers to make the game fun. All members that join your server (mostly a game mode) can choose to disperse from the others and form their own pack (the server owner already has a pack) the max could be 3 to 4. As soon as they disperse from each other they are basically on weriy terms if they smell a marked territory it would tell them that that "this territory is claimed, trying to claim it is not advised" it would be fun and could be a roleplay like gamemode. Edit: as soon as a den has been chosen the packs have a choice of having pups. Which changes then from being neutrals to rivals meaning they can attack the territory of the other packs, and if their is space more packs can be formed. But other packs stay neutral. You could even form alliances with other packs or just choose to be neutral where you don't fight with other packs and all you do is defend your territory.

[@systemsentry]

Gosh I'm so excited for this.

[@gracebarishek5841]

Also very cool, I love the naming the wolves you meet thing, well the nickname lol

[@hostile-elf]

pack-watching will become my new pass time in between raising pups when this update comes out, i'll be the wolf version of a nosey neighbor 😂 it's fun to look under the hood of a game and see how it ticks, i hope we get to see more videos like this where we get to take a peek at the code, i think it's fascinating!

[@DeRainbowInk]

Wolfquest was my childhood, i love seeing all the updates!! Even if it crashes my pc lol

[@graciegiggs3063]

This is super cool!

[@wygolvillage2637]

The Known Wolves panel is super cool!

[@MambaDraws]

Ohh this sounds so cool!! I've always thought it was a bit weird that every year the main breeding pairs of each pack stayed and looked the exact same. This will be so good for storytelling purposes :D Quick question: Have you figured out what would happen if the player's wolf becomes mates with a breeding wolf of a different pack? Would that pack become part of your pack?

[@WolfQuestGame]

The most common scenario if a breeder dies is for a dispersal to join that pack as the new mate for the surviving breeder.

[@victoriaschlesinger3014]

@@WolfQuestGame Is it possible to join their pack if you are on the find a mate quest? Also will we be able to attack other packs pups?

[@roseywolf7867]

Holy crap this is actually really cool

[@anamariabaroncea2083]

Im so exited for the next update!!!!!!!!!!!

[@purplemew12]

Aaaaaaa I'm so excited for the ability to give wolves I've met nicknames! I feel like that'll make it a lot easier to know which rival pack members are the troublemakers 😁

[@user-ib2fe7iw3w]

I'm curious, would a possibility of playing as a *yearling* be added? It'd be quite interesting and would make it so that the "learn how to hunt" quest be possibly removed (as it doesn't make much sense). I'm sure it'd make those who wish to play as a pup enlighted too, since, even though it's not a pup it is still a young wolf I guess. Some new issues would, again, take place such as what would happen if you create a new wolf, when you play as a pup from your litter etc; but in all honesty it'd make for a very interesting gameplay I think.

[@2the1land6_]

Learning to hunt makes a lot of sense. Until the day your wolf disperses, it’s never had a solo ungulate hunt. Maybe chases rabbits and rodents solo.