Field Notes & Release Log

Version 0.3.43: Daily streaks

• Added daily streaks, increased by finding at least one item on consecutive days.
• The first find of the day now awards one Gem and 50 bonus XP.
• Added a daily streak popup with animated fire and a new Gem reward sound.
• Fixed Excavation detector indicators sometimes remaining active after closing the Found popup or moving between multiple findables.
• Prevented duplicate marketplace purchases and sales from repeated button presses.
• Improved trade item selection and made trade errors more informative.
• Improved item previews by hiding unavailable showroom controls for marketplace items.
• Improved switching between item and rarity-count views in the Codex.
• Added a prominent Discord community link to the website.

Version 0.3.42

• Fixed the shovel being visible underneath the hole in Excavation.
• In-app purchases now award 100 Gems.
• Fixed read messages not updating their UI state and unread-message indicator.
• The weak GPS signal warning now respects the device safe area so front cameras and display cutouts do not obscure it.
• Reduced automatic Cleaner time from three seconds to 1.8 seconds.
• Replaced the Excavation icon in Map mode.

Version 0.3.41: Golden Coil and a faster Excavation

• Added the Golden Coil to the shop.
• Excavation now freezes its final world view instead of rendering the environment every frame, producing a major performance improvement.
• Fixed detector state not resetting after a find and fixed manual item cleaning in Excavation for players without the Cleaner upgrade.
• Added several pre-euro coins for European countries.
• Items can now have a country code and are slightly more likely to appear in their country of origin.

Version 0.3.40

• Increased item icon size in the main inventory.
• Fixed coin balances not updating correctly.
• Added background blur to all popups.

Thanks to oskar3123 and Randiom for the reports and suggestions.

Version 0.3.39

• Fixed issues in AR mode.
• Replaced existing ad rewards with one Gem per rewarded ad.

Thanks to Randiom.

Open beta

ARtifactor entered open beta in select countries, initially limited to 1,000 testers.

Version 0.3.38

• Added Chest Opener and Cleaner upgrades.
• Rewarded alpha users with a special profile icon.
• Added Explorer to the store, enabling automatic map scans.
• Reduced points-of-interest API usage by fetching only after moving 75 meters from the origin or last exploration.

Version 0.3.37

• Fixed backend downloads for new item images and profile pictures.
• Implemented LevelPlay ads and removed the legacy ads system.
• Fixed banner ads and IAP confirmation issues that could cause Google refunds.
• Added minor UI improvements.

Version 0.3.36: Rumor redesign

• Improved rumor generation and API usage.
• Replaced time-based rumors with progress-based discovery chances.
• Expanded rumors beyond parks to museums, memorials and other historical locations.
• Improved UI for rumors with long names.

Version 0.3.35

Updated the project to Unity 6.5.

Version 0.3.34

• Player data now refreshes in the background for more responsive UI.
• Added coin indicators to every scene and visual indicators for buying and selling.
• Fixed XP appearing before item reveal and Discovery Token purchase availability.
• Store pages now show owned Restoration Kits and Discovery Tokens.
• Increased Excavation detection radius and improved performance by reducing distance checks.

Version 0.3.33

• Added server controls for temporarily limiting or disabling features.
• Rumor discovery now costs 50 coins and starts manually.
• Fixed seek sessions, expiring trade offers, rumor party timing and maintenance-mode enforcement.
• Added an AR disable setting, travel-log guidance and active compass outline.
• Updated to Unity 6.4, updated AR packages and removed unused URP.
• Fixed friend marketplace notifications being sent to the buyer.

Thanks to Randiom for many suggestions.

Version 0.3.32

• Fixed weekly quests not refreshing on login.
• Parks now require exploration before rumors appear.
• Updated to Unity 6.3.

Version 0.3.31

• Added cleaning and reveal sound effects and fixed detector pitch in Excavation.
• Added per-sound volume support.
• Improved login security and Overpass API failure handling.
• Discovery starts now use a pending server state, prevent duplicate starts and refund failed tokens.
• Fixed weekly quests not refreshing on login.

Discovery generation improvements

• Combined park details, clues and artifact generation into one OpenAI request.
• Improved prompts, timeouts and web search.
• Prevented partial discoveries and charges for failed requests while reducing total generation time.

Unity security update and revised 0.3.30 build

Applied Unity's Android security fix. There was no evidence of exploitation or user impact.

• Updated to Unity 6.2.
• Fixed showroom loading.
• Fixed incomplete account deletion leaving progress for later accounts.

Version 0.3.30

• Made mint items rarer and refreshed daily and weekly quests on login.
• Improved marketplace privacy and buyback handling.
• Fixed stale trade selections, restoration-kit inventory condition and partially revealed instant sales.
• Refactored backend and download managers for stability and performance.
• Blocked digging until the Excavation intro completes.

Version 0.3.29

• Delivered broad UI fixes, friend-request confirmation and Codex search fixes.
• Removed unnecessary cameras and directional lights from UI-only scenes.
• Fixed session clearing after a kick.

Version 0.3.28

• Added daily and weekly quests with free Gems for completing the weekly set.
• Added the Codex for discovered and undiscovered items.
• Fixed shop, Excavation scaling and expired rumor-party issues.
• Improved account security by blocking repeated failed logins.

Version 0.3.27

Shop

• Updated IAP to 5.0 with local prices, server receipt validation, delayed completion and automatic failed-purchase refunds.
• Added banner and rewarded ads, lowered Restoration Kits to five Gems.

Excavation & map

• Fixed detection, increased its radius and added coin UI.
• Improved map drop rates and rumor cooldown reset.

Other

• Raised max level to 15 and surfaced level progress in more views.
• Added a Settings feedback form and moved to a new Google Play account.

Version 0.3.26

• Fixed Discovery Token purchases not registering immediately.
• Expanded leaderboards and added friends-only filtering.
• Fixed map rendering and small-screen button text.
• Replaced Excavation detection physics with a simpler distance calculation.
• Deactivate unused scenery after the Excavation camera settles.

Version 0.3.25

• Improved UI and Excavation performance.
• Added a setting to disable Excavation sun rays.
• Added leaderboard categories and friends-only filtering.
• Added Discovery confirmation and updated Google Play Billing.

Version 0.3.24

• Added a travel-log achievement and improved achievement sorting.
• Kept rumors visible through cooldowns so their locations can be logged.
• Fixed scrolling, duplicate logs and unnamed park discovery.
• Added a 0.1% rumor rarity upgrade chance, allowing Artifact rumors.
• Show active rumors in Excavation and moved detector indication lower.

Version 0.3.23

• Added personal travel logs for visited parks.
• Added a popup transparency setting.

Version 0.3.22

• Added Excavation UI indicators for control-unit LEDs and level 3/4 digits.
• Added a dynamic rumor join button for distant rumors.
• Fixed zero default sub-panel transparency.
• Updated Android 15 support and AR Foundation 6.2.

Version 0.3.21: Interface overhaul

• Improved contrast, menu buttons and configurable panel transparency and background blur.
• Added personal AR screenshots as device-local backgrounds and a default-background option.
• Fixed incomplete reveal edge cases and friend-profile mode switching.
• Changed control-unit partial reveals and added many items.

Version 0.3.20

• Fixed unnamed park discovery and reduced reveal threshold to 95%.
• Control-unit level can now partially reveal items for instant sale.
• Fixed upgrade refreshes and mint colors for rumor and quest finds.
• Improved Excavation performance, rumor refresh speed and AR shovel interaction.

Version 0.3.19

• Added item cleaning to reveal finds.
• Added minor UI improvements and showroom fixes.

Version 0.3.18

• Added friend profile viewing and personal showroom item notes.
• Brought tap-to-dig-faster to AR and fixed automatic shovel placement.
• Increased rare-item chance in AR and fixed showroom duplication.
• Added minor Excavation improvements.

Version 0.3.17: Showroom

• Released a separate inventory for valuable display items.
• Added item bumping for personalized order.
• Prevented showroom items from being restored, traded, gifted or sold.
• Simplified login/status checks, removed unnecessary Excavation detail and improved tablet profile layouts.

Version 0.3.16

• Added a news panel and fixed AR lighting.
• Improved Excavation performance and updated the level 2 control unit.
• Disabled multithreaded rendering.
• Added settings for Excavation leaves and audio.

Version 0.3.15

• Added double-tap shovel switching in AR and retained automatic shovel placement for accessibility.
• Added Control Unit upgrades affecting performance and appearance.
• Added an Only Mint inventory filter and improved leaderboard/profile UI.

Version 0.3.14

• Updated Unity from 6.0 to 6.1 and AR packages to 6.2.
• Improved frame rates by defaulting to the device's highest available rate.
• Added 30, 60, 120 and highest frame-rate choices and disabled V-sync.

Version 0.3.13

• Added a visual Discovery marker to rumors.
• Improved Excavation performance and added an intro-skip setting.
• Moved shop pricing to the server.
• Improved achievement appearance and immediate profile-picture refresh.

Version 0.3.12: Discovery

• Added an uncommon-item achievement, smoother Excavation movement and mint-popup fixes.
• Added experimental AI Discovery for named large parks, producing location-specific rumor descriptions and artifacts.
• Discovery initially cost one token and remained free for other players after activation.

Version 0.3.11

• Added beach map colors and improved map rewards, UI and navigation.
• Added mint item visuals and refined Restoration Kits.
• Made Dynamic Luck persistent and improved quest rarity.
• Increased AR item frequency and rarity.

Version 0.3.10

• Added 5% edge padding for Excavation item placement and removed entry passes.
• Replaced passes with a ten-minute rewarded-ad gold boost.
• Fixed XP and mapped Android Back to the profile.

Version 0.3.9 hotfix

• Fixed errors in other modes after leaving Excavation.
• Reduced location-find response time from as much as 17 seconds to about 150 milliseconds.

Version 0.3.9

• Introduced Gems, rewarded ads and Restoration Kits.
• Made item condition affect appearance and added perfect-condition coloring.
• Fixed bonus value display and improved popup consistency.
• Updated Unity, added marketplace previews and locked portrait orientation.

Version 0.3.8

• Matched Excavation/map characters to the selected default avatar.
• Fixed delayed Excavation chests by allowing only the network popup to wait.
• Added double-tap shovel switching and polished the start menu and AR shovel.

Version 0.3.7

• Added reliable on-device and RAM item texture caching.
• Sent temporary coordinates for location-specific findings under the privacy policy.
• Improved map edges, UI response and Excavation detector speed.
• Made quests non-tradeable and added avatars to friends and leaderboards.

Mid-update balance changes

• Fixed instant selling for rumors and quests.
• Made legendary items slightly harder to obtain.
• Set rumors to 1.2x base value and quests to at least 50 coins.

Version 0.3.6

• Updated profile backgrounds, panel transparency and quest rarity labels.
• Marked the best-condition copy with a star.
• Fixed a slider and improved rumor names, rarity and search filters.
• Adjusted buried chest and detector positions in Excavation.

Thanks to oskar3123 for many suggestions.

Version 0.3.5

• Fixed message refresh, duplicates, images, values and condition displays.
• Fixed friend removal and live sorting.
• Made Excavation digging five seconds with tap acceleration and safer edge placement.
• Added a shovel upgrade and fixed upgrade application.
• Expanded and fixed achievements and improved quest rarity.

Versions 0.3.3–0.3.4

• Added password changes, profile pictures and achievements.
• Improved Excavation placement, automatic detector switching and chest positioning.
• Fixed quest cancellation, filters, time indicators and LED states.
• Added Dynamic Luck, boosted AR rarity and lowered Coil Signal prices.
• Improved map rewards, UI scaling and achievement tracking.

Version 0.3.2

• Added sale sound effects.
• Fixed empty Excavation popups and shovel sounds on UI clicks.
• Improved rumor loading and fixed login-popup and quest-cancel interactions.

Version 0.3.1

• Added Excavation ambience, vibration, pass entry and correct depth display.
• Fixed Excavation re-entry, popup closing and UI-triggered shovel placement.
• Added friend-request settings, inventory sorting and graphics quality.
• Added client status/update enforcement, session security and player bans.
• Prepared rewarded ads for free Excavation passes.

Version 0.3

• Updated to Unity 6 and removed the splash screen.
• Released trade offers with up to three items on each side.
• Added always-available Excavation mode.
• Fixed disappearing map chests and added several items.

Version 0.2.4

• Added friend lists and gifts.
• Made Coil Signal improve rarity and reduce repeated local finds.
• Gave quest items a random 1.5x–2.5x value multiplier.
• Added read-message hiding, UI improvements and bug fixes.

Version 0.2.3

• Replaced the popup menu with persistent navigation and moved the map button.
• Added unread-message indication, compass updates and leaderboard foundations.
• Fixed quest borders and rumor completion state.
• Lowered quest prices and made usernames case-insensitive.

Version 0.2.2

• Improved registration, login help and network reliability.
• Allowed multiple players to join a rumor.
• Marked AR as optional for broader device installation.
• Convert regular finds into active quest items when appropriate.

Version 0.2.1

• Fixed height blocking item detection beneath holes.
• Added vibration and ground-line settings.
• Simplified detector LEDs and moved controls.
• Added new/better item indicators and adjusted base prices.

Version 0.2

• Added the message center and operational upgrades.
• Reworked walking distance for frequent, consistent map updates.
• Fixed numerous issues.

Version 0.1.15

• Added 100-coin quests with protected green-border finds.
• Added the first upgrade interface ahead of version 0.2.

Version 0.1.14

• Improved login/register response and recovery email settings.
• Simplified detector LEDs and improved touch input.
• Improved map colors, rumor counts and reward paths.
• Fixed item search and stopped late rumor joining after discovery.

Version 0.1.13

• Added map chests every 50 meters.
• Raised maximum walking speed to 8.5 km/h.
• Stored and reset daily walking distance.
• Awarded up to three map-return items and fixed duplicate chest opening.

Versions 0.1.11–0.1.12

• Improved scene switching, map re-entry, rumor handling and event management.
• Added camera/location permission dialogs and updated Unity.
• Added rumor time bars and corrected rumor updates.
• Improved walking validation and added a 30-second AR session reset.

Version 0.1.10

• Released rumor seeking and finding.
• Added first-finder borders while keeping the base item available to participants.
• Allowed joining and leaving one rumor at a time.

Version 0.1.9 and rumor groundwork

• Filtered compass heading and fixed shovel switching during digging.
• Added offline server recovery, map rumor improvements and walking distance.
• Made rumors clickable and fixed expired marketplace items returning to sellers.