Schedule I v0.4.6 Lands Gamepad Support and a 20–30% Performance Boost
Developer Tyler describes gamepad support as the most labor-intensive feature the team has tackled — underway since last year and, in his words, "shockingly more involved than initially thought." Every menu and input interaction in the game required rebuilding or significant alteration to reach the result shipping in v0.4.6.
What changed
Gamepad foundation
- New UI framework covering screens, panels, tabs, and buttons
- New input prompt system with distinct prompts for Xbox and PlayStation DualSense controllers
- Haptics system
- Virtual cursor with simulated friction and magnetism
- Pointer snapping for click-heavy tasks such as harvesting
- New internal state system integrated across all menus and interactions
- Platform-integrated fullscreen fade to prevent unintentional input when the Steam overlay opens
- Gamepad-related settings added
Validated controllers: Xbox Controller, PS5 DualSense, Steam Controller (including Steam Deck), and any generic controller adhering to the Windows XInput API.
Optimization
- New and refined LODs across the game
- Shader optimizations
- Lighting and shadow tweaks
- Code rewrites targeting frame spikes
- Reported result: a 20–30% performance boost in internal testing, with noticeably reduced visual pop-in
On the horizon: A "special customers" update — featuring new customer groups — was being developed in parallel and is described as "not far off."
For players who have been waiting on controller viability or struggling with performance, this update addresses both fronts in a single release.