July Major Update: LAN, Couch Co-op, Leaderboards & Full Controller Support

Hello everyone!

Our biggest update for Hold Your King so far is now live!

This update introduces entirely new ways to play together with LAN multiplayer and split-screen couch co-op, alongside global leaderboards, significantly expanded controller support, dynamic input prompts, improved customization, more reliable save data, and numerous quality-of-life improvements.

New Ways to Play Together

• Added LAN multiplayer support, allowing players on the same local network to host and join games.
• Added split-screen couch co-op support for playing together on the same device.
• Added a new Network Select panel for choosing between the available multiplayer modes.
• Added a dedicated tutorial system for couch co-op players.
• Added a new ready-up flow for players joining through couch co-op.

Expanded Controller Support

• Significantly improved controller support throughout the game.
• Improved controller navigation and interaction across supported user interface elements.
• Improved controller input handling during gameplay.
• Improved runtime switching between keyboard, mouse, and controller inputs.
• Improved controller assignment and device management for couch co-op players.
• Improved first-person camera rotation and responsiveness when using a controller.
• Added controller vibration feedback for supported gameplay actions.
• Improved compatibility with Xbox-style and PlayStation-style controllers.

Dynamic Input Prompts

• Added a new dynamic input prompt system.
• Input icons now automatically update based on the currently assigned input device.
• Added dedicated keyboard, Xbox-style, and PlayStation-style input icons.
• Dynamic input icons are now supported by contextual and expandable in-game control indicators.

Global Leaderboards

• Added Global Leaderboards, allowing players to compare their scores with the wider Hold Your King community.
• Improved authentication and score-related backend systems.
• Improved analytics events and their associated parameters.

Character Customization

• Added character customization support for couch co-op players.
• Last selected costumes are now saved separately for each local player.

Settings and User Interface

• Added separate Master, Music, VFX, and Ambience volume controls.
• Fixed an issue where settings could fail to save correctly.
• Fixed an issue where saved settings were not initialized correctly when opening the game.
• Fixed an issue that prevented lobby panels from closing correctly with the ESC key.
• Polished several menu and credits elements.

Save System Improvements

• Improved how host and participant identities are stored in world saves.
• Save files now track participating players more reliably.
• Improved participant validation when continuing an existing world.
• The Bonk Counter is now associated with the correct player when a saved world is continued by a different participant.

Lobby and Multiplayer Fixes

• Fixed an issue where attempting to join a lobby that had already closed could leave the game stuck in a searching loop.
• Added improved lobby availability checks before attempting to join.
• Added timeout handling for failed lobby join attempts.
• Improved the overall reliability of the lobby browser and multiplayer connection flow.

Additional Improvements

• Improved controller responsiveness in several gameplay situations.
• Improved the consistency of local multiplayer initialization.
• Added various user interface and quality-of-life improvements.
• Improved overall stability across multiplayer and couch co-op systems.

This update represents a major step forward for Hold Your King, giving players more ways to play together and a much smoother experience when playing with controllers.

Thank you for your continued support, feedback, and bug reports.

Gather your friends, grab your controllers, carry the King, and try not to drop him!

See you in the kingdom!