The Neckening Update Arrives Packed with Features
The Esophaguys v1.2: The Neckening Update is now available on Xbox. Following months of player feedback, bug resolution, and meticulous polishing, this update enhances beloved aspects of Esophaguys. Whether players enjoy speedrunning, cooperative play, or are new to the unique experience of esophagus elongation, new content awaits.
Global Competition with Online Leaderboards
The challenging solo Masochist mode now features an online leaderboard system. Players can compete globally for the fastest speedruns, aiming for world records or simply outperforming friends. Every attempt contributes to a visible ranking, showcasing player skills.
Four-Player Co-op Chaos Unlocked
Block 3, the four-player co-op section, is now fully accessible for immediate multiplayer fun. These levels are specifically designed to maximize laughter and chaotic interactions with a full team, promising synchronized awkwardness, shared victories, and opportunities for both assistance and playful hindrance.
New Emotes and Essential Player Guidance
A collection of new and updated emotes allows for more expressive jiggly communication. Additionally, a dedicated help menu has been introduced to guide new players through game basics, clarifying mechanics and answering common questions.
A variable neck length feature has also been added, offering fine-tuned control over precise neck size, ensuring all necks are treated equally.
Enhanced Visuals and Smoother Gameplay
Significant visual improvements are part of this update. The camera system has been overhauled for jitter-free, smooth gameplay. Geckos now animate dynamically, making encounters more lifelike. Minigame scoring is accompanied by satisfying confetti effects, hub orb deposits feature new VFX, gnome deposit animations have been completely reworked, and a helpful friend now assists in identifying previously hidden secret areas.
Refined Grunts and Twangs
The distinctive audio of Esophaguys feels more cohesive and polished. The game now boasts nearly 4500 personally-recorded, mouth-originated sound effects. New quips have been added for various mechanics, including gnomes, whales, chickens, Travneck, and hub harp orbs. As a pioneer in featuring traditional jews-harp music, new mixes have been incorporated into competitive minigame levels, highlighting a twangy banjo and jews-harp combination. Volume levels have been adjusted, and spikes smoothed for seamless audio transitions throughout the game.
Extensive Fixes and Game-Wide Refinements
Numerous bugs have been addressed, from minor glitches to significant issues. Gnomes no longer get stuck or move incorrectly after spawning. Pre-biting a fly no longer disrupts its logic. Puzzles now correctly open doors without being overly simple or frustratingly difficult.
Issues preventing minigame weapon contests have been resolved, as has flickering when switching between TravNeck and electric neck modes. Level design metrics have been reviewed and adjusted, particularly in Block 3, based on community feedback. Art layering problems have been corrected, progress-critical objects now consistently function and respawn, and bite disconnection issues have been fixed.
Chained player mechanics now work as intended, and the build number has been added to the menu for version clarity. Individual levels are now numbered in the hub world for easier navigation.
The Neckening Update reflects a commitment to incorporating community feedback. Every fix, feature, and visual improvement stems from player input, acknowledging the value of bug reports and enthusiasm for Esophaguys.
