The following list contains discontinued features that existed in The Long Dark throughout its early access versions but were removed and/or replaced. It also includes content found through the game's life that was cut and never made it into the game. Some icons remain in the game's files to this day, but cannot be spawned in game.
Many items that have been cut here can be re-experienced by using the Time Capsule.
Cut Tools/Mechanics
Brand
“ | The Brand is a burning stick that serves as a small torch. Provides a bit of light, and might be useful against wildlife. In-game description
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There was a tool called a Brand in the early Alpha that was just a stick on fire. It could be taken only from active fires (campfires, etc). It was not throwable, but could instead be brandished. This item could not be placed in the player's backpack, weighed 0.30 kg, and would disappear from the game world after it burned out and was picked up.
It was eventually cut in the Faithful Cartographer update and replaced by taking Torches out of fireboxes instead.
Brandishing
There was a cut Mechanic where a player could brandish (swinging sideways) their Flares, Torches, and Brands to scare away wolves by using a 5% of your Stamina. This feature was removed and replaced by throwing torches and flares at wildlife instead.
Shovel
A Shovel was originally in the game as seen on the title screen but was never found outside of console commands. It has no item description or gameplay functionality. This item was removed from the title screen menu in 2017 with the release of V1.00 (Wintermute Predux Update). It was most likely either going to be used to build a Snow Shelter, with earlier in-game art icons showing shovels being used to build them, or was just a simple scenery item for the title screen.
It can be found in the mission Memories in Episode 1: Do Not Go Gentle, next to the bathroom, but cannot be picked up.
Fire Axe
“ | A large axe of the kind used to break down doors during fires. In game description
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A Fire Axe remains in the game files as far back as 2015, but cannot be found outside of console commands. It has an item description but can only be used during Carcass Harvesting, and has no other functionality.
Heated Car Seats
An option for Heated Seats would appear during an Aurora inside several trucks in Keeper's Pass South following the Perilous Constraint update. Hovering over the dashboard would make the option appear, but ultimately did not raise the player's Warmth since the feature was not complete (given the obvious string of gameplay code presented). The option was ultimately removed in a patch, and Heated Seats as a potential mechanic have yet to return.
Fresh Leather
An uncured variant of Leather was originally present in the earlier builds of the game and was present past the 1.00 launch of the game. Fresh Leather was originally harvested from animals instead of animal hides, and would cure indoors for 5 days before becoming Cured Leather. Eventually animal hides would replace Fresh Leather, but the item could occasionally be found in the game world, with indoor spawns of the items eventually turning into Cured Leather over time. This item has ultimately been removed from the game's loot tables in Survival Mode, and is impossible to find anywhere without console commands.
Pumpkin Pie and 2500 Calorie Chocolate Bar
In a previous event that ran for 4 years every October, Hinterland introduced a game mode called the 4 Days of Night Event. 2 items unique to this game mode, Pumpkin Pie and a 2500 calorie Candy Bar, have since been removed from the game, and are unable to be found outside of console commands. Several other items, such as Jack-o-Lanterns, have also been cut but are still in the game files.
Past Events
3 limited time game modes/events have been discontinued over the course of the game's lifetime. They are currently inaccessible even via the Time Capsule (having been patched into and out of the game via their own unique update), and feature unique gameplay modifiers sometimes not found even in Custom Survival Mode experiences. Several limited time event Badges could be earned from playing these game modes, and are still shown in the Badges screen even for players that have never participated in the events.
Year | Start date | End date |
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2016 | 28 October 10AM PST | 1 November 10AM PST |
2017 | 27 October 11PM PST | 31 October 11PM PST |
2018 | 27 October 11PM PDT | 1 November 10AM PDT |
2019 | 27 October 10PM PST | 1 November 10AM PDT |
4 Limited time Badges were available during the 2018 and 2019 versions of the game.
- Winter's Embrace
- Ran from June 29th to July 31st. Introduced the Ketchup Chips and Maple Syrup items, as well as 2 unique Badges.
- Escape the Darkwalker
- Originally a 2 week long event (October 29, 2020 to November 12, 2020), this game mode replaced 4DON since players were upset with how short the Halloween event 4DON was, not being able to find time to play the limited 4 day long event. Escape the Darkwalker is currently the only game mode that was turned into a permanent addition to the game as a Challenge.
Early Survival Mode
Struggle
When the Long Dark entered in Early Access, Struggle with hostile Wildlife underwent several changes throughout its development.
Initially, once a Wolf pounced on the player, the player had to click the left button of their mouse to build up strength as indicated in a red progress bar and once it was full, they could click the right button of their mouse and repeat until the process kills the wolf or causes it to flee from the player. This method proved very difficult to players, often proving fatal.
In Early Access update 0.163 (Released November 2014), the struggle system underwent a complete overhaul and behaves similarly the way it behaves in full release version except that there was no weapon choice to fight the wolf. If the player had a knife on them (backpack), the game would automatically choose this weapon to fight the wolf. Also, gone is the build up strength mechanic and introduced the "Fight" button by just clicking the right button of the mouse until the wolf flees.
Finally, in Early Access update 0.423 (June 2017), it introduced weapon choice to select right before the struggle (the game would be slowed down for few seconds to give you enough time to react).
Running instead of Sprinting
Early Survival Mode gave the player the option to toggle or hold the ability to run, and the player could always run without a cooldown (infinite running) or effecting Fatigue. Becoming Exhausted however would prevent the player from running. Eventually, this system was replaced in the Deep Forest update, giving the player a Stamina meter, and endlessly running was instead replaced by occasional Sprinting that lowers Fatigue quickly.
Abstract Foraging for Fuel
Early Survival Mode gave players the menu option to spend time and calories searching the area for fuel. This system was eventually replaced in the Deep Forest update, providing a Direct Harvesting and Foraging system that is still in place today, adding Sticks and Harvestable Objects throughout the game world.
Searching Containers
Originally, searching a container would yield items as the search bar filled up. Multiple items inside a container would appear halfway through the search until the bar was fully filled and could be claimed or left inside. It was eventually changed so that items are only yielded once the search bar reaches 100%.
Calorie Store
Maximum Calories for the earliest time was capped at 3000 stored calories. It was eventually changed to the current 2500 Calorie Store.
Drop Decoy
Drop Decoy originally allowed you to drop any food in your inventory as Baiting for predators. It was eventually changed so that only meat and guts could be dropped.
Item Model/Name Changes
Several items and their in-game models have been changed throughout the years, mostly from the early Alpha days to the present. Below is a list of name/model changes (items with changed names will have the current name in a hyperlink):
Fire Staring
Clothing
Food and Drink
First Aid
Tools
Materials
Old Survival Menu/UI backgrounds
Most of the Survival Menu backgrounds have changed from an actual book to stylized floating text. A physical book can still be heard closing when closing the Survival Menu despite the modernized changes.
Survival Skills
The survival skills originally did not have a dedicated menu, but instead appeared when they were leveled up similarly to Secondary Skills. Eventually players could see their survival skills in the "basic skills" tab in a book, before it was changed to a modern-style book.
Clock and Time of day
In the pre-alpha version, players would have a digital clock shown on HUD UI stating the exact time of day (could be changed to 12 or 24 hour display). This was later removed and replaced by "Time of Day" which showed how many hours of either light or darkness are left until the next 12 hours of the day begins.
Time of day would later undergo a few changes until it was replaced with the current rotating sun and moon icons.
Discontinued Wintermute Content
Many of these features were in the original Predux releases of Episode 1 and Episode 2 and were removed following the Redux re-release.
The original Wintermute storyline
The original Wintermute Storyline was largely changed in the Redux rerelease, heavily changing the plot and mission structure of the story. The original missions went in the following order:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Hatch in Trapper's Homestead Floorboards
In the pre Redux version of Episode 2, Jeremiah would walk over to the middle of the floor and open a hatch with a ham radio inside after Mackenzie left in order to send a message out to an unknown party. This hatch is still present in the floorboards of the cabin to this day, but cannot be opened. The same radio was reworked into the mission Signal to Noise, as Mackenzie must now repair it with Jeremiah.
Side Missions
Several side missions were cut or reworked into the Redux version of Episode 1 and 2:
- Light Up The Night was cut from Episode 1 and was replaced by Highway Robbery (mission), and was unlocked by raising Grey Mother's Trust.
- Forge Blueprints (mission) was cut from Episode 2 entirely, and was given by Jeremiah as a reward for raising his Trust. The player would go to the Old Spence Family Homestead and unlock the ability to Forge improvised tools.
- Jeremiah's Hideout was a location replaced by the Aurora Hatch in Episode 2 following the Redux re-release. Jeremiah would give the player the side mission once their Trust level was at max and would ask Mackenzie to burn some of his old letters.
Trust
“ | Trust. A hard thing to come by these days. Many people you meet will be suspicious of you. But most of them have needs they may not be able to fulfill without your help. Helping them will earn you Trust, which will in turn unlock useful Knowledge, Locations, Items, and more. Check the character's Trust entry in your Journal to learn more about them, their needs, and how they can help you. In game Tutorial message Pre Redux
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In the original Wintermute releases of Episodes 1 and 2, Grey Mother and Jeremiah could be given items to build up their trust with Mackenzie. Taking or breaking down items from their homes would lower trust, whereas bringing them items they wished for would increase trust (sticks, cured rabbit pelts, etc). Having a higher Trust would grant the player access to additional dialogue options, which would reveal more worldbuilding information or give access to entire side quests (such as finding a Distress Pistol in Episode 1 or Jeremiah giving the coordinates to Jeremiah's Hideout). The system was ultimately removed following the Redux re-releases of both episodes and was replaced with standard dialogue options. Trust rewards always maxed out at 375 Trust, making donating more items useless. Unlocked Trust items/knowledge/blueprints would remain unlocked, even it Trust fell below the unlocking requirements.
It is possible to steal food items from Grey Mother and Jeremiah by opening canned goods and canceling halfway through, thus claiming the item and not lowering Trust. Jeremiah will know the player has taken his things even when he is passed out at the start of Episode 2.
Grey Mother's Trust
The following would have unlocked as Trust continued to increase:
Items That Increase Trust
- +1 Stick
- +3 Reishi Mushroom
- +5 Bandage
- +10 Military-Grade MRE
- +25 Can Opener
- +30 Fresh Rabbit Pelt or Cured Rabbit Pelt
Things that lose Trust
- -5 Searching containers (even if you don't take anything)
- -15 Taking items
- -25 Breaking down furniture
Trust Levels And Unlocks
- 25 Trust: Knowledge: Milton History - Worldbuilding information about the history of Milton. (Gives Town of Milton What I Know Knowledge)
- 50 Trust: Gameplay Tip: Sharpening - Gameplay tip about how to maintain Bladed tools. (Gives Whetstone)
- 75 Trust: Knowledge: The Collapse - Worldbuilding information about the Collapse. (Gives History of The Collapse Part One What I Know Knowledge)
- 125 Trust: Cache Location - The location of a Supply Cache, updated on your Map. (Gives new Milton Supply Caches)
- 175 Trust: Side Mission: Distress Pistol - Information about where you might find a Distress Pistol. (Light Up The Night)
- 225 Trust: Blueprint: Rabbit Skin Mittens - Unlocks the Crafting Blueprint for Rabbit Skin Mittens.
- 300 Trust: Knowledge: Perseverance Mills - Worldbuilding information about Perseverance Mills. (Gives History of The Collapse Part Two What I Know Knowledge)
- 375 Trust: Item: Mountaineering Boots - Grey Mother gives you with Mountaineering Boots. (sic) (Gives Mountaineering Boots)
Jeremiah's Trust
Items That Increase Trust
- +1 Stick
- +3 Cloth
- +3 Old Man's Beard Wound Dressing
- +10 Pork and Beans
- +25 Fresh Rabbit Pelt or Cured Rabbit Pelt
- +30 Fresh Deer Hide or Cured Deer Hide
Things that lose Trust
- -5 Searching containers (even if you don't take anything)
- -15 Taking items
- -25 Breaking down furniture
Trust Levels And Unlocks
- 25 Trust: Knowledge: Mystery Lake - Worldbuilding information about Mystery Lake. (Unlocks Mystery Lake & Area What I Know Knowledge)
- 50 Trust: Cache Location - The location of a Supply Cache, updated on your Map. (Unlocks a cache for Mystery Lake Supply Caches)
- 75 Trust: Knowledge: Blueprint: Improvised Hatchet - Unlocks the Crafting Blueprint for Improvised Hatchet (unlocks the Forge Blueprints side mission)
- 125 Trust: Knowledge: Carter Dam - Worldbuilding information about Carter Hydro Dam. (Unlocks Carter Hydro Dam What I Know Knowledge)
- 175 Trust: Blueprint: Deerskin Pants and Deerskin Boots - Unlocks the Crafting Blueprint for Deerskin Pants and Deerskin Boots.
- 225 Trust: Blueprint: Snow Shelter - Unlocks the Crafting Blueprint for the Snow Shelter.
- 300 Trust: Knowledge: Aurora Observations - Worldbuilding information about the Aurora. (Unlocks History of The Collapse Part 3 and 4 What I Know Knowledge)
- 375 Trust: Side Mission: Old Letters - Jeremiah Wants you to find and destroy some of his old letters. (Unlocks Jeremiah's Hideout side mission)
3rd Person Cutscenes
With the original Predux release of Episode 1 and 2, Mackenzie would appear in 3rd person in each cutscene. He would always wear his default clothing, regardless of what was chosen to be worn by the player, and was far more expressive and interactive when meeting with other characters.
Following the Redux updates, all cutscenes were replaced with a first person perspective and were completely redesigned from Makenzie's perspective. All cutscenes in future Episodes still feature first person character interactions to date.
Jeremiah's Bearskin Coat
As part of the Survival School (Predux) mission, Mackenzie needed to repair Jeremiah's Bearskin Coat in order to learn about Mending. This was the same coat that Jeremiah was wearing when the Old Bear attacked him at the end of Episode 1. The coat was not a Collectible, but rather a Clothing item, and had no clothing stats, could not be worn, and weighed 5.00 kg. It would be repaired with 1 Cured Black Bear Hide, and later be returned to Jeremiah.
Cut Tools
Bolt Cutters
The Bolt Cutters were a tool found exclusively in Episode 2 of Wintermute. They could be found in the Maintenance Yard in Broken Railroad and were used to open the gate that led to the Hunting Lodge.
The bolt cutters were removed from the game entirely after the Redux update, however they were re-introduced in the ending of Episode 3 as a puzzle tool, and later in Episode 4, both being used to cut open a single gate again. They were also introduced in Survival Mode as part of the Buried Echoes Tale, and are used to cut open several gates as part of the Tale to access parts of the Zone of Contamination.
Jeremiah's Knife
Jeremiah's Knife was a tool found exclusively in Episode 2 of Wintermute. It was removed from Episode and the game entirely after the Redux update, however the icon can still be seen occasionally in Survival Mode when crafting at a Work Bench. The knife is still present as a spawnable object in the game files. It has been seen in an official trailer as late as December 5th 2023, as well as an icon for Misery Mode during the May 13th 2024 News update.
Jeremiah's Broken Rifle and Hunting Lodge Rifle
Jeremiah's rifle originally breaks after Mackenzie fires it at the end of Episode 2, with an entire mission dedicated to fixing Jeremiah's Broken Rifle while looking for your own rifle. A unique Hunting Rifle would be found in the mission You Fix My Rifle? and was used for the rest of the Story. The Hunting Lodge Rifle was eventually replaced by the Broken Bear Spear, with a Jeremiah's Rifle being available from the start of Episode 2 in the Redux The Wounded Trapper mission. Features of the Hunting Lodge Rifle would later be recycled into the Curator's Rifle and Vaughn's Rifle.
Cut Collectibles
In the Predux version of Episode 1 and Episode 2, several collectibles did not make the transition to Redux:
Episode 1
- A key on the body of Martin Barker was cut from the game.
- The key would open a lockbox containing an Emergency Kit Note inside. This same lockbox would later be found next to Hobbs in the Redux, minus the note, and would be filled with Cash instead of Emergency Supplies.
Episode 2
- Jeremiah's Broken Rifle, and Jeremiah's Repaired Rifle would be cut from the game.
- A side mission involving burning Jeremiah's Papers would be replaced by the side mission Aurora Hatch.
- Mackenzie was required to shoot and cut the ear off of the Old Bear and then return it to Jeremiah in order to prove that the Old Bear was slain.
Early Item Designs
- An early version of the Revolver was planned but ultimately never introduced into the game until the Steadfast Ranger update, including Revolver Ammunition and Revolver Shell Casings. Textures for Revolver Ammunition can be found as early as the Early Access Launch Update.
- Hinterland released a teaser image of the Bear Spear in their News Update shortly before the Wintermute Redux update.
- An early screenshot showed the Spray Paint with a blue cap instead of the orange cap in the final release.
Unused Icons
Several icons can be found in the game files as far back as the alpha builds, yet these items have not been seen or used in game yet. They are considered cut content.
- The Wolf Carcass is a Wolf Carcass that can be carried around and harvested, likely for testing reasons.
- Newsprint Insulation can be harvested for a Newsprint, also likely for testing purposes.
Cut Achievements/Badges
Several Achievements and icons were changed with the release of The Long Dark V1.00 Wintermute release. The previous Achievements' stylized appearance would later be reworked into the Badges and Feats systems.
A list of achievements that were cut from the game include:
Image | Name | Description |
Two for Two | Survive for 2 days in a single Survival Mode game. | |
Wolfbait | Survive 5 days in a single Survival Mode game. | |
It's Getting Cold Out There | Survive 15 days in a single Survival Mode game. | |
Tough as Nails | Survive 20 days in a single Survival Mode game. | |
You Prep the Preppers | Survive 30 days in a single Survival Mode game. | |
Master Survivor | Survive 40 days in a single Survival Mode game. | |
One With Nature | Survive for 200 days in a single Survival Mode game. |
The following achievements were kept but received a new achievement icon:
Image | Name | Description |
First of Many | Survive for 1 day in a single Survival Mode game. | |
You Made It! | Survive 10 days in a single Survival Mode game. | |
Ready for when the SHTF! | Survive for 50 days in a single Survival Mode game. | |
Centurion | Survive for 100 days in a single Survival Mode game. | |
Exploration Game | Visit every interior location in both Mystery Lake and Coastal Highway (single game) | |
Waste Not, Want Not | Harvest 10 Complete Deer Carcasses (single game) | |
Night Walker | Survive an entire Night outside (single game) | |
Beneath a Stary Sky | Survive 3 consecutive Nights outside (single game) | |
Silent Hunter | Survive the first 50 days without firing the hunting rifle, revolver or the distress pistol (single game) | |
Pacifist | Survive the first 25 days without killing anything (single game) | |
It was THIS Big! | Catch a fish weighing over 5kg (11 lbs). | |
Wrapped in Furs | Sleep in a Bear Skin Bedroll while wearing a Wolfskin Coat, Deerskin Boots, and Rabbitskin Mittens. | |
Living Off the Land | Survive 25 consecutive full days only consuming calories harvested from wild plants and animals (single game) | |
Natural Healer | Heal yourself using all types of natural medicines (single game) | |
Happy Harvester | Harvest 25 of each kind of plant (single game) |
Discontinued Icons
Afflictions
Skills
Other
Challenge Portraits
Region Portraits
Old Region Maps
Title Screens
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