Echo Protocol 0.5.0-beta.2 — Hotfix 2

Hotfix 2 improves Echo visibility, natural behavior, movement reliability, and issues discovered during extended survival testing.

Visual improvements

• Increased stable Echo visibility to approximately 95% opacity.
• Added a subtle blue-white ghost tint.
• Preserved the target player's real Minecraft skin.
• Preserved classic and slim player models.
• Echoes still use normal depth testing and cannot be seen through walls.
• Improved visibility in caves and other dark environments.
• Reduced excessive flickering and transparency during stable manifestations.
• Legacy default opacity values are automatically upgraded, while custom configuration values remain supported.

Behavior and movement fixes

• Improved selection of meaningful recorded movement.
• Reduced selection of idle and AFK recording segments.
• Improved Memory Echo movement.
• Fixed Echoes frequently staring at the ground.
• Fixed inappropriate inherited or recorded pitch.
• Fixed independent Echo pitch initialization.
• Fixed Mimic movement using incorrect recorded coordinates.
• Improved natural Echo manifestations and replay behavior.
• Improved grounding on slabs and uneven terrain.
• Improved collision-aware movement and route safety.
• Preserved protection against blocked or unsafe historical routes.

Event Director fixes

• Fixed rejected manifestations consuming long successful-event cooldowns.
• Improved retry behavior after rejected or unobserved events.
• Fixed cleanup cases that could leave Echo activity locked.
• Improved observation checks for Echo-related advancements.
• Fixed Corrupted Memory progression occurring before a meaningful observable manifestation.
• Improved Echo appearance sound readability.

Compatibility

Separate Fabric builds are available for:

• Minecraft 1.21.11
• Minecraft 1.21.9–1.21.10
• Minecraft 1.21.6–1.21.8
• Minecraft 1.21.5
• Minecraft 1.21.4
• Minecraft 1.21.2–1.21.3
• Minecraft 1.21.1

Requires Java 21.

Testing

• 64 automated regression tests passing on every supported version branch.
• Minecraft 1.21.11 tested through Prism Launcher in natural survival gameplay.
• Dedicated Fabric server startup and shutdown verified during Hotfix 2 QA.

This remains a beta release. Larger gameplay additions and new horror behaviors are planned for a future update.