Dev Log
Technical deep dives, design insights, and development updates from the team building Deep Haul.
How to Properly Implement GAS in UE5: The Setup Guide I Wish I Had
A step-by-step guide to setting up GAS correctly - modules, ASC initialization, attributes, effects, abilities, and the mistakes that will cost you days
Designing S.A.L.L.I. — Your Cheerfully Unhelpful Corporate AI
How we built a brand voice that players love to hate
Multiplayer From Day One: Replication Patterns for Co-op Horror
Authority, prediction, and the patterns that keep 4 players in sync
Every Door Is a Decision: Interactive Doors in UE5 Multiplayer
Replicated door states, hazards, and the GAS-powered interaction system
Why I Chose GAS: Building Deep Haul on Unreal's Gameplay Ability System
How the dumb applicator philosophy keeps multiplayer code clean and composable
Animating a Space Salvager: UE5 Animation Architecture
Linked anim graphs, motion warping, and the solo dev animation pipeline
Building a Universe Where the Company Is the Real Monster
Worldbuilding through corporate policies, lore drops, and environmental storytelling
The Extraction Loop: Why Leaving Is the Hardest Part
Designing the risk/reward loop that makes extraction games addictive
Every Door Is a Gamble: Deep Haul's Interaction and Item Architecture
How a custom trace channel, data assets, and a solo dev workflow turn items into gameplay
"Technical documentation is a form of legacy. Your legacy. Which Salvage Solutions Inc. owns per Section 14.2 of your Employment Agreement."