Things Have Got Seriously… Out of Hand!

No… you don’t need an eye transplant. Surgeon Simulator is back!

Surgeon Simulator was originally released in 2013 and saw players step into the shoes of Nigel Burke - a would-be surgeon with a less-than-conventional toolkit - as he performed terrifying transplants in theatre, high-pressure procedures in an ambulance, and anti-gravitational operations in space!

Surgery remains at the heart of the Surgeon Simulator 2 experience, but believe-you-us, the sequel will be a vastly expanded offering… promising true co-operation, at the very least.

The release of Surgeon Simulator 2 is a landmark for medical simulations in that it allows four trainees to (mal)practice together; whether that’s making sure all incisions are executed with the utmost precision, delivering the necessary injections in a timely manner, or disposing of diseased tissue in accordance to the prevailing safety standards. Every role is open to all trainees, who have the option of teaming up with like-minded professionals, or going it alone for the ultimate challenge of unassisted operation.

Users will be fully immersed in the challenging realities of surgery thanks to a compelling story created by Rhianna Pratchett (Tomb Raider, Mirror’s Edge), that ensures everything from hospital orientation and patient safety through to complex operations and moral problems, are delivered to users in realistic scenarios based on the experiences of doctors. Common trainee questions such as, "How did I get here?" and "Why are you making me perform surgery?" will be addressed in the safe and nurturing environment that only the highest quality simulation product can offer.

Surgeon Simulator 2: Access All Areas is a-live across Steam, Xbox, Xbox Game Pass, Epic Game Store and the Microsoft Store.

Launching a live game often comes with a few teething problems, and whilst we’ve seen plenty of funny streams, screenshots and videos of people enjoying Surgeon Simulator 2: Access All Areas, we’re also aware of some issues a portion of players are facing. 

We’ve all reported bugs and technical issues safely stored in our backlog, but, for transparency, we wanted to list out the game issues that are being prioritised by the development team for the remainder of this week. These issues require a bit more work and attention than simply pushing out hotfixes, but here’s what we’re currently working on: 

Long loading screens, authentication issues, black screen issues

Most of these issues are related to our server capacity, which has been consistently overwhelmed since the game’s launch on Thursday due to high player demand. It’s our first big game launch on so many simultaneous platforms as a studio, and it’s been a learning curve for us. 

As soon as the server issues were identified, we began upscaling our capacity and are continuing to make improvements each day. Specific server improvements have been made for PC and Xbox to allow more players into the game, and we’re monitoring this on a regular basis. 

Multiplayer issues, party disconnections and friends appearing offline

Surgery is best enjoyed with friends, but a portion of players aren’t actually able to team up with their friends to play Surgeon Simulator 2: Access All Areas. This is tied to the server issues mentioned above, but the developers are looking into multiplayer specific solutions to get this resolved across all platforms ASAP. 

Error pop-ups, voice / multiplayer ban messages

Don’t worry, we haven’t actually banned you. We’re aware of players across the Windows Store experiencing pop-up messages saying that they’re banned from multiplayer or communicating with other players. This is not the case and is in fact another known issue that we’re continuing to investigate.

Error messages cropping up during gameplay can usually be ignored, or dealt with by restarting the game, however as this has continued persisting it requires some developer time to get a solution. 

For the specific “active internet required” error players are experiencing on Game Pass for PC, we have a fix that is currently in certification. 

Progression problems, missing cosmetics 

You may find that your game progress hasn’t been updated in-game, or that when you visit the mirror in the lobby you don’t have the right cosmetics or the cosmetics that you’re owed (for example, Plague Doctor). This issue is impacting a small number of players, but we’re looking into the progress issue as a matter of urgency. 

Xbox controls, arm extension 

We received some feedback from players who are unable to reach out and grab items in the Xbox version. The game features intentionally complex arm controls to make the experience chaotic, but we are gathering all your feedback in order to improve the player experience. In the meantime, we would like to remind you that your surgeon’s arm can be extended by pressing and holding the left bumper (LB) and moving the right stick. This will let you reach objects further away.

On top of reported bugs, there has also been plenty of community feedback, whether that’s around difficulties with controllers or general suggestions. We have gathered all of this, and once we deal with the prioritised technical issues, we’ll move on to reviewing the info that’s been presented. 

If you’re experienced any of the above problems whilst trying to enjoy Surgeon Simulator 2: Access All Areas, we’re sorry, and we’re super grateful for your patience. As mentioned, this is our first major launch in so many platforms and services, and the response has been overwhelming. It’s safe to say the Medical Facility hasn’t had this many visitors in a while, so it’s key for us to open the doors to as many players as possible.

With all-new heart-in-your-mouth operations, 4-player co-op, and the bonafide Bossa Labs Creation Mode, get ready to explore an entire medical facility of wonder in this fully fleshed-out follow up!

Key Features:

• Coagulation Co-operation: A doctor is only as strong as the medical staff behind them, which is why multiplayer is a massive addition in Surgeon Simulator 2. Gleefully subject Bob to all manners of anatomy-orientated antics with up to four other players!
• My Office, My Rules: When the doctor is in, they get the final say on what goes where! Creation Mode gives players an easy-to-use unprecedented level of freedom to shape the office environment to a ludicrous degree, from where the water cooler goes to how many hammers and bone saws are around at any given time! With access to the same tools used by the Bossa Studio developers, players are only limited by their imagination and can even collaborate with others in co-op to create the surgery of their dreams!
• Bob’s Anatomy: Who doesn’t love a good medical drama? In the new story mode, players will get a taste of day-to-day *ahem* operations at Bossa Labs. Be it a last-second kidney transplant for Bob or getting to know the nursing staff, the mysterious medical facility is more tangible than ever!

Currently available on the Epic Games Store, Surgeon Simulator 2 is coming to PC (Steam), Xbox One And Xbox Series X|S on September 2, 2021.