Key Highlights:
- Sons of the Forest Patch 05 launched on 11 May 2023, introducing Basic and Advanced Log Sleds for transporting building materials.
- Tree regrowth and Cooking Pots expanded resource management, with trees gaining a 10% chance to regrow when players slept.
- Kelvin received new commands to reset traps, fill Log Sleds and stock Drying Racks with fish, while Endnight expanded the island with new lakes, ponds and coastal locations.
Endnight Games released Patch 05 for Sons of the Forest on 11 May 2023, bringing back Log Sleds from The Forest alongside a new cooking system, tree regrowth and substantial environmental improvements.
The return of Log Sleds was especially significant for players building large settlements. Instead of carrying Logs individually between forests and construction sites, players could build a Basic or Advanced Log Sled to move supplies more efficiently.
Endnight had confirmed the feature’s return in Sons of the Forest Patch 04, following requests from players who missed the original game’s equipment.
The addition addressed one of the more repetitive aspects of base building. While Kelvin could already help gather materials, transporting a substantial number of Logs remained an important part of constructing larger buildings.
I think this was one of Patch 05’s most meaningful improvements. New weapons and exploration tools are always appealing, but something as straightforward as transporting Logs more efficiently can change how practical it feels to build a permanent base.
Players could now construct two different sled designs, giving them another way to organise material collection. Our Sons of the Forest Sled Guide covers the equipment and its uses in more detail.
Tree regrowth complemented the new sleds by making timber collection more sustainable.
Patch 05 introduced an option allowing trees to regenerate, with a 10% chance of regrowth whenever the player slept. The setting was enabled by default.
This did not mean every tree would immediately return after sleeping. Instead, the system provided a chance for eligible trees to regrow over time, helping replenish areas cleared for construction.
Endnight also introduced findable Cooking Pots and an advanced cooking system, expanding food preparation beyond basic campfire meals.
Cooking Pots gave players another reason to collect ingredients rather than relying exclusively on cooked meat, fish and other individual food items. The new system helped make food preparation a more developed part of survival.
Kelvin received several improvements that tied directly into these additions.
Players could instruct him to fill Log Sleds, reset traps and place fish on Drying Racks, extending his usefulness beyond gathering loose resources and completing construction tasks.
These commands were particularly valuable because they allowed Kelvin to support several recurring base-management activities without requiring the player to handle every individual interaction.
Patch 05 also improved his existing behaviour. Endnight corrected situations where Kelvin could become stuck while gathering items or completing structures, and adjusted how he responded when a task could no longer be finished.
For players relying on Kelvin during solo exploration and construction, these fixes were just as relevant as the new commands.
Outside base management, Endnight expanded the island with 79 additional ponds and 34 lakes, updating the GPS map to reflect the new waterways.
A coastal area containing beached sailboats was also added, giving players another location to discover while exploring the shoreline.
Story exploration continued to develop through two additional found-footage recordings, building on the Action Cam introduced in the previous patch.
Players also gained the ability to play the guitar, while a new wearable clothing item and the option to attach Tarps to Log structures provided further ways to customise the survival experience.
Enemy behaviour received several adjustments. Cannibals could now engage in tests of strength within villages, while the size of their group affected how fearful they were of the player.
Individual cannibals became more susceptible to fear, whereas larger groups were less easily intimidated. Muddy cannibals could also lose interest and retreat if they were not already hostile.
Elsewhere, the Shotgun rail was moved from the top to the side of the weapon to prevent it from obstructing the player’s view.
Patch 05 included numerous bug fixes covering multiplayer, building, inventory interactions and companion behaviour. Among them was a fix preventing players from drinking lava, alongside improvements to Log storage, construction placement and equipment animations.
The update also addressed several issues affecting Kelvin’s interactions with trees and material holders, improving the reliability of tasks that players regularly assigned to him.
What makes Patch 05 stand out is how its major additions worked together. Log Sleds made transporting materials easier, tree regrowth supported continued timber collection, and Kelvin’s expanded commands reduced repetitive work around established bases.
Combined with more advanced cooking and new locations to explore, the update strengthened several of the systems that players spent the most time using during Early Access.
The complete list of changes is available in Endnight Games’ official Patch 05 announcement.
