Hey Rival Stars community! Our 1.63 Update has arrived, and it’s all about the shimmering Akhal-Teke—a breed perfectly at home in our brand-new Golden Dunes desert environment. You can also enjoy fresh new mechanics in the Early Access Show Jumping Arena that add an extra layer of excitement! Ready to explore? Let’s saddle up!

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The Akhal-Teke makes its dazzling debut.

The Akhal-Teke is famed for its glistening coat and remarkable heritage, tracing its origins to stunning desert landscapes that have shaped its enduring and spirited nature. Renowned for unmatched endurance and a striking, golden sheen, the Akhal-Teke stands out wherever it goes. We’re so excited to finally bring this majestic breed to Rival Stars Horse Racing, giving every player a chance to experience its rare beauty firsthand.

The new Breed Trait for the Akhal-Teke is Endless Stride, mirroring the breed’s real-world ability to cover vast distances in desert conditions. In Rival Stars Horse Racing, Endless Stride grants superior acceleration and a longer-lasting Sprint Energy on Flat Racing tracks of 2400m or more—perfect for those marathon races.

If you’re more about collecting dazzling horses than performance chasing, the second new trait, Crystal Coat, might be right up your alley. This visual trait gives the Akhal-Teke a lustrous, eye-catching finish. Even without it, the Akhal-Teke boasts a natural shimmer—but if you want to add an extra touch of brilliance to this, or any breed, Crystal Coat works its magic on any horse. Of course, the Akhal-Teke will always retain a unique level of radiance to preserve its iconic shine. Just take a look at the difference below!

Ready to add an Akhal-Teke to your stable? Mark your calendar for the Galloping Gems Event, launching on April 28, or watch for Limited Time Offers appearing shortly beforehand. Both Crystal Coat and Endless Stride will be available through Race Pass rewards, alongside a custom tack set and an extra horse stall, and massive gold reward for even more value.

We’re just getting started—stay tuned for our look at Golden Dunes, the brand-new desert environment inspired by this breed’s natural stomping grounds!

Escape to Adventure: Golden Dunes Awaits!

Welcome to Golden Dunes, the newest free roam environment exclusively available for Star Club Subscribers! This sun-kissed desert paradise invites you to embark on an unforgettable adventure, perfectly designed for you and your horses—especially the shimmering Akhal-Teke.

Explore the winding streets of a charming desert village, shaded by unique desert trees and surrounded by sprawling, golden sand dunes. Discover hidden paths, wander towards the shimmering waters of a sparkling oasis, and soak in breathtaking vistas that provide the ideal backdrop for your perfect photo moments.

Golden Dunes offers more than meets the eye—there’s always something new to discover around each corner of this beautiful landscape. Saddle up, explore every corner, and capture memories that showcase your horse in the very best light. We can’t wait to see the incredible photos you share from your desert journey!

Raise the Stakes: New Show Jumping Challenges Await!

Since introducing Show Jumping in July 2024, we’ve continuously added small but impactful improvements—like refusals, obstacle knockdowns, and alternative controls. These updates have paved the way for our most ambitious Show Jumping features yet, and we’re excited for you to experience them early. Jump in, test your skills, and don’t forget to share your thoughts through player surveys—let’s leap in!

Realtime Scoring & Challenge Mode

Ready to prove your skill in the Show Jumping Arena? Now, when entering Free Roam, you can select Challenge Mode from the Free Roam level selection screen.

To start your timed run, simply jump the first fence as indicated by the symbol shown in the image above. Your challenge begins immediately, complete with an on-screen UI showing your progress:

• Fences: Track the number of completed jumps against the total number.
• Your Time: A timer that counts until you clear the final fence or are eliminated.
• Penalty: Earn 4 penalty points for refusals or knocking poles during jumps.

Don’t worry if things don’t go perfectly—the UI will reset as soon as you finish your run, ready for you to give it another shot!

When you enter the challenge, you’ll see your next jump highlighted by a vibrant green glow, guiding you through the course. Clear each jump in sequence, but be careful—knocking down obstacles will earn penalties and multiple refusals, or jumping over the wrong fence can lead to elimination!

Once you’ve cleared the final fence, you’re free to try again and beat your best score. Ready to give it a go? Let’s see your best effort!

That’s a Wrap—But the Fun Doesn’t Stop Here!

This update has been jam-packed with goodies, so much so that we haven’t even had room to highlight the stunning new coats arriving as Limited Time Offers, or our festive Limited Time Events celebrating Cinco de Mayo and more. Keep an eye out—you won’t want to miss these special additions!

Speaking of things you won’t want to miss, remember to bookmark our Rival Stars Horse Racing Web Shop. We regularly host exciting seasonal event sales, and with our Anniversary just around the corner, we’ve got some special surprises planned.

Thanks as always for riding alongside us—we couldn’t do it without your amazing support! See you at the starting gates!

Changes and Fixes

• New Breed: Akhal-Teke arrives!
  
  • Breed Trait – Endless Stride Pro: On Flat Racing tracks of 2400m or more, gain superior acceleration, and Sprint Energy lasts longer.
    
  • Exotic Trait – Crystal Coat: A lustrous coat makes your horse shine like no other.
    
  • Akhal-Teke will be available from April 28th during the Galloping Gems Limited Time Event and even earlier via Limited Time Offers.
    
• Golden Dunes Environment:
  
  • Brand-new desert-themed Free Roam area exclusively for Star Club members.
    
  • It features scenic locations, including a desert village, golden sand dunes, desert trees, and a sparkling oasis.
    
  • Ideal for exploration, adventure, and capturing stunning horse photos.
    
• Show Jumping Improvements:
  
  • Challenge Mode: Test your skills with realtime scoring, penalty points for missed jumps or refusals, and glowing jump indicators.
    
• Additional Limited-Time Content:
  
  • Fresh new coats available exclusively through Limited Time Offers.
    
  • Limited Time Events celebrating Cinco de Mayo and more are on their way soon!

Other notable changes and bug fixes: 

• Fixed an issue where breed traits sometimes don’t turn gold.
• Resolved a delay with animations in the Show Jumping arena—no more sliding horses!
• Fixed a visual bug where horses with the Double Dun dilution showed incorrect eye colors on the horse info screen.
• Fixed a display issue where your gold total wouldn’t visually update correctly after purchasing or spending gold.
• Corrected an issue causing “What’s New” messages to sometimes be hidden due to missing text.