Finding a needle among millions of straw strands is already difficult enough. Managing an entire factory should not make that search unnecessarily frustrating. With this idea in mind, Find The Needle has received its V16.4 update, titled Feel Good Inc.
Released on November 14, 2026, the update introduces several quality-of-life improvements to the unusual factory automation simulator from Needless Games. Meanwhile, the independent studio has addressed a wave of negative reviews surrounding its Early Access project.
Find The Needle makes factory management less frustrating
Building an efficient production line often involves experimenting, dismantling machines and reconsidering their placement. However, correcting mistakes can become increasingly tedious as factories grow larger.
According to the official update announcement on Steam, Needless Games has been addressing individual inconveniences reported by players. These include blueprint placement problems, intrusive drones and performance issues across larger production yards.
One particularly useful addition is the ability to undo dismantling actions. Furthermore, copying machine settings should reduce repetitive tasks when expanding production lines.
These improvements could encourage experimentation without making every construction mistake unnecessarily time-consuming. Players can also spend less time configuring identical machines individually.
The Feel Good Inc. update improves several everyday mechanics
Version V16.4 touches construction, logistics, equipment and resource management. These are its most notable changes:
- Undo dismantling: Pressing Ctrl+Z in dismantle mode restores the last 20 dismantled objects.
- Machine settings: Players can copy and paste configurations using Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V.
- Loose item management: New sliders limit products, metal, loose straw and belt loads, alongside a live counter.
- Belts and splitters: Conveyor belts and pipes now reach 48 meters per placement, double the previous limit. Splitters also work in 5% steps.
- Improved depot drones: Mk II and Mk III drones fly over the wall and deliver stock directly into the lorry. Each item also has a button to decide whether drones collect it.
- Electrical warnings: Players receive an alert before placing something that would sever a power cable.
- Cheaper construction: Walls, roofs, catwalks and ramps now cost half their previous price.
- Shop relocation: Moving the Supply Co. shop is now free.
- Earlier metal detector access: Its mission follows the spade mission, while its purchase price has been significantly reduced.
- Jetpack balancing: Its initial fuel capacity lasts three seconds, with upgrades extending that duration to 24 seconds.
- Lighter improvements: The lighter now behaves more like its real-world counterpart.
- Performance adjustments: Large factories run slightly smoother, while placing extensive blueprints causes fewer interruptions.
- Blueprint exploit fixed: A game-breaking issue involving free components from blueprints containing Depots has been resolved.
Needless Games says more performance fixes are still in development.
Find The Needle turns a simple search into an industrial operation
The premise behind Find The Needle is surprisingly straightforward. Players find themselves locked inside a mysterious warehouse containing a haystack with approximately six million strands of straw.
Initially, finding needles involves manual labor with a shovel and a metal detector. However, selling hay gradually unlocks opportunities to mechanize the entire process.
Conveyor belts, balers, scanners, robotic arms and drones eventually transform the warehouse into an automated production facility. Straw can also become commercial products, including eco bricks, paper, pellets and bales.
Moreover, a technology tree featuring over 300 upgrades provides additional progression opportunities. Finding needles becomes just one part of a considerably larger resource management challenge.
Other independent projects also build around resource collection, such as the lunar mining simulator MOONWRIGHT.
Meanwhile, the success of One More Lawn on Steam highlights how seemingly ordinary activities can become appealing video game concepts.
Needless Games reaffirms its commitment amid negative reviews
Before entering Early Access, Find The Needle had already attracted considerable attention. Its demo became the most played demo on Steam during September 2026.
As of November 14, the game held a Mostly Positive rating, with 78% of its 601 Steam reviews being favorable. Furthermore, it recorded more than 4,000 concurrent players that Saturday.
Despite these figures, Needless Games has acknowledged what it describes as review bombing and false accusations. The developer did not specify the nature of those accusations.
In response, the studio emphasized that its development plans were established in advance. It also reaffirmed that development will continue as part of a long-term project.
The current Early Access version includes five stages and twenty orders. Needless Games expects this development period to last between six and twelve months.
Future plans include additional machinery, more diggers and larger late-game projects. Balancing adjustments and further polish also remain part of the roadmap.
Find The Needle has been available on PC through Steam since November 6, 2026. Its regular price is $14.99, although a 15% launch discount reduces it to $12.74 until November 20.
Ultimately, Find The Needle faces an interesting design challenge. Removing unnecessary frustrations could make factory expansion more rewarding without losing the charm of its deliberately absurd premise.
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