StarMade

Released: Dec 4, 2014
Platforms: WindowsmacOSLinux
Last updated: 06 Sep 2026, 12:03 GMT

Updates & announcements

20 posts

25 Jun 2026Developer post
StarMade v0.304.4 - Misc. AI Improvements
This is a smaller, focused update that overhauls how you command your ships' AI and fleets, adds creative-mode server options, and fixes a number of outstanding bugs. It builds directly on the previous "Up to Speed" release. AI & Targeting Overhaul The ship/turret AI configur
This is a smaller, focused update that overhauls how you command your ships' AI and fleets, adds creative-mode server options, and fixes a number of outstanding bugs. It builds directly on the previous "Up to Speed" release.
[/hr]
AI & Targeting Overhaul
The ship/turret AI configuration menu has been reworked, and AI targeting is now far more configurable.
Aim-At Priority List
The old single "Aim at" dropdown is now a prioritized, multi-select list. Available entries are Selected Target, Ships, Stations, Missiles, Astronauts, and Asteroids.
The AI tries each enabled entry in order (highest priority first) and keeps the first target it acquires.
Existing saved values are migrated automatically (the old "Any" option is expanded to Ships + Stations + Astronauts).
Target Priority
A new Priority setting controls how the AI picks among valid targets: Random, Closest, Furthest, Weakest, Strongest, Lightest, Heaviest, Lowest Shields, and Highest Shields.
Engagement Range
New Minimum Range and Maximum Range sliders let you define the band in which the AI will engage. Set either to Auto to fall back to the entity's weapon range.
Keep Target
New Keep target until lost toggle — when enabled, the AI commits to its current target instead of re-evaluating every tick.
Focus Fire
New Focus Fire system: the AI preferentially aims at specific enemy block groups, in a priority order you set.
Selectable groups: Reactors, Stabilizers, Chambers, Turrets, Weapons, Thrusters, Shield Rechargers, and Shield Capacitors.

AI Command Module Commands
Command Modules can now issue AI commands directly, allowing logic-driven AI control:
Toggle AI / Activate AI – turn the AI on or off.
AI Type – set the AI type (Turret / Ship / Fleet).
Target Type – set what the AI aims at.
Target Priority – set how the AI chooses among valid targets.
Keep Target – set whether the AI holds its target until lost.
Minimum Range / Maximum Range – set the engagement range.
Toggle Focus Group – enable/disable a focus-fire block group.
Additionally, multiple command modules can now control the same target block.
[/hr]

Fleets
Fleet Control From the Map
Double-clicking an entry on the galaxy/system map now opens a radial options menu with several navigation and control options. Double clicking on an owned fleet will allow you to select that fleet and issue commands to it from the map.
You can now point a selected fleet at a target and issue move/attack/defend/escort orders without leaving the map.
Fleet Performance & Menu
Fleet member updates are now offloaded to a background thread queue, reducing their impact on the main server tick.
Fleet members now track total cargo capacity, and several fleet menu panels were cleaned up and simplified.
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Creative & Server Settings
Several new server settings were added, aimed at creative / build servers:
Default Game Mode (SURVIVAL / CREATIVE) – the mode new players start in. In CREATIVE, players are granted creative mode automatically on join. (Single-player creative mode still takes precedence.)
Free Blueprints – when enabled, spawning or buying blueprints costs no resources or credits. Useful for creative build servers, without needing to give all players Admin permissions.
Delete Docked on Overheat – when enabled, all entities docked to an entity (recursively) are deleted along with it when its core fully overheats, instead of being undocked. Helps prevent entity clogging.
[/hr]

Factions
Territory Intrusion Alerts
Factions now receive a Territory Intrusion news post when a hostile entity enters a system they own — including while members are offline. Posts are throttled per faction/system/intruder to avoid spam.
Faction News Log Fix
Fixed a long-standing bug where the faction news log could drop or lose posts (and appear to "stop updating" once it grew large), caused by an integer-overflow in the post sorting logic.
[/hr]
Build Mode & UI
The Ladder block now has a proper build-menu icon. The build-icon texture was also re-optimized and a number of unused image resources were removed from the game files. Please note that for now, the ladder has the collision model of a full block to prevent players from falling through it.
Build mode context help now shows hints for the Shape Menu and Build Tools radial menus, plus the paste/template offset key controls when in paste mode.
Fixed the paste/template offset axis so it is interpreted relative to the build camera and snaps to the correct grid axis regardless of how the build entity is oriented in the world.
[/hr]

Modding
Robust mod packet processing: mod network packets now use a dedicated marker and contained read/write path, so a malformed mod packet can no longer desync the connection.
Fixed mods not loading / enabling correctly in single-player.
Various block-config loading fixes.
[/hr]

Bug Fixes
Rail logic: fixed rail-driven Activator / NOT signals flipping for a single tick (and latching to the wrong state) when crossing a rail block.
Display-module rail rotation: the exact rotation angle is now synced to clients, so display-module-driven rail rotators no longer snap to coarse 45° steps or desync.
Block orientation / symmetry: fixed mirror-side blocks occasionally having their orientation reset (notably visible after astrotech repairs).
NPC diplomacy: config values are now trimmed of whitespace before parsing, preventing diplomacy config parse failures.
Mine layer: fixed an error when drawing the reload indicator for a mine layer with no mine collections.
Miscellaneous exception and stability fixes throughout the AI and UI systems.
[/hr]
If you find any issues, please report them in the issue tracker here. And, as always, thank you for playing StarMade!
Original post
13 Jun 2026Developer post
StarMade v0.303.38 - Up to Speed
This update introduces significant performance improvements in most areas of the game, as well as bumps the game from Java 7 all the way up to Java 21. Java 21 Migration The game now builds and runs using Java 21. This means that the old v1, v2, and v3 launchers will no longer fu
This update introduces significant performance improvements in most areas of the game, as well as bumps the game from Java 7 all the way up to Java 21.
Java 21 Migration
The game now builds and runs using Java 21. This means that the old v1, v2, and v3 launchers will no longer function. You must use the new v4 Launcher available here.
For Server Owners / Providers
There are updated launch scripts included in the game files. Additionally, there is a full docker setup available here. The game now also requires special JVM arguments to run as well. Without these, the game cannot launch! --add-opens=java.base/jdk.internal.ref=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.base/java.nio=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.base/jdk.internal.misc=ALL-UNNAMED -javaagent:StarMade.jar For example, your server's launch args might look like: -Xmx8g --add-opens=java.base/jdk.internal.ref=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.base/java.nio=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens=java.base/jdk.internal.misc=ALL-UNNAMED -javaagent:StarMade.jar -jar StarMade.jar -server -autoupdatemods Additionally, for server hosters using -Xincgc: You must remove this argument as it is no longer valid in Java 21! Instead, we recommend trying -XX:+UseZGC for constrained / shared CPU setups. It requires a bit more memory headroom, but can reduce GC related stalls.
[/hr]
Fleets & AI

Fleet Reconnaissance
A new RECON fleet command state enables fleets to scout sectors and generate detailed reports:

Fleets can be given a RECON command with a list of target sectors and an entity filter (all / root-only / docked).
The fleet moves through each sector, dwells to scan, and records FleetReconLog entries, while avoiding direct combat.
Completed recon runs produce saved reports viewable from the Fleet Options GUI via a new View Reports button.
Patrol missions now also generate recon-style logs when engagements occur and produce a summary report at cycle end.

AI Collision Avoidance & Sector Arrival

AI ships now actively avoid collisions with other ships during travel using a dedicated avoidance steering layer.
Sector arrival detection was fixed to prevent ships from overshooting their destination.
Ship AI braking behavior corrected: ships now smoothly decelerate when approaching targets instead of ramming.
Ships with at least one warhead block and no weapons will now attempt to ram enemies with their warhead, after which, they will automatically disable their ai module to prevent continued ramming with no warhead.

Patrol & Trade Improvements

Patrol state bug fixes including integrated fleet logging for patrol reports.
Player trade fleet movement target assignment streamlined; cargo deep-copied on fleet clone operations.

AI Changes

Fleet membership is now cleared from an entity after a reboot to prevent automatic order reassignment.
Sector coordinate validation added to fleet movement commands.
AI config constants centralized into VoidElementManager for easier tuning.
Default AI aiming accuracy raised to 3000 (improved targeting at range).

Fleet Stealth Commands

Fleet Stealth command calls have been fixed, so players should now be able to have their fleets jam / unjam, and cloak / uncloak properly.

[/hr]
Graphics & Rendering

Improved Graphics Presets

Added more options to existing graphics presets, and a new "auto" setting that will automatically detect the user's system specs. Scores the system (0-100) based on VRAM (40pts), system RAM (25pts), CPU cores (25pts), available OpenGL version (10pts), etc., and maps the score to: Ultra (85+), VeryHigh (73+), High (60+), Medium (45+), Low (30+), VeryLow (<30)

Block Model Visual-State Framework
A new Block Visual State system allows mods to assign multiple model visual states to blocks:

BlockVisualStateDef: data class defining a visual state with versioning.
BlockVisualStateAPI: API surface with state versioning, cache invalidation, and authoritative token management via LodStateTokenStore.
BlockVisualStateDefDialog: in-editor dialog for creating and editing model visual state definitions.

Framebuffer & Resource Improvements

FBO depth buffers are now reset on re-creation to prevent stale state artifacts.
Non-critical GL errors from framebuffer operations are logged rather than thrown, improving resilience.
Shader unloading methods converted to use unloadWithoutExit for safer resource cleanup.

Segment Upload Throttling and Lighting System Improvements

GPU segment uploads are now throttled per frame (default: 15 uploads/frame) to prevent single-frame CPU/GPU spikes (stuttering) when large entities enter render range. Configurable via a new G_SEGMENT_UPLOADS_PER_FRAME engine setting.
Added a new setting G_LIGHTING_THREAD_COUNT to configure how many CPU threads to use for calculating segment lighting (default: 4 threads).
Overhauled internal lighting calculation resource usage to alleviate GC pressure.

[/hr]
Modding API

StarLoader Mixin Integration
Full Mixin support is now available for mods:

StarMixinService, StarMixinServiceBootstrap, and StarMixinGlobalPropertyService implement the SpongePowered Mixin service interfaces.
StarMixinAgent, StarMixinAuditTrail, and MixinClassTransformer wire Mixin class transformations into the launch class loader with full diagnostics.
Mods can declare Mixin configuration JSON files that are automatically registered and applied at load time.
SMModLoader propagates mixin configs from virtual mods into their ModSkeleton.
The old class replacement system has been removed entirely.

Per-Block Custom JSON Metadata
Blocks can now carry arbitrary JSON metadata:

SegmentController stores block custom data in a deduplicated pool (blockCustomDataPool) indexed per block, with full save/load serialization.
EditableSendableSegmentController accepts pendingBlockCustomData and applies it on block placement (including symmetry mirrors).
/give_item_data gives a player an item with specified custom data.
/set_item_data allows modifying the custom data of the player's current item.
/set_item_slot_data allows modifying the custom data of a specific inventory slot.
ManagerContainer can read custom block data tags for use in factory/refinery logic.

Inventory System Extensions

inventoryType and inventorySlotsLimit fields added to block configuration and ElementInformation, enabling mods to define custom inventory-capable blocks.
SavedInventory: new class for persisting custom item storage per-player in creative mode, with panel UI.
Custom data preserved when updating inventory slots; InventorySlotContainer interface introduced for improved modularity.

Factory / Refinery API

registerRefinery(...) and registerFactory(...) methods added to the public API.
Legacy newRefinery and newFactory methods deprecated.
factoryStandardControlledBy and factoryStandardControlling fields made public for broader API access.

Mod Loading Improvements

Dependencies are now loaded before mod instantiation, preventing class-not-found errors at mod init.
Loading screen now shows detailed per-phase progress during mod loading and initialization.
Mods are now properly reloaded on relog, so players no longer have to restart their client when relogging.

[/hr]
Build Mode & UI

Control Scheme Presets & Key Remapping

New CONTROL_SCHEME_PRESET engine setting with New and Classic options.
KeyboardMappings.applyControlSchemePreset(...) remaps ship controls to match the selected scheme when settings are committed.

Build Mode Help

Build mode help text is now only shown in advanced mode to reduce HUD clutter for new players.

Catalog Upload and Template Selection Dropdown Improvements

Added a search bar for the catalog upload and template selection dropdown, to make finding a particular blueprint or template easier. Additionally, the catalog system now uses Java's parallel streams API for faster loading.

Markdown Renderer
Added a GUI markdown renderer with support for:

Lists: both ordered and unordered with proper indentation and bullet styles.
Code Blocks: fenced code blocks.
Tables: full grid layout with header rows.
Blockquotes: indented/styled quote blocks.
Block Sprites ([noparse]![block:BlockName][/noparse]): renders an inline 3D block icon.
SVG fenced code blocks: rendered via JSVG into a GL texture (graceful fallback to plain code block on failure).
Images: .png images can be displayed from local storage or online.
Links ([noparse][text](url)[/noparse]), strikethrough ([noparse]~~text~~[/noparse]), inline code, and all 6 heading levels.

In-Game Guides

Added an in-game guide system to replace the old video tutorials, compiled from https://github.com/StarMade-Community/StarMade-Guides. Players are encouraged to contribute to these guides via PR, as not all the documentation is up-to-date or completed yet.

[/hr]
Gameplay & Mechanics

New Display Module Features

Display Modules can now have multiple tags to change style properties for different text sections.
Added a new rot option to rotate display module text in degrees.
Display modules can now be used to override Rail Rotators to specific angles in degrees. Simply place the display module with the desired angle adjacent to the activation module that activates the rotation.
Sensor Output: Connect a sensor to one display module and one probed block (e.g. shields, power, rail rotator). The sensor will write the probed value to the display module.

For rail rotators/turrets, the current rotation angle in degrees (0-360) is the output.
For other blocks, the sensor's measured value is the output.

Logic Beams

Added Logic Beams - A new block that can be used to quickly transmit logic signals across entities using an activation beam.

Faction Map Color Picker

Factions can now select what color they want their territory to appear as on the map, and the bug causing the colors to slowly revert has been fixed.

Tractor Beam Improvements

Ships being tractored now have their state synced to clients; the server temporarily takes position authority while the beam is active to prevent jitter.
Tractor beam config now uses thrust ratio instead of mass ratio.

Weapon Damage Performance Overhaul

Updated code paths in all three weapon types to reuse objects and optimize code to avoid unnecessary allocations and paths. In particular, explosion and acid calculations were causing significant GC pressure by allocating large numbers of temporary objects every tick.
In the acid damage propagation code specifically, toPropagate.removeLong(0) on every iteration was shifting the entire array, making the propagation loop O(n^2). By reading entries by index (getLong(i)) during the loop, then bulk-removing all processed entries with a single removeElements(0, count) at the end, we were able to reduce the removal cost from O(n) per iteration to O(n) total. For a propagation wave hitting 500 blocks with 2000 entries in the queue, the old code would perform roughly 1,000,000 element shifts. The new code should perform only around 2000 total for the same scenario.

Targeting Display Changes

Added an additional display underneath the target distance indicator that displays the distance the projectile (cannons and missiles only) will have to travel to hit the target, based on the target's current heading and velocity.

Astrotech System Fixes

Astrotech systems can now properly repair links between blocks.
Implemented substantial performance improvements and optimizations for repair handling code to heavily reduce object allocation and relieve GC pressure.
Improved Repair command handling for AI Fleets.

Shield System

Major shield hits are now broadcast more often to nearby clients for visual feedback, reducing shield desync.
Client-side shield recalculation disabled for remote ships to prevent overwriting network-synced values.

Warhead Changes

Warheads will now explode as a single group rather than many smaller explosions, and explosion calculations in general should now be far more performant.

Fixes for Build Shape Tools Radial Menu ( ` )

Several fixes have been implemented for the Build Shape Tools Radial Menu ( ` ), so the tools should now be more visually and functionally consistent.

Thrust Sharing Bug Fix

The long-standing docked thrust sharing bug has finally been fixed, so docked thrusters no longer provide huge amounts of thrust.

Mod Mappings Fix

Some ships with modded blocks were having their mappings incorrectly parsed, causing blocks to randomly swap between different worlds and mod installations. This should now be fixed.

[/hr]
Server & Stability

Crash Detection & Reporting

CrashLogger atomically captures the first unhandled server exception and writes a detailed crash report to ./logs/crash-report-{timestamp}.log.
Report includes system info, JVM arguments, graphics info, full stack trace, cause chain, and a thread dump.
Subsequent cascading exceptions after the first are suppressed to keep the log readable.
New ServerCrashEvent fired via StarLoader so mods can react to crashes.

Player Spawn Distance Check

Added a maximum distance check when spawning players in; clients should no longer stall waiting for distant controller loads.

[/hr]
Performance Improvements

Object allocation and CPU pressure significantly reduced in many hot-paths.
Diagonal neighbor handling and neighbor counting logic optimized for segment processing in ElementCollectionMesh.
BlockBuffer and RepairBeamHandler refactored for improved clarity and reduced overhead.
Segment Updates (when not caused by player action) and Element Collection processing are now done using batch processing rather than as soon as possible. This will improve performance on both client and server at the cost of slightly delayed lighting and segment updates. By default, both are set to process every 1000ms (1 second), and can be tuned as needed in configs.

[/hr]
Platform / OS Fixes

Linux: Fixed saved credentials not persisting across computer restarts.
Intel Mac: Fixed crash where NSWindow.setStyleMask was called off the AppKit main thread when exiting fullscreen.
Intel Mac: Fixed startup crash when loading AquaLookAndFeel fails (graceful fallback).
All platforms: Fixed NPE in getCurrentDisplay() when a monitor's name does not match any known display entry.

[/hr]
Known Issues

Unfortunately, the reported shadow issues have proven difficult to fix on certain GPUs, so they have been temporarily disabled until a proper solution can be found. Expect a follow up fix for these.
ARM Macs are not supported by this build currently due to the limitations of LWJGL2. We hope to be able to support them in a future update however.

[/hr] If you find any issues, please report them in the issue tracker here. And, as always, thank you for playing StarMade!
Original post
03 Jun 2026Developer post
StarMade Launcher v4 Beta
StarMade Launcher v4 Beta Greetings Citizens, In preparation for the next release update coming in the following days, we are putting out a beta for the new StarMade Launcher v4. This new launcher is a multi-platform electron-based application designed to be as robust as possible
17 Feb 2026Developer post
StarMade 0.204.703 - Build Tools Overhaul
This update introduces a complete overhaul of the build tools, designed for versatility and usability. It also addresses some bugs and performance concerns. Note: There may be some rendering issues with the Build Tool previews, but they should be fully working in terms of functio
This update introduces a complete overhaul of the build tools, designed for versatility and usability. It also addresses some bugs and performance concerns. Note: There may be some rendering issues with the Build Tool previews, but they should be fully working in terms of function. We wanted to put them out now, as this update also contains some important multiplayer fixes. Build Tools Overhaul

The old build helpers have been replaced by a new and enhanced system using a radial menu. This menu can be opened in build mode using the new Open/Close Build Tools menu binding (grave ~ key by default). It contains the following build modes:
Single Mode (Default): Standard placement mode already present in the game.
Line Mode: Places a line of blocks from point A to B. {AS, AR, HW, BD}
Box Mode: Places a 3D area from point A to B. {HW}
Curve Mode: Similar in function to Line mode, but has an extra step where you can determine the intensity of the curve. {AS, AR, HW, BD}
Circle Mode: Builds in a circle shape. {AS, AR, HW, BD}
Cylinder Mode: Works like Circle mode, but has an extra step to determine the height of the cylinder. {AS, AR, HW, BD}
Ellipsoid Mode: Creates a 3D ellipsoid shape, has similar controls to box mode. {HW}
Polygon Mode: Define up to 8 different points, and the algorithm will attempt to create a shape between them. {HW, BD}
{AS}: Supports 45 degree angle snapping by holding down Left Shift.
{AR}: Supports Axis Restriction Mode (Auto, XY, XZ, YZ) by using the Mouse Wheel.
{HW}: Supports hollow placement mode toggle.
{BD}: Supports using the current build dimensions for more dynamic shaping.
All of these modes also work with templates and the player can toggle automatic spacing via a checkbox in the build dimension settings.
Copy Paste Changes

By holding the Advanced Build Mode binding in Copy Selection mode, you can select two points using the mouse similarly to how the Box Build tool controls.
Replaced the unused placement locking feature with a Cut mode toggle.
New NPC Faction Settings

Implemented mass and entity limit settings for NPC factions, where they will stop building if they are over or approaching this limit.
Implemented max system count settings for NPC factions, where they will abandon their least valuable system when attempting to expand if they are over or approaching this limit.
Implemented an NPC system control loss ratio setting, so that if an NPC faction loses greater than or equal amount of assets in a system to this setting, they will lose it. The old system always required 100% loss of all assets, which was very difficult to get to in practice.
Implemented setting to control whether NPC home systems can be seized when they meet the criteria for losing a system.
Experimental Features

Added a new Experimental Features section for server config.
Added a setting for allowing player assigned fleets to handle trade delivery (experimental, off by default). To do this, the one initiating the transaction must have an available fleet assigned to the Trade Delivery command, and also have a faction owned shop on their homebase. Once the trade is completed, the faction owned shop will receive the delivery tax, and the trade fleet will attempt to return to a sector near their faction's homebase before flagging themselves as ready to trade again. Note: If you're interested in testing, the following sections should be focused on specifically:
Ensure the delivery fleets actually get the blocks and items loaded onto them properly. This is important, as it would allow other players to intercept and seize cargo.
Automatic order cancelling if a fleet changes assignment or is otherwise unable to fulfill the task. The cargo the fleet is carrying should also be returned to the shop, the credits returned, and the relevant parties should be notified.
If no fleets are available for delivery, the system will attempt to use the Traders NPC Faction to deliver the goods. If this fails, it will just virtualize the delivery.

Template Preview Rendering Overhaul

Implemented a new batched renderer for template preview drawing, which significantly improves performance when pasting templates. The old system rendered each block individually, which was slow and inefficient.
Misc. Changes

Updated rail command descriptions and added a "Reset Rail" command for Command Modules.
Reintegrated client-side plume updates.
Readded Reactor Stabilizer Stream Nodes as Decorative Nodes.
Renamed multiple block entries to clarify they are decorative, including all variants of Energy Cell, Energy Pylon, and Power Core blocks. For example, Energy Cell (Blue) is now Decorative Energy Cell (Blue).
Made field ID mappings for Network Objects start at Byte.MIN_VALUE (-128), effectively doubling the amount of fields that can be serialized. This should fix some ping issues that were stalling servers due to some network objects having more fields than the system could serialize.
Added hotkey for resetting turrets (Period key . by default.)
Bug Fixes

Resolved a ClassCastException in GameServerState.
Fixed AI Turret toggle hotkey sometimes not working.
Removed unnecessary calls to Display.setLocation and Display.setResizable in GraphicsContext.java that was causing issues on Windows when the Monitor Setting was changed.
Clarified description for Fleet Patrol command and reworked behavior.
Removed a config entry for an old debugging model that was causing issues on some clients.
Resolved an NPE when checking thrust dampening.
Thanks so much to the community for this update <3, and thanks for playing StarMade, there will be some more news soon ;) - schema
Original post
04 Nov 2025Developer post
StarMade Update
Changelog Important Note BlockTypes.properties , BlockConfig.xml , blockBehaviorConfig.xml , and factionConfig.xml files have all been significantly changed in this update, so any servers / mods that modify or rely on these files will likely need to be re-configured! Thruster Plu
Changelog
Important Note
[p align="start"][c]BlockTypes.properties[/c], [c]BlockConfig.xml[/c], [c]blockBehaviorConfig.xml[/c], and [c]factionConfig.xml[/c] files have all been significantly changed in this update, so any servers / mods that modify or rely on these files will likely need to be re-configured!
Thruster Plume Changes
RCS Plumes added — Thrusters now emit visual plumes when moving directionally.
Plumes scale with thruster block group dimensions:
Width scales with X-axis size
Height scales with Y-axis size
Length scales with Z-axis size
Plumes render once per group, centered and oriented correctly.
Orientation-aware: Works in all directions, including sideways and vertical thrust.
Group shapes matter: T-shaped and wide groups produce longer/wider plumes.
Block config defines min/max size for visual scaling.
Blueprint Upload Speed
The default upload speed for blueprints has been greatly increased from 256 to 2048, so blueprints should upload much faster now. Additionally, this field is now a server config setting, so servers can set the speed even faster if they want.
New Chat Features
[p align="start"]Two new server config values have been added:
[c]ALLOW_CHAT_COLOR_CODES[/c] - If enabled, players will be able to add color formatting to their chat messages using a new color formatting system. This system works differently than the one present in display modules, as the old system only allows for one color per message. This new system allows for multicolored messages. To use it, prefix your message with one of the following codes:
&wh - White
&lg - Grey
&dg - Dark Grey
&bk - Black
&bw - Brown
&be - Beige
&pr - Purple
&pk - Pink
&br - Burgundy
&rd - Red
&og - Orange
&yw - Yellow
&gr - Green
&or - Orange
&ol - Olive
&cy - Cyan
&bl - Blue
&in - Indigo
You can view a list of these codes via the new HELP button in the chat panel.
[c]ALLOW_CHAT_ASCII_EXTRA[/c] - If enabled, players will be able to use extended ascii characters in their chat messages (char values > 127). If disabled, these characters will be stripped from the message.
Weapon Tweaks
Nerfed Cannon/Beam flight speed slightly.
Nerfed Beam/Beam damage falloff range so that optimal range should be the same as standard beams.
Nerfed Beam/Beam damage falloff from 40% to 25% at max range.
Nerf Missile/Beam flight speed slightly, giving AMS more chances to hit.
Increased Beam base damage by ~30%.
Shipyard Changes
Shipyard Computers will now output a sensor value based on the status of their current order. If a real ship is docked, the health percentage of that ship will be output instead.
Shipyard Computers can now be forced to undock / unload a ship via logic signal.
You can now spawn entities on turret docks in shipyard design mode without needing to be an admin as long as the target dock is valid and unblocked.
You can now remove docked entities on a shipyard design by simply deleting the core of that docked entity, and the server will move your player up the docking chain automatically and remove the targeted entity.
This also works on the main entity of a shipyard design, and will instead just unload the design and will attempt to move your player to the first enterable build block or ship core it can find on the root entity.
Command Module
Added a new block, the Command Module, which can be used to save a specific command or function to execute on a connected system via logic. The command module can be used to control the following systems:
Shipyard Computers
AI Modules
Warp Gate Computers
Rails
Reactors
Support for more systems will be added in future updates.
Factory Manager
Added a new Factory Manager block, which can be used to automatically request and fulfill orders from Factories, Storages, and Shipyards by acting as an intermediary between a parent (controlling), and one or more child (controlled) systems. The Factory Manager will automatically calculate the inputs needed by it's controller and delegate those tasks to the appropriate system that it controls.
General System Changes
The popular ScalarMining mod has been ported to vanilla, so now salvage beams will benefit greatly from larger output groups. The more salvagers you have, the bigger the radius, with the max radius being 10 (configurable in block behavior config).
The salvage radius formula is capped at a radius of 10 and follows a logarithmic scale:
8 modules = 1 radius
16 modules = 2 radius
32 modules = 3 radius
64 modules = 4 radius
etc.
Re-enabled Scan Report functionality.
Pirate Ships Update
The default Isanth Type Zero variants have been upgraded to 3 new versions of the Isanth, known as the Isanth Type PNR (designed by Nauvran, with systems by Lecic), with each variant having its own weapon type and visual differences. In future updates, we want to add additional pirate ships, such as pirate cruisers and the like, as well as update the pirate stations with newer systems and features.
Additionally, the folder structure for the NPC blueprints has changed, so now NPC blueprints are stored in the [c]blueprints-npc[/c] folder rather than the [c]blueprints-stations[/c] folder, and stores both ships and stations. Note: We are referring to the old NPC system for pirates and trading guild, NOT the “new” NPC factions system. In a future update, both systems will be redone / consolidated!
Building
Added a new Color Finder feature for Advanced Build mode that allows you to select a color and find blocks that match that color.
Added a new Block Mixer feature for Advanced Build mode that allows you to select up to 10 blocks to create a random pattern / gradient.
Added ability to manually offset templates while in template place mode using Left Alt + Arrow Keys and Page Up / Page Down.
Added a Lock Placement function for templates which will lock the placement of a template to it’s current position. You can toggle this by pressing the “Lock Placement” button next to the Paste button or by using the Right Control Key.
Fixed saving and loading of Build Hotbars in creative mode, and you can now easily scroll through them using Left Alt + Scroll Wheel, or Left Alt + Any Number Key (Note: Number Key feature will only work for the first 10 saved hotbars).
Made Advanced Armor variants slightly darker / desaturated to differentiate them from Standard Armor better.
Adjusted Green Standard Armor coloring slightly to be closer to Green Basic Armor.
Added Beige Light Blocks and Beige Crystal Armor.
Added Indigo, Olive, and Burgundy Armor variants, as well as Crystal Armor and Light Blocks for each respective color.
Added Orange Decorative Cascade blocks.
Display Modules
Toggle background drawing:
You can turn off the display module background using:
[c][/c]
Different colored backgrounds: You can change the color of the display module background like so: [c][/c]
The following backgrounds are available: blue, purple, yellow, green, red
Text offset:
You can offset the text position of display modules up to 10 blocks in any direction like so:
[c][/c]
Toggle Holographic effect:
You can turn off the holographic text effect for a more painted look:
[c][/c]
Larger fonts:
The font size setting now goes up to 7 to allow for larger text displays.
Increased Character and Line Limit:
The line and character limit for displays has been greatly increased to allow for things like ascii art.
New Text Replacement Tags:
[c]faction[/c] - Inserts the faction name of the entity.
[c]systemName[/c] - Inserts the name of the current system.
[c]dockedTo[/c] - Inserts the name of the the entity currently docked to.
[c]dockedRoot[/c] - Inserts the name of the root entity currently docked to.
[c]maxSpeed[/c] - Inserts the maximum speed of the current entity.
[c]tmr[/c] - Inserts the thrust to mass ratio of the current entity.
[c]activeReactorLevel[/c] - Inserts the level of the currently active reactor.
[c]reactorSize[/c] - Inserts the block count of the specified reactor. (For example, [c]reactorSize0[/c] for the first reactor)
[c]reactorLevel[/c] - Inserts the level of the specified reactor. (For example, [c]reactorLevel0[/c] for the first reactor)
[c]reactorPercent[/c] - Inserts the HP percentage of the specified reactor. (For example, [c]reactorPercent0[/c] for the first reactor)
[c]totalShieldHp[/c] - Inserts the total HP of all active shields.
[c]totalShieldMaxHp[/c] - Inserts the total Max HP of all active shields.
[c]totalShieldPercent[/c] - Inserts the total shield HP percentage of all active shields.
[c]totalShieldRecharge[/c] - Inserts the total shield recharge rate of all active shields.
[c]totalShieldUpkeep[/c] - Inserts the total shield upkeep of all active shields.
[c]shieldRecharge[/c] - Inserts the recharge rate of the specified shield. (For example, [c]shieldRecharge0[/c] for the first shield)
[c]shieldUpkeep[/c] - Inserts the upkeep of the specified shield. (For example, [c]shieldUpkeep0[/c] for the first shield)
You can view the full list in the newly reworked Display Module help menu.
Fleets
Added a Combined Targeting setting for fleets, which will make all fleet members target the same entity that the flagship is targeting when enabled.
Faction Config Changes
Added a new Faction config setting, [c]LoseHBProtectionWhenNegativeFP[/c], which can enable or disable the loss of home base protection when a faction is in negative FP.
Misc. Changes
Adjusted normal map textures for some blocks slightly.
Adjusted coloring for hazard armor to better match their respective standard armor colors.
Added loading screens and background music to the Main Menu.
Admin Teleport (F1 + F8) will now also work for stations as long as there is an empty Build Block available.
Added / adjusted various block editor functions for improved usability.
Re-added the color picker for light source color in the block editor (no idea why it was removed, but it works fine now).
Moved game difficulty setting and added new rule types to check for and change the difficulty setting. Using the new rulesets, servers can now buff or debuff enemy ships based on the game difficulty.
Added Inventory Tab groups for creative mode.
Adjusted inventory tooltips and added better info display.
Added a “Reset Turrets” button to the left hand Stats menu under Docks.
Back-End / Technical Changes
A lot of GLSL shader code had to be updated to compensate for a new texture sheet (t003) being added. While these changes have been tested extensively, there is always the possibility of issues being created by this, so please report any new issues in the Discord.
Performance Optimizations
SegmentDrawer and related classes have been optimized to reduce memory allocations and speed up segment drawing.
Mod data from SMD is now cached in a json file and then updated asynchronously, rather than blocking the main thread like before. This should significantly improve startup times when using mods.
Bug Fixes
Fixed various mismatched case issues and adjusted some menu titles.
Black hole gravity should now be negated by anti gravity effects.
Disabled old unused reactor orientation menus and drawables.
Fixed multiple shader issues that occurred on Linux machines.
Added a fallback for Desktop API calls on Linux machines.
Added a fallback for Credentials not storing correctly on Linux machines. This issue forced some Linux players to authenticate with SMD every time they started the game, and should now be fixed.
Removed an unused GUI that was somehow causing a Seg Fault in the C standard library on Linux machines (no idea how this is even possible, but its been fixed now).
Fixed bug that caused the Overwrite Template and Overwrite Blueprint dialogs to not close when selecting “OK”.
Fixed some nullpointers with the SMD Content downloader.
Fixed issue where Build Hotbars would scroll with any mouse movement and not just scroll wheel.
Fixed an issue where dragging an inventory slot over another in creative mode would replace the underlying slot.
Fixed an issue where Fleets would sometimes not correctly persist their orders when their owner logged out.
API Changes
Modded blocks will now use the 255 extra block ids (1792 - 2047) that were previously allocated for custom blocks rather than any id the system could find. This should prevent future any future conflicts with modded block ids.
Known Issues
Shadow Drawing seems to be broken on some systems, so we advise players to turn them off if they are having issues.
Inventory Icons seem to not display tooltips when hovering over them except for in the build hotbar.
Looking at a block on a station doesn't show the block at the bottom like it does on a ship
There is a known bug on Linux & Wayland when using multiple monitors that causes Mouse input to click on other windows. This has been an issue for some time, and unfortunately there is no easy fix for it in Release version due to Release not using GLFW. While the bug can be fixed in the Universe Update as it uses GLFW, we can’t fix this in Release right now. For now, affected Linux users may have to run the game in Windows mode using Steam’s Proton software.
The Advanced Build Mode Color Finder feature may not be 100% accurate, and may sometimes produce strange results at some specific narrow color ranges. We experimented with a few algorithms for this and would like to hear feedback on which one players prefer:
Scale-Down Mode (Default): Each block texture is scaled down from 64x64 to 1x1 and then the remaining color is sampled as that block’s primary color.
Average Mode (Alternative): The average color value of each 64x64 block texture is calculated and sampled as that block’s primary color. This mode seems to be more accurate, but also costs a significant amount of performance when calculating for the first time (the results are then cached in memory so we don’t have to run the algorithm again for that session). You can enable this mode by editing [c]StarMade/settings.cfg[/c] and setting [c]SECRET = colorfindermode1[/c].
[p align="start"]And, as always, thank you for playing StarMade.
[p align="start"]Offical StarMade Discord:
https://discord.gg/SXbkYpU
[p align="start"]
A Note on Development
[p align="start"]As some of you may know, official development on the game is paused due an incident with an ex-developer that resulted in the game’s funding being lost. Since said incident, members of the modding community have stepped up and volunteered their time to create updates for the game. If you wish to contribute to these updates, you can join the modding Discord here:
https://discord.gg/z6acMKTkKp
[p align="start"]
Thank you all for playing StarMade, and thanks to the community for their amazing work bringing you this update,
- schema
Original post
14 May 2025Developer post
StarMade Launcher v3.0.9:
Refactored UI classes for modularity. Added launcher version label. Fixed potential memory leaks in the C portion of the launcher. Note: If memory leaks still occur, then the issue would likely be within the game itself. Please report any further issues in the discord.
Refactored UI classes for modularity.
Added launcher version label.
Fixed potential memory leaks in the C portion of the launcher.
Note: If memory leaks still occur, then the issue would likely be within the game itself. Please report any further issues in the discord.
Original post
23 Mar 2025Developer post
StarMade v0.203.168 - Misc. Texture Changes
Hi all, this update adds some minor texture updates to existing blocks as well as some fancy new purple forcefields. Energy Cells and Energy Pylons The Decorative Energy Cell and Pylon blocks have had a new cap texture added, as well as had their side texture orientations updated
08 Oct 2024Developer post
0.301.101 - Universe Update
0.301.101 - Universe Update (Pre-Release 3) New Launcher Notice There is a new launcher available, which is required to run StarMade versions ≥ 0.3. You can obtain this new launcher one of two ways: Via the new launch option on Steam Via the GitHub releases page Please note that
0.301.101 - Universe Update (Pre-Release 3)

New Launcher Notice
There is a new launcher available, which is required to run StarMade versions ≥ 0.3. You can obtain this new launcher one of two ways:

Via the new launch option on Steam
Via the GitHub releases page
Please note that while this launcher is still a work in progress, it does still support current release versions of StarMade as well.
System Changes
Armor HP Armor HP has been re-added to the game. Armor HP reduces incoming damage significantly, with the percentage of damage blocked decreasing as Armor HP is reduced. By default, damage will start to bleed through armor starting at <80% AHP. In future, this value will be modifiable via chambers. These values need testing, so we encourage players to try out the new system and report feedback in the StarLoader Discord.
New Tutorial System
A new tutorial system is being worked on. This new system replaces the old outdated video tutorials, and will eventually include guides on all aspects of the game, and will even allow mods to add their own tutorials. While the backend for this system is mostly done, we are asking the community to help contribute their knowledge to this in order to provide a more robust, accurate, and helpful guide for new players. If you are interested in contributing to these tutorials, head over to the StarLoader Discord.
New Shops
New Shop entities have been added. These new shops are much fancier than the old ones and come in two variants:

Trade Station (Advanced Shop): Comes with docks and a shopkeep spawn block.
Trade Outpost (Standard Shop): Does not have docks or a shopkeep, and is shorter than a Trade Station.
Additionally the default player spawn positions have been updated to reflect these new shops.
Misc. Changes

Screenshots and Gifs are now saved in the StarMade/screenshots folder.
Saved build hotbars can now be cycled through by holding Left-Alt and using the scroll wheel in creative mode.

Bug Fixes

Fixed map waypoint icon selection.

Known Issues

Some waypoint icon sprites are missing and need to be finished.
The waypoint icon color picker “recent colors” palette doesn’t function properly.
The Local Universe Advanced Settings panel doesn’t display correctly, and causes OpenGL errors.
Templates can’t be loaded because the selection drop-down isn’t interactable.
The weapon menu detail panes don’t display correctly.
The new shops sometimes don’t spawn after a world is reloaded.
Build Hotbars don’t load correctly in survival mode.
Original post
24 Mar 2024Developer post
StarMade v0.203.162 - Bug Fixes Round 4
Feature Changelog: Warp Gates are active by default on placement, but can be deactivated with logic. Persistence appears to work but may need more testing. HUD selected ship stats in top left-hand corner now shows reactor level, power output, and power consumption rather than jus
Feature Changelog:

Warp Gates are active by default on placement, but can be deactivated with logic. Persistence appears to work but may need more testing.
HUD selected ship stats in top left-hand corner now shows reactor level, power output, and power consumption rather than just the consumption percentage.
Added brief wait before requesting synchronization, as this seems to make the login issue less frequent.
Added better messages to login loading screen, so the game doesn't appear to be waiting for a config when it's actually already done receiving and processing the configs.
Systems update rate limiter is now absolute regardless of what update threads are doing. The old method seems to have been causing lag at larger scales due to long queue clearing times.

Bug Fixes:

Fixed a Fleet order persistence bug. - Note: Let us know if it still occurs, as it’s difficult to reproduce sometimes. At the very least, this fix should narrow down the cause of the issue.
Fixed orientation mapping of Decorative Coil blocks.
Added retry for synch-all packet if not received correctly; this was seemingly preventing people from logging in - BUG: Due to synchronization/threading shenanigans, activity logging inside of network commands appears to never get written to stderr. May have to move it to an internal command log that prints when the command is finished or times out.
Original post
25 Feb 2024Developer post
Launcher Fixes
The launcher login has been fixed. There are still a few other bugs, which will be fixed as well.
26 Jan 2024Developer post
StarMade v0.203.158 - Bug Fixes Round 3
Community Update Thanks to everyone involved! Feature Changelog: Reduced HP of Basic Hull from 400 HP to 200 HP. Replaced duplicate mod error with a less intrusive warning. AI now has internal support for unfocused fire. AI will now fire salvage beams unfocused during fleet minin
Community Update
Thanks to everyone involved!
Feature Changelog:

Reduced HP of Basic Hull from 400 HP to 200 HP.
Replaced duplicate mod error with a less intrusive warning.
AI now has internal support for unfocused fire.
AI will now fire salvage beams unfocused during fleet mining, making it more efficient.

Bug Fixes:

Gave Basic Hull 0.1 Armor value in order to fix an infinite penetration bug.
Fixed severe bug that would cause asteroids to break a sector on modded servers sometimes when they were modified by players.
Fix coil texture orientations.
Partially fixed AI navigation issue when core is too far from center of mass (infinite spinning bug).
Original post
28 Nov 2023Developer post
0.203.157 - Balance Changes (Community Update)
This update makes some minor adjustments to system balance and fixes a whole range of bugs and issues. Feature Changelog: AI can now use Selected Target turrets by firing at the target of the main ship. AI can use Cannon-Missile weapons. Expanded AI firestate system under the hoo
This update makes some minor adjustments to system balance and fixes a whole range of bugs and issues.
Feature Changelog:

AI can now use Selected Target turrets by firing at the target of the main ship. AI can use Cannon-Missile weapons.
Expanded AI firestate system under the hood, which should accommodate
more complex conditional weapon operations if fancier things are added in the future.
When using lock-on missiles (Missile/Beam combination), the locking function now prioritizes your selected target (default key: F).

System Balance Changes:

Thruster blocks have had their individual mass reduced from 0.25 to 0.15 to match other system blocks.
Beams have twice the tick rate and half the damage per tick, which should mitigate some of the Beam-Beam damage disparity against armor.
Reduced Reactor Capacity cost for Top Speed Chamber levels to 8%/10%/12% respectively.
Reduced Reactor Capacity cost for Thrust Blast Base chamber from 4% to 2%.
Reduced Reactor Capacity cost for Thrust Blast Strength 1 chamber from 4% to 2%.
Reduced Reactor Capacity cost for Thrust Blast Charge Speed 1 chamber from 4% to 2%.
Reduced Reactor Capacity cost for Thrust Blast Multi-Charge 1 chamber from 4% to 2%.

API Changelog:
Added API event for pirate spawn attempts.
Bug Fixes:

Fixed lighting colors for crystal sub-shapes being only white. Weapon stats menu now displays correct power usage.
Adjusted AI targeting priority of Reactor blocks from 15 to 30 to match the targeting
priority of Chambers.
Fixed bug causing vertically-placed missiles fired by AI turrets to be fired straight at the turret rather than from the correct direction.
Missiles now check armor at the place they hit and reduce damage accordingly (except Bombs).
Bombs and Warheads correctly deal self-damage again.
Inventory transfer rails now only need the actual pulling storage to pull, not both, in order to work.
Semi fix for downloading block behavior softlock (turns out it's just an indefinite wait for server response).
Entities made entirely of Cargo Space, intangible rails, and/or their pickup areas will now auto overheat.
Fleets assigned to Fleet Mining will no longer target “ghost asteroids”, which should allow them to function more reliably than before.
Original post
15 Oct 2023Developer post
StarMade v0.203.157 - Bug Fixes Round 2
API Changelog: Deprecated old API hooks for block damage and destruction. Bug Fixes: Fixed a salvage beam exploit. Fixed new block damage API hook not applying to missiles. Fixed mod error window potentially being larger than the monitor screen.
API Changelog:

Deprecated old API hooks for block damage and destruction.

Bug Fixes:

Fixed a salvage beam exploit.
Fixed new block damage API hook not applying to missiles.
Fixed mod error window potentially being larger than the monitor screen.
Original post
23 Sep 2023Developer post
StarMade v0.203.153 - Bug Fixes
This update aims to address many of the bugs and concerns introduced by previous updates. We want to assure you that we are working to fix these issues, and we have adopted a new development pipeline and standards to cut down on bugs introduced in the future. We want to apologize
This update aims to address many of the bugs and concerns introduced by previous updates. We want to assure you that we are working to fix these issues, and we have adopted a new development pipeline and standards to cut down on bugs introduced in the future. We want to apologize for the recent troubles and these new standards and procedures should address these issues.
Feature Changelog:
Added a sound effect for transporter modules being activated.
API Changelog:

Added an event for when an entity changes it’s faction.
Added a new directory for locally installed mods that will take priority over downloaded ones. This should fix many of the duplicate mod issues that were present before.
Added mod-specific logging so that each mod gets it’s own log (moddata/modname/logs/modname_log.0.log) writable through the StarMod class. We want to encourage developers to use this new logging system instead of outputting to the main console. This way, it will be easier to debug mod specific issues without having to comb through large global log files.
Moved persistent object logging to it’s own file (moddata/modname/logs/persistent_objects.0.log) for each mod separate from the mod’s main log. This should cut down on the I/O spam issue that many servers had and reduce lag.

Bug Fixes:

Fixed bug that caused AI turrets not to fire on targets even if set on “aim at selected” and they would only fire at entities from an enemy faction.
Fixed transporters not being activatable by logic.
Fixed transporters not being activatable by decorative consoles.
Fixed normal and emissive textures for new blocks.
Fixed icon outlines for new blocks.
Fixed bug causing some icons for modded blocks to be mismatched.
Fixed output width being ignored on cannon combinations without a conical damage pattern.
Fixed coil blocks having incorrect orientations.
Fixed gravity exit module being hidden in the creative menu.
Fixed thruster blocks not being controllable through decorative consoles.

Known Issues:

Temporarily disabled adjust cockpit feature due to a game breaking bug that would lock all other players out of their controls.
Some normals still need adjustments, but we felt it was important to get these fixes out.
Thanks to the community for this patch. If you like to get involved with access to the source code. Join the modding discord at https://discord.gg/Mde9ChnG4c Thanks for playing StarMade, - schema
Original post
27 Jul 2023Developer post
Decor Update Hotfix #1
Fixed icon mismatch issue Fixed mod block icon issue
Fixed icon mismatch issue
Fixed mod block icon issue
Original post
25 Jul 2023Developer post
Decor Update [0.203.147] (Community update)
Decor Update (Community update) Meet Major Update 0.203.147! This update is focused on decor and adding more block variants. Features Changelog: Gravity Logic: Gravity Units can now use logic to activate. Gravity Exit Unit: Similar to a gravity unit, but deactivates all gravity f
Decor Update [0.203.147] (Community update)
Meet Major Update 0.203.147! This update is focused on decor and adding more block variants.
Features Changelog:

Gravity Logic:
Gravity Units can now use logic to activate.
Gravity Exit Unit:
Similar to a gravity unit, but deactivates all gravity for an astronaut.
Energy Pylons, Energy Cells, and Power Cores:
Some new decorative blocks have been added: Energy Pylons, Energy Cells, and Power Cores. Each of these types come in Red, Blue, Green, and Orange.
Coils:
Two new coil blocks have been added.
Beige Hulls:
A new hull type has been added, Beige. It comes in Basic, Standard, and Advanced.
Additional Shapes:
The following block types have had additional shape variants added:

Carved Stones
Ingots
Crystals
Ice
Thanks to the community for this update!
Original post
22 Apr 2023Developer post
0.203.143 - Intelligent Fleets Hotfix #3
Features Changelog Console Sitting: You can now sit in front of consoles without having to put them on a separate entity. Bug Fixes Fixed crash caused by activating an unlinked console. Fixed spacedust particle error. Improved debug logging. Other bug fixes.
Features Changelog
Console Sitting:

You can now sit in front of consoles without having to put them on a separate entity.

Bug Fixes

Fixed crash caused by activating an unlinked console.
Fixed spacedust particle error.
Improved debug logging.
Other bug fixes.
Original post
01 Apr 2023Developer post
Intelligent Fleets Hotfix 2
Features Changelog New Functions for Decorative Consoles: Added ability for Decorative Consoles to control Thrusters. Added ability for Decorative Consoles to control Transporters. Bug Fixes Fixed chunk-related issue causing Decorative Consoles to not activate properly when outsi
Features Changelog

New Functions for Decorative Consoles:

Added ability for Decorative Consoles to control Thrusters.
Added ability for Decorative Consoles to control Transporters.

Bug Fixes

Fixed chunk-related issue causing Decorative Consoles to not activate properly when outside the core chunk.
Fixed crash bug related to edge case casts.
Fixed rare server crash related to entity tag saving.
Original post
30 Mar 2023Developer post
0.203.140 - Intelligent Fleets Hotfix #1
Features Changelog Decorative Console Functionality: This update adds a small new feature to Decorative Consoles - you can now use them as a sort of “Remote Access” for various different blocks by connecting them: Ship Core: Enters the Ship Core. Build Block: Enters the Build Blo
Features Changelog

Decorative Console Functionality:
This update adds a small new feature to Decorative Consoles - you can now use them as a sort of “Remote Access” for various different blocks by connecting them:

Ship Core: Enters the Ship Core.
Build Block: Enters the Build Block.
Reactor Power: Opens the Reactor menu when activated.
Shipyard Computer: Opens the Shipyard Computer menu.
Faction Module: Opens the Faction Module.
AI Module: Opens the AI Module.
Shop Module: Opens the Shop menu.
Display Module: Opens the Display Module for editing.
You can also link it to Buttons and Activation modules for logic activation.

Personal Computer Mail:

Personal Computer blocks can now be used to access user mail.

New Sounds for Doors and Forcefields:

Door and Forcefield blocks now have an activation sound.

Bug Fixes

Removed the WIP crew blocks that weren’t supposed to be included in release yet.
Original post
27 Mar 2023Developer post
0.203.139 - Intelligent Fleets Update
Features Changelog Fleet Sharing Changes: Fleets can now be shared according to faction permission levels. By default, fleet sharing is set to Personal. Fleet Quick-Command Wheel: A brand new quick-command wheel has been added for fleets, allowing players to send pre-defined comm
Features Changelog
Fleet Sharing Changes: Fleets can now be shared according to faction permission levels. By default, fleet sharing is set to Personal. Fleet Quick-Command Wheel: A brand new quick-command wheel has been added for fleets, allowing players to send pre-defined commands to their fleets with ease. Activation is simple - just press and hold the Left Control and Tab keys. If you want to add a new command, just left click an empty slot, and if you want to remove one, right click it. Moreover, if you register a command that requires coordinates as arguments, you can specify relative coordinates using the ~ operator. For instance, ~ ~1 ~ would translate to the sector directly above the player. This relative coordinate functionality has been incorporated into other coordinate input menus as well. Fleet Escort Command: Fleet Escort will make members accompany their flagship, engaging in combat with nearby enemies while keeping a close distance to the flagship. If the flagship is destroyed, the fleet will automatically switch to defend sector mode. Fleet Standoff Command: Fleet members will stay away from close combat in Standoff mode, and instead attempt to remain at the maximum range that their weapons can fire at. Fleet Repair Command: Fleet members will make use of Astrotech beams to repair friendly ships (provided they possess them) and will prioritize ships under player control. By default, if the fleet is in combat or enemies are close by, the fleet will first attempt to move to a safer distance before attempting repairs. Fleet Interdiction Command: Fleet members will use FTL Interdictors if possible, preventing hostile ships from jumping out of the current sector. Fleet Defend Changes: The maximum distance a Defending Fleet will chase a target has been slightly reduced from 2 to 1.35. This change was made as Defense Fleets would get too easily distracted and lured away from their defense target. Astrotech Improvements: Astrotech beams no longer require resources to be used, and can now be used to repair damaged ships and blocks, making them much more useful. However, the combat timeout is still in place to prevent any potential abuse. FTL Interdiction Improvements: FTL Interdiction systems have had their overall RC and power cost reduced. In order to balance these changes, FTL Interdictors will be deactivated if the entity’s shields go down. Additionally, if a ship is interdicted, the controlling player will be notified of the interdiction and it’s source.
Balance Changes
Low Damage Chamber: This chamber has been disabled due to balance concerns. Specifically, it was proved to still be possible to make “near-immortal” ships simply by heavily focusing on shield capacity and having a Low Damage 2 chamber. Note that there is a config option to re-enable this chamber if server owners wish to. High Damage Chamber: This chamber has been disabled due to not having any meaningful usage in most if not all combat scenarios. Note that there is a config option to re-enable this chamber if server owners wish to. Chamber Requirement Changes: The default ratio of chamber blocks per reactor block has been reduced from 0.1 to 0.07. This should give players more room for their ship interiors and systems. Cannon Base Damage: The base damage for Cannon weapons has been increased from 13.53 to 15.5. Cannons felt underpowered compared to other weapons and therefore we want to encourage their usage more. Cannon Cannon Damage Nerf: The nerf value has been reduced from 6.53 down to 4.7, as the weapon felt a bit too underpowered. Cannon Beam Damage Buff: The default damage buff has been increased from 6.39 to 7.65 in order to make Cannon Beam more viable in combat. These are just some base balance changes, and while we feel more needs to be done in order to fix the current issues with combat, we also want to give the community time to adjust as well as to provide feedback.
API Changelog
Custom Add-On Use Listener: Modders can now make use of a new Fast Listener event to implement AI usage of custom reactor module addons.
Bug Fixes

Fixed bug preventing owners from making changes to their fleets while the ownership was set to shared.
Fixed bug that prevented shared fleets from being used if the owner was offline.
Fixed bug causing Fleet Patrol to only run the route once then revert back to idle.
Fixed SegmentPieceKillEvent not firing soon enough.
Fixed SegmentPieceDamageEvent not firing soon enough.
Thanks to the modding community for this update! If you wish to contribute or help otherwise, feel free to join the discord. https://discord.gg/Mde9ChnG4c
Original post

Updates & announcements

AI & Targeting Overhaul

Aim-At Priority List

Target Priority

Engagement Range

Keep Target

Focus Fire

AI Command Module Commands

Fleets

Fleet Control From the Map

Fleet Performance & Menu

Creative & Server Settings

Factions

Territory Intrusion Alerts

Faction News Log Fix

Build Mode & UI

Modding

Bug Fixes

Java 21 Migration

For Server Owners / Providers

Fleets & AI

Fleet Reconnaissance

AI Collision Avoidance & Sector Arrival

Patrol & Trade Improvements

AI Changes

Fleet Stealth Commands

Graphics & Rendering

Improved Graphics Presets

Block Model Visual-State Framework

Framebuffer & Resource Improvements

Segment Upload Throttling and Lighting System Improvements

Modding API

StarLoader Mixin Integration

Per-Block Custom JSON Metadata

Inventory System Extensions

Factory / Refinery API

Mod Loading Improvements

Build Mode & UI

Control Scheme Presets & Key Remapping

Build Mode Help

Catalog Upload and Template Selection Dropdown Improvements

Markdown Renderer

In-Game Guides

Gameplay & Mechanics

New Display Module Features

Logic Beams

Faction Map Color Picker

Tractor Beam Improvements

Weapon Damage Performance Overhaul

Targeting Display Changes

Astrotech System Fixes

Shield System

Warhead Changes

Fixes for Build Shape Tools Radial Menu ( ` )

Thrust Sharing Bug Fix

Mod Mappings Fix

Server & Stability

Crash Detection & Reporting

Player Spawn Distance Check

Performance Improvements

Platform / OS Fixes

Known Issues

StarMade Launcher v4 Beta

Note for Server Owners / Providers

Note for ARM Macs

Update on New Foundations (Universe Update)

Changelog

Important Note

Thruster Plume Changes

Blueprint Upload Speed

New Chat Features

Weapon Tweaks

Shipyard Changes

Command Module

Factory Manager

General System Changes

Pirate Ships Update

Building

Display Modules

Fleets