ASTROKILL

Released: May 27, 2016
Platforms: WindowsLinux
Last updated: 05 Sep 2026, 05:47 GMT

Updates & announcements

20 posts

15 May 2022Developer post
Update 0.9.9.1 - Modernized and restyled UI
This update modernizes all menus and UI-elements within them (buttons, text-boxes, drop-downs, etc.). The UI in Astrokill has largely remained unchanged for years, since gameplay has received the most attention. Previously, the UI was mostly implemented in Blueprints. I've nativi
This update modernizes all menus and UI-elements within them (buttons, text-boxes, drop-downs, etc.). The UI in Astrokill has largely remained unchanged for years, since gameplay has received the most attention. Previously, the UI was mostly implemented in Blueprints. I've nativized the UI (converted to C++) and added the ability to customize colors globally. Now, when you choose a different color-theme, the entire UI changes colors to match the in-game HUD!
HUD

Minimap now has double-lined border and a transparent inner region
Reduced saturation of blue-tinted cockpit/HUD-elements
Reverse "x" icon is now a "friendly" color instead of red

UI

Modernized menus by "ironing out" buttons and other widgets
Increased transparency on all UI-elements to improved readability
Buttons now support 3 different behaviors internally (normal, toggle, or slider)
Redesigned sliders to be more readable and easier to click-and-drag
Nativized key-selectors (found in controls-menu)
Nativized text-fields (found in joystick-menu)
Colors on drop-downs now match rest of UI (previously white and difficult to read)
FPS-display in graphics-menu now fades to red when low and always shows 1 fractional digit
Renamed color-themes to Classic, Fabulous, and Mono

Audio

Reduced default music-volume by ~30%
Added UI-sounds for combo-box-selections, slider-releases, and text-field-commits

Core

Changed capture-mode to 'Capture Permanently Including Initial Mouse Down'
Changed lock-mode to 'Lock on Capture'
Mouse is now always captured on launch (bCaptureMouseOnLaunch in DefaultInput.ini)
Eliminated the need for several UI-related interfaces to reduce architectural complexity
UI-elements now leverage delegates (instead of interfaces) to share information related to theme-changes, press-events, key-down events, etc.
Upgraded font-assets to eliminate all font-related warnings from build

Controls

Mouse-cursor can now click via the Space Bar (allows one-handed operation from the keyboard)

Bugs

Fixed issue with default camera-perspective not being saved if selected from main-menu
Original post
18 Apr 2022Developer post
Update 0.9.9.0 - Upgrade to UE4.27, new Beltor fighter, new asteroids, and more
This update brings ASTROKILL into the modern age with the latest UE4 version (upgraded 4 versions from 4.23 to 4.27). An upgrade to UE5 will happen in the next major update! In the meantime, this update leverages the latest atmospheric lighting features from UE4 to add planetary
This update brings ASTROKILL into the modern age with the latest UE4 version (upgraded 4 versions from 4.23 to 4.27). An upgrade to UE5 will happen in the next major update! In the meantime, this update leverages the latest atmospheric lighting features from UE4 to add planetary atmospheres and improved stellar (literally) effects. I've replaced all asteroids and fragments in the game with higher resolution geometry and textures suitable for 4k gaming rigs. There's also a new heavy fighter that's playable in the Snare level. This fighter comes equipped with 3 turrets of a new variety. It has more of a Star Wars-y visual style compared to the other fighters. More fighters and frigates matching this style are coming (unless it's not well received). The next update will take full advantage of the Chaos physics system, Lumen, and Nanite in UE5. With Nanite, I'll be able to eliminate most LODs. And, with Chaos, dynamic destruction of asteroids and ships will finally be possible. That means you'll be able to turn ships into a hundred bits of hot metal or carve out holes in asteroids with continuous gunfire. Cool stuff. Anyways, happy Easter!
Environments

Nearby stars are now rendered using Unreal's atmospheric lighting system
Added planetary atmospheres to nearby planets and moons (realistic, dynamic atmospheric lighting not seen before in AK)
Planets now have more spherical geometry (higher resolution)
Performed a lighting pass on all levels resulting in a generally brighter environment more suitable for space
Replaced all asteroids and fragments with higher resolution geometry and textures
Color-balanced all skyboxes to achieve a more space-y look (blacks are black and whites are white)

Gameplay

Added a new Beltor fighter (called the Goliath) that comes equipped with 3 new turrets
Created a new double-barreled, fighter-mounted turret (internally named the Weasel)
Changed the playable fighter in the Snare level to the Goliath
Adjusted the placement of static asteroids in all levels

Graphics & UI

Brightened and adjusted HUD-colors to appear more emissive
Shading-quality can now be adjusted from the graphics-menu
Added a thin circle to the center of the reticle to assist with aiming
Prograde and retrograde reticles are now smaller and no longer look like targeting reticles
Reticles and billboards will now blend additively when they overlap and no longer fade in/out
Missile-reticles are now thinner and smaller
Motion-blur is now auto-disabled when the in-game menu is shown (prevents menu from smearing)

Controls

Created a special actor to visually preview and debug joystick-mappings - features a crosshair mapped to pitch/yaw (should be centered in the circle), a 'thrust' bar mapped to forward/backward movement, a 'strafe' bar mapped to left/right movement, a 'lift' bar mapped to up/down movement, and finally a 'roll' bar mapped to the roll-axis
Reduced adjustable deadzone-range to an overly large deadzone

Core

Upgraded the Unreal engine from 4.23 to 4.27 (4 versions!)
Reduced size of Windows build from 2.6GB to 1.8GB (almost a gig smaller for both Windows and Linux builds)
Global post-processing is now easier to adjust on a per-level basis
Cockpits are now auto-spawned without needing to be manually placed
Improved and expanded upon the random-number library
Eliminated many unnecessary BP-interfaces
Original post
27 Jan 2022Developer post
Update 0.9.8.2 - Fixes to Steam-achievements, reticles, and more
This update improves reticle-recognition and fixes a long-standing issue with Steam stats and achievements not being updated properly. In addition to various stats, like kills and deaths, I'm now recording spawns as well. With regards to reticles, a solid line is now drawn from t
This update improves reticle-recognition and fixes a long-standing issue with Steam stats and achievements not being updated properly. In addition to various stats, like kills and deaths, I'm now recording spawns as well. With regards to reticles, a solid line is now drawn from the target to the leading reticle. I've thickened the outline and scaled down most reticles to make aiming more intuitive and reduce visual clutter. The next update will have an upgraded engine and a live preview in the joystick-menu to make calibration much easier.
UI

Added a solid line drawn from target to leading reticle
Doubled line-thickness on most reticles
Leading reticle is now smaller and bolder (makes aiming more accurate)
Re-animated leading reticle to make visually distinguishing it easier
Fixed a scaling-issue causing reticles to be oversized when camera is zoomed in
Fixed an issue with reticles not facing the camera exactly when near edge of screen
Reduced size of missile-reticles and narrowed visibility-range

Progression

Fixed an issue causing stats to not update on Steam, thereby making most achievements impossible
Added a '9 Lives' achievement that is earned after spawning 9 times
Added Steam-stat to record number of spawns

Audio

Added a slider to control dialog-volume
Fixed an issue causing some door-sounds to continue playing after ship was destroyed

Core

Added support for additional teams (previously only OBA and DOM were allowed)
Alliances between teams can now be changed on the fly from the level-script (OBA and DOM are hostile by default)
Added option to scale billboards along the YZ plane only (makes the solid 'line' to the leading reticle possible)
Billboards and reticles (which are billboards) are now fully implemented in C++
Original post
05 Jan 2022Developer post
Update 0.9.8.1 - Engine upgrade, redesigned HUD, optimized core, joystick fixes
This update marks a fundamental shift in how the game works under the hood. There are a slew of improvements that increase performance, improve joystick & controller support, optimize HUD space, and future-proof the game. Besides a beefed up architecture, the HUD has been red
This update marks a fundamental shift in how the game works under the hood. There are a slew of improvements that increase performance, improve joystick & controller support, optimize HUD space, and future-proof the game. Besides a beefed up architecture, the HUD has been redesigned to improve the 3rd person experience and minimize on-screen clutter. I did a visual polish on all the environments to depict a harsher, brighter atmosphere. A new fixed turret-system is now present in several missions. I'm very happy with the visual style of this new asset and want it to carry over into a new, playable faction.
HUD

Thinned out many reticles and gauges to reduce visual clutter & obstructions
Rearranged gauges so that no gauge is obscured in 3rd person
Implemented an animated leading crosshair to emphasize the location to aim at
Added a flashing dot that is placed on the origin of the selected target
Fixed the orientation of holograms displayed for the selected target
Fixed an issue with target-reticles becoming gimbal-locked

Graphics

Increased the brightness of star-light in all levels to better match a real space-environment
Added a post-processing effect to over-expose highlights
Optimized how skyboxes are drawn
Fixed an issue with tracers being far too oversized at long distances
Modeled and textured the new Phalanx turret-system
Overhauled the "3D asset studio" accessible from the Graphics menu (assets are now only loaded one at a time and camera-controls are more intuitive)

Gameplay

Replaced many static turrets with a new "Phalanx" turret that is mounted on a floating platform (older turrets were mounted on broken debris)
Moved the 3rd person camera back significantly on all fighters to reduce the screen space taken by the player's ship
Reduced the difficulty of some particularly hard levels
Overhauled the objective-system to make level-scripting much more streamlined

Joysticks

Overhauled the entire system that feeds joystick-input to the player's ship
Mapping-presets are now read-only, while the "custom" mapping is always writable
Replaced the "bypass" option with a "none" option in the mapping-dropdown
Added a mapping for the Thrustermaster Airbus Sidestick
Fixed an issue with some fields not being writable
Offsets are now zero in most cases and multipliers are usually 1 or -1 (inverted)

IO

Added a mouse-sensitivity slider to control the speed of the menu-cursor without affecting gameplay
Wrote a new axis-input system to manage simultaneous input from multiple controllers (may have PTSD from this one)
Eliminated a slight lag from all controllers (keyboard, mice, joysticks, gamepads)
Rewrote/simplified internal timers responsible for mouse-movement and processing input in general (game should "feel" the same even at 500 fps!)
Tested VR with the Oculus Rift S (rather glorious)
Tested the Logitech F310 gamepad and the Thrustmaster Hotas X joystick

Core

Upgraded to UE4.22 (still behind, but I can get it caught up to 4.27 quickly)
Replaced many, many Blueprints with C++
Faster overall load-times (both running the game and opening levels)
Internal objects are now initialized in the correct order and destroyed when no longer needed
Level-bounds can now be defined as any combination of spheres, boxes, and cylinders
Added support for altering level-bounds as gameplay-conditions change
Added support for prohibited zones within valid level-bounds (a restricted area)

UI

Menus are now placed in front of the camera in a much more reliable & accurate way
Improved accuracy of cursor-alignment with buttons & dropdowns
Original post
03 Mar 2019Developer post
Patch 0.9.7.1 - Ultrawide support, display fixes, gamepad fixes, and UE 4.21.2 upgrade
General - Ultrawide resolutions are now supported - Numerous display-issues have been fixed (vsync, windowed mode, etc.) - Gamepad support is greatly improved - Upgraded to UE 4.21.2 (from 4.21.1) Graphics - All graphics-settings are now saved using UE4's game-user-settings - Ant
20 Feb 2019Developer post
Patch 0.9.7 - MASSIVE update (I'm back)
General - Upgraded to Unreal 4.21.1 - Redesigned entire HUD with customizable colors - Replaced all existing asteroids and debris with new meshes and textures (more varied and realistic) - Mission load-times reduced significantly - Added color-themes that affect the entire HUD an
27 Feb 2018Developer post
Patch 0.9.6.1 - Increased VR resolution, re-textured Holliman frigate, and new achievements
Visuals - Re-textured Holliman frigate and turrets (as seen in Snare mission) - Re-modeled lateral thrusters on Holliman engine (increased detail) VR - Added resolution-selection to VR-menu (sets proper resolution-scale for selected headset) UI - Increased resolution-scale range
27 Feb 2018Developer post
Patch 0.9.6.1 - Increased VR resolution, re-textured Holliman frigate, and new achievements
Visuals - Re-textured Holliman frigate and turrets (as seen in Snare mission) - Re-modeled lateral thrusters on Holliman engine (increased detail) VR - Added resolution-selection to VR-menu (sets proper resolution-scale for selected headset) UI - Increased resolution-scale range
18 Feb 2018Developer post
Patch 0.9.6 - New fighter skins, improved VR, and faster load times
Gameplay - Added a new fighter variant (Sabre Quad) - Added a unique Sabre Medic skin (as shown below) - Decreased all level load-times and initial game load-time - Fundamentally changed VR support to improve playability and decrease motion sickness Visuals - Created a new Sabre
18 Feb 2018Developer post
Patch 0.9.6 - New fighter skins, improved VR, and faster load times
Gameplay - Added a new fighter variant (Sabre Quad) - Added a unique Sabre Medic skin (as shown below) - Decreased all level load-times and initial game load-time - Fundamentally changed VR support to improve playability and decrease motion sickness Visuals - Created a new Sabre
05 Feb 2018Developer post
Patch 0.9.5.1 - Larger fighters and improved joystick configuration
Gameplay - Increased size of fighters and interceptors by 50% - Decreased objective-capture time to 20s - Reduced difficulty of Menace mission and improved its level-scripting - Smoothed out automatic speed-limit braking - Lowered thruster-acceleration on interceptors - Raised th
05 Feb 2018Developer post
Patch 0.9.5.1 - Larger fighters and improved joystick configuration
Gameplay - Increased size of fighters and interceptors by 50% - Decreased objective-capture time to 20s - Reduced difficulty of Menace mission and improved its level-scripting - Smoothed out automatic speed-limit braking - Lowered thruster-acceleration on interceptors - Raised th
25 Jan 2018Developer post
Patch 0.9.5 - New missions, improved AI, and many gameplay fixes
Gameplay - Added new mission Fury to end of Dominion campaign - Added new mission Guardians to beginning of Outer Belt campaign (replaces mission Maki Transit) - Added "rearm" squad-command (squad-members can be directed to rearm) - Added a laser super weapon (available in the Fu
25 Jan 2018Developer post
Patch 0.9.5 - New missions, improved AI, and many gameplay fixes
Gameplay - Added new mission Fury to end of Dominion campaign - Added new mission Guardians to beginning of Outer Belt campaign (replaces mission Maki Transit) - Added "rearm" squad-command (squad-members can be directed to rearm) - Added a laser super weapon (available in the Fu
15 Dec 2017Developer post
Patch 0.9.4.2 - Engine upgrade, joystick fixes, and cloud-saves
Core - Upgraded UE4 engine from 4.18.1 to 4.18.2 - Game-progress, key-bindings, and other saved data is now synced to the Steam-cloud Input - Joystick-axis values are now shown in real-time from the controls-menu (helps with mapping axes to the correct controls) - Modifier keys (
15 Dec 2017Developer post
Patch 0.9.4.2 - Engine upgrade, joystick fixes, and cloud-saves
Core - Upgraded UE4 engine from 4.18.1 to 4.18.2 - Game-progress, key-bindings, and other saved data is now synced to the Steam-cloud Input - Joystick-axis values are now shown in real-time from the controls-menu (helps with mapping axes to the correct controls) - Modifier keys (
11 Dec 2017Developer post
Patch 0.9.4.1 - Linux fixes
Core - Disabled unused plugins (specifically Android plugins) to help resolve a Linux crash - Recompiled Linux UE4 with this fix for AMD drivers: Gameplay - Tutorials no longer require all rings to be cleared (destroying large enemy vessel is enough) Bugs - Checking the joystick-
11 Dec 2017Developer post
Patch 0.9.4.1 - Linux fixes
Core - Disabled unused plugins (specifically Android plugins) to help resolve a Linux crash - Recompiled Linux UE4 with this fix for AMD drivers: Gameplay - Tutorials no longer require all rings to be cleared (destroying large enemy vessel is enough) Bugs - Checking the joystick-
09 Dec 2017Developer post
Patch 0.9.4 - Unreal 4.18 upgrade, Vive support, and heavy optimization
Core - Upgraded engine from UE 4.17 to 4.18 - Drastically reduced texture-memory usage by optimizing mip-maps - HTC Vive should now work via the OSVR plugin (needs testing) - Eliminated many unused materials and textures to lower required disk-space - Joystick-input is now fed th
09 Dec 2017Developer post
Patch 0.9.4 - Unreal 4.18 upgrade, Vive support, and heavy optimization
Core - Upgraded engine from UE 4.17 to 4.18 - Drastically reduced texture-memory usage by optimizing mip-maps - HTC Vive should now work via the OSVR plugin (needs testing) - Eliminated many unused materials and textures to lower required disk-space - Joystick-input is now fed th

Updates & announcements

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