We’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating; 2025 is a BIG year for Risk.
In Update 3.18, we released the Secret Assassin Beta game mode, balanced Secret Missions, and rolled out several quality-of-life improvements. (You can read the full breakdown of Update 3.18 here).
Update 3.19 builds on this, with a focus on improving the experience for both players and content creators. We’ve been listening closely to your feedback, and we’re introducing new tools to make games fairer and more enjoyable for everyone.
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BOT-OUT TIMERS
Our first part of the update is actually live already. Prior to our recent release we received reports of players exploiting the botting out logic. Players had been found to enter a lobby and ready up before minimizing the app, letting an AI take over and the game play out, before resuming at a later time to determine if the game was worth continuing or not. This created a bad user experience for all other players involved. With the most recent release we have ensured that regardless of whether a player leaves the app foregrounded or backgrounded that they will be kicked from the game if they exceed the new time limit. The newly adjusted timings for the game are set up as such that after 50 seconds of inactivity on their turn a player will receive a pop down warning, after 60 seconds of inactivity on their turn an AI takeover will occur. If a player remains inactive and crosses the new threshold of three minutes they will be removed from the game permanently, the way this three minute timer is calculated varies depending on the bot out style.
If players bot out and keep the app foregrounded their inactive timer dictates their ability to re-join the game or not. A player's inactivity timer increments on their turn from the last moment of activity and continues to increment on their turn while their AI replacement plays. If the inactivity timer exceeds the time limit then they are automatically kicked out of the game and sent back to the home screen. If players minimize the app, sending it to the background, then a countdown timer is started on our servers. This timer is counted in real time and begins decrementing after the host has acknowledged the disconnected player and notified the server, in this instance there may be some leeway in the three minute deadline. If they exceed the time limit then they are unable to re-join the game when they re-focus the app, instead they are redirected back to the home screen.
BLOCK BUTTON
One of your most-requested features is finally coming: Block Lists. This new tool allows you to choose who you don’t want to play or interact with again.
1. Manage your Block List: Currently, players are using their friends list to act as a list of players to avoid. We’re making it so players can add and remove players from their block lists. A player can block from the pregame lobby up until the post game results screen. Now is the time to turn your ‘friends’ list into an actual friends list. 😂 True definition of keeping your friends close and enemies closer.
2. Prevent unwanted players joining your lobby: Once you have blocked a player, they will be unable to see or join any public or private lobbies you are hosting.
3. You’ll receive a message if a blocked player joins or is in your pregame lobby: If a blocked player joins a lobby you are in, you’ll receive a warning message. The blocked player will be marked with an icon.
While we know this isn't a complete solution to unfair play and cheating, we believe it’ll significantly improve your overall experience and make it easier to find players who are worth playing with.
A SAFER SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY
We love our content creators and we've heard them loud and clear when they've told us the challenges they face streaming Risk live. It only takes one or two bad eggs to ruin the streaming experience - whether it's by using a stream to snipe a game they're playing with a creator, or just messing with a creator because you know people are watching.
The block lists above are a good start, but we're taking further steps to make it a safer, more enjoyable place for creators to share live gameplay.
We’re adding some robust enhancements to our Streamer Mode to help streamers avoid trolls and stream snipers, and make it easier to create Risk content.
1. Streamer Mode Improvements: Streamer Mode now provides stronger identity protection by generating randomized names, avatars, colors, and countries for all players in the pre-game lobby—including the streamer. Real identities are only revealed once the match officially begins, helping prevent targeted sniping. Additionally, map previews and game settings are hidden in the pre-game lobby for added privacy.
2. New Report Type: Stream Sniper: We’re giving everyone a way to officially report stream sniping behavior. This helps us build better tools to detect and take action against those trying to ruin a good game.
3. Players cannot re-enter pregame lobby when kicked out by Host: We understand how frustrating it can be when kicked players repeatedly rejoin your lobby. As of 3.19, kicked players will receive a message: “You cannot rejoin this game as you have been recently kicked by the host”. The game will also become hidden from their available lobbies, and has no timeout. This is a great global feature for all players.
POSTGAME STEP FOR PLAYERS WHO SURRENDER
We’re adding a new postgame step for players who surrender early. Previously, leaving a match meant missing clarity around your final placement. Now, surrendering players will clearly see their final position (3rd, 4th, 5th etc.), along with a message that Battle Points will be awarded once final results are determined.
Players who surrender are still allowed to block, add friend requests and like the map.
BUGFIXES
Our team has also tackled a large number of bugs such as:
- Duplicate territory cards breaking card limits on maps.
- The Gameplay settings, Colourblind Mode, Screen Res and Screen Type all display English.
- Charleroi Farm Territory missing connection to Diary.
- Disabling Streamer mode making lobby modifiers disappear.
- Difficulty settings being overridden after a Secret Assassin game.
There will be a full list in the release notes once the update is out!
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What do you think about the upcoming Update 3.19? Let us know your thoughts, and tell us what you’d like to see next!
Update 3.19 is expected to release in June, so keep your eyes peeled for more details as we get closer.
Over and out
SMG: Team RISK