Hello Pilots & Commanders,
First major update for Space Reign is now (finally) available for everyone on the live branch! Let's take a look at what's new and what's changed. Watch the update trailer for a quick overview or read the post for individual updates. 🚀
Update Trailer
Major Features and Changes:
Large Ship Direct Control
It's here. Take control of large ships from third-person perspective and use manual or automatic weapon modes to deliver some serious damage.
Conquest Sectors
In this most complex sector type in Space Reign, you have to secure all Controls Points while protecting your own against enemy attacks. Capture Refineries, earn supplies and build static defenses, help ally forces to push the enemy and defeat their main garrison.
Contract Sectors 2.0
Contract sectors have been reworked for easier contract selection and faster gameplay, allowing you to pre-select a specific contract from the sector map before deployment without the need of waiting for the right contract type. Threat levels have also have been unified per sector for more straightforward difficulty scaling.
Tech Tree
Ships and weapons are now unlocked in the Tech Tree as you progress through the game. To do this, you will have to earn and spend Tech Points, a new currency in the game gained by completing contracts, special objectives and looting containers.
Chapter 1 - Marshall's End
This update also features all sectors and content for the first chapter of the game. Complete contracts in 4 reworked and updated Contract sectors and capture 4 Conquest sectors to deal with the Marshall Gang pirates once and for all.
Huge Optimization
Performance has received a significant improvement, especially in overall RAM usage, which could cause crashes when getting in and out of a sector. You should also see some gains in framerate and overall stability of the game.
Additinal Features and Changes:
New Tutorial and Updated Database
To improve onboarding and initial experience for new players, we have implemented a new interactive tutorial covering all basic mechanics and options in the game. There is an option to skip it, but we highly recommend getting through it first. In-game database has also been updated with information on all important gameplay topics.
Exit Sequence 2.0
Use the reworked Exit Sequence to quickly save your progress leave a sector from anywhere, without the need of approaching a Navigation Beacon. We understand that your time is precious, and this should help you enjoy the game more conveniently.
Command Points & Fleet Limit
To better differentiate between individual ships and their value, we've implemented a new fleet limit system instead of restricting your fleet per ship class. Each ship now has a specific Command Point value based on its size and tier, allowing you to create different fleet compositions within your current command point and total ship limit according to your Corporation Rank.
Fleet Shortcuts
While more advanced Fleet Command QOL updates are on the way, we've found the time to implement some fleet shortcuts to quickly select individual ships and switch their direct control status.
Lootable Containers
Enemies now have a chance to spawn a lootable container filled with Credits and Tech Points based on their ship type. Simply approach and collect!
Improved Collision Avoidance
With all our ships using a physics based flight and movement system, it is not an easy task to deal with all cases of possible collisions, but all vessels and especially fighters, should avoid obstacles more effectively.
Improved ship following and simple follow formations for large ships
Ships now follow their assigned friendly targets more precisely in non-ft mode, and large ships will not break off to attack with a follow order assigned - you can use this for a simple combat formation system for large ships.
Salvaging 2.0 - Current Status
Unfortunately, we were unable to finish upgrading Salvaging during fixing the update preview on the development branch, thus, Salvaging is currently disabled as it is being slightly reworked. Our plan is to bring it back to the game in a smaller update coming soon.
Patreons in In-Game Credits
Lastly, our beloved Patreons are now featured in the Credits, as promised. We can't thank you enough for supporting Space Reign from the start, but believe me when I say we truly appreciate it. ❤️
What's Next
With all fundamental systems finally in place, we are excited to work on more frequent feature and content updates, which will be divided into smaller, more regular ones and additional chapters.
Chapter 2 will include Heavy Frigates and Destroyers, New Weapons and Sectors + New Enemy Faction to play against.
Good Hunting! 🫡
Adam & Daniel