This is a fairly important hotfix, as it addresses a number of important edge cases that players reported after the massive overhaul of Update 15. I am really pleased that there were not more problems (knock on wood), thanks in large part to the efforts of all the folks who helped playtest the beta branches so thoroughly.
0.655.1 Hotfix 9
There's a new patch notes wiki page (linked below), since the original "notes since the start of Early Access" has surpassed 50 thousand words.
Fixed a bug where Stealth Biological Mainframes were non-functional in the prior build of the game.
Wurtzite Armor no longer blocks Blending In, Obscured By Clothing, PMC Appearance, or PMC Officer Appearance. It's slightly less realistic that this doesn't happen, but it's a lot more straightforward to use, and avoids some needless learning spikes that otherwise happen.
Fixed a rare exception that could happen in UpdateSimBuildingsPerSecond 426000. This wasn't new, but was just really unlikely to happen.
Fixed a regression in the prior build where, sometimes, if you were in the post-apocalypse, it would not automatically unlock the emergency network source for you. It seemed to only be on a very specific route through the game.
Fixed an issue where in savegames that are beyond chapter 2, but not the initial timeline, it was no longer showing the VR view.
Structures that are in the process of rebuilding no longer show as if they need to be built in the build menu. There is some added wording about the fact that they are rebuilding, as well, making them a lot more clear.
Now that there is a grace period before the dooms start in chapter 3+, the game will no longer generate scientific research until the dooms actually start. This was otherwise a case where you could get bogged down in un-fun optimizations.
Fixed an issue where if a prior savegame from before the recent beta batch was on turn 1 of a new timeline, then you would be softlocked because it did not pop open the "hey what is your history with prologue-style choices" message, thus leaving you with no way to create your tower.
Fixed a truly mystifying bug where you could go through the "thinking for yourself" message and then somehow NOT have access to contemplations. It now self-corrects if it finds this happened.
Fixed an issue with the achievements "Original Body" and "Preserved Body" where they were not tripping during replay of the prologue or prologue and chapter one on timelines beyond the first.
Fixed a bug where if you loaded into a savegame and then absolutely hammered the "next turn" button right away, the deterrence and protection values were not correctly calculated yet, and you'd get massively attacked all over the place as if you had no deterrence or protection on any of your buildings.Full notes here.
“Does the machine speak for us, or do we now speak for the machine?”
— William Gibson, Neuromancer
New Minds, Start Here
For those just stepping into the Machine’s world, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the basics. The Heart of the Machine Beginner's Guide is your gateway to understanding the systems at play and building your foundation. After all, every complex network starts with a single connection.
Connect with the Machine
Want to stay in the loop or share your thoughts? Join the conversation across these platforms:
💬 Discord – Best place to share feedback, get direct responses, and to talk about Heart of the Machine.
📜 Reddit – Discuss strategies, share ideas, and exchange tips with the community.
Here is a link to prior recent patches in case you missed them.
https://steamcommunity.com/ogg/2001070/announcements/detail/524216645064853158
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2001070/view/502822010104053992
https://steamcommunity.com/games/2001070/announcements/detail/524212840420081803
