This was supposed to be a small update where I put in some of the new artwork but while I was waiting for it to be finalized I decided to add the achievement system as well. Turns out that was a much larger job than I expected so sorry about the delay.
New Character Artwork
All the character artwork in the game has been redone in a new comic book style. New alien races and more player avatars are still in the pipeline and will be coming soon.
Achievements
The game now has 40 achievements you can earn as you progress. They're tracked per player but also tracked globally at the highest difficulty you've achieved them. If you're playing the free edition you won't be awarded them in Steam until you get your hands on the full game, but when you do they'll be applied retroactively.
I've been watching some people play the game on YouTube and a host of changes are in based on things they said while playing. Oh, I also finally got the memory leak in the ship designer fixed!
Anyway, hope you enjoy. Even more artwork is coming in the next update!
Patch Notes
New Features / Content
- Added 40 achievements both overall and per-player, now displayed in core panel.
- All new achievements are now also granted to Steam when earned.
- Retroactively applied some achievements for any saves that did not use developer tools.
- Added achievement toasts when earned on the HUD.
- Counters now show both overall and per player values.
- All avatars have been re-drawn in our new style both player and NPC.
- Added new profile files to appdata folder for storing global things.
- Settings are now stored in the global profile (per device) instead of windows registry.
- Settings for free and full versions are now kept separate.
- Added new stationary AI that still attacks for Mothership and Freighters.
- Alternate designs are now stored in the global profile.
- Removed unlocksprite console command.
Balance Changes
- Replaced Pulse Debuff Chance upgrade with Pulse Range upgrade that goes up to +25%.
- Increased minimum value for projectile life modifier from 5% to 10%.
- Removed Rays from first invasion as their Magma Orb is quite strong.
Quality of Life / Accessibility
- Primary slots are now displayed as triangles instead of circles to avoid visual confusion.
- Edit button added to players in the player list for changing name or avatar.
- Upgrade tooltip will no longer close when adding/removing points.
- Developer console now works with virtual keyboard (controller and Steam Deck).
- Use of dev tools will disqualify a save from contributing toward overall achievements and stats.
- Enemies that attack the fleet now grant XP but only if you damage them.
- Mission 'A Bad Idea' now shows image of a waypoint structure you need to infect.
- Cleaned up slot unlock display to hopefully make it easier to understand.
- Removed slot counts from slot unlocks in upgrades as was causing confusion.
- Improved ESA dialog when first visiting upgrade panel to hopefully explain it more.
- Cut out sensor arrows a bit to make their direction clearer at a glance.
- Animated experience particles are now bigger and brighter.
- Lasers now play an animated hit effect along with their usual particles.
- Auto-translated languages now only show in developer mode.
- Enabled mip maps on all UI images and sprites for cleaner graphics.
Performance
- Fixed slow garbage collection in HUD Radar script.
- Some small speed-ups for auto weapon targeting logic.
Bug Fixes
- Fully fixed all remaining memory leaks in ship designer.
- Mission collection is now correctly required even if you skip the tutorial.
- Fixed bug where virtual keyboard had 2 x E keys for some reason.
- Fixed issue where consumables in HUD would not update after re-designing ship.
- Fixed weird double navigation highlight on upgrade icons.
- Fixed some weird characters in auto-translated languages.
- Fixed old turret launchers with incorrect max ranges.
- Fixed rare null pointer thrown from tractor beam script.
- Fixed null pointer in drone AI when parent is destroyed.
- Dialog will no longer flicker with word wrap during the text animation.