Patch 0.0.4.2 - The Perfect Pipeline Patch
Overview: This sprint focused heavily on tightening up the multiplayer experience, ensuring that everything from UI timers to player movement replicates correctly across the network. We also rebuilt the Theater for Nanite and laid the groundwork for a massive improvement in our development pipeline.
Build Pipeline & Systems
- Continuous Integration System (FREE-1017): One Button to Rule them All. We have implemented a robust, 8-step unattended Continuous Integration (CI) system to eliminate shader compilation stutters and ensure consistent performance. This pipeline automatically builds a staging version to 'record' shader usage during gameplay, compiles an optimized 'Golden Cache' of ~1700 shaders, and then injects this cache directly into the final shipping build. By automating the entire process—from clean-up to Steam upload—we guarantee that every release is verified 'Hitch-Free' before it ever reaches the player, solving the shader lag issues permanently.
Multiplayer & Replication Fixes
A major sweep of replication bugs to ensure all Programs see the same thing.
- Multiplayer Dash (FREE-1000): Fixed the persistent issue where the Dash ability was failing in multiplayer sessions.
- Syncing the Clock (FREE-1009): The UI Time is now properly synchronized between host and clients.
- Replication Visibility (FREE-1001, FREE-1002, FREE-1003): Fixed multiple issues where objects weren't showing up for other players. This includes "Ghosthandlers," Minimap icons, and Activators.
- Walkways (FREE-1016): Walkways and the controls therein now replicate.
Visuals & UI
- Nanite Theater (FREE-990): The Theater has been completely rebuilt to take full advantage of Nanite, continuing our "DEVO" optimization pass.
- Card Costs (FREE-1014): Card backgrounds have been updated to visually reflect their costs.
- Grotesque Font (FREE-993): Improved the integration of the Grotesque font family.
- Mouseover Polish (FREE-1010): Adjusted the Mouseover Material for better feedback.
- Main Menu (FREE-996): Main Menu now lerps you into the appropriate camera.
Gameplay & Bug Fixes
- Miysst Beams (FREE-1015): The Player-to-Guest Miysst beams were acting "weird" (technical term). They have been fixed and should now behave predictably.
- Docking Logic (FREE-1005): Fixed case where Vacancy ships were not docking automatically.
- Quest Machine (FREE-999): Fixed scrolling issues on the Quest Machine interface. This caused a deep examination of the button system; the UE5.6 migration reset several channels without notification. We fixed it but we are still looking for hidden changes from the last migration.
- Staff (FREE-962): New Staff Training Music Video.
- Drop Corruption (FREE-1019): Long Drop was corrupted completely, I forced it back into existence until I remove it completely next major patch.