🚀 Update 0.20 – Multiplayer Foundations & QoL Pass
🆕 New Content
Added multiplayer support using Coherence networking: players can now see each other, chat, and move together in shared sessions.
Added voice chat via Dissonance VOIP with push-to-talk and proximity audio.
Introduced placeholder multiplayer items: scrap, oil, and crowbar weapons.
Added new items and tools: steel/titanium pickaxes, oil can, cloth scrap, furnace model, and crowbar mesh.
Added Human Breeding License (joke item).
Expanded tutorial questline with clearer steps for crafting, smelting, repairing, and generator use.
Added new quest conditions: hiring, smelting, collecting, and construction improvements.
Added seasonal events system supporting yearly and weekly in-game events like Martian New Year and Midsummer.
🎨 Visuals and World
Updated furnace visuals with a clear production indicator and refined iconography.
Improved terrain and lighting: less smooth terrain, reduced sun glare, fixed black reflections, adjusted bloom.
Adjusted biomass visuals and color (no longer poop-colored).
Added volumetric and particle effects for actions, sleeping, and crafting.
🖥 UI and UX
Character creation polished: improved dropdowns, better trait icons, white text on dark background, name input fixes.
Added randomize traits button during creation.
Added trait tooltips, icons, and descriptions (localized).
Inventory and crafting:
Added tooltips for renovation tools and clearer repair rejections.
Hand-crafted recipes are visually distinct with a special icon.
Map and HUD: higher compass contrast, better tooltip positioning.
Added Open Saves Folder button in Options.
Chat UI: darker input field, smaller font, hide colon for empty names.
Pause menu: new Join Room input and not-paused multiplayer warning.
Main menu: multiplayer connection dialog, “Thanks for Playing” popup.
🌍 Localization & Accessibility
Localized numerous items and UI elements (Martian soil, furnace, crusher, iron rod/plate, trait names, toilet parts, crafting categories).
Added French and Polish localization tables.
Improved missing translation handling (no placeholder text shown).
⚙️ Systems and Mechanics
Players must now use proper mining tools to mine.
Hammers and pipe wrench now act as renovation tools.
Added fuel system improvements: biomass and leaves act as fuels, charcoal stronger.
Refined crafting and collection conditions with clearer messages.
Refined quest logic and restructured tutorial into chapters.
Improved generator research and tutorial quests.
🐞 Fixes and Improvements
Numerous NREs fixed across UI, factions, and world setup.
Fixed repair bench quest, collectable destruction, and tooltip jump issues.
Fixed crouch animations, camera follow, and networked animation sync.
Prevented pickaxe propulsion and weapon auto-pickup.
Cars and construction physics stabilized.
Optimized multiplayer setup and removed broken hot reload and unused namespaces.
🧠 Technical & Performance
Switched to Unity 6.1.17, cleaned namespaces, updated packages.
Improved GPU performance by lowering render scale.
Enabled run in background for smoother multiplayer testing.
Added debug overlay updates: ping display, player count, and networking mode info.
🧩 Planning and Infrastructure
Added scheduling system for random, yearly, and weekly events.
Started Steam announcement automation.
Early prep for in-game events and factions expansion.