This update is now live on the Empyrean Defense Steam Playtest. Thanks to everyone who’s been testing and sending feedback, many of the updates below came directly from your reports.
✨ New Features
Added sound effects for skill up and reset skills actions in the skill tree
Added a red glow to site HP bars when below 30% HP
Added on-screen arrow indicators for:
Sites below 30% HP
Sites that have run out of ammo
Landed Supply Drops
Incoming boss units
Rare item drops
Added a side button on the abilities bar to toggle Night Vision Goggles for keyboard & mouse users (the toggle setting is still available in Settings)
Renamed Greenwood Shoreline to Brightwood Bay
🔧 Improvements
Split Display settings out of cloud saves and keep them user/device specific
Removed redundant item descriptions from bottom pickup notifications
Updated interface action font to better match the game's theme
Improved clarity of Power Meter used/available text indicators
Dynamically position Objectives and Enemy Info panels based on UI scale and panel visibility
Standardized sizes for enemy damage numbers and notification popups
Display site HP bars above other objects by default, with a new toggle option in Settings
Display next wave panels above other objects
Added scrolling support to the mission description panel on the realm map
Added support for holding the D-pad to quickly adjust market item quantities when using a controller
Added PS5, Steam, and Steam Deck controller glyphs
Improved Steam Input API handling to better identify connected controller types
Increased the maximum value of UI Scale setting
Increased UI component and font sizes across the game for better readability
Removed market item quantity text input boxes on Steam Deck
Slightly increased the size of quick action menu icons
Allow B / O / Esc to exit pause menu
⚖️ Balance Changes
Removed the final two LATVs from the boss wave on Sidewinder Pass
Increased Rocket Post base damage from 200 -> 210
Reduced item drop amounts from Adv. Supply Drop
Increased the cost of skill points in the market from 5,000 → 10,000
Reduced the base cost of several power and economy sites:
Solar Array (300 → 200)
Wind Turbine (600 → 400)
Power Plant (1200 → 800)
Fabrication Facility (1600 → 1200)
🐛 Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue with the Inspect icon when inspecting items using a controller
Fixed multiple controller focus issues across all menu pages
Prevented pausing before mission intro dialogue appears
Fixed a performance issue related to in-game cursor icon updates
Fixed an issue where selling a Power site right before taking damage could cause double power loss
Fixed mouse rotation continuing after pausing and unpausing
Fixed centering issues with the quick action menu when using a controller
Fixed an issue when binding abilities or quick action slots to Reset to Defaults button binding
Fixed tooltips appearing behind initial tutorial dialogues on menu pages
Fixed an issue where market item quantities could be adjusted via D-pad even when the quantity was 1
Development is now focused on the upcoming demo, with the tenth campaign mission, Breakpoint Reservoir, planned for the next release.
Full patch notes and development details are available on the Empyrean Defense wiki: