Hello, Chroma Engineers!
The stabilization of the core continues! Following the launch of Stage 8, I have been hard at work listening to your feedback and monitoring the performance of the new systems.
This update introduces a highly requested quality-of-life feature: Pristine Infusion, a new way to bypass Landmark Assaults for those who prefer resource management over RTS combat.
We have also implemented In-game Feedback button (bottom bar). Players can now submit bug reports and suggestions directly from the game without ever leaving it!
Patch Notes - Version 1.8.1
GLOBAL
Added: In-game Feedback button (bottom bar). Players can now submit bug reports and suggestions directly from the game without leaving. Reports are reviewed by the developer via Codecks.
Changed: 'Verdant Tomb' has been renamed to 'Verdant Realm' across all stages, lore, and the assault minigame.
Fixed Bug: Ghost Codex Entry when completing a Stage 4 constellation (e.g. Ashen Echoes) caused the Codex to flash as if there was an unread entry, but no entry appeared. Closing and reopening the game cleared the flash.
NULL / VOID HUNT
Fixed Bug: Collecting Null Essence from a Void Hunt could push the total above the storage limit. It now correctly caps at max storage.
Fixed Bug: Resuming a Void Hunt made Chaos dots harmless until the player moved the trap. Chaos dots are now always dangerous.
Fixed Bug: Right-clicking during a Void Hunt would pause the game. It now does nothing.
Fixed Bug: Players received no Null Essence when losing a Void Hunt. Losing now gives back 10% of what was collected during that run.
Added: New Null Store upgrade 'Void Extraction Protocol', increases how much Null Essence you recover on a loss, from 10% up to 50% over 8 levels.
PERFORMANCE
Optimized: Significant performance improvements to Stage 2 (Star Chart), Stage 3 (Fractured Void), and Stage 5 (Home Realm). Redundant per-frame array scans in the hex grid, home world map, and star chart have been replaced with faster lookups. Players should see major improvement.
STAGE 1
Added: Cancel Run, a button that appears on the Convergence panel when running at 5x compression or higher. Abandons the run without awarding Light and resets compression back to 1x for the next run.
STAGE 3
Fixed Bug: Fractured Void sectors that became corrupted before being explored could be picked as Auto-Explore targets.
STAGE 4
Added: Pristine Infusion, an optional way to bypass realm landmark assaults. Located in the Operations panel when a landmark is selected.
Changed (Per Popular Request): Root Nodes no longer spawn permanent impassable terrain. They now spawn Root Barriers, destructible obstacles with HP that can be targeted and destroyed by Resonators. Spawn rate has been increased to compensate.
Added: Selecting a Pylon now highlights its purity spread range with a golden pulsing overlay, making it easier to plan your network.
STAGE 5
Fixed Bug (Critical): Players were receiving the wrong Stage 5 ending achievement on save reload.
Comment: Players that complete Stage 5 and did not receive the correct ending can contact me on Discord to receive a special code to set the savefile to the correct ending.
Fixed Bug: Unchosen start locations on the Home World map still showed their named labels and sector names in the attack panel after a starting point was selected.
Fixed Bug: Initiating Subversion on a tile already undergoing Subversion would reset the timer. The tactic is now blocked if a siege is already active, and the cost is refunded.
Fixed Bug: Using Overwhelming Force on a tile already undergoing Subversion would leave the siege running, allowing two reports to be claimed. The active siege is now cancelled when overwhelming.
STAGE 7
Fixed Bug: Removed leftover 'Stage 8 in Development' placeholder text that appeared during the compile_reality animation.
Fixed Bug: Network Synchronized achievement was never unlocking. Retroactive unlock on load is also fixed.
Fixed Bug: 'Axiom Equation' that was missing from the Crystal Realm answers has been added.
Fixed Bug: Module Integration achievement sometimes not triggering. Retroactive unlock on load is also fixed.
Enhanced: Compile animation before transitioning to Stage 8 now runs for 30 seconds instead of 5.
STAGE 8
Fixed Bug: force_mount_productionv1 could be entered multiple times, soft-locking the game into a null-state. The command is now a one-way gate and is permanently blocked after first use.
Fixed Bug: Full Array achievement (unlock all 12 Collision Chambers) was never firing. The buy function was missing the achievement trigger.
Fixed Bug: Full Array achievement now also retroactively unlocks on save load for players who already own Chamber 12.
Fixed Bug: Pip allocation button (xN) was missing from the top bar in Stage 8, preventing players from changing pip amounts visually.
Fixed Bug: Manual AI pip modal allowed assigning pips to base colors in Stage 8 where they serve no purpose. Base color inputs are now disabled and labelled N/A in Stage 8.
Fixed Bug: Void Extraction minigame, resizing the game window during Phase 5 could push fragments outside the visible area, preventing them from spawning correctly. Fragments are now re-clamped to canvas bounds on resize.
Balance: Void Extraction minigame, corrupted fragment spawn counts for fragments 6/7/8 are now 32/48/64. Previously uncapped exponential spawned 32/64/128.
Balance: Collision Chamber Origin Essence and Void Fragment gain rates have been reduced. Stage 8 should now take weeks rather than days to complete.
STAGE 8+
Enhanced: The Creator Override Console is now titled 'Chromatic Override Console' when accessed in Stage 8 and beyond.
Added: Three new ending correction codes for Stage 5 (usable only after completing Stage 5). Players who received the wrong ending achievement can use these codes to correct their save and retroactively receive the proper achievement. Codes are available on the Discord server.
Thank you for your continued support and feedback!
Join us on Discord to share your progress and ask questions!