For all willing testers out there a Pre-Release build for BETA 5 is now available on the test branch. BETA 5 takes another look at combat as well as adding a new face to the universe.
Changes
We have added six whole new weapon types and a new projectile. These are: The Reflector Cannon, the Graviton Beam, the Repair Beam, the Railgun, the Point Defense Laser, the Plasma Launcher and the Drag Field Torpedo. Many existing ships have had some of them equipped. If you wish to learn more about these please check out our previous dev post or wait for the full break down which will come with the final BETA 5 release notes.
Many Medium, Large and Gigantic Asteroids and Icesteroids now have new tiles, Ferinium Rock and Maridid Deposits. These tiles drop Ferinium-A, Ferinium-B and Maridid Sludge and Maridid Crystals, used in a number of new manufacturing recipes.
BETA 5 also sees the addition of a new faction, Madd's Marauders. They are bounty-hunter and mercenary group uninterested in star system control, who can be see patroling some of the more dangerous areas of the galaxy. Additionally, Madd himself is the first faction leader to be added to the game, and he alone is the sole possessor of the Giga Railgun Mk 2.
We have also cleared another 30 or so bugs, mostly community reported, in the on going effort to fix things as they occur.
If you would like to check out this pre-release build all the usual things apply, it will have problems (some of which we know about) and it may break your universe. Let us know your thoughts via the forums or on our discord
If you still wish to give it a try check out all the changes and details here : https://steamcommunity.com/app/416240/discussions/22/2789369351344477084/
and how to access it here: https://steamcommunity.com/app/416240/discussions/22/2789369351344475415/