New version: B127 lands on the testing branch!

29 Apr 2020Developer post

Source: Steam Community (opens in a new tab)

Dear skippers,

We are back with a new major update to UBOAT. We hope that it will bring you some quality recreation in this hard time.

Let's move straight to overview of the changes, but beware - it's going to be a long post.

This version is currently available only on the testing branch. If you haven't played on it before, but would like to, please follow the steps described in this post: link.

Realistic travel system

This version introduces a brand new travel system to the game. It doesn't simplify long distance travel, but instead adds new time compression tools that make long distance travel possible.

Wolfpack attacks

Headquarters now organize wolfpack attacks on convoys. You can join them during free roam and patrol assignments. Friendly u-boats now have a dedicated AI that works well in such scenarios. It's also possible to pass to them direct orders.

Configurable shifts

Configurable shifts is a new feature meant for the players that always wanted to set schedules for the crew and setup work priorities. It becomes especially useful when combined with the realistic travel system.

It also indirectly adds new features such as having a crew member at the valves at all times or delegating power switch jobs to regular sailors instead of the officers. Please keep in mind, that it's advanced feature that doesn't have to be used to enjoy the game. Default schedules are set reasonably well.

Minor improvements

Diving

Idle crew now runs to the bow compartment during crash dives for enhanced immersion.

TAB screen

TAB screen now supports lower resolution and any number of officers, in case that their number would be increased through modding. There are now quick shortcuts there for all devices on board to quickly order switching them on or off.

Convoy formations

Convoys now usually travel in formations with cargo ships inside the convoy and the escort around them.

Optimizations

We put a lot of effort into lowering the memory use and reducing occasional stutters. We also worked around quite a few crashes in the engine and ensured better error handling.

You can probably expect memory usage to be about 20% lower right after launching the sandbox, although exact number varies between quality settings and screen resolutions.

Aircraft

This update brings two new aircraft types onto the table, models for which were made by community member - talented Francis, also known as V11CU96.

On related note, there is now one more way for getting destroyed spectacularly, as some of the aircraft now use rockets (since 1943). Aircraft AI was also improved to behave more realistically, for example aircraft are now more likely to abandon attack in a bad weather and they now rush correctly.

Bristol Beaufighter

Bristol Beaufort

Ships

Our main focus for this update were new ship classes. Especially, it adds quite a lot of tankers to the game, which are a completely new category of ships in the game.