Dear skippers,
We are back with another dev log. Without further ado, let's dive right in!
More U-boat Types
We are proud to announce that the final release update will bring one of the most anticipated features to UBOAT - taking command of other U-boat types, in addition to Type VIIC. At the release day, we plan to include the following U-boats in the game:
- Type IIA
- Type IID
- Type VIIB
- Type VIIC
- Type VIIC/41
If you start the game in 1939, you will get a satisfying opportunity to progress through all these U-boats in a single playthrough, unlocking them one by one. Each next type is usually slightly larger and brings various improvements over a predecessor.
We worked the entire summer on this feature. We tell you about it just now, because we wanted to be sure first that we can pull it off. It was a great challenge, since we had to backtrack on a lot of earlier work. Most of the game code had to be adjusted, which also means, that most scripting mods will probably require considerable updates after this release. Sadly that's the cost of progress here.
After the full release, aside from the U-boat types mentioned above, we hope to work on Type IX and possibly also fully electric Type XXI. Type IX is large, while Type XXI is complex, so we plan to release them as separate DLCs. Aside from that, there will be of course free updates to the game, as always.
AMD FSR 2
We are happy to announce that AMD FSR 2 is also going to be an option in addition to NVIDIA DLSS, as you requested in the comments section to our previous dev log. For various reasons, it took more work to integrate it. We develop our own render pipeline for the game, while AMD FSR 2 is not natively built into Unity and we had to work this out by ourselves. It was well worth it though, in our testing it works very well in the case of UBOAT, on par with NVIDIA DLSS.
If you are not familiar with the term, AMD FSR means a AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution. It's a technology that serves two purposes:
- It's an AI upscaling technology that dramatically improves the performance. It's especially the case in UBOAT, since it improves rendering performance. UBOAT was always optimized to avoid CPU bottlenecks and performance usually depends on rendering the effects that you choose to enable, like the water effects.
- At the same time, it also fixes sharp edges and replaces classic anti-aliasing effects, making them no longer necessary.
You can read more about it on AMD's website.
Steam achievements
Next update will also bring Steam achievements to UBOAT. Your efforts, most impressive accomplishments will be rewarded in a pleasant way. Some of these achievements are going to be a great challenge to obtain, achievable only for the best skippers out there.
Polishing
There are also various minor improvements in the pipeline, and sometimes it's the minor things that matter the most. Many of these things are done upon direct requests posted on the game forum.
- Helmsman now works in the control room for most of the time, rather than in the conning tower.
- We overhauled the bow waves effect for the player's U-boat to make it more realistic.
- There is now a dedicated silent running mode, separately from blue lighting. When it's toggled, officers won't maintain torpedoes and all devices that make noise will be automatically disabled by your crew.
- Sailors no longer clean the boat during alarms or silent runs.
- It's now possible to destroy propellers and rudders of enemy ships.
But wait, there is more!
We have much more to share and will soon. For example, there are simulation upgrades, mission changes, world enhancements and more, which we will share with you in the upcoming dev logs soon as these features get into their final shape.
We still don't know how much time it will take us to complete this update. For example, we are still finishing models for the interiors of new u-boats. We also gather feedback on the forum, so if you have something you always wanted added or changed, feel free to post. It's important to us, to make you satisfied with the upcoming release.
Yours,
DWS