Dear Stormworkers,
On September 17th 2020, we will be releasing v1.0 of Stormworks to mark the 3 year anniversary since we first launched the public alpha. Since then, we have released over 250 updates, and you have spent over 1400 years playing the game, shared over 70,000 workshop creations, all while helping us understand where to take the game next.
And, this is only the beginning.
The next chapter of Stormworks kicks off with the Stormworks v1.0 Update - we are leaving Steam Early Access with several major updates rolled into one colossal mega update. The new updates are listed below in detail.
Updates will continue as normal, with major updates every 2 or 3 months, and minor updates every other week. Development will continue at a pace as least as fast as you have been used to during the last 3 years of live development. Just because we are leaving Early Access doesn't mean there isn't more to do.
Features
First Person Handheld Equipment
The new first person system gives you a body in first person, with a 5 inventory slot system. 18 new hand held items add new rope, medical, navigation, and radio mechanics to the search and rescue gameplay. The new items include a fire extinguisher, binoculars, night vision, compass, defibrillator, first aid kit, flares, flare gun, rope, cable, hose, flashlight, radio, welders, and more.
New Procedural Missions
We have completely reworked missions to be dynamic, procedural events. You are unlikely to ever see the same mission twice, with the new mission scripting system providing many more tools to allow even more creativity. Mission information is now displayed on the map, with many missions displaying a search area rather than a location. You will have variable levels of information, and parameters can change as situations evolve. The new first person equipment allows medical emergencies, fires, and more sophisticated search and rescue mechanics. Be ready for a much more in depth experience.
Logistics and Transport Missions
The new logistics system adds cargo depots and terminals, with new cargo objects addressed to various locations. Transporting these cargos provides financial rewards, while cargo comes in various shapes, sizes, and weights from small crates to huge containers. This is another new layer of the game powered entirely by a new game scripting system, and is extendable and adaptable by players and on the workshop.
Game Mode Scripts and Modding
The new game scripting system is huge. We are using it to create the new missions system and tutorial, but the potential uses are endless. You will have control over game settings, server operation, NPCs, missions, vehicles, weather, UI, and much more. This allows new modding possibilities - from NPC vehicle traffic to whole gamemodes.
We have also reworked the base rules for the game. Basic vehicle mechanics are removed in favour of a host of in-game options, changeable in real time, to customise your experience exactly as you wish to play. Simply select between 'Career' mode to play with the fixed, SAR focused rules, or select 'Custom' to start playing with the new creative options menu where you can toggle damage, infinite money, electric, fuel, clear the fog, teleport, no-clip, and more.
Weather Simulation
The new weather simulation brings dynamic localised weather to the Stormworks world. Be ready to brave huge storms, take shelter, or navigate around weather systems. Weather will be more predictable and play a bigger part in the Stormworks world.
New Tutorial
With this release, we are adding an all new tutorial comprising new starter vehicles, starter mission, and many new tools and help for new players getting started in Stormworks. The tutorial is designed to help without being intrusive.
Quality Improvements
We have been working on (and continue to work on) a huge number of quality improvements and fixes. This is version 1.0, and we want the quality of the release to reflect the significance of this milestone. Expect a huge change list with many important boosts to the quality of the game.
The Future Of Stormworks
Experimental Branch
We are launching a new experimental public branch of the game - available to all players - sharing development changes as they happen, giving (the players who are interested) the earliest possible insight into new features, and the chance to discuss and feedback input. This means we can design future updates closely with the community, and changes can be much better considered as they go live on the main branch of the game.
The experimental branch launches with v1.0, where we will begin testing the next major update - modular engines! We are already thinking ahead on where next to take Stormworks, and modular engines were chosen by the community as the most popular new feature in the recent poll. Thank you for sharing your feedback!
Price Update
With the launch of v1.0, the price will be increased to ($24.99 / £19.49 / €20.99) to reflect the new stage in development, and to acknowledge all the players who have bought the game early and supported us in early access. The price will remain at the current lower price up to the release date. Stormworks has never been on sale on Steam and we have no plans to run a discount, so buying before Sept 17th is the cheapest way to get Stormworks.
From The Developers
When we started Stormworks, we didn't imagine the game would be as big as it is, have such a kind, intelligent, and creative community, or continue to be growing years after initial release. We are a small independent team of game developers, and it is a huge privilege to be servicing the game for such a wonderful community of players. We look forward to continuing to do our best for years to come to make Stormworks the best possible game it can be. Thank you so much for supporting this game, it has had a huge impact for all of us.
Much love <3,
The Stormworks Developers