Beta 17 Update

Networking and Multiplayer

• increased stability

• better error handling of hosting/ joining with better feedback

• fixed some edge scenario crashes on Linux and Windows

• made Steam Multiplayer more reliable

• fixed issues with the overlay not popping up when trying to invite friends into your Steam Lobby

• when the host is leaving by just hard quitting the game (exit out instead of designed quit game) you will not be stuck in an empty scene anymore

• The game will now automaticly start the Steam Service if Steam is not already running

• Dead Steam Lobbies will be removed automaticly now

The error handling should now be much more stable for every host and join option, while also informing the player about issues that occur during the host/join process. This makes it easier for us as developers to understand what went wrong and when, while also providing the player with more useful feedback.

During this rework of Steam multiplayer and local/relay hosting, we also improved the hosting user interface, making it easier to understand and navigate (for example, no longer showing tips for every option when hovering over buttons).

Steam post imageSteam post image

During intensive Steam multiplayer testing, we discovered a particularly annoying bug related to the game’s server browser, which caused the game to crash whenever someone created a Steam lobby. This was due to internal timing issues and inadequate error handling. The issue has now been resolved.

Another edge-case bug occasionally caused the game to crash when starting it after hosting via Steam or a private lobby. This issue has also been fixed.

This are only some of the many improvements and there may still be some hidden edge-case scenarios related to networking, but overall stability and reliability should be significantly improved.

Testing and tracking down every possible scenario is a very tedious task and can sometimes be quite challenging to resolve. That’s why we rely on your feedback.

New Game Configuration menu

We reworked the entire Game Configuration Menu while also adding a new feature:

Custumizable Island Grid Size

This Window is now split up into Game Mode and Difficulty Configs making it easier to navigate especially when using a controller.

Steam post imageSteam post image

New Event and Event Changes

There are now indicators for several events making it easier for the player to grasp what is going on

(In Engine Screenshot) Only the active ones are shown. If an event is bound to a duration somehow this is displayed with a timer.

Some events got buffed or nerfed to ensure the game stays ballanced while others received a visual or technical overhaul.

And there is a new cool event called Chained Together.

You will be able to choose a player that will be chained to you for some time. If you are eliminated, they will be eliminated as well—and vice versa.

Reworked Settings and Quality Presets

• reworked the settings GUI

• now easier to navigate

• put anti-aliasing option into deticated Option Button

• put quality-presets into dedicated Option Button

• fixed bugs related to controller tips not showing up

Map Changes

• new Round Results Leaderboard

The Results will be displayed after a round is over and are updating live during a new game.

Full Linux Support

• working Steam Overlay

• new DEbug Launch Option

• several bug fixes

The game is now playable on linux too without compromises. This also includes a working Steam Overlay which was broken before.

The Linux version also got a second launch option which enables a Debug Console where you can see what is going on under the hood if the game causes problems. In addition to that several other weird issues are fixed now.

Crossplay between Linux and Windows

Crossplay - via Steam, Private or Local - is now possible without issues. Tested with Windows 10/11, Ubuntu, CachyOs and Bazzite so far Here is an example during development (one Steam Account on Ubuntu (WSL) and another on WIndows)

Others

There’s much more to talk about, but to summarize, here is a list of other bug fixes and adjustments: fixed crashes related to wrong loading order of game scene

• moved to Godot 4.6.1.stable (better performance, more reliable)

• changed the logic of multiple events

• fixed bugged tutorial and tutorial softlocks (edge cases)

• reworked player spawning when game starts

• reworked player state management during game loading process

• added new matching Patterns to several UI Backgrounds

• reworked Events Spawn Logic and Syncing (now safer and faster)

• fixed bug where ship UIs won't go away on game start

• fixed status bar issues

• reworked some core logic of Event Tools (events that reward you with items/ tools you can use) to make them more stable and reliable

• added new option to exit tutorial

• fixed crashes/ freezes related to event precompilation

• fixed 4 critical null pointer issues

• reworked Water Renderer (now faster, way more memory efficient)

• resolved 2 critical memory leaks

• made several RPC (Remote Peer Calls) safer/ faster

• lowered overall network traffic by optimizing core components

• fixed issues with transition scene being stuck or unreliable (edge case scenarios)

• fixed issues related to window resizing on linux

• fixed a ton of smaller linux bugs

• added missing await to Menu scene on transition (fixes several weird crashes/ freezes, [edge case scenarios])

• reworked player showcase logic in menu (not bugged anymore)

• moved to new stable Steam API and Steam Godot module

• added new debug argument: --skip_tutorial

• reworked entire multiplayer error handling

• made scene loading safer (especially when using Steam to host)

• fixed crashes related to bad shader code

• reworked sky shader -> performance increased on integrated GPUs

• fixed crashes and bugs related to NVIDIA VSYNC

• fixed crashes due to bad edge case logic in sever browser

• fixed players not being teleported back to lobby when host hard quits

• fixed steam auth logic to avoid crashes or false positives on game start

• made multiplayer hosting safer + added more robust error handling and error info for user

• made multiplayer joining safer + added more robust error handling and error info for user

• made performance mode switching in WaterRenderer spam-safe

• reworked settings managment

• refined quality presets

• removed crappy performance water

• removed crappy "My Pc can handle everything" and "Potato Mode" mode (now Perfomance and Quality Preset)

• reworked buggy environment choosing in thunder event

• reworked bugs related to controller tips not showing up on all interactive GUI-Elements

• and much more fixed bugs