Try the New Features Early - Switch to Our Test Branch

Can't wait for the new material? You can test the new features before the official release! We updated the version on the testing branch, which is available for everyone who has the game here on Steam.

The normal update release is planned for next week. Your feedback helps us figure out what we need to adjust most urgently and if there are unexpected bugs that haven't appeared in our testing sessions yet.

How to Switch to the Testing Branch

• Right-click Ground of Aces in the Steam library list.

• Select “Properties…” in the dropdown menu.

• Go to “Game Versions & Betas”

• Switch to “alpha - Alpha test”

• You can switch back to the public default version at any time. --> Do this when the update is out officially.

We recommend starting with a new save game. You can try loading an older save game; it may work without any big problems, but when we change and introduce new systems, we can't promise 100% that there are no unexpected issues when you load an older save.

Send Us Your Feedback / Bug Reports

Try the new material and use the in-game feedback tool to send back your findings. The feedback tool sends us the information of the game version; we will see which reports are about this test version and we can filter the feedback.

More complicated issues related to this version should be reported in the designated Discord channel #⁠bugs-testingbranch – ideally with save files attached.

JOIN OUR DISCORD

What Is New

Aircraft Liveries (Skins)

With this new system, you can paint your aircraft in a variety of different liveries, giving your fleet a much more personal and distinctive look.

Most liveries will be unlocked simply by playing the game and completing specific achievement-style assignments.

CURRENTLY ALL NEW SKINS ARE UNLOCKED IN THE TEST VERSION

THE UNLOCKING FEATURE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE OFFICIAL UPDATE

If you later use a save file from the test version in the updated default version, an airplane that you painted with a new skin in the test version will have it in the default version when you load the save, but you can't repaint it or other airplanes of the same model in that scheme again until you actually unlock that skin.

We will post another devlog about how the unlocking of the skins works later.

New Map: Debden

This is straightforward: we made a new starter map based on the Royal Air Force station Debden! This map has a runway, a few parking spots, and buildings already ready for you, so you can jump in more quickly than with the other maps.

Map Editor

This is a big one: now you can design and share your own starter maps! Decide over the terrain, flora, available materials, and already set up buildings without worrying about resources and building times.

New Flora & Stone Assets

Our 3D artist made new trees, bushes, and stones to give the new map a new environment and look. These new assets are also available in the map editor.

New Resource: Gravel

We added new stones because now harvesting stones gives you the resource "gravel" which you need for one of the runway tiers.

Oerlikon 20 mm cannon

We have a new AA gun for you: HQ now lets you order the Oerlikon AA gun!

Lookout Post

Now you can build and assign someone to a lookout post to improve your defenses. Order it from HQ and place it near your AA guns to give them a bigger radius

New shading

The shading has been updated to come closer to our vision of making a game with comic-style visuals.

What’s Still Being Worked On

Map Editor

• Undo function doesn't work yet

• You can't place airplanes yet

• Runway placement doesn't work yet.

• The position of the delivery truck can't be edited yet; it will drive to the same spot as on Lichfield

• Some tools are still being worked on

Skins

• CURRENTLY ALL NEW SKINS ARE UNLOCKED IN THE TEST VERSION. THE UNLOCKING FEATURE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE OFFICIAL UPDATE.

• When loading an older save, the painting feature does not work on airplanes that are already loaded up on the map

• Localization/skin names aren't implemented yet (they all have "Temperate Land" as a name)

• You can't order the airplanes directly in different skins yet - you have to paint them when they are on the base (except when you change the default one in the plane skin management for already existing types on the airbase)

• You can't see the different skins in the 3D preview yet

• The in-game duration of painting an airplane is not final yet.

Thank you for testing these features early and for your feedback!