v0.6.01 - Pipeline Buffering & All Machine Upgrade

Hi miners, 😄

Thank you very much for your continued support, reports, feedback, and suggestions. We are still reviewing the experiences you share with us, especially around machine progression and the challenges of managing bottlenecks in larger production lines.

This update focuses on making pipeline behavior clearer and giving players more control over machine throughput. Machines now have internal item limits and visible processing progress, making it easier to identify where production is slowing down. We have also expanded Machine Management so every supported machine can now receive speed upgrades.

Here is what is available in the latest version.

Main Updates

1. Pipeline Buffering and Visible Bottlenecks

We added a new buffering system for items moving through the production pipeline.

Every machine now has a maximum number of items it can hold while waiting for its current processing cycle to continue. The buffer can contain a mixture of different items and is not limited to only one item type.

When a machine reaches its maximum capacity:

• The previous machine or conveyor will stop sending more items

• The previous output will hold its processed item

• The full machine will stop accepting additional inputs

• Items may visibly stop or move intermittently along the conveyor

This makes bottlenecks easier to identify directly from the production line. Players can now see when a machine is unable to keep up with the items arriving from the previous stage.

Output behavior also remains connected to the way the pipeline is built:

• If there is no conveyor connected to an output, the item will fall from the machine

• This allows gravity-based pipeline layouts to continue working

• If a conveyor is connected in the wrong direction, the item will remain safely stuck at the output

• Once the connection is corrected, the held item can continue moving through the pipeline

2. Machine Processing Delays

Machines now require time to process valid inputs before their output can continue to the next part of the pipeline.

Processing time can differ between machine categories. Some machines will continue processing items quickly, while machines responsible for more involved production or packaging stages may require additional time.

These processing delays work together with the buffering system. If incoming items arrive faster than a machine can process them, its internal capacity may gradually fill and create a visible bottleneck.

Increasing a machine's level can reduce its processing time, allowing it to handle incoming items more quickly.

3. Machine Capacity and Processing Information

Machine monitors have been updated to provide clearer information about what is happening inside each machine.

The monitor can now display:

• The current number of items inside the machine

• The maximum number of items the machine can hold

• A progress bar when the machine requires processing time

• The current Machine Level

• The required item amount or processing duration, depending on the machine

A new monitor display has also been added to show stack-processing progress.

These additions should make it easier to understand whether a machine is still processing, waiting for enough items, or unable to continue because the next part of the pipeline is full.

4. All Supported Machines Can Now Be Upgraded

All machines that support upgrades can now receive a Speed Upgrade, rather than upgrades being limited mainly to conveyors and certain Utility Machines.

Players can upgrade:

• One machine individually

Increasing the Machine Level currently improves:

• Machine processing speed

• Item movement speed on supported conveyor-based machines

This gives players more options for improving slower parts of the production line after identifying a bottleneck through the new capacity and processing information.

The upgrade system applies to supported production, processing, packaging, conveyor, and Utility Machines.

The following object categories are not included:

• Equipment

• Survey Machines

• Toxic Filter Machines

• Platforms

This upgrades need to be performed one by one for each machine. We will add the batch update in later updates through the Management Machine.

Improvements

1. Utility Machine Upgrade Cost Rebalance

Upgrade costs for all non-conveyor Utility Machines have been adjusted.

These upgrades are now slightly more expensive, with the final cost balanced according to the type of Utility Machine being upgraded.

This adjustment supports the expanded upgrade system while keeping the cost of improving different machine categories more appropriate to their roles.

Thank you again for your continued support, reports, and feedback. We are still reading and collecting everything you share, and we will continue prioritizing improvements based on feasibility and impact.

Some suggestions may require additional design, testing, or technical work before they can be implemented, but not seeing an idea in the current update does not mean it has been ignored.

If you encounter any issues or unexpected behavior, please report them through the in-game report feature or through the Steam Discussions page so we can investigate further.

See you in the next update!

Mineral Mining Simulator