Major Gameplay Update – Full 3D Fleet Control

Major Gameplay Update – Full 3D Fleet Control

A Major Milestone for Stellar Warfare

This update represents one of the largest gameplay overhauls so far for Stellar Warfare.

Over the past months we have rebuilt the camera and navigation systems to properly support commanding fleets in true three-dimensional space.

Previously the control model behaved closer to a traditional ground RTS projected into space. With this update, fleets can now be commanded naturally across vertical space, allowing battles to unfold across multiple altitude layers with much clearer control and visibility.

Several parts of this overhaul directly address feedback we received from players about:

• Camera behaviour during large battles

• Difficulties controlling fleets at high altitude

• Spatial orientation in complex engagements

• Navigation clarity when commanding multiple units

Many players also asked for a camera system closer to the classic Homeworld-style orbit camera, which is now fully supported.

The result is a much smoother and more readable experience when commanding fleets during large-scale space battles.

Alongside this overhaul, many surrounding systems were updated or rewritten including:

• Camera focus behaviour

• Movement indicators

• Unit placement tools

• UI feedback

• Mission scripting safeguards

• Spatial reference elements in the environment

These improvements form an important foundation for future gameplay systems that will further expand fleet combat and large-scale battles.

Key Improvements

True 3D Fleet Navigation

• Fleet control has been redesigned to work more naturally in vertical space.

• Players can now more easily command units at different altitude levels while maintaining clear visual awareness of the battlefield.

• Several improvements were made to how units move, respond to commands, and interact with camera depth during combat.

Rebuilt Camera System

• The camera system has been significantly expanded and improved.

• Players can now use both the original camera mode and a Homeworld-style orbit camera, allowing more flexible control over how battles are viewed and commanded.

• Focus behaviour, zoom logic, and camera transitions were also redesigned to reduce unexpected jumps and improve overall control.

Better Spatial Awareness

• Large space battles can now be read more easily thanks to additional environmental reference points and improved visual indicators.

• New debris fields and spatial elements help provide orientation within the battlefield while updated movement indicators make unit commands clearer.

Improved Unit Placement and Height Control

• Building and unit placement tools have been improved to make managing structures and fleets at different altitude levels more consistent.

• New height indicators and improved placement stability help reduce confusion when operating above or below the primary battle plane.

Mission and Camera Stability Improvements

• Several campaign missions and scripted sequences were updated to ensure camera behaviour remains consistent during cinematic moments and gameplay transitions.

• Safeguards were also added to prevent missions from getting stuck in unintended camera states.

Full Patch Notes

Camera System Overhaul

• Implemented a redesigned strategic camera with both Homeworld-style orbit camera and original camera fully supported

• Major fixes to ensure core camera functions now behave correctly in both camera modes

• Reworked focus system so the camera can reliably focus on any object without unintended zoom jumps

• Improved orbit focus behaviour so camera jumps to targets without spawning inside objects

• Added multi-stage focus zoom behaviour for orbit camera

• Added logic to correctly return to the player’s preferred camera after temporary scripted camera changes

• Added safeguards to ensure missions restore the correct camera after forced follow sequences

• Camera now initializes correctly on game start with the intended camera mode

• Improved camera switching behaviour and removed several edge cases where the wrong camera could remain active

• Refactored camera input handling to use the input system rather than hardcoded