Major update! New computer opponents and automation options!

Brand new Computer Opponents for Skirmish

New computer controlled players (“Bots” / “CPU Players”) are now available in both Single Player and Multiplayer Skirmish modes.

Players can add bots to their own team or fight against fully bot controlled teams. Bots now feature different difficulty levels and personality settings, allowing players to find the perfect ally or opponent for their preferred playstyle.

Besides the ability to operate in teams and participate in multiplayer skirmishes, the new bots also differ from the old ones in how they actually "play". There are no more "money cheats" for bots, they now rely on the same economy gains as players. The ships they build are no longer randomized either, but instead follow specific builds, each with its own designated role and tactics.

Available bot personalities:

• Aggressive (prefers offensive actions)

• Balanced (acts according to situation in a match)

• Turtle (prefers defensive actions)

• Tech (focuses on gaining technological advantage)

• Eco (focuses on developing strong economy)

New custom maps have also been added, giving players the opportunity to experiment with different team compositions — with or without bots.

Bugs and issues

Please note that this is a very large patch. While we did have tests and had no issues on our end, you might experience some bugs. If you do, please report them here https://steamcommunity.com/app/1113030/discussions/0/2933490248168209935/ or here https://discord.gg/buPYSTaGPT. What sometimes also helps in case of issues is Verifying Integrity of Game Files through Steam, which helps in some cases where people have loadout issues (https://support.rebellion.com/hc/en-gb/articles/5226744283549-How-do-I-verify-my-game-files).

Multiplayer Lobby Rework & New Maps

Adding bots to multiplayer required us to completely rethink and redesign the multiplayer lobby interface. The lobby now looks and functions much more like a classic RTS skirmish lobby.

Hosts can now:

• Add or remove bots

• Change bot difficulty and personality

• Select maps from a whole new list of skirmish maps

Players can also select their spawn positions either through a dropdown menu or directly by clicking a position on the map preview.

Current list of custom maps:

• (2) Cinder Rift

• (2) Violet Veil

• (3) Lumen Drift

• (4) Ashen Gate

• (4) Jade Circuit

• (4) Mistborne Belt

• (4) Umbra Null

• (5) Crownfall Array

• (6) Magma Crown

• (6) Nebula Veil

• (6) Pragmatica Umbra

• (6) Tideglass Reach

• (7) Black Halo

• (8) Iron Bastion

• (8) Quiet Convergence

• (8) System 04

• (8) System 07

• (8) Verdant Lattice

• (9) Corsair Null

• (9) Ember Lastlight

Automation tools for players

We have added several Automated Assistance Modes for players who prefer focusing their attention on one task at a time.

If you often find yourself distracted by combat micro-management or base building while trying to manage everything else at once, these assistance systems are here to help:

• Economy Assist — helps keep your economy growing and production running smoothly

• Defense Assist — helps reinforce your position with defensive structures

• Army Build Assist — helps maintain military production and reinforce your fleet

• Comba t Assist — helps direct your forces once battles begin

These assist modes are designed to support the player, not replace them. They do not provide unfair advantages and will not outperform skilled human players on their own.

Chat & Social Features

• Added basic text chat to both the multiplayer lobby and in-game UI. Players can now press `ENTER` to quickly send messages to everyone in the current lobby or match.

• Discord notifications can now automatically mention the `@Looking For Game` role when players create multiplayer lobbies, helping players find matches more easily.

• Players can now invite their Steam friends directly into multiplayer lobbies.

GUI & Camera Improvements

• Added a new UI scale setting to both the main menu and in-game options, allowing players to increase or decrease GUI size

• Updated the minimap visuals

• Players can now move the camera and issue unit commands directly through the minimap

• Improved visibility for buildings icons

• Game now displays Icons for all visible Zabu facilities when shipyard is selected

• Fixed minor tooltip positioning issues in the building menu on rare screen resolutions

• Added new sound effects for GUI interactions and certain economy-related events

• Classic Camera mode can now focus (`F` by default) on any selected unit or object

• Added a Steam Achievements completion progress bar to the main menu

Gameplay Changes

• Added support for multiple strike groups on carriers

• Some carrier units now feature a second strike group

• Carrier fighter squadrons can now engage and damage light units such as Corvettes, Fish, Bees, etc. Fighters will still prioritize intercepting enemy bombers and enemy fighters first.