Major Update 1.4.0

Update 1.4.0 (Major Update)

We have combined the patch notes for 1.307, 1.308, 1.309, and 1.3.10 into this post, with 1.4.0 at the top.

1.4.0 Highlights

• AddedNew Group Selection UIclearer group controls, new visuals, and the UI is now clickable

• Better control groups: distinct unit icons for groups, and group counts refresh in real time

• AddedInventory QoLInventory button pulses when you pick up a new item

• Selection improvement: double-click a unit portrait to select only that unit (single-click still works as before)

• AdjustedUI clarity passimproved font scaling, tooltip formatting, and readability across screens
• AddedMore UI guidancenew tooltips across inventory, resources, and common actions

• HUD info upgrade: unit class is now shown on the HUD

• RemovedInventory and gear fixesfixed cases where items could disappear, or equipped gear could be removed incorrectly
• AdjustedAchievements improvementsfixed healing achievement tracking, plus improved difficulty completion tracking
• AdjustedBalanceGatekeeper AOE cooldown increased from 7s to 14s

1.4.0 Additions

New Group Selection UI

• Group controls are now easier to use and clearer to read

• Added distinct unit icons for control groups, making group displays easier to read at a glance

• Group UI has received new visuals and is now clickable

• The Inventory button now pulses when you pick up a new item

1.4.0 Improvements

UI and Tooltips

• Updated the minimap to be more accurate

• Improved difficulty tooltips in the main menu for clearer explanations

• Added helpful tooltips across the inventory and resource UI:

  • Inventory slots: helmet, armor, shield, amulet, accessory, weapon

  • Resources: food, materials, DNA, population

  • Actions: equip, dissolve, open inventory

• Unit class is now shown on the HUD, so it is easier to understand a unit’s role at a glance

• Improved tooltip positioning so tooltips stay within the UI and do not go off-screen

• Clarified upgrade button descriptions to specify which unit types they affect

• Improved UI readability across multiple screens:

  • Better font scaling and sizing for cleaner text

  • Updated tooltip text to clearly explain that “Dissolve All” converts unequippable items into DNA

  • Added a sound effect when pressing the “Dissolve All” button

  • Overall tooltip and text formatting refinements

• Improved the look and clarity of item name UI:

  • Cleaner text layout (size, alignment, spacing)

Achievements

• Completing the game on a higher difficulty now also counts for the lower difficulty completions Example: beating it on Hard will also award the Normal completion achievements

Balance

• Gatekeeper AOE cooldown increased from 7 seconds to 14 seconds

1.4.0 Fixes

Inventory and Equipment

• Fixed an issue where equipped weapons and other gear could be removed incorrectly

• Fixed a bug where items could disappear when unequipping or moving gear

• Fixed inventory issues where items could fail to return correctly or behave incorrectly after reloading

• Fixed item tooltips appearing in the wrong place

Groups and HUD

• Fixed unit group counts not properly accounting for revived units

• Fixed group UI counts so they now refresh in real time

• Fixed HUD selection so you can double-click a unit portrait to select only that unit

Achievements

• Fixed the healing-related achievement not tracking correctly

Previous updates included in this post

Update 1.3.10 “Swarm is Back” (January 3, 2026)

Includes changes from 1.308 and 1.309

Engine and Visuals

• Major engine upgrade for improved stability and future support

• Lighting upgraded and all maps rebaked

• Water rendering updated

• Increased post processing intensity from 0.5 to 0.8 for improved overall visuals

Cinematics and Cutscenes

• Restored full length cinematics to their original versions

• Added a failsafe to ensure the mouse cursor is always returned after cutscenes

• Made skipping cinematics faster (hold time reduced from 3 seconds to 1 second)

UI and Resolution Support

• Added UI scaling improvements across multiple menus for better behavior on different resolutions

Fixes

• Fixed inventory issues where items could fail to return correctly or behave incorrectly after reloading

• Fixed an animation issue on insectoid worker legs

• Fixed a particle effect error with the artifact beam in the final level

• Fixed terrain lighting issues in the final level

• Fixed a few incorrect subtitles

Balance and Gameplay Changes

• Restored squad based units and adjusted related build times and costs

• Adjusted building costs

• You now gain two Wasp units at the start of Map04

Building cost adjustments

• Conch: 50 minerals (down from 150)

• Burrow: 30 minerals (down from 50)

• Turret: 50 minerals (down from 75)

• Hive: 100 minerals (down from 150)

• Nestling Mound: 100 minerals (down from 150)

• Spring: 75 minerals (down from 100)

Platform Updates

• Added a Linux build for GOG players

• Updated the macOS build to match version 1.3.10

• AddedWindows default renderer selection improvedthe game now prefers DirectX 12 when available. Previously, some systems could default to OpenGL if it was available

Update 1.307

Achievements and Difficulty

• Fixed: the game now correctly saves and loads the selected difficulty

• Fixed: Hard and Insanity completion achievements should now unlock properly after finishing the campaign

• Fixed: the Avatar skill and squad mechanics are restored, so “Play of the Game” is obtainable again

• AddedImprovedadded extra checks so end game achievements trigger more reliably
• AddedNoteolder saves did not store difficulty correctly. For these fixes to fully apply, start a new playthrough or make new saves after updating

Squad Mechanics and Balance

• Legionnaires restored to a squad of 5 units

• Hunters restored to a squad of 3 units

• Population cost increased to match the larger squad sizes

• Resource costs only slightly increased. Fast build speeds and earlier quality of life improvements are kept

• Hive building resurrects dead squad units again for a small food cost per unit

• Goal: bring back the more swarm like feel, without losing the previous improvements

UI and Visuals

• Fixed: pause menu no longer stretches on ultrawide resolutions

• Restored: intro and ending cinematics are back to their original full versions

Feedback

If you run into any issues with inventory, groups, achievements, or cutscenes, please report them in the Steam forums. Balance and mission pacing feedback is also always welcome.

If you are enjoying The Hive, leaving a Steam review helps us a lot and supports future updates.