This update adds experimental lobby options, configurable auto-saves, interface and display improvements, improved modding support, performance improvements, and several bug fixes.
New
- Added a Team Starts (Experimental) lobby option that places teammates approximately 8 tiles apart while leaving free-for-all starts unchanged.
- Added a Symmetric Map (Experimental) lobby option that generates symmetric terrain and paired starting positions for fairer competitive games.
- Added search to the Compendium and Research screens.
- Added a Fullscreen Borderless display mode.
- Added improved text box editing with keyboard navigation, word selection, and clipboard shortcuts.
- Added a configurable Auto-Save interval in General settings, from every turn to every ten turns or none.
- Added previews and Steam store links for unowned DLC factions, lobby options, and mutators.
- Added DLC availability details to the main menu version label.
- Added an SSAO Quality setting with Low, Medium, and High options.
- Added XPath-based XML patching so mods can change XML resources without copying the full file.
- Added gameplay XML schemas and validation tools for modders.
- Added a modding guide and XML references to Documents/.
General
- Updated disband and dismantle confirmation messages to warn that costs are not refunded.
- Disabled Multi-Threaded Rendering by default, as enabling it may cause crashes on some systems.
- Lobby option checkboxes can now be selected by clicking anywhere on the row.
- Improved rendering, simulation, and AI turn processing performance.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed AI units skipping turns when their preferred order was unaffordable.
- Fixed windowed display modes minimizing unexpectedly.
- Fixed a crash when persistent damage effects triggered after their source unit was gone.
- Fixed wildlife packs becoming Unleashed from environmental damage such as Dust Storms.
- Fixed Fixed Teams alliances during The Last Days of Earth.
- Fixed AI units being unable to embark onto transports on water.
- Fixed AI units remaining able to embark after cancelling or changing their embark order.
- Fixed delayed unit orders not being restored after loading a saved game.
- Fixed crashes caused by excessive city resource worker threads.
- Fixed Holopatter not applying when attacking from Ruins.
- Fixed Data Hack's copied resources accumulating incorrectly in resource income breakdown tooltips.
Modding
- Hidden buildings no longer appear in city and tile information.