[h2]Hey Shapers,[/h2] With version 1.0 dropping next week on December 4th, what better time is there to share update details? Read on to preview upcoming features and discover more about the Phantom Code. [i][b]Version 1.0 Overview:[/b][/i] [list] [*] New Difficulty System - The Phantom Code [*] New Narrative Content [*] New Reroll Token Dispenser [*] New Shaper Requisitions [*] New Corrupted Weapon Variants [*] New Corrupted Enemies & the “Cursed One” [*] New Trophy Room [*] Steam Achievements [*] Performance Optimizations [*] 0.9.2 Hotfix! [/list] [h3][i][b]The Phantom Code: Optional Difficulty System[/b][/i][/h3] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43840536/e5326406718d72170082fda3f276f1032e336f18.gif[/img] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43840536/c135ebc093260f79079c85eafb46870e0b514529.png[/img] By popular community demand, a whole new difficulty system is being added in the endgame allowing skilled players to select additional challenges and set the overall difficulty tier at the beginning of their runs. Successful runs at increased difficulty tiers unlock gameplay rewards and are necessary to reach the game’s true ending. [list] [*] The Phantom Compiler is a new hideout device built by Meemo to crack the secrets of the Phantom Code Fragment you earn after beating VerOs for the first time. [*] You must obtain four Code Fragments to access the game’s true ending, each one obtainable by defeating VerOS at progressively higher difficulty levels - from Alpha, Beta, Gamma to Delta difficulty. [*] Earning these Code Fragments gives you new rewards, but most importantly, unlocks many Fragment Effects, difficulty modifiers that alter the game’s challenges in new unexpected ways and make it possible to earn the next Fragment. [*] There are 20 Fragment Effects to unlock in total, each one offering a unique influence on the game’s difficulty. [*] Once the four Code Fragments are in your possession, the true test - Omega Difficulty - becomes accessible, paving the way for the game’s true ending. [/list] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43840536/854fcdb80a0c067d95a8e757196d678135a47a31.gif[/img] [h3][i][b]Narrative Content:[/b][/i][/h3] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43840536/c7de9fa0514ed2fd7cca76d95be66614d416d8a9.jpg[/img] Following the introduction of VerOS (the final boss) and the Orbital Complex (the final tower), and the Corruption Update, the Phantom Code Update brings the final game ending to Battle Shaper’s story after a long-awaited year in early-access. [b]Apparitions[/b] are special interactions that allow players to converse with the Overlords (bosses) and discover new sides of their personalities, which is only revealed after a dramatic event that happens in the later phases of the game. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43840536/6949a64014a6fff948ece2e019a91bd19355a06e.gif[/img] [h3][i][b]Reroll Token Dispenser & Shaper Requisitions (Turinium Sink):[/b][/i][/h3] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43840536/31bbbce2c196b079ebbfeb9d3b8740c4f7099c17.gif[/img] Endgame players with excess wealth will now be able to spend their Turinium using the Shaper Requisitions and Reroll Token Dispenser, special unlockable features earned in the later phases of the game. Reroll Tokens, introduced in past updates, are a valuable currency that allows players to re-draw rewards from the pool of power-ups and abilities (Shaper Core Enhancements), as well as environmental features and rewards (Floor Hacks). Using the Reroll Token Dispenser will allow players to purchase extra tokens in advance for their runs. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43840536/9458ab10a27281607a00e721781023abbf0c93ba.gif[/img] Using Shaper Requisitions, a nifty upgrade to the Cipher Cloud, players will be able to Requisition their favorite weapons or abilities to give them a much higher chance to appear in their run, or Suppress those they wish to not encounter altogether. [h3][i][b]Corrupted Weapons:[/b][/i][/h3] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43840536/af1d3ce5d5a142bbc7eaaafe25e3aadb1233ce2c.gif[/img] There are now a total of 24 Corrupted Weapons to craft your builds with! After defeating VerOs for the first time, all weapons have a chance to spawn with the “Corrupted” affix which greatly alters weapon properties and stats. At the time of this update, there are 15 unique corrupted weapons for you to discover, including a Corrupted Tectonic Launcher variant that shoots tornadoes, and a Corrupted Needleator variant that shoots bouncing grenades. [h3][i][b]VerOS Retaliation:[/b][/i][/h3] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43840536/e12d074030d584a66a2df67e095a1452ace69a00.png[/img] [b]Beware![/b] VerOS will now occasionally retaliate, similar to the other Overlords. [h3][i][b]New Corrupted Enemies and the “Cursed One”:[/b][/i][/h3] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43840536/33b158326da503ff5fa4a89710f724b93bf7162f.jpg[/img] Unleashed after defeating VerOS for the first time, enemies may now appear protected by a new type of Corruption: Cursed Corruption which not only makes them tougher, but enables them to inflict VerOS’ Curse with their attacks. As if it’s not enough, VerOS will now also retaliate by calling upon its ruthless enforcer - the Cursed One - to surprise you in battle. Good luck, Shaper. [h3][i][b]Hideout Trophies:[/b][/i][/h3] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/43840536/abdb7925455d3dc7faf14a4e97eb31d05f90ffed.jpg[/img] Jazz up your base with shiny golden trophies! A trophy room has been added to visually showcase players’ progress as they liberate towers, defeat enemies, and complete the narrative content over the course of their runs. Unlock trophies in the hideout through regular gameplay and upgrade them by completing different challenges. [h3][i][b]Steam Achievements:[/b][/i][/h3] There are now over 51 new achievements added for the most devoted completionists, capturing moments such as when players execute vengeful Overlord takedowns, destroy bots with maximum efficiency, and many more! [h3][i][b]Performance Optimizations:[/b][/i][/h3] Game performance has been improved significantly since early access launch in October 2023 and recent optimizations considerably improve framerates in high-octane encounters. Other improvements include gameplay balances, UI fixes, and bug fixes that will be detailed in our 1.0 patch notes. [list] [*] Fixed all game stuttering issues. [*] Fixed issues with explosion-heavy build effects being performance-heavy. [*] Improved overall framerates by 20% to 30% depending on hardware. [/list] [h3][i][b]0.9.2 Hotfix coming soon:[/b][/i][/h3] To keep improving the game while waiting for the 1.0 release, we prepared a 0.9.2 update for current players that captures a portion of optimizations and bug fixes from the upcoming 1.0 build. We will be pushing this live on Monday December 2nd. [h3]That's all for now! We can't overstate how excited we are to get this game into your hands.[/h3] See you at our version 1.0 release next week! À bientôt, Metric Empire 🤘