[h1]The latest installment to the Galactic Civilizations series is now 20% off[/h1] https://store.steampowered.com/app/1357210/Galactic_Civilizations_IV/ [h2]Since the official release back in October, Stardock has released two major updates and announced an Expansion Pass that grants users to the first year of DLCs and Expansions:[/h2] [b][h2]v2.2 Ethnology Update:[/h2][/b] Dubbed “The Ethnology Update”, this new version focuses on making different civilizations feel more distinct and unique in both cultural and biological ways. “Galactic Civilizations has always had to walk the fine line between being an open-universe space sandbox game and a narrative driven space strategy game,” said Brad Wardell, Creative Director at Stardock. “The Ethnology update looks at the different biological and cultural traits of different civilizations and makes available unique planetary improvements, starships, events, etc. For instance, what humans would want to do with their worlds is a very different thing than say a race of sentient crystals.” Because the Ethnology system works based on civilization traits it means that custom civilizations that have these traits will automatically inherit the unique abilities and planet upgrades making the universe more alive. [b]The new version also includes: [/b] [list] [*] Revamped UI: Intuitive and Player-Friendly. Responding to valuable player feedback, the update introduces a major UI overhaul. The new main screen UI and Fleet Manager make fleet management more intuitive, enhancing the overall user experience and strategic decision-making. [*] Custom Civilizations in Multiplayer. The update introduces the ability to use custom civilizations in multiplayer modes, adding a new layer of strategy and personalization to online gameplay. [*] New Weapon and Defense Components. Ship designers can look forward to an array of new weapon and defense components, allowing for more intricate and interesting ship designs. [*] Lore-Rich Technology Descriptions. Long descriptions for technologies now provide players with the lore behind each advancement, enriching the game's narrative depth. [*] New Planet Biomes. Players can now encounter dozens of new biomes across different planet classes, making worlds feel more unique and interesting. [*] Updated Graphics Engine. The update features an updated graphics engine with a new light source system, offering a substantial visual upgrade over previous editions. [*] Improved Localization. Localization improvements, especially for Chinese, Russian, German, and French players, ensuring players from around the world can play the version in their native language. [/list] [b][h2]v2.1 Genesis Update:[/h2][/b] Many of the updates in v2.1 have been inspired by their invaluable suggestions across forums, Discord, Reddit, and more,” said Wardell. [list] [*] Steam Workshop integration for Steam users [*] A new Mod Manager for easier mod navigation [*] An improved tutorial for newcomers [*] 22 minutes of additional music to enrich gameplay [*] Enhanced military starbase zone enforcement [*] Expanded support for various non-English languages [*] A variety of new events, AI improvements, and much more [/list]