Hello, colony caretakers! Now that autumn is here, your local ant colony might be seeking a warm place to hunker down. But we’re seeking something a little different – a nomination for Most Innovative Gameplay during this year’s Steam Awards. [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28521019/c8325527bcf1b68b7fabbe62e70bf0948f2237a7.jpg[/img] Since we launched Empires of the Undergrowth earlier this year, we’ve received a swarm of positive feedback about its unique blend of colony management simulation & RTS gameplay. It’s been such a pleasure to immerse you all in the complex world of ant colonies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELSOKmgDRvA Over the last year, we’ve released several updates to ensure Empires of the Undergrowth is the best game it can be. These updates have introduced a number of new features and key gameplay improvements. [url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28521019/593643be750f496438e209fc06c92e4a1c959f0f.jpg][img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28521019/6e96b19e7b9bf6fa67df4c08bf016e9c5eb694cf.jpg[/img][/url] [url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28521019/499945af13eaab12fca525bab3b5637b0efe0ae8.jpg][img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28521019/7709015cadd80017991b51df481620da80a4e934.jpg[/img][/url] [url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28521019/d4524c0123334e1358f801d8a104910f8dbad6a3.jpg][img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28521019/6fbbc56e5733568dc88f43bae8ed87bf4dc35621.jpg[/img][/url] [url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28521019/47ab7a40504b6b2cd8f6d89e3e479f31099b514e.jpg][img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28521019/36469237226a0f037a9adb95113526a94b6a73bf.jpg[/img][/url] [url={STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28521019/541a82b6d126d8918836c823db7008971ea0d1a0.jpg][img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/28521019/7ea59965cb0c1350e101890254a21960cf849793.jpg[/img][/url] [h3]Here’s a look at some of the most important features we added over the course of the last year:[/h3] [table] [tr] [td]Custom game map: Imprisoned[/td] [td]New custom game playable colony: Matabele ants[/td] [td]Reworked difficulty settings[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Custom game map: Strawclutch[/td] [td]New custom game playable colony: Termites[/td] [td]Revamped main menu[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Custom game map: Sand Spit[/td] [td]New challenge: Six-spotted Fishing Spiders[/td] [td]Expanded arachnophobia mode options[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Full story mode[/td] [td]New challenge: Assassin Bugs[/td] [td]New music tracks[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Final Campaign Tier 5[/td] [td]New savannah creatures added to custom game modes[/td] [td]Increased rewards for first-time level completions[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]100 new achievements[/td] [td]New Extra Level: Tug of War 3[/td] [td]Enhanced Battle Arena options[/td] [/tr] [/table] And there’s plenty more to come! For a more complete look at some updates from the last year, you can check out our update notes: [list] [*] [url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/463530/view/4272308897298963896?l=english]Post-Release Patch 1[/url] [*] [url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/463530/view/4192368101108544496?l=english]1.0 Release Update[/url] [*] [url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/463530/view/3895115310582978935?l=english]New Year’s Feast & Fixes Patch[/url] [*] [url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/463530/announcements/detail/3905247944466493127]Custom Game & Achievements Update[/url] [/list][h3]New Features Now Available in Beta[/h3] We’ve been working on the game's next steps, and the beta branch is now live on Steam. Here’s what’s included: [list] [*][b]Two New Custom Game Maps[/b]: Savannah-themed environments offering unique challenges. [*][b]Custom Colony Options[/b]: Use any ant species in custom games. [*][b]New Game Mode: Remix[/b]: Replay levels with different or customized colonies. [*][b]Tier 5 Achievements[/b]: New objectives for players to complete. [*][b]Balance Changes, Fixes, and Optimisations[/b]: Adjustments and updates for a smoother experience. [/list][b]How to Access the Beta[/b] You can access the beta branch on Steam now. For instructions on how to join, [url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/463530/view/4440081305187648587?l=english]click here[/url] and use the provided password. Your feedback is appreciated as we finalize these changes. [h3]Empires of the Undergrowth: Thank You for an Incredible Year[/h3] Creating Empires of the Undergrowth has been a truly spectacular experience for our team. While we knew we could make a great colony management sim, we never expected to build such an incredible community alongside it. Your support has been invaluable in making Empires of the Undergrowth’s v1.0 launch a fantastic success. We’re so thankful to have your support now and for all the future updates to come. Competition is high for the Most Innovative Gameplay award, so every nomination helps. Check the “Nominate” button at the top of this post to nominate Empires of the Undergrowth for this category in the 2024 Steam Awards. Thank you all, Slug Disco