ASTRONEER News

The Automation Update finally has a date! All the new items announced in the last few weeks will be coming to Astroneer on June 24th! If you haven't been following our development streams, (follow us on twitch here) allow me to get you all caught up on what you missed:

The Automation Update will be a free update to Astroneer that contains a full array of tools that work seamlessly with the existing game to give you an incredible amount of options to use custom logic to automate every part of your space bases and technology! There are a bunch of new items and modules we have showed off in the last few weeks on our streams, and here's a recap of all of most of them!


Auto Arms are a brand new item being added that can move items between platforms, storage, and vehicles. These are at the core of Automation, and can be used in a variety of ways to automate tasks that would previously require manual intervention. You can also set a filter to Auto Arms to make sure they look for a specific resource to make smarter automation pipelines and/or to sort resources!


Auto Extractors can be used to gather resources automatically without deforming terrain and at a much higher efficiency. Place one on a resource node and it will gather 15x the resources from the same amount of raw resources when compared to gathering them manually with the terrain tool.


This update will feature Medium and Large Storage containers that can be used to consolidate one resource into it's reservoir. You can then grab single resources from them for crafting or Automation tasks.


These new objects will allow you to create logic that can be used to automate a variety of tasks. Use the Power Sensor to trigger a backup generator when wind power dies down. Use a storage sensor to activate crafting modules based on a specific Resource Container. Trigger a battery sensor to make sure you are being as efficient as possible with generators and renewable energy.


This new object passes an action that gets triggered on it to anything it is connected to. That means you can use a sensor to trigger an action, then pass that to multiple platforms, modules, or storages to make even more complex automation systems.

Along with lots of other new improvements, as well a new Suit that you can purchase in-game!



We can't to see all the new things that players create using these new tools. Thanks so much to everyone who sent us suggestions related to Automation up to this point, we think you all will be really happy with the suite of tools we are giving you to make massive automated space bases. See you on June 24th!

-jt

Dedicated servers are now live in Astroneer, and as an added bonus, all the performance upgrades we made to enable 8 players on servers means multiplayer on all platforms should be running significantly faster.





Creative Mode Drone



Players in Creative Mode now have access to Aero, the Camera Drone that enables ‘photo mode’! The Drone has a ‘free camera’ mode that allows the player to control and position a camera independently of the character. The player is able to prepare composed screenshots (both with filters and hidden UI). Use your Aero to show off creative mode work, create videos, or capture screenshots of your Astroneer shenanigans.
https://youtu.be/gSrz_-8-bSk
Using the Drone does not pause the game, and the player is able to freely toggle back and forth between Drone and character movement, while leaving the Drone’s view-port active. This can provide a steady perspective while working on large-scale sculptures, or a director's cam while your Astroneer performs on the grand stage.

Dedicated Servers

Dedicated Servers are now live in Astroneer! You can purchase them from our official server partner, Nitrado, (link to purchase) or host your own using these steps: (Astroneer host your own server instructions here) This also means that Astroneer now supports cross play (Xbox - Windows 10 - Steam) and up to 8 players when playing on official dedicated servers.

Some details about this dedicated servers in Astroneer:

• Nitrado servers are the only way to play on a server and still unlock cosmetics, unlock achievements and enable cross play.
  
• We are evaluating cross play for PS4 and hope to add that functionality at a later date.
  
• Host your own servers will receive all the same updates as the main game
  
• We will be offering support for host your own servers, but only related to gameplay issues. We cannot troubleshoot issues with local networks, firewalls, ports, hardware etc...
  
• We don't currently have a linux version of the dedicated server software
  
• 
  

Performance Optimizations

• Fixed bug that could cause performance to tank for clients in multiplayer games, especially on PS4.
  
• Heavily optimized animation and character movement updates to improve performance, especially in multiplayer games with high player counts.
  
• Various performance improvements to gameplay systems.
  
• Various stability fixes.
  

The following bugs have been fixed as of version 1.12.95.0

We fixed over 150 bugs since our last update, including the following:

MULTIPLAYER:

• [AS-6000] - After the outro, station now reverts to the correct location and client is able to successfully travel to the station
  
• [AS-9362] - Client's loading bar will now reflect player’s loading progress correctly when joining an MP session
  
• [AS-7354] - Client and Host see same VFX when digging up hazards besides poppers
  
• [AS-7941] - Drill can now be detached from crane by either player in a multiplayer session
  
• [AS-8936] - Player cannot earn achievements in creative mode, even in a dedicated server session
  
• [AS-9479] - Client is able to use the Research Chamber while in a dedicated server session
  
• [AS-9635] - Client will no longer see a variety of items floating in the air when slotted while the client exits relevance
  
• [AS-10294] - Client performance over time should now stay at 30fps
  
• [AS-10782] - Users who install the Windows Update (KB4550945) can now save their game
  
• [AS-10205] - Terrain that was destroyed by dynamite at a far distance stays destroyed no matter the distance
  

For the last two weeks, the System Era team has been gathering every Friday to put on weekly Devstreams to give you all a peek into what content we are working on, and as of this week we can finally reveal that our next big feature will be adding Automation to Astroneer!



Normally we would be releasing vlog content on Youtube to give you a behind the scenes look at how we make things, but all of us have been working from home to stay safe. Instead we decided to do what we are calling QuaranDevStreams and diving into a different part of the work to get Automation ready for the big time each week.

If you want to watch the first two streams, you can check out the VOD's here:

STREAM 1: ART/ANIMATION

STREAM 2: DESIGN/FUNCTIONALITY

and I will share some of the highlights for those who missed them!


First up we talked to Verionica, our Lead Producer, to update our development road map for early Summer! There were two announcements:

[h2]Announcement 1: A new camera drone mode will be shipping in May![/h2] The camera drone will be for players of Creative Mode games, so they can take photos of themselves or of their creations in-game.



[h2]Announcement 2: Automation will be coming to Astroneer in June![/h2] Automation will include new items and modules that will aid Astroneers in creating production pipelines in their bases as well as offloading mundane tasks like sorting resources.

We then joined the art team to show off one of the new Automation items, as well as reveal a new suit! The Art team has been working hard to concept, model, and animate the assets needed for Automation, so we chatted with Gene (Animator) and Spencer (Art Director) to first see some animations, and then to watch Spencer model the new "Frame" Suit.







Stream two was focused primarily on how we handle game design at the studio. First up we had Andre, our Lead Designer, to talk us through the Automation feature and how his team worked through out the details for it. We were then joined by Anthony C. to talk about the early prototypes of the feature and how we got to the current version.





As you can see, Automation development in still in progress, but the team is making incredible progress so we can deliver an awesome new addition to the game in June. There was a lot more that we covered in the streams, so be sure to watch the VODs, but hope this little recap was helpful for those who couldn't!

Next stream will be this Friday, so be sure to follow us on twitch to get notified when we go live!

Cheers!

-jt

EXO Salvage Initiative LTE
Players have been requested to assist EXO in cleaning up all the debris items that are littered around the planets for permanent cosmetic rewards and in-game goodies.

Of particular interest are any large cargo containers that have gone missing from EXO's manifests – return these for major points! Rumor has it that these fell only on a few planets, but have caused a delightful atmospheric effect…

This event introduces secondary rewards that are delivered to players via a return rocket at the EXO Request Platform.
Event Rewards

• “Turret-a-porter” Mask - Rewarded after achieving 1500 recovery points
  
• “4ML A-TYRE” Hat - Rewarded after achieving 5000 recovery points
  
• “Salvage Chic” Palette - Rewarded after achieving 8000 recovery points
  
• Useful incremental and recurring rewards along the way!
  

Destructive debris generation & resource collection

• Players are now able to destroy T4 or “massive” debris objects found in the world using Dynamite. Larger debris objects will be reduced to a collection of generic new smaller tier scrap components.
  
• Destroying T2 and T3 objects with dynamite also creates a collection of smaller size scrap components.
  
• Dynamite can now be used to collect resource nuggets from resource deposits.
  

The following bugs have been fixed as of version 1.11.61.0

Dynamite:

• [AS-3675] - Hazard plants no longer remain floating when detonating dynamite near them
  
• [AS-4855] - Grass decorators no longer remain floating when detonating terrain
  
• [AS-4980] - Resources no longer remain floating when destroying terrain with dynamite.
  
• [AS-9055] - Decorators on non-Terran planets with T1 or T2 research objects attached to them no longer float when they are dug up using dynamite.
  
• [AS-9718] - Player should no longer blow up their own terrain tool
  
• [AS-9868] - Dynamite | T1 items can no longer be destroyed by dynamite if placed directly on top of them
  
• [AS-10372] - Rover Seat, Large Rover Seat, and Crane can be destroyed with dynamite
  
• [AS-10511] - EXO Research Aids base now generates debris when blown up
  

Multiplayer:

• [AS-8286] - The game no longer severely hitches when the host uses the trade platform for the first time in a session
  

General:

• [AS-8094] - Color palette names are now consistent in Spanish
  
• [AS-9050] - Standard cursor is no longer overlapped by a bigger cursor that is delayed
  
• [AS-9465] - German and Dutch now use "STARTEN" on Exo Request Platform control panel
  
• [AS-9566] - Slotting behavior of items is now consistent when placing them with the cursor
  
• [AS-9933] - Single Tethers, Extenders and Glowsticks can be shredded
  
• [AS-9939] - Power will no longer be drained by EXO Research Aids and debris POIs when power cell is depleted
  
• [AS-10402] - Drills and Pavers no longer enter a bad state when a second drill or paver is packaged on the same AUX slot of an XL Rover
  

Steam players should receive this update today, March 10, 2020.

We have introduced a new item to help players achieve truly flat surfaces, the leveling block! Use them in Creative Mode to snap to the existing voxel grid to create flat surfaces that automatically snap to each other.



For now, the leveling block only exists in Creative mode, but we will evaluate how we can roll it out into the main game without completely breaking the soil economy!
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Small scrap items in the world can now be bundled for easier transport! T1 scrap objects will now bundle into a single T1 Scrap Bundle much like Tethers, Glowsticks, and Extenders. It takes five T1 scrap objects to create one full Scrap Bundle, but once a scrap object has been added to a Scrap Bundle, it can not be removed. T1 Scrap Bundles are shreddable in all shredders.


- Implemented performance optimizations to base game systems to continue improving framerate across the board.
- Implemented performance optimizations to speed up processing for hazard behavior and planet particle effects.
The following bugs have been fixed as of version 1.10.97.0
[h2]General[/h2]

• - [AS-9879] - After a mysterious absence, Geysers are back on Desolo!
  
• - [AS-3952] - Client is now able to see a geyser exploding when it has been dug up.
  
• - [AS-5144] - Geyser explosion VFX now match the color of the geyser that is exploding.
  
• - [AS-5583] - All Hazard SFX should no longer cut off early or not play at all
  
• - [AS-6717] - Control Panels and Catalogs will no longer remain open when a player enters a shuttle or vehicle.
  
• - [AS-7191] - Spewer SFX have been restored.
  
• - [AS-8830] - Atmospheric Condenser, Small Printer, Medium Printer, and Large Printer can now all be stopped by pressing the A button twice on Xbox controllers.
  
• - [AS-9207] - All the creative mode options are set to their defaults when start a new creative mode game after skipping the tutorial.
  
• - [AS-9502] - Creative mode catalog button is correctly illuminated.
  
• - [AS-9536] - Loose tethers, glowsticks, and extenders will no longer freeze when hovering cursor over any slot greater than T1.
  
• - [AS-9589] - The Player landing a shuttle will retain control of the shuttle even if another user enters a seat attached to that shuttle.
  
• - [AS-9595] - The resources in the control panel now light up when the client player has them in their backpack, the same way that they do for the host player.
  
• - [AS-9604] - Key inputs for the AUX slots on the buggy are correctly oriented.
  
• - [AS-9662] - Powerflow will now correctly change when a player connects power to an extender.
  
• - [AS-9706] - Research Sample tooltip UI now correctly disappears when the sample is scanned.
  
• - [AS-9719] - Large Printer now prints slottable items onto T4 slots.
  
• - [AS-9763] - Bouncing and knocking hazards grown from seed by the player will no longer disappear when loading a saved game.
  
• - [AS-9830] - Bundles placed on the same slot of any tier will now fill existing bundles on that slot.
  
• - Multiplayer
  
• - [AS-9600] - Client's grab line and item highlight no longer disappears for items that were quick-stowed from carry.
  
• - [AS-9856] - Client can now see VFX when digging up a Spewflower, Hissbine, or Boomalloon.
  
• - [AS-9857] - Client is able to interact with seeds and researchables that are spawned when destroying Hazards.
  
• - [AS-9870] - Client players are now able to add Tethers, Glowsticks, Extenders and Debris to partial bundles by using their cursor
  

[h2]Localization[/h2]

• - [AS-8094] - Spanish Localization inconsistencies between color palette names have been fixed.
  
• - [AS-9465] - German and Dutch now both use "STARTEN" instead of "START" on the EXO Request Platform control panel.
  
• - [AS-9520] - A player-reported Portugese localization error has been fixed. “Aguarde” has been replaced with “Segure” for (HOLD) interactions.
  
• - [AS-9910] - The first O in "СТАРОТОВЫЙ" is now removed and now correctly reads "СТАРТОВЫЙ" in Russian.
  
• - [AS-10219] - Inhibitor Mod is now called “INIBITORE” in both the catalog and the backpack printer in Italian.
  

Thanks so much for reading! Look out for an announcement next week regarding our next big content update! 🏗️

-jt