Launching on December 16 cutting its end of year plans alarmingly close, ASTRONEER captivated all those who were looking forward to exploring its vocal-based lands since early development. For some, it was a long time coming; but for others, its launch came as a welcome surprise in the run up to the Holidays.

Sitting on 15,000 reviews averaging a 'Very Positive' overall reception on Steam, it's likely fairing just as well on Xbox One, too. With cross-compatibility between the two platforms being a major factor, the key to keeping the space adventuring from coming to a stand-still is to make sure both are up to date. And with it being a relatively new game, there's no shortage of them. So we're going to keep them all chronicled here.

Astroneer Update - Patch 199

Launching on August 17, we're a little late to this one. But if you've been away from Astroneer for a little while, you should be coming back to some noteworthy changed - namely in the Options menu.

Fixed audio settings to not always default to zero

Fixed a multiplayer crash related to clients grabbing research chests and then crashing

Fixed an issue that would cause some savegames to cause the game to crash on load.

The Options Menu has been completely overhauled

Adjust display options including VSYNC and keep those changes

Adjust graphics options to suit your hardware, including Shadow Quality, AA, PP and effects.

Audio options now actually work! Adjust them to your liking.

Keybindings on PC will now remain saved between sessions, with some added options like mouse sensitivity, toggling the hold to sprint, and others.

The maximum return value is always the number of slots on the trade platform rocket.

Now, once you reach the maximum return value, you will not be able to add more resources to any remaining open slots.

If you add an item that pushes the trade value above the maximum, or switch the return item to something with a more favorable exchange rate, the actual return will always be clamped to the maximum.

Resources that are on the trading platform already when the maximum return value is hit or exceeded can always be removed (but cannot be attached again unless removing them causes the return value to dip below the maximum).

Beacon colors can now be changed

Audio has been migrated to the Wwise Engine from Unreal 4 and remixed using the new technology

New cave exploration music tracks added.

Remixed / mastered existing music with additional instruments added.

Tracks broken down into separate layers to leverage Wwise game states.

Music becomes distorted when low on oxygen.

Music changes based on time of day.

Music now streams rather than load entirely on game start, reducing RAM impact

Sound is sent through a reverb when underground.

Footstep sfx are affected by the movement speed of the player.

Ambience loops no longer heard when at the main menu or orbiting a planet.

Both the medium and small generator’s audio slows down when their “fuel” is near empty.

When death occurs, sounds stop playing earlier.

Music does not abruptly start again when death occurs, it now fades back in over an extended period of time.

Wind turbine audio more appropriately matches their animation frequency.

Sandstorms now have improved distance attenuation and better stereo / surround panning.

Sandstorm rock impact added for when the player gets hit by a boulder.

Low oxygen breathing audio now triggered more abruptly rather than a gradual fade in.

Rover tire audio no longer plays when vehicle is in the air.

Rover engine audio no longer plays when rolling unpowered down an incline

Rover engine audio revs when vehicle is being powered and leaves the ground.

Rover shutdown sound added

Improvements to the active voice count in the game, allowing for slight performance gains.

Fixes

Fixed several issues causing Multiplayer crashes which occurred when Client players returned to their base after venturing far away from it.

Fixed numerous Multiplayer crashes related to interacting with items in the world as a client

Fixed a Multiplayer issue that prevented Win 10 players from connecting to Xbox players

Fixed a number of performance degradation issues relating to base conduits.

Fixed several audio issues where sounds would persist even after the event has ended, including:

[AS-691] - Biome Ambience SFX will no longer play when the player is in space.

[AS-915] - In Multiplayer games, the sound effect of building loops no longer continues playing for the Client player.

[AS-1027] - Fixed issues with SFX being played from sources not close to player.

[AS-1345] - Fixed issue where Sandstorm audio would continue after the storm ended.

[AS-1445] - The sound of oxygen being replenished no longer persists when disconnecting from the oxygen tether before the tank has fully recharged.

[AS-1448] - Fixed issue where the ambient overworld wind sounds did not change when going deep underground.

Fixed several audio issues where sounds would not play at all, including:

[AS-1370] - Fixed intermittent issue where the Rover did not make any sound when driven.

[AS-1372] - Fixed missing audio upon Pajama Suit Astroneer death

[AS-1373] - Fixed missing audio upon Bubble Suit Astroneer death

[AS-599] - Fixed “double death” issue with Astroneer taking fall damage and dying again when respawning after falling from a high altitude.

[AS-873] - Collecting multiple resources with the Drill will no longer cause all the open slots to break.

[AS-1256] - Fixed issue where Resource items would float off after being blown away during a storm

[AS-1258] - Fixed issue where Save Slot 1 was sometimes overwritten when creating save data in Save Slot 2 and beyond.

[AS-1297] - Fixed minor but extremely annoying issue where newly built base conduits would not follow the hologram path.

[AS-1329] - Upon death, previous backpack inventory should no longer appear hovering next to the Habitat.

[AS-1335] - Fixed a major issue where performance would severely degrade when players opened the Options menu

[AS-1369] - Fixed issue where incomplete nuggets of Power were not consumed when placed on a slot.

[AS-1334] - Fixed issue where Terrain Tool Augments were not working correctly

Astroneer Update - Hotfix 197

While a eduction to the potency of in-game storms in still greater than it was in the past, their strength after patch 196 was an unnoticed side-effect of the Unreal Engine upgrade introduced in that patch. The dev team liked it and hoped to keep it, but players were reporting lost items and vehicles in the violent winds. Again, they're still stronger that they were in the past, but not quite that strong.

Changelog:

Updates

The effects of storms have now been scaled back down.

Astroneer Update - Patch 196

Putting additional science into the space-based adveneture, one of Patch 196's most intricate changes means fall damage is now calculated with velocity in mind, rather than just a number pulled from the height at which you fell - thanks, gravity!

Changelog:

Updates

[AS-1096] - Migrated to Unreal Engine version 4.15.

[AS-1140] - Fall Damage model been refactored to use fall velocity instead of absolute height values.

[AS-1190] - A variety of error messages for joining Multiplayer games have been implemented in game and localized in all shipping languages.

[AS-1194] - Set up headless game server to begin the process of dedicated server implementation.

[AS-1201] - Distinct Gestures and Idles for Bubble, Pajama, and Bio Suits have been added

[AS-1196] - Worklight object is now available in the build and printable from the backpack.

[AS-1203] - Adjusted FX to fire off at the right times during animations.

[AS-1081] - Implemented basic gameplay telemetry collection.

The Game no longer triggers an autosave on the first exit from the Dropship.

Backpack shoulder auxiliary slots can hold arbitrary items again.

Oxygen tank cost restored to 1 Titanium.

Fixes

[AS-1118] - Spikers should once again be visible to Client players in Multiplayer games.

[AS-1147] - Client players should no longer be generating different terrain than the Host in Multiplayer games.

[AS-1148] - Fixed a recurring crash during the object update cycle. Object updating is now more efficient.

[AS-1198] - Full tanks no longer appear empty to Client players in Multiplayer games.

[AS-1207] - The Smelter will no longer lose resource nuggets if there are no slots available on the module, nuggets will fall to the ground instead.

[AS-1234] - Fixed an edge-case, but annoying issue where players are unable to proceed

[AS-1280] - Fixed a crash that occurs when players attempt to load a previously saved game from the Main Menu.

[AS-1284] - Xbox players should now be able to join a previously suspended online game session.

[AS-1296] - Fixed a nondeterministic terrain generation issue which resulted in terrain seams around the landing zone.

Several fixes to the Gravity system should reduce instances of Vehicles and unearthed objects floating away.

Fixed issue where the Smelter would be restored to a bugged state if the game was saved during the smelting process.

Fixed issue where the Research Module would be restored to a bugged state if the game was saved at the wrong moment during chest unlock.

Fixed numerical error buildup in camera system causing jitter and drift.

Astroneer Update - Patch 189

Still climbing more than one number at a time, it's clear the Astroneer team want to give us as much possible in the least amount of time. Today, we're looking at patch 189 - one that brings toggled sprint to the Xbox One controller and Thrusters said to be '10x as fun'.

Changelog:

[AS-1082] - Implemented raw logging for join errors in multiplayer games

AS-1083] - Implemented player-facing messages for join errors in multiplayer games

Multiplayer joining and error logging is still a work in progress, but at the very least you can now troubleshoot when things do go wrong.

[AS-1159] - Rover center of gravity has been lowered, improving handling

Rovers still have a way to go, but the center of gravity change will help them to stay a little bit lower to the ground when traversing planets.

Thrusters are now 10x as fun as they were before. (Seen in SES Vlog 004, enjoy!)

Thrusters are still in the experimental stage, and will likely play a much bigger role when modularity is further along (see below for more details) but for now, use their upgraded thrust at your own peril, or enjoyment ;)

Sprint can now be toggled on the Xbox GamePad by pressing the left thumbstick

No more broken thumbs.

Fixes

[AS-1152] - Fixed an issue where players became stuck inside the Habitat

This longtime bug should now never happen again.

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Astroneer Update - Patch 182

A large jump from the last in only about a week's time, Astroneer's pre-alpha 'Early Access' phase is pushing along rather nicely. More along the lines of bug fixes and QoL changes when it comes to some bizarre naming conventions, there isn't all much to be excited about here. Still, if you're an active player, killing bugs that might be closer than you think is never a bad thing.

Changelog:

Updates

Steam now automatically uploads crash logs.

Backpack visual design has been updated and new animations applied.

Item names have been updated to better reflect their size. (e.g. Medium Rover, Large Rover, etc.).

Fixes

Fixed input inconsistencies in the Control Menu.

When exiting a Shuttle docked at the Vehicle Bay, the Astroneer should no longer become stuck.

Fixed an issue where certain objects were still appeared gray after a saved game was reloaded.

Fixed an issue with solar panels failing to charge after loading a previously saved game.

Fixed a minor art overlap with the Research module hologram and research chests.

Even more rocks now despawn after being dug up.

Decorators no longer spawn on deformed terrain.

Vehicles no longer automatically eject Astroneers.

Decorators now clean up appropriately when a module is built on top of them.

Fixed an intermittent issue where space station launch buttons would stop working.

Fixed an issue where Dropships would remain on a planet if a player's game crashes mid-travel.

Fixed an issue where deform tools would be left behind in saved games that were generated in Multiplayer.

Smelters no longer generate partial resources.

Fixed an issue with objects floating as a player moves away from them

Gas Bag explosions audio now plays correctly in Multiplayer.

Fixed issues with the Drill Head that prevented terrain deformation.

Fixed an issue where Seats printed by the Vehicle Bay could not be removed from Rovers.

Fixed minor audio issue with the Backpack printer.

Items ejected from Backpacks can once again be picked up by players in Multiplayer.

Fixed Winch cable issues in Multiplayer.

Fixed crashing issues caused by broken landing zones in Multiplayer.

Fixed several issues where item input indicators were missing in Multiplayer.

Fix an issue where player color differentiation did not persist after loading a saved game.

Gas bags in caves now despawn after being destroyed.

Astroneer Update - Patch 158

Early Access continues for all you Astroneers as the concidentally named 'ASTONEER' gains update 158. For the Turkish natives out there, your home language has been added. For everyone else; Hydrazine can explode!

Updates

Hydrazine can explode!

Gas hazards now despawn after being uncovered from terrain.

Improved research curve. Chests of the same type can now be re-researched. (This resolves an issue where some players might never see certain unlocks)

Add Turkish language to the build.

Add Early Accesss/Pre-alpha + Build # to on-screen overlay.

Fixes

Fixed an issue causing the occurrence of visible seams in terrain in MP or after save load.

Improve rover stability in MP so they no longer unrecoverably fly apart.

Most rocks now despawn after being dug up.

Fix gamepad camera behavior while in planet navigation.

Fix incorrect research unlock text.

Fix ejected resource nuggets being ungrabbable for non-host players.

Fix various audio cues playing incorrectly in MP.

Fix power cells not unlocking despite the player receiving an unlock message.

Astroneer Update - Patch 155

Actually dubbed a mere 'hotfix' patch, we'd rather call this on Patch 154.5 or something. We've hardly seen them sticking to single number increments, though there's every chance each bug fix adds another figure before going live.

Changelog:

Bug: Fix previously unlocked item blueprints not being Printable.

Bug: Power Cells not appearing in the Backpack Printer after being unlocked from Researching an item.

Astroneer Update - Patch 154

It may have been in testing for a little while, but it's finally time for this one to head into active use. A tiny update with some moderate import, this one focuses on the 'medium printer' and 'vehicle bay' - to features you're unlikely to know about unless you're an active player.

Changelog:

Updates

MEDIUM PRINTER base module now unlocked at the beginning of new games.

You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.

MEDIUM PRINTER base module will include a SMALL SEAT blueprint, available for Printing. You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.

VEHICLE BAY base module now unlocked at the beginning of new games.

You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.

VEHICLE BAY base module will include a ROVER CHASSIS blueprint, available for Printing.

You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.

Fixes

Fix for player colour/suits being wrong in MP after Save game is loaded.

Fix for DEADLY HEAT-SEEKING storm boxes

Astroneer Update - Patch 153

Trying to make sense of the numbers on these patch notes would likely leave you scratching your head. Don't worry about it!

This update focuses on the addition of Augments and the Research Curve - two new features you can read about by clicking each up above. There's even a trailer for it here.

Changelog:

New Features

Added tool augment system: Augment items can be attached to tools (starting with terrain tool) to upgrade or change behavior

Terrain tool can now be interacted with when backpack is open in order to slot in augments.

New unlockable augment items!

Terrain analyzer: Collect terrain of a particular material/color until meter is full. Once meter is full, adding terrain will use the equipped color, and subtracting terrain will filter on the equipped color.

Wide mod: Increases the size of the terrain tool brush while decreasing intensity.

Narrow mod: Decreases the size of the terrain tool brush while increasing intensity.

Inhibitor: Shuts down functionality. Applied to terrain tool, turns off adding/subtracting terrain, but maintains color changes and harvesting.

Complete overhaul of equipment unlock progression. Specific equipment unlocks are now dependent on researching certain types of chests while retaining some randomization.

Steeper difficulty curve: Fewer types of equipment are available at the beginning of a new game, requiring more chests to be recovered and researched to acquire everything.

Research chests are less common overall.

General Updates

Hydrazine no longer tradeable at trade module.

Backpack now opens to one side, if space is clear, to support tool interactions, and clear the view ahead.

Backpack gets illuminated when opened to aid visibility in dark areas.

Default terrain tool brush size and intensity adjusted.

Terrain tool now adds grey terrain when no augment mod equipped.

Terrain brush now indicates color

Added an interaction indicator between the Astroneer and held items.

In multiplayer, the indicators of other players are now visible and receive the accent color of that player.

Dynamite explosion power and radius now increases when multiple dynamite sticks are packed together.

Mellowed out camera behavior when backpack or terrain tool is out.

Updated vehicle code to increase stability.

Added new VFX for deformations.

FIXES

Performance: Several significant improvements to key physics systems to improve CPU perf.

Bug: Fixed crash on load of some saved games.

Bug: Fix many objects falling through the world when unattended.

Bug: Fixed foliage floating in air after dynamite explosion.

Bug: Fix tethers disappearing on quick-stow if top-left backpack bundle is full.

Bug: Fix tethers not being placeable while sprinting.

Bug: Fix Astroneer's head remaining cocked until cursor is moved to a forward position.

Bug: Fix auxiliary slot items not automatically equipping to backpack auxiliary slots when printed.

Bug: Fix item unlock messages not replicating to all clients in MP.

Bug: Fix various MP desync issues.

Astroneer Update - Patch 131

Patch 131 focuses mostly on the idea of how players interact and manage their save files. There's no new content so soon - just performance tweaks.

Changelog:

Content Changes

8 new rock-based discoveries available for research

Save File UX on Satellite Menu

Can delete saves

Saves use fixed numbered slots

Most recent save selected by default

Disable starting new game when saves full

Tweaks

Reduced camera auto-adjustment so it interferes less when using gamepad

Updated attenuation settings on refinery audio. No longer playing as 2d

Adjusted the Terrain cursor analog stick motion curve

Performance

Improved physics update efficiency.

Plant Materials updated to be less GPU intensive.

Major optimization to base networks and tethers

Significantly reduce network bandwidth usage.

Astroneer Update - Patch 125

Oddy enough, the game went from Patch 119 straight to 125 despite there being an open test phase for update 122. Patch notes were seemingly never made available, so there's a huge hole down below.

There's a couple of performance gains to be had here with the smart shift to 16-bit indices for terrain and a system that allows decorator sets to be culled as you step further away. If you've ever wanted to craft bombs right from your backpack, that's totally possible now, too. Science!

Changelog:

New Content

Dynamite now craftable from backpack

New dynamite art, fx, audio

Dynamite can now be used to destroy base buildings and other objects

Added character idle animations

Added 9 new discoverable wrecks, including their collectible items within

Additional organic research items added

Updated Dropship model art

Updated RCS thruster effects for Dropship

Updated model art for Tradeplatform

Updated model and FX art for Smelter

Added new refinery / smelter audio

Added sandboxing of saved games when running the Steam Experimental branch.

Improved game pad support on launch menu

Performance improvement: Added a system for fully despawning decorator sets as you move away from them.

Slight GPU performance improvement to terrain (use 16 bit indices)

Fixes

Researching an item when you have already researched all recipes will no longer "use up" that item in regards to when future updates add new recipes.

It will now also give you a resource.

Fixed several issues with how decorator states were saved and restored.

Fixed race condition causing occasional anomalous terrain generation.

Seed fixes, including shift-click issue and seeds growing in backpack

Fix save game issue where conduits don't attach after saving a leaf and building platform

Fix save game issue where conduits nubs don't disappear after a save game and using dynamite on the leaf

Updated oxygen tank fill looping sound. Fixed Xbox bug that caused it top play at full volume.

Astroneer Update - Patch 119

Nothing major this time around, but for those totally into how the laws of physics handle zebra balls, you'll get to see that effect without being too close to the things. Privy to the details, we're being told to search for a few of the changes. Explaining the distance between Patch 117-119, the team is moving into a bigger office. Expect major performence tweaks after the move. Here's the full low-down;

Changelog:

General:

Cross-play multiplayer between Xbox One and Windows 10 Store PC versions now works!

Fix up the way that objects with research items get dug up. You can now kill hazards without uncovering their buried research item.

Make spikers destroy after a bit when you dig them up.

Spikers can be jumped on without hurting you, like that jellyfish scene from Finding Nemo.

Improve the distance at which objects have physics, allowing (for example) zebra balls to roll further from player

Fix the disappearance of vehicles and items, particularly when frame rates are low.

A couple surprises you'll have to discover.

Notes:

Work is still underway for massive performance increases. Expect to see some of that in the next patch or so.

The team is moving offices! We're staying in Seattle but will be moving to a larger office so that we can grow our team. This is partly responsible for the increase in time between 117 and 119 patches.

We'll be doing a stream either this week coming up or first thing the following week to hopefully show off some of the new content coming to Astroneer.