Steam Open Beta v1.0.5.0 - Available on the Open Beta branch now.

[SamSlitherine]

Hi Everyone,

We have the latest beta available to download on Steam now. The GOG version will soon follow, for those who play the game there, we will get the build up there ASAP. We would like to get this Beta update out before the weekend for you all to test however, so just Steam for now!

This is a major Beta update for DW2! It upgrades the core game engine to use the latest version of Stride (4.1.0.1).

Due to this; Net6.0 is now required to run the game. Steam should start an install of it automatically. If your Steam client does not start the install, please Exit Steam and try again. This should hopefully refresh the client and force it to do so.
- If the game doesn't run or the prompt with .Net6.0.5 doesn't start. Please download dotnet from the link below. Then restart your PC.

.Net 6.0
https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/down ... -installer


As usual, you can access the open beta branch by doing the following;

On Steam, you can switch to it by going to Distant Worlds 2 in your Steam Library, right-clicking on it, choosing Properties -> Betas -> then choosing "beta - v.1.0.5.0" from the drop-down list and allowing Steam to update your game. If it updates correctly, you should see 1.0.5.0 listed as your version in-game on the bottom right.

The changelog can be seen below.

Again apologies for the delay in the GOG beta!

Thank you all and have a great weekend!

v1.0.5.0 – 13th June 2022
GENERAL UPGRADES AND CRASH FIXES
• Migrated DW2 to the latest version of Stride game engine
• Fixed various crashes relating to Stride rendering
• Fixed rare crash when a ship refuels
• Added extra error reporting for some rendering-related crashes
• Auto-detect and warn when PC is missing a vendor-specific display driver (i.e. when only Available adapter is 'Microsoft Basic Render Driver')
RENDERING PERFORMANCE
• Improved rendering performance by implementing shader instancing when drawing galaxy map highlights (list items) and empire territory circles/lines.
• These improvements are especially evident in large games when zoomed out to the galaxy level
improved performance when opening very large lists in Control Center (e.g. civilian ships)
MAP OVERLAYS
• Adjusted some galaxy map overlays so that properly fade out as zoom in (long range scanners, diplomacy, exploration)
• Adjusted general opacity for some map overlays (long range scanners, diplomacy, exploration)
OTHER
• Ending a War or signing a Non Aggression treaty now clears any dangerous locations for other empire, thus preventing automated fleets from unnecessarily investigating locations that are no longer a threat



IMPORTANT NOTICES:

If you are still having any crash or launch issues with DW2 after trying the latest update, we recommend taking the following steps to make sure corruption from previous crashes is not causing any ongoing issues:
1. Delete the gamesettings and gamestartsettings files in the /data/ sub-folder of your installation directory (In Steam right-click on the game in your library, then choose Properties -> Local Files -> Browse. On GOG you can find this through Manage Installation -> Show Folder)
2. Delete any old saved games in the /data/savedgames sub-folder of your installation directory.
3. Verify all installation files (in Steam right-click on the game in your library, then choose Properties -> Local Files -> Verify Integrity of Game Files. On GOG it is Manage Installation -> Verify/Repair).
4. If you still experience issues, please check in on the tech support sub-forum at Matrix Games or Steam and follow the reporting procedures there to share your log files with us.

This build may reset the game's settings. Unfortunately, this is required while we continue
troubleshooting issues that are preventing some players from being able to play Distant Worlds 2.
We apologize for the inconvenience.

There is now a new SessionLog.txt log in the /data/logs sub-folder of the Distant Worlds 2 installation.
This is also where any crash logs are located. If you are experiencing an issue, please post these logs for us along with the issue report.

There is a new GameSettingsOverride.txt in the /data sub-folder of the Distant Worlds 2 installation.
The override settings here may help some players experiencing black screen on load issues.

If you are experiencing performance issues use the key combination Shift + tilde to enable an overlay on the top left which will confirm for us which GPU DW2 is using on your system as well as other performance parameters.
 

[WiZz]

Yay! Let's test begin!

[Thineboot]

Since all the ShipHullModelData have been changed I assume you should restart?

[btd64]

Yes, restart. When it was released to the beta team it was suggested that we start in a fresh game folder. Not sure if that applies here....GP

[praetorreich36]

Started a new game

Nice touches. I like the "glow" of the exploration overlay.

[maggiecow]

Since all the ShipHullModelData have been changed I assume you should restart?

Is this referenced in the original post? Are there unannounced gameplay changes (what I'm waiting on before getting back in the saddle, having given up playing in April. Been playing a lot of V Rising. Lots of fun. Not frustrating. Novel, right?) that aren't mentioned in the original post? Sounds like something ship design related. Or is this part of the rendering changes? Seems like a gameplay change would require a restart, a rendering change less so, but what do I know?

Anyway, how've you been big man? Long time no talk.

[elliotg]

Since all the ShipHullModelData have been changed I assume you should restart?

No, you can continue your old games if you wish. Old savegames will load and play fine in this new update.

Thanks
Elliot

[Radamanthe]

The GOG version will soon follow, for those who play the game there, we will get the build up there ASAP.

[...]

Again apologies for the delay in the GOG beta!

[...]

v1.0.5.0 – 13th June 2022

[...]

• Improved rendering performance by implementing shader instancing when drawing galaxy map highlights (list items) and empire territory circles/lines.
• These improvements are especially evident in large games when zoomed out to the galaxy level
improved performance when opening very large lists in Control Center (e.g. civilian ships)
• Adjusted some galaxy map overlays so that properly fade out as zoom in (long range scanners, diplomacy, exploration)
• Adjusted general opacity for some map overlays (long range scanners, diplomacy, exploration)

I don’t want to pressure on you (as a developer myself I know it’s the last thing you need), but if there is one thing I cannot stand in 1.0.4.9 personally, and for which I patiently waited to be fixed, it’s that damn ugly overlays workaround coupled to the fact that it activates automatically. So I just want to make sure you do not forget about us GoG users. I can wait weeks again, that's just I don't want to hope that for tomorrow every single day, you see.

Thank you :) (and anyway, good job out there!).

[rxnnxs]

The GOG version will soon follow, for those who play the game there, we will get the build up there ASAP.

[...]

Again apologies for the delay in the GOG beta!

[...]

v1.0.5.0 – 13th June 2022

[...]

• Improved rendering performance by implementing shader instancing when drawing galaxy map highlights (list items) and empire territory circles/lines.
• These improvements are especially evident in large games when zoomed out to the galaxy level
improved performance when opening very large lists in Control Center (e.g. civilian ships)
• Adjusted some galaxy map overlays so that properly fade out as zoom in (long range scanners, diplomacy, exploration)
• Adjusted general opacity for some map overlays (long range scanners, diplomacy, exploration)

I don’t want to pressure on you (as a developer myself I know it’s the last thing you need), but if there is one thing I cannot stand in 1.0.4.9 personally, and for which I patiently waited to be fixed, it’s that damn ugly overlays workaround coupled to the fact that it activates automatically. So I just want to make sure you do not forget about us GoG users. I can wait weeks again, that's just I don't want to hope that for tomorrow every single day, you see.

Thank you (and anyway, good job out there!).

Yes, I also check every day for the update in GOG to watch how it has changed regarding:
• Adjusted some galaxy map overlays so that properly fade out as zoom in (long range scanners, diplomacy, exploration)
• Adjusted general opacity for some map overlays (long range scanners, diplomacy, exploration)

P.S.: If you don't make a working game in time, I am forced to develop my own!
I guess I will take the unreal engine. What do you think, what should i take?

P.P.S.: Is it so hard to make it accessible on GOG? Or are there already so many problems that you are working for a fix on 1.0.5.0?
To find out whats going on, I have to look into steam.. Even there are questions asked, regarding GOG.
So much to say about gog and matrixgames..
Looks like steam is the number one. In all cases - concerning rating and editing the rating and in number of comments and information regarding everything.. even about other publishing platforms.
And then many of us do not like steam - but, they really know how things are done!

cheers, and I mean it serious with my own game..
if someone has tips for me, you might as well pm me.
I will be in need of programmers and artists for sure - because mainly I want to realize my ideas about a space game (exploring a vast universe, kind of minecraft, built up on pixels so to speak. In space, one sector is therefore divided into "pixels". In every sector can be a whole solar system. next zoom is also made out of pixels and so on. even the ship is so to speak built up out of pixels. and.. it expands in 3D.. x,y,z-direction.. you explore pixel-wise..)

[Thuran]

Hello,

playing the new beta version v1.0.5.0 I stumbled upon a problem with building mining stations. After 2 or 3 hours of playtime I am suddenly not able to automatically build mining stations anymore because of 'Cannot afford to build".
I have enough money, have all the relevant ressources and building stations manually via construction ships is possible.
Something wrong here?

Second problem: The passenger ships are not working anymore, no mission, no passengers, no new passenger ships.
See also message "by dostillevi » Wed Apr 20, 2022 2:53 am".

Cheers,
Thuran

PS: Sent a report with save file.

[Thuran]

Even better:
The private economy doesn't build anything at all anymore... no freighters, no passenger ships, no mining ships. That ruins every game if this happens for whatever reason(s).
What I found out is that by pausing every two seconds this sudden behavior can be delayed, but not canceled.

So all these problems could correlate.
Hope this will be fixed soon as otherwise a new game doesn't really make sense.

Regards,
Thuran

Hello,

playing the new beta version v1.0.5.0 I stumbled upon a problem with building mining stations. After 2 or 3 hours of playtime I am suddenly not able to automatically build mining stations anymore because of 'Cannot afford to build".
I have enough money, have all the relevant ressources and building stations manually via construction ships is possible.
Something wrong here?

Second problem: The passenger ships are not working anymore, no mission, no passengers, no new passenger ships.
See also message "by dostillevi » Wed Apr 20, 2022 2:53 am".

Cheers,
Thuran

PS: Sent a report with save file.

[zgrssd]

Hello,

playing the new beta version v1.0.5.0 I stumbled upon a problem with building mining stations. After 2 or 3 hours of playtime I am suddenly not able to automatically build mining stations anymore because of 'Cannot afford to build".
I have enough money, have all the relevant ressources and building stations manually via construction ships is possible.
Something wrong here?

Second problem: The passenger ships are not working anymore, no mission, no passengers, no new passenger ships.
See also message "by dostillevi » Wed Apr 20, 2022 2:53 am".

Cheers,
Thuran

PS: Sent a report with save file.

It is possible a large amount of (Private) Funds are put in reserve, because something large is planned.

The private economy is notorious for sometimes just not building anything - only to then drop several hundreds of thousands on building at the same gametick.
If you have such a state, please write a bug report with it.

[mordachai]

worst case - fix this in game editor - select "empires" - yours - then give your private sector a boat-load of money.

[Thuran]

Thanks for your answers.
I was able to solve the problem by giving the private sector some additional money as described by zgrssd.