This new version of PDX Multiplayer is now ready for testing, with huge improvements to connectivity and stability, as well as expanded in-game features to help you connect with friends and play together regardless of which platform the game was purchased from! Before we go fully live with it, we want to offer it to interested parties as an OPT-IN BETA PATCH. This will help us expose the system to greater stress and find issues before full release. We're putting this optional beta out on Steam right now, but we're not asking you to help us test it for nothing: 2.1.4 also includes the debut of the much-requested STELLARIS MULTIPLAYER OBSERVER MODE. We're happy to finally have observer features available like in other PDS games, to allow you to spy on your friend's MP in the most benign or horrible ways you can imagine! See below for the full patch notes. ################################################################# ######################### VERSION 2.1.4 ######################### ################################################################# ################### # Features ################### * Added observer mode to multiplayer, with numerous observer-only events to keep track of what's happening in the whole galaxy * Added a new multiplayer system to allow cross-play across all supported platforms * Added tons of empire info to hotjoin menu * In MP, added a player map mode that displays player name instead of empire name on the map, and greys out AI empires * Added filter check box for non-player controlled empires in galaxy/contacts view ################### # Balance ################### * Removed game rule restrictions for making claims when you have a Colossus ################### # UI ################### * Added "-observe" command line argument to start directly in observer mode ################### # Modding ################### * You can now script the size and distances for the "stacks" of orbital ships around planet: PLANET_ORBIT_STACK_SIZE and PLANET_ORBIT_STACK_DISTANCE in 00_defines.txt ################### # Bugfixes ################### * Added a bunch of missing text strings * Fixed an issue where the number of fleets in orbit around a stellar body was capped, leading to hilarious results like not being able to queue movement orders there, because parking sucks in this town * Fixed a bug where lacking a suitable planet to terraform in to a Gaia world, the nanites would terraform the star instead * Fixed advanced start AI empires lacking additional colonies on game start * Fixed an OOS related to ship design upgrades * Properly reset the retrofit list so it can rebuild correctly when switching ship design in fleet manager * Fixed more things that could lead to multiplayer OOS Please note this is an opt-in patch. You have to choose to activate it. Go to: Steam Library -> Right click on Stellaris -> Properties -> Betas tab -> choose "2.1.4_beta" There it is, folks! Give the new MP and observer mode a try, play with your friends across all PC distribution platforms, send us the issues you find, and we'll work together to produce the best possible full release version. Are you ready for the Stellaris Dev Clash?