New beta build! https://wiki.arcengames.com/index.php?title=AI_War_2:Multiplayer_Alpha_And_Beta#Beta_2.728_Full_Multiplayer_Beta You need to use the current_beta branch on Steam or GOG to play this one. If you have trouble with it, there is a most_recent_stable_beta, now, too. Hey! This is a pretty huge milestone release... except it's on the beta branch right now, so it only semi-counts. We'll be coming off the beta branch next week sometime, and make bigger announcement posts then. What's the milestone? FULL multiplayer beta! There are still known bugs that need fixing, but all of the features for multiplayer are now in place. This new build not only gives you the ability to gift metal in lump sums and ongoing flows, but it also allows you to provide energy to your ally empires, and even swap hacking points around. The balance for hacking points is also adjusted in general, so that everyone gets a bit less in multi-faction multiplayer now. You take so many planets in multi-faction MP that you have hacking points coming out your ears, otherwise. This release also is a big deal in terms of convenience with hackers even in single player. Essentially the game no longer tries to "guess" which hacker you want to use when multiple are available. It uses a better algorithm to find what you mean, and otherwise asks you to clarify. You can also nickname any faction! Many players are already planning to have the Zenith Trader running around as Tradey Boi, apparently. Human Resistance Fighters got a few buffs, and there's a new Expatriate hull tech that works for them like the Alien tech works elsewhere. The tech refund screen and related from last build also got some refinement and tuning. There's still a few more features relating to hacking and new hacks for you that I have planned before we come out of the beta branch. But we're getting darn close now! If you're not already playing on the beta branch, please consider doing so. We'd love feedback.