What a ride it has been towards the release of this update, wow! First of all, we would like to thank you all for the amazing support during the build-up to this update, you know it means the world to us! Now, let's move on to the main reason we're here, the Co-op Update. From now on you will be able to crew up with up to 3 other friends to commandeer drillships, scavenge, build, fight and survive together! Apart from the new co-op mode, there are also new worktables, bunk beds, items, and other improvements we made based on your feedback. We are also celebrating this update release with a 25% discount! Check out the brand new trailer for this update below: [previewyoutube=nkKnscKinQA;full][/previewyoutube]

What's New

Co-op Multiplayer

To play the new co-op mode all you need to do is choose one person that will be hosting the game and take on the role of the crew captain - ideally, the one that has the strongest PC, since it has to manage everything. Once the game starts, others can join through the "join game" screen and start playing. Quests are completely synchronized within the crew, so everyone can take part in managing the drillship systems, fighting COGs, or gathering resources.
For now, the crew can own only own one drillship but that will change in future updates. Crew captain is the only person that can save/load the game. If the captain decides to end the game, it will also disconnect all the other players. Any new player that joins the game will spawn directly to the drillship, or into the submarine in case the crew has not claimed one yet (or lost one).

New Worktables

New devices were added to the beginning of the game to make the learning curve smoother for new players. Submarine and the starter drillship have been updated with research and refinery worktables working as standalone devices, meaning they don't need any other modules, storage, or energy to work. This means that players have more time to learn about all the advanced module systems.

The Boiler

Drillships were also equipped with a main panel placed at the front wall called "the boiler". The boiler gives access to all essential controls and information that is needed to successfully operate the drillship.

Player Respawn

Death is no longer an issue in both single and multiplayer games. You will simply respawn back in the submarine or a drillship if your crew owns one. When you get killed, a backpack with inventory will be dropped on the ground. You must act fast because it can get easily destroyed by the eruption or the COG drillships can carry it away in case you died in one. In cases you unexpectedly leave a multiplayer game, your character will stay in the game for approximately five minutes (we may or may not added a silly emote when this happens). In this time, you can still log back in and continue where you stopped, unless your character gets killed by COGs or the eruption. After the time runs out your character will die and all the loot will be dropped on the ground in a backpack.

Bunk Beds

The new bunk beds play an important role in multiplayer. You can log off through them, and safely store all your inventory while your character is sleeping. So next time you log in, you will have all your stuff, and since the bed moves with the drillship, you won't have to catch up to your crew.

Full Changelog

Main Features

• Co-op multiplayer
• Quests are synchronized within all crew members
• Player respawn (Single and Multiplayer games)
• Refinery and research worktables
• Schematics (different way of upgrading production in drillship)
• Front drillship boiler (new default device)
• Bunk bed (log out location in multiplayer)

Other Features

• Players drop backpack with inventory upon death
• Recipe items (dials, gun powder, alloy, bullet casings)
• New scrap recipes
• Multiplayer screen for managing players in-game (kick/ban)
• Custom logo accessible from the main menu

Major Changes

• Players no longer have one life, they respawn either in drillship or submarine after death
• All production stations now allow queue for crafting
• Changed submarine interior to contain only starter technology (no modules)
• Changed starter drillship interior to contain only starter technology (no modules)
• Changed tech tree
• Updated questline
• Engine upgrades no longer require Core upgrade of the same level to be installed
• Changed loot spawned in COG drillships

Other Changes

• Adjusted audio throughout the whole game
• Player now takes one stack of item from online storage by default (no longer taking whole coal storage - Shift = 1 item, CTRL 5 items, CTRL+Shift All items )
• Updated research icons to better show what is crafted and from what - Suggested by TheFireDragon on Nolt
• Updated scrap recipes to better reflect what happens with the item
• Scrap metal and destroyed modules can be picked up without the need to use the pickaxe to mine them (press E)
• Increased chest storage size
• Increased front drillship storage capacity
• Increased storage capacity in T2 and T3 Storage modules
• Pickaxe is mining slower
• COG respawn tube has higher HP

Bug Fixes

• Optimizations at all levels
• Fixed navigation issues in quests
• Chests and devices are now properly saved on the submarine
• Players can't accidentally downgrade their drillship anymore

Stay Updated

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• Watch new trailers, teasers and tutorials on YouTube

Thank you so much again for your support and patience! Hope you have a blast with the new update and if you have any questions/feedback you know where to find us. ~ Volcanoids Dev Squad https://store.steampowered.com/app/951440/Volcanoids/

[ 2020-05-20 17:00:13 CET ] [ Original post ]