Greetings scientists…
This will be a big one, so let's get started!
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Co-op Release Date & Beta Announcement
We’re excited to reveal that the long-awaited and highly requested Co-op Update, now known as “World Evolved + Co-op Update” will go live for everyone in just a few weeks. EA.1.7.0 will launch for all Steam Early Access players on
December 9th 2024!
But that's not all…
After just over a month of closed playtests, we’re excited to announce that the Forever Skies World Evolved + Co-op Update is live on our Beta Test branch (beta_flight) RIGHT NOW!
We’re grateful to the 800+ players who have been testing and breaking the closed builds for the last month to get us to this point, we couldn’t have done it without you. Details on how to join our beta branch will be shared below. And speaking of branches, a new Forever Skies Steam branch will be accessible to players when we launch EA.1.7.0.
The Legacy Branch
As most of you know by now, your existing saves will not be compatible with The World Evolved + Co-op Update. ICYMI, you can read the full details of that announcement by clicking here.
In the comments of that post, FS Community member “Mickjay” suggested that the game in its current EA.1.6.0 form could be kept separate in a new branch so players could still access their OG Airship builds even after the change and reset with EA.1.7.0. A few other community members got behind this and quite frankly, we also thought this was an AWESOME idea, and so we have done just that.
The new legacy branch will be available in the next few weeks, so keep your eyes out for more information if you wish to preserve your current game saves/fancy blimps. Please keep in mind that this legacy branch will receive no further updates. It will remain as EA.1.6.0.
Co-op Mode Information
The game can now be fully played in traditional single-player or our brand-new Co-op Mode. Co-op will only become available once you have completed the game's tutorial and have taken flight for the first time. A notification will appear when it becomes available.
The co-op gameplay loop is structured around one host and up to three friends (or volunteers). Volunteers join the host world and will become the crew of the host’s Airship base, in order to build, scavenge, research and survive together.
When starting a new Co-op game, on the main menu players will have a couple of options available to them when hosting a world:
Single-Player - Offline mode. Players can pause their game, no players can join your world.
Co-op Mode - The new mode where you will get a few different types of co-op modes to choose from. All of these modes require you to be online, which means no pause is available. Here are the different versions of Co-op you can play:
- Friends-Only - Your game is visible and accessible only to friends on Steam.
- Public - This mode is visible to everyone, whether from the in-game Sessions menu or from within Steam.
- Private - Here, players can join your game via Steam invite only.
After you have chosen between single-player or co-op, you can then choose your difficulty level of Easy, Medium or Hard. You also get the option of what Airship Building ruleset you wish to use.
- Normal - The new ruleset that's been added as part of the World Evolved & Co-op update, that places tighter restrictions on shipbuilding at the start but more in-depth freedom with airship upgrades as you progress.
- Legacy - The previous ruleset you already know that gives players more freedom on where they could place Airship components
It's only possible to join another player's Co-op session once you have completed the tutorial yourself. When joining a session, you join the world of the host with no resources of your own, only your trusty Extractor. You will have to rely on the resources of your host before gathering them yourself. You can’t bring resources over into the host's world either.
Once a save has been created past the tutorial, the save can then be played in either Single-Player or Co-op mode depending on how you want to play that day.
New Gameplay Loop
The most important thing before playing is to forget everything you thought you knew about Forever Skies. If you try to play through the game and its objectives while holding onto previous knowledge and expecting the game to work the same as before, it could leave you at a disadvantage. The core game loop and progression has been reworked. This was done for a few reasons, but it mainly stems from player feedback about the previous loop and to make the game translate better to a co-op experience, while maintaining a fun single-player experience. Here are some of the changes and additions made to the game in EA.1.7.0:
- Handcrafting, allows you to craft certain items and components via a built-in Suit Printer, enabling crafting while exploring instead of being tied to an on-board Fabricator.
- A complete overhaul of the hand Extractor's design and accessibility. The tool will now be part of your suit near the start, with a self-recharge function in emergencies. We’ve also adapted our level design to provide more resources in the world for extraction, puzzles to solve with the Extractor, and a range of upgrades for players to discover, research and attach.
- The Ship Workstation, now known as the Decoration Fabricator will also be made available just after the tutorial. We want players to start customizing their airships closer to the start of the game.
- Objectives have been re-worked from the start of the game, right up to the first Underdust descent. This includes a more in-depth tutorial so new players learn how to manage their stats correctly, more focus on vertical gameplay and introduces players to new tech items.
Additional New Content
Capsule Drops sent from the Ark. These capsule drops will occur every so often when flying above the dust layer and will be worth scavenging. You can expect to find all kinds of useful resources inside, including upgrades for your tools!
Metal Collector! This new handy bit of kit can be crafted and placed on catwalks along your airship exterior and will collect metal scraps from underneath the dust layer. Yes, we’re moving away slightly from floating metal in the sky, this still happens, but will only occur rarely. Your main source of metal now comes from the Metal Collector or extracting it from buildings and ruins.
Improvements to Radio Tower locations. Radio Towers are now typically much larger than before. With multiple levels and buildings to explore and scavenge. You will also find more stories and secrets from the previous inhabitants here.
A brand new intro cutscene. While we like our current opening cinematic, we believe it doesn't give the player much information to begin their journey on ruined Earth. The new cutscene gives players more context to how the player got back to Earth, and why. The cutscene also includes a picture of your crew aboard the Ark before the virus took its toll on everyone aboard. We also made this photo an item in-game that you can place on your Airship and take with you throughout your entire journey.
Scrapwing Hatchery - a new threat has appeared in the skies! As you explore above the dust, keep your eyes and ears out for this parasite. The Hatchery will attach itself to the side of your Airship and feast on the metal Catwalks. If this goes unchecked, after some time, it will tear off the Airship Catwalk along with whatever precious equipment you had on it! So be on alert unless you want to say bye bye to your Water Condensers.
Design changes made to Radio Towers. They're now typically a larger location than before.
Dev AMA
A few weeks ago, we sent out a social media post asking players for their questions following a series of announcements from us, we have selected a few of them and answered below…
jeffie_pie5340 - YouTube
Q. How many players are planned for the coop?
A. Four players. One player will host, and up to three friends can join the host's world.
Jack Skett - Twitter
Q. When playing co-op will it progress both players’ games or just the host?
A. Playing will only progress the host's world/game.
Dude_72 - YouTube
Q. Will PS5 and Steam be able to play multiplayer together when it comes out?
A. We currently have no plans for cross-play.
Zenoe-strict7295 - YouTube
Q. I'm wondering if steam deck support is being worked?
A. Right now, our team is mostly focused on the co-op update and the full release on PC & PS5 in early 2025. But we would love to bring Forever Skies to the Steam Deck in the future.
Nick Rhodes - Facebook
Q. How early into 2025 can we expect [full release] dropping?
A. Early. We’re looking at Q1.
Valtristk - Reddit
Q. Can you drop off a friend at one tower and head to another tower yourself?
A. In theory, yes, provided the next tower is close enough. We are still thinking about how to solve the problem that one player can fly away and leave the others. For now, the Unstuck button can freely teleport one player to the airship, but we are considering more in-game solutions.If you fly too far from your friends, the world around them WILL unload. So don’t go too far.
Valtristk - Reddit
Q. Can one friend enter the underdust while others go and do other things above the dust?
A. No, all players need to head to the Underdust together and vice versa.
The_Ham_of_Rum - Reddit
Q. At what point in the game's progress can I start playing coop?
A. Co-op becomes available for hosts and clients after completing the game's tutorial in the opening area.
uncle_smule - YouTube
Q. What are those colossal lifeforms you talked about?
A. They’re coming along nicely in production. We really pushed for one of the encounters to be in this latest update, but it wasn’t quite ready in time. You will see them soon enough.
pannedartist - YouTube
Q. Will we be seeing more pets within the future of the game? And how much customization will be available?
A. We have no plans for additional pets but we are thinking about increasing the role of the pet itself. Additional outfits and attachments for the existing pet are still likely too.
JOHN HATTAM - Twitter
Q. Can [you] build elevators for your ship in the full game?
A. No current plans in production for elevators on your airship but its a super cool idea. Feel free to suggest it on our Feature Upvote site.
The Danecdote - Reddit
Q. When will 2K [and higher] resolutions be playable?
A. Its already possible to play in 2K resolution or higher but we dont recommend it fully as it can have some performance issues. Our production plans have mostly been focused on completing features and mechanics for Forever Skies. But with Co-op releasing in a few weeks , we will turn our focus to improving the games overall perfomance in the coming months.
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How To Access the Test Branch
- Open the Steam application on your PC and locate Forever Skies in your games library
- Right click - PROPERTIES- BETAS
- Put in the password: BlimpWorkshop
- From the dropdown menu select the beta branch tilted: beta_flight
- Press the blue “Opt into beta_flight…” button
- In your Games Library click on Forever Skies [beta_flight]
- Install the Test Branch
Start a New Save - Existing Won’t Work on the Test Branch
Remember that importing your old saves won’t work as they are no longer compatible.
So to start a new save, play through the opening location, and once you are airborne, you can get your friends to join your game.
The progress you make on the Test Branch will not carry over once the update goes live on December 9th.
Where to Submit Bugs
All bugs or issues that you encounter while playing should be submitted via the FEEDBACK TOOL that you can find in-game when pausing the game.
You can also access it here - https://forever-skies.featureupvote.com/
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Changelog
ADDED:
General:
- Co-op mode
- Ping system – players can press V to ping items and places in the world to other players
- New Intro cutscene
- New settings - Building Mode - Normal (new rules apply) - Legacy mode (locked on Combat update 1.6.0 version - from all the rework and building restrictions; this mode won’t be supported going forward)
- New settings - Arachnophobia Mode - changes some enemies models into non-arachnid looking ones
Enemies:
- Scrapwing Hatchery
Tools & Devices:
- Suit Printer
- Metal Collector
- Metal Collector Head
- Extractor Upgrade - Capacity
- Extractor Upgrade - Reload
- Extractor VFX - rods represent energy level
World:
- Basic Radio Tower locations diversified with living quarters
- A height barrier surrounds the starting area of the map
- Solar Towers as source of Solar Panels for starting height
- Single Wind Farm towers with Copper accessible after first height upgrade
- Solar Panel as floating debris
- Drop Capsules with loot
- New lore texts added
New resources:
- Copper Elements
- Silicon extracted from Solar Panels
- Synthetic Conglomerate
- Energy Container
Player:
- Suit Printer menu allows crafting directly from inventory
- Dedicated slot for Extractor Upgrade under inventory
- Death Screen lists all items lost due to player death
- Additional HUD info notifications according devices and items placement
- TPP player animations and VFXs
- Animation for the first Extractor equip action
- New first-person animations for climbing ladders and using Helm
- Database updated for the current content additions and changes
- Ability to Wake up players who ran out of energy
Airship:
- Airship Catwalks can be destroyed along with everything that was placed on them by Scrapwing Hatchery.
- New artifact - Family Photo
- New artifact - Glass City
- New poster - Dark Wishes
- New poster - New London
- Metal Half-Wall
- Bloom Half-Wall
- Sprinkler area coverage visuals
CHANGED:
- Printing timers added to printer devices
- Tutorial progression and mechanics reworked
- Lander visuals adjusted to the intro cutscene
- Starting location adjusted to the new Tutorial
- Extractor available from the tutorial
- Extractor as a default tool when joining co-op session
- Extractor has a limit of charges before its energy depletes
- Extractor has an option to be recharged manually
- Deck Extractor is available to unlock on the first Lift to Underdust location
- Solid State Batteries are now craftable from Suit Printer Menu
- Transformers are no longer craftable and can be only found on locations
- Changed logic for spawning Data Cards - There can no longer be multiple Data Cards on one location - Data Cards with items for specific tools/devices should be spawning only if the player obtained this tool/device first
- Play menu name changed to Single Player
- Rudder Controller name changed to Helm
- Basic Fabricator name changed to Device Fabricator
- Ship Workstation name changed to Furniture Fabricator
- Water Tank’s name changed to Large Water Tank
- Plastic Scrap name changed to Synthetic Compound
- Device Fabricator can be crafted from Suit Printer
- Research Station and Helm devices can be printed from Device Fabricator
- Basic Turbines and Engines can no longer be placed on Room frames [“Normal” building mode]
- Some items like posters, cabinets, and some hanging devices can no longer be placed on Room frames [“Normal” building mode
- Basic and Upgraded Turbines height additions and limits changed
- Every player needs a separate Bed for sleeping
- Falling out of the ship does not kill the player but teleports them back
- The percentage of items dropped due to death was increased: - To 50% on Normal difficulty level - To 60% on Hard difficulty level
- Players now spawn not directly in front of the Helm, but on one of the floors closest to it
- Player stats are rebalanced in the tutorial. The player now won’t die from Hunger/Thirst until they finish the food and water tutorial quests (or skip them by leaving the location before finishing them)
- Increased regeneration of Hunger and Thirst from boiled food and clean water
- Parameters should drop slightly slower while the player is sleeping
- Seed container models changed from pouches to containers
- Garden Pots crafting costs and mechanics changed - Dirty Water container capped at 1 unit
- Garden Pots and their icons visuals changed - water tanks removed from the back of them
- Plants growing times rebalanced
- Wind Farm and Greenhouse Tower locations now have their lower and upper parts related to the changes in height progression
- Small Cockpit is available in the Airship Builder from the beginning
- Automatic Deck Extractors are now printable in the Upgrade Station
- Wrecked Radar moved from Wind Farm to Radio Tower location
- Wrecked Basic Turbine moved from Radio Tower to Wind Farm location
- Tool Charger’s recipe moved from a Radio Tower (Electric Elements) to a Wind Farm (Circuit Board)
- Small Water Tank capacity reduced to 50 units
- Insect Catcher now limited to starting and 1st height biome only (210 - 250 masl)
- Epoxy removed completely from Garden locations
- Epoxy icon changed
- Boiled Dust Lettuce icon changed
- Boiled Sunmelon icon changed
- Boiled Chili Pepper icon changed
- Aircutter icon changed
- Copper icon changed
- Amber Bed icon changed
- Evolved Flora Hologram icon changed
- Size of Inventory slots changed by ~10%
- Language settings moved from Audio to Gameplay Settings
- Underdust Suburbs enemy spawners reworked
- Permadeath removed
- Sticky Note temporarily removed from the game (it needs more work)
- Hypothermia Booster cost changed (Medical Reagent removed)
- Overall rebalance of resources spawn and crafting costs
- Many text changes to quests and lore tablets
- Many level design and level art adjustments to existing locations
FIXED:
- Blood Coagulator Booster no longer causes the player to become immortal after applying
- Boiled fruits and plants which looked like Boiled Chili Pepper now have their proper Boiled version meshes
- Bloom Walls no longer show yellow makeshift tape from default Room
- Wrecked Flashlight model changed to the proper Wrecked item
- Noah’s graffiti is scannable again
KNOWN ISSUES:
Since the build is still a work in progress, it still has some problems you may experience, like:
- Incomplete localization for languages other than English
- Random disconnecting from sessions - we’re investigating tons of logs now and trying to fix the most common problems
- After rejoining a session quest-related parts of some locations may not be visible for joining players (clients)
- Some things don’t work for clients yet (although everything should work for a host), e.g. - Water tanks show no water - Sprinklers show no water, - Paints won’t be seen etc.
- Infected Garden location is not working properly for clients - Preternatual Seeds cannot be cut down, Gnarls do not dim out after cutting Preternatural Seeds by a host, path to upper floors may be blocked by some roots
- Scrapwing Hatchery alerts are being shown to host only
- Some tablets cannot be read by players
- Data Cards spawning rates are influenced by other loot, making them harder to find
- Clients cannot progress quests which need checking Studies or Database
- Some locations may be spawned inside/on the verge of mountains or the organic wall - just look for a different one in such case
- Friendly Insect is duplicated for clients in the Underdust: Tunnels
- Friendly Insect may behave oddly once in a while
- Clients may have better visibility on Underdust locations - the dust isn’t distributed properly
- Ladder Room ladder mesh will be replaced, right now animations don’t match
- Every player hears other player characters coughing (from the lack of oxygen) as loud as they would hear themselves
- Upgraded Engines and Turbines tend to rotate oddly for clients
- Sometimes hitboxes for Inkbulbs in pots make it very tricky to harvest those flowers
- When two or more clients extract a resource at the same time, it won’t get extracted. The players then have to stop extracting and only one of them should start extracting again.
- Paint Tool is not working for clients yet
- Crystal battery can’t be hand-crafted
- Oil Barrels don’t show the correct state when the clients exit and join the game again. They appear full, but they aren’t.
- When a player is left on a location and the rest of the crew fly away a certain distance, if the stranded player uses the UNSTUCK button, the world may not load properly for them when they return to the airship
This was a long one, if you're still reading then we're impressed!
Have fun with the beta...
Team Far From Home
