Genre: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy, Indie
Against the Storm
Update Preview - Update 1.1
Greetings, Viceroys!
With the dust settling from the 1.0 release, we have been able to spend some more time working on new content for Against the Storm.
In the next few days (exact date to be announced), we will be releasing Update 1.1, which will include new content, various UX improvements, bug fixes, balance changes, and more.
Some of the upcoming changes include:
Unique portraits for all traders
New decorations
New orders
New sound effects
Notifications with auto-pause reason
New Forbidden Glade icon
And more!
Preview Livestream
We invite you to join us on January 15 at 4:00 pm UTC on our Twitch channel for a livestream where we'll be presenting the changes coming in Update 1.1 and answering your questions.
Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store During Early Access, each update we released required us to close the ongoing settlements to avoid potentially game-breaking bugs. However, the changes included in Update 1.1 don't require us to do that. We're still running several test scenarios, but for the moment it seems the transition to the new update should go smoothly and you shouldn't even notice it.
PC Game Pass For PC Game Pass users only: we encourage you to manually back up your save files prior to the update. In the past, every update we released on PC Game Pass triggered the Xbox App's cloud save error, leading to lost progress.
The new save verification system and an extra layer of backups that we introduced for the PC Game Pass version in Patch 1.0.5R should keep your save files safe, but since we have little control over the issue, we still recommend backing up the following two folders: %userprofile%\appdata\locallow\Eremite Games%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Packages\HoodedHorse.AgainsttheStorm_znaey1dw2bdpr\SystemAppData\xgs
Stay tuned
We'll release the full update notes when the update goes live next week. In the meantime, we'll continue to monitor your feedback, so please feel free to share your thoughts with us and vote for ideas that are important to you on our public feature request board.
May the storm be gentle on you, Eremite Games
35% off Against the Storm
Hi everyone, get Against the Storm for 35% off during the Steam Winter Sale! Rebuild a fallen world in the face of never-ending storms in this roguelite survival city builder.
In 2023, Against the Storm released 25 updates, including launching out of early access and into v1.0 on December 8. With the v1.0 launch, it's the perfect time to play Against the Storm with big updates to the early game & tutorials, and a brand new end-game challenge.
Happy Holidays! From now until January 4th, you can save 35% on Against the Storm, and get great deals on all other games published by Hooded Horse during the Steam Winter Sale. Come check the game out!
In 2023, Against the Storm released 25 updates, including launching out of early access and into v1.0 on December 8th. With the v1.0 launch, it's the perfect time to play Against the Storm with big updates to the early game & tutorials, and a brand new end-game challenge.
Thank you everyone for such a warm reception of the 1.0 version of Against the Storm! We are truly overwhelmed with your kindness and support. We welcome all the new players and wish you lots of fun on your Viceroy journey.
We are grateful for all the feedback and reviews. Whether positive or negative, they help guide us in development and are enormously appreciated.
As always, we’ve been monitoring your messages and reports across all channels and today we released a new patch that addresses the issues you’ve reported. Please find the full list of changes below.
In the meantime, we’re also working on a small content update with new visual assets that we hope to release early next year. We’ll share some sneak peeks in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Changelog
General improvements
Deeds tied to reforging Seals are now automatically completed if players reforged a Seal before the “Guidance and Lore Update - Part 2” (October 26) which introduced new Deeds for reforging Ancient Seals.
(Steam Deck only) Input Auto Focus is now automatically disabled when playing on Steam Deck (to prevent the keyboard overlay from appearing without selecting a text box).
Important: This will only apply to new players. Existing players still have to disable the setting manually.
Added a resource amount indicator to the tooltip that appears when hovering over a “sell goods” order objective.
Bug fixes
(PC Game Pass only) We have implemented a potential fix that should prevent progress from being reset when playing on PC Game Pass. However, to fix the issue with cloud saves, we were asked to change our save structure on PC Game Pass version of the game. Please check the dedicated article for more information and downloadable custom save files: PC Game Pass - Patch 1.0.2 - Save file issue manual.
Fixed a bug where the HUD would sometimes disappear when loading a tutorial game.
Fixed a rare bug that caused some Abandoned Caches to break the game's interface when interacted with.
Fixed a bug that caused some World Map tutorial text boxes to be displayed in the wrong order in the Spanish version of the game.
Fixed a bug that caused the game to not fail once the Grace Period countdown reached 0.
Fixed a bug where some upgrades in the Queen's Hand Trail were missing a tooltip.
Fixed a bug that allowed ghosts from the Cursed Royal Woodlands to spawn in a tutorial scenario.
Fixed a bug that allowed players to stack up valid failed attempts for free in the Queen's Hand Trial.
Fixed an issue with Timed Orders not being available in the Queen’s Hand Trial.
Fixed a bug that was incorrectly calculating game time in the Smoldering City game history screen.
Fixed a bug where the Japanese version of the game would sometimes show incorrect characters.
Fixed a bug where a Cookhouse blueprint was given as a reward for the Ruined Beanery.
Fixed a bug that caused the difficulty preview button in the Training Expeditions panel to not display a tooltip.
Fixed a bug where the short description of difficulty levels was not updated correctly in the Daily Expedition panel.
Fixed a bug that caused the description of the Roaming Swarm World Event to be displayed in Korean in the Japanese version of the game.
Fixed a bug that caused a portion of the decision tooltip to be missing in the Japanese version of the Brass Order Engineers world event.
Fixed an issue with spacing in multiple encyclopedia articles.
Fixed an issue with two buildings being translated into the same name in Japanese.
Fixed a broken
Against the Storm is Steam Deck Verified
Greetings, Viceroys!
We’re happy to share that Against the Storm has received the Steam Deck Verified status from Steam.
This is the result of multiple readability and control improvements we introduced to the game over the last couple of months. We’re grateful to the Steam team for recognizing the changes and positively re-reviewing the game.
What we changed
Among the many changes we introduced to meet the Steam Deck Verified requirements, some of the more significant ones were:
The Steam Deck version can now read gamepad input and display controller glyphs.
Changed UI elements so the game is more readable in 16:10 resolutions, with maximum supported UI size enabled.
The Steam Deck version of the game now automatically launches with the maximum supported UI size.
Increased the font size in numerous UI panels to help with readability on the Steam Deck.
Adjusted multiple elements on the HUD to reduce instances of overlapping UI when playing with maximum supported UI size and 16:10 resolution (perks, species panel, resources, embarkation panel, etc.).
The virtual keyboard is now automatically invoked when selecting a text box on the Steam Deck.
Added the “Input Auto Focus” setting to the in-game Options. It’s enabled by default and it allows you to start typing values immediately on the PC keyboard and opens a virtual keyboard on Steam Deck. If you don’t like the virtual keyboard appearing automatically when opening panels with text fields (e.g. in the Trading Post panel), you can disable this option.
What about full controller support?
Please bear in mind that having a Steam Deck Verified status doesn't necessarily mean that the game plays like a console game. We introduced a very early and rudimentary version of basic controller functionality (for Steam Deck only), and you can control everything with a gamepad, but some UX features specific to console games (e.g., radials or snapping) aren't present in the game.
Control Layouts
We created a dedicated gamepad layout for Steam Deck which is loaded by default, but it’s by no means perfect and might even be considered a bit less intuitive the the legacy one - 'Keyboard and Mouse (Legacy)'. If you don’t find the current layout easy to use, we recommend giving the legacy layout a try. It utilizes track pads and additional Steam Deck buttons.
Here’s how to change the Control Layout on Steam Deck:
While in-game, press the Steam button.
In the game panel, select ‘Controller settings’.
Press the ‘Controller settings’ below the controller layout.
Browse available layouts and confirm your choice.
The recommended layout is 'Keyboard and Mouse (Legacy)' available in the Community Layouts section.
What’s next
As we teased in recent announcements, we will continue to improve the controls on Steam Deck, but we can’t confirm whether the game will ever have the console-like UX features mentioned above.
Nevertheless, we will expand on this functionality and try to make the Steam Deck experience even smoother. Keep your eyes open for updates!
May the storm be gentle on you, Eremite Games
Against the Storm 1.0 Available Now!
Reclaim the wilderness and rebuild civilization in the face of apocalyptic storms. Against the Storm version 1.0 is out now!
Against the Storm is a roguelite city builder where every run is a bite-sized city-building experience with a distinct variety of problems to solve. As the Scorched Queen’s Viceroy, you’re in charge of Humans, Beavers, Lizards, Harpies, and Foxes who stand united against hidden dangers and never-ending rains.
With six mechanically distinct biomes, dozens of gameplay modifiers, and hundreds of perks, each new settlement feels as novel as the first and poses a different set of challenges to deal with. And that’s what you’re here for, Viceroy!
Queen’s Hand Trials
The 1.0 Update features the Queen’s Hand Trials – an ironman mode in which you start from scratch and have one Cycle to reforge the Adamantine Seal – the game's most challenging endeavor. Those who emerge victorious will be awarded the title of Queen's Hand and will be granted a rare audience with the Scorched Queen herself.
On this exciting day, we want to thank all the players who picked the game up during early access and supported us along the way. We’re grateful for every single review, piece of feedback, suggestion, and bug report. With your help, we were able to deliver 29 content updates every two weeks during Steam Early Access.
Some of the major changes include a new playable species, new biome, new modes and systems, new buildings, perks, and much more. We hope you’ll keep having an exciting time with the game and wish you lots of fun while reclaiming the wilderness in Against the Storm!
May the storm be gentle on you, Eremite Games & Hooded Horse
In this last Early Access update, we bring you the Queen’s Hand Trials - an ironman mode in which you have one Cycle to reforge the Adamantine Seal. We’re also introducing various smaller balance changes and fixes.
Check out the full changelog below.
Full Release
Against the Storm 1.0 is out now! You can get it with a 35% launch discount:
It's finally here! The 1.0 version of Against the Storm has arrived! Words really can't describe how happy and excited we are. The past year has been a hell of a ride and thanks to you, the Community, the game has grown and developed into something we can all be really proud of. Without you, Against the Storm wouldn't be half as good as it is today. We hope you have enjoyed this wild ride with us, and that you are as excited about the future as we are. For now, let’s just say this probably isn’t the last content update for Against the Storm.
But before we start celebrating, let's take a quick look at what today's 1.0 update brings to the table. As the name suggests, it's all about one big feature: the Queen's Hand Trial, a hardcore permadeath mode reserved for the most skilled Viceroys.
In the Queen's Hand Trial, your goal is to reforge the Adamantine Seal in one cycle without losing any settlements. A failed or abandoned settlement means the trial is over and you must start again. Restarting a cycle or not having enough Seal Fragments also means you have to start over.
You start at level 18 with no Citadel Upgrades and only a few fundamental gameplay unlocks (such as Trade Routes and Rainpunk). As you progress through the new game mode, you'll be able to gradually purchase new upgrades in the Smoldering City, but you'll never be able to have everything - that's because the upgrades are no longer displayed in a tree, but are drawn pseudo-randomly (like buildings or cornerstones). In total, you get 25 picks, each with 3 upgrades to choose from, and you can only buy one at a time. There's also a section called "Fundamental Upgrades", where the upgrades are not random (as they are crucial power boosts, mostly tied to higher numbers of Cornerstone/Blueprint options).
To begin the Queen's Hand Trial, you will need to create a new profile in the Queen's Hand tab of the Profiles window in the main menu. This new tab will only appear once you reforge the Adamantine Seal for the first time. The Queen's Hand Trial is meant to be a final, hardcore, and truly rogue-like challenge, and if you succeed, you will be able to claim the reward for the “Queen's Hand Trial” Deed on your main profile (the last piece of the Viceroy's uniform in your home - the Queen's Hand Pauldron).
We can't wait to see how you fare against the merciless odds in this new game mode. And if you just want to see others fail (or win!) at this new challenge, we have some good news - over the past few days, there has already been plenty of viewing material online as several content creators have competed in the Queen's Hand Trials competition:
As always, this update also brings some bug fixes and a lot of localization improvements for all languages (the list of changed lines is in the hundreds, so we spared you the details in the changelog).
Finally, let's talk a little more about the future of Against the Storm. As you probably already know, we will no longer be doing biweekly updates, but we will continue to support the game and release new content in the future. The 1.0 launch is a good time to slow things down and let players (old and new) enjoy the full Against the Storm experience without drastic changes every two weeks. It is also a good time for the team to take a short break, evaluate the game from afar, gather feedback, and plan our next move.
We will be sharing more about our post-launch plans in the future, but it will most likely be in a looser, more free-flowing form (without an exact roadmap). For now, stay tuned and enjoy the 1.0 release of Against the Storm!
May the storm be gentle on you, Eremite Games
CHANGELOG
Changes marked with ⚡ were inspired by the community.
New content and features
Added the Queen’s Hand Trials to the game - a hardcore, permadeath mode available after reforging the Adamantine Seal.
In the Queen's Hand Trial, your goal is to reforge the Adamantine Seal in one cycle without losing any settlements. A failed or abandoned settlement means the trial is over and you must start again. Restarting a cycle or not having enough Seal Fragments also means you have to start over.
You will start at level 18 with no Citadel Upgrades. Some gameplay unlocks (such as Trade Routes and Rainpunk) are available from the start.
As you progress through the new game mode, you will be able to gradually purchase upgrades in the Smoldering City. However, there is a catch - upgrades are no longer distributed on an upgrade tree but are instead drawn (like buildings or cornerstones).
You will only be able to purchase a portion of all the upgrades in the Citadel. You will get a total of 25 picks, each with 3 upgrades to choose from, and you can only buy one at a time.
There is also a section called "Fundamental Upgrades". The upgrades there aren't random and are mostly tied to increasing the number of Cornerstone/Blueprint options.
Deeds, Daily Expeditions, and Training Expeditions are not available in Queen's Hand Trial. All Deed rewards (the Big Shelter, decorations, Dullahan) are available from the start.
To unlock the Queen's Hand Trial, you must first reforge the Adamantine Seal at least once. Once you claim the reward for the Deed associated with this Seal, you will be granted access to the new game mode.
To start the Queen's Hand Trial, you will need to create a new profile in the "Queen's Hand" tab of the "Profiles" window in the main menu.
Each Queen's Hand profile has a failure counter. Each valid failed attempt (with at least 3 successful settlements before losing) increases the counter and gives a tiny amount of Citadel Resources at the start of the next attempt.
Winning the trial will complete the “Queen’s Hand Trial” Deed and award you with the last piece of the Viceroy’s Uniform in your home - the Queen’s Hand Pauldron.
Added new conversations with Aunt Lori specific to the Queen’s Hand Trial.
Bug fixes
⚡ Fixed a bug where some tooltips would not be displayed correctly in the World Map view.
⚡ Fixed a bug where the Leather Gloves perk (+X to Reed production) would be offered in biomes without Reeds.
⚡ Fixed a bug that caused the planting and harvesting time indicators in the farm panels to have incorrect tooltips.
⚡ Fixed an issue with text scaling in the newcomer popup.
⚡ Fixed a bug that caused embarkation Bonus tooltips to stay on the screen after closing the Training Expedition panel.
⚡ Fixed a bug that caused UI issues after using the "Skip Tutorial" button in the main menu while in the middle of a tutorial scenario.
⚡ Fixed a bug where the worker panel in the Advanced Rain Collector was out of bounds.
⚡ Implemented numerous localization improvements to all languages and fixed dozens of typos and inconsistencies.
Other
Updated the demo version of the game on all platforms.
Changed the default recommended control layout for the Steam Deck version of Against the Storm from “mouse and keyboard” to “controller”.
The Steam Deck version will now read gamepad input by default and display controller glyphs.
Please note that this is by no means full controller support. This is just the first step in making the game more accessible on the Steam Deck.
In the future, we will expand on this functionality and try to make the Steam Deck experience smoother.
If you prefer the old controls, we recommend playing with the "Keyboard and Mouse (Legacy)" layout (it can be found in the recommended/official layouts for ATS).
There's a new hotfix ready for you to download. It deals with the issues you've reported over the last couple of days. We salute you for your detailed reports and feedback!
Changelog:
Fixed a bug where opening a UI panel twice (trade routes, consumption, etc.) would lock the camera in place.
Fixed a bug where some previously completed deeds would not register as achievements when loading the game.
Fixed a bug where the World Map tutorial would pause and not progress correctly if the settlement was closed by an update.
Fixed a bug where certain actions could not be bound to mouse buttons.
Fixed a bug where resource tooltip footers in service buildings would display a {0} parameter instead of a keybind.
Fixed a bug where clicking on services in the in-game encyclopedia would open the recipe panel.
Fixed a bug where the game had to be reloaded to unlock the Rainpunk & Blightrot tutorial scenario after unlocking the feature in Smoldering City.
Fixed a bug where Impatience gained from a Corrupted Caravan would display an incorrect prompt.
Fixed a bug where tooltip footers in the encyclopedia would display a {0} parameter instead of a keybind.
Fixed a bug where mines would not display a "no ore" warning when veins were depleted.
Fixed a bug where the Merchant Shipwreck was giving Bricks and Planks as rewards.
Fixed a bug where using the mouse wheel would not increase the number of goods offered in the trader panel.
Fixed a bug where the Input Auto Focus setting was not correctly remembered.
Fixed a bug where the Virtual Machine Mode settings were still visible when they should be disabled.
Fixed a bug where the Carved in Stone effect would not show the correct progress number in its tooltip.
Fixed a bug where the Carved in Stone effect in the Archaeologist's Office did not have "retroactive" in its description.
Slightly buffed the values of the Carved in Stone and Ancient Strength effects in the Archaeologist's Office.
Changed the way the end-of-cycle text is displayed on the world map HUD to make it clearer.
The Early Access news panel and Early Access roadmap button were removed.
Make sure to update the game to version 0.64.6. for the best experience.
With the start of the Autumn Sale, nominations for this year’s Steam Awards are underway and we’d like to ask for your support by nominating Against the Storm for the Labor of Love Award.
We recently announced that Against the Storm is leaving Early Access on December 8, so we decided to take this opportunity to look back at the past 12 months.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsuCV86Pf5Y
Against the Storm has been out on Steam since November 1, 2022, and we’ve continued to improve the game with a number of consistent and regular updates every two weeks. In all, we’ve added 27 Steam Early Access updates so far (two more are coming!) and we never skipped a date.
And what is YOUR favorite addition to Against the Storm? Let us know!
The total number of changes we introduced is 2,282. ⚡ And 66.74% of those were inspired by the community.
We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you, the community, supporting our game throughout development and with each update we’ve brought to Against the Storm. We are incredibly grateful for your support, and we know there will be a lot of competition for this award, so your nomination means the world to us. Please check the nominate button that’s part of this post if you would like to consider us for the Labor of Love award for the 2023 Steam Awards.
