Aquatico joins Spring sale with 25% off, while next big update is closing fast
Greetings Sea Mayors,
Today we are joining the awaited Steam Spring sale with a 25% discount offer on Aquatico! Anyone still on the fence about giving the game a try, this might be a good opportunity! Or if you've already dived in, maybe your friends might give it a run too :)
Another thing we wanted to share is a few small details on the previously announced major content update. Work on that is progressing good, testing phase is about to start soon... And everything new from that update will of course be included in all game versions! We still won't be revealing too much, but just a few details so you know what to expect...
The Atlantis Project is the corner stone of that update, and it includes an entirely new mechanics alongside staged missions, addition of in-game advisors, new targeted researches and other elements to keep it all together and consistent. Atlantis is essentially a mission based system that generates a clear main objective of a game. It also expands on several key elements of a background story and explains what underwater colonies are (like the one you're managing yourself), how many of them exist and what their main purpose is in the grand scheme of things.
Besides Atlantis, one more major addition will be the introduction of a "Creative" game mode, a feature that will enable a completely different play experience, one focused only at imagining, organizing and building your underwater city, without any worry about actual game hardships or difficulties. A purely creative explosion!
The next update will also bring some other improvements too, regarding optimizations, QoL details, bug fixes and further balancing tweaks.
We're very excited to bring that to all of you. Anyone deciding to get the game during this Spring sale will of course get all the content from next content update as well, since it will be a big FREE update, NOT a paid DLC.
Anyways, hope you'll enjoy the Spring sale, and wish you all a successful shopping!
Expand the playground – ice cold update v1.020.0
Hello again Sea Mayors
It’s Friday, the weekend is coming, and we’re ready with a new update for Aquatico! This time, if you’re planning some nice weekend virtual chill , we’ve got just the thing for you!
An entirely new biome has been completed, with an appropriate map to showcase it. It’s relatively shallow, far to the north, and cold as Arctic should be. Low temperatures will require more heating resources, and this biome is generally somewhat more challenging. But we’re certain it’s nothing you can’t handle!
Besides that, this update brings several QoL details you asked for, some improvements to expeditions, derelicts and information hints, and last but not least – another batch of optimizations that will increase performance especially in later stages of the game.
Atlantis Project system and entire content linked to that is still in preparation, but it is coming along nicely and should be ready for the public pretty soon.
CHANGELOG
ADDED: New crystal ice biome with entirely new map
ADDED: Map selection menu at game start now contains visual representation of exact biome setting
ADDED: Several new types of derelicts to scavenge
IMPROVED: Pipelines are now drawn much faster and require less processor power, thus increasing performance, especially in later game stages where pipelines are very extensive
IMPROVED: Hint information when upgrading buildings now displays more precise information
IMPROVED: When you delete many pipeline sections at the same time, game won’t be slowed down unexpectedly
FIXED: Derelicts cannot be selected if in dome view
FIXED: When researching applicable tech, Gatherers place now receives appropriate bonus on collected resources
FIXED: People assigned to expeditions will not cause buildings to suspend construction, if they were carrying construction materials before assigned to expedition
Hope you'll like it! Feel free to let us know your thoughts, on either Steam or our happy Discord channel: https://discord.gg/Bhks9jYxBC
Best of luck and don’t freeze!
Quick update v1.011.3
Hello everyone,
Today we have just a small batch of fixes you reported in recent days. Next major content update is progressing nicely, but will need a bit more time to be completed and tested. Meanwhile, a few corrections you asked for:
- Several text corrections (drone MKI when it should say drone MKIII) - Few additional corrections in several languages - Removed opening icon for Atlantis Project. To avoid confusion, this is temporarily removed because it is part of a bigger content expansion that will be ready entirely for next major update - Few additional optimization and balancing tweaks (bigger package for this is also coming with next major update)
That's it, best of luck in your continuous underwater challenge!
An unplanned surprise update - v1.011.2
Greetings Sea Mayors,
Well, there’s always a first for everything – we’ve been working relentlessly on more improvements, more fixes and more tweaks, and since the second part of the big content expansion is still a few weeks away, we’ve decided to not sit idly on these improvements. Hence – the first unscheduled update is here today. We’re confident you won’t hold it against us!
Main improvements are linked to the Megalodon beast – chance for it to appear is changed and you will see it more often now, and it will aim for your buildings. Torpedo platform is now launching a proper torpedo instead of a pulse projectile.
Another batch of optimizations is also a part of today’s package, as well as numerous bug fixes and tweaks based on player feedback.
With this update out, we’re continuing on the second content update and Atlantis Project feature for the incoming major update.
CHANGELOG
IMPROVED: Megalodon underwater beast will now appear more frequently and will attack buildings
IMPROVED: Inside Greenhouse, water will appear beneath a rice field
IMPROVED: When vehicles are idle, all visual particles will be turned off
IMPROVED: Underwater fields now display correct and consistent output number in any panel containing this information
IMPROVED: Pipelines visuals optimized for faster drawing
IMPROVED: Torpedo platform now launches torpedoes instead of pulse projectiles
ADDED: Dynamic size of pirate/shark/Megalodon health bar
TWEAKED: Temple description text instead of production text
TWEAKED: Drone efficiency calculation is now precise regardless of number of assigned drones in production building
TWEAKED: Reduced value per citizen given by marketplace
FIXED: Corrected simultaneous docking of transporter and underwater field vehicle
FIXED: Lucky trader combo bonus now works as intended
FIXED: Market tax now works properly after game reload
FIXED: Greenhouse now doesn’t consume oxygen if it is turned off
FIXED: If starting CS is skipped, game interface now won’t appear prematurely anymore
FIXED: Numerous text errors in several languages
Enjoy your weekend!
Weeklong discount starting + Creative mode en route
Ahoy Sea Mayors,
Today we're starting a weeklong offer for Aquatico, so there is a good opportunity for players to dive in and save some bucks at the same time. The game has received numerous updates since release, including the first bigger content update a few days ago. Anyone joining right now will naturally get access to the current updated game version.
And at the same time, we'd like to announce another nice surprise - the arrival of three different game modes, including "Creative" mode that was frequently requested. The second major content update is still coming according to the already revealed plan, but it just got even bigger with the introduction of these three game modes.
Three available game modes will be "Sandbox", "Creative " and "Story mode". One will be the mode present currently in the game, the other will be a purely free building mode where you'll have access to all options in building your city without challenges of managing resources or fighting various troubles. The third mode will include more backstory, objectives and an endgame goal you'll be pursuing through the entire game.
In any case, the game is still growing, we're still listening to what you're saying, and that will keep the game growing even more. If any of you considered trying out Aquatico, now could be a good moment :)
Stay well and keep your oxygen levels high!
First of two major content expansions arrived! - version 1.010.1
Hello Sea Mayors, some great news today!
Today we're starting to roll out the first of the bigger content updates for Aquatico. Elements of this update will start expanding the gameplay itself, and most building blocks grew from thousands of your forum messages, emails and Discord suggestions. The main goal is to enhance the overall play experience, establish closer links to the backstory and the apocalyptic setting, and to set the stage for future in-game objectives.
Since we can't immediately change or add everything, we've decided to first improve and expand areas of the game that you had the most suggestions about. And in these two updates the content will revolve around immersion, links to general setting and objectives, both short term and global game objective.
Some of these changes will be visible only if you start a fresh game. For example, when starting a new game, you'll now see more a direct connection to the background story, how and why you ended up on the ocean floor. Additionally, map scenery has been upgraded with submerged buildings and objects describing the new reality and the elevated water levels.
Also, since your underwater colony is not the first one, you will encounter the remains of previous failed settlement attempts, like abandoned and ruined parts of underwater constructions. There is a new game mechanics allowing for the deconstruction and reuse of valuable resources from them.
Throughout the game, you'll now have references to events happening in the world globally, the progress of other underwater colonies, and how far you are from achieving main goal – the completion of Atlantis Project. Basically, Atlantis project is a mega construction project aimed at creating a huge underwater megalopolis, the center for all dispersed underwater colonies in this new post apocalyptic world.
Each underwater colony, like the one you're leading yourself in Aquatico, is tasked with gathering survivors, creating a self-sustainable habitat and ensuring the production of resources. In time, each colony will be contributing these resources (both material resources and human resources) to the construction of Atlantis in its full glory. Main goal of the game will be to finish the Atlantis Project and spark the complete revitalization of human civilization, but more on that in the next major content update.
Chunks of all this is part of today's update, while the second part will come in second content update in about a month.
Besides these elements, this update also contains a couple of additional game maps, new or updated panels, the next rebalance package, modifications of resource tiers, addition of citizen discussions and opinions (visible in small text bubbles) and many other background details.
CHANGELOG
ADDED: 2 completely new handcrafted game maps
ADDED: Salvage system to deconstruct and extract valuable materials on abandoned buildings
ADDED: Numerous new abandoned buildings available for salvaging – Container wreckage, Depot wreckage, Defunct generator, Ruptured fuel tank, Derelict house, Leaky oxygen generator, Rusty tank
ADDED: Human opinions system – citizens will express opinions with details on background story, or hinting at suggested next moves, or additional data linked to current events
ADDED: New cutscene as a direct continuation and bridge between intro and start of gameplay
ADDED: Scenery buildings remains of once surface cities
ADDED: Few new event types with associated rewards
ADDED: Numerous new SFX linked to newly introduced content
IMPROVED: Pipeline socket panel with visual corrections and additional data displayed
IMPROVED: Underwater farms management system upgraded
IMPROVED: Inter-dome cable car panel aligned, polished and with additional hints
IMPROVED: Several events and linked rewards
FIXED: Lights on Opera house building corrected
FIXED: Ground transport vehicle pathfinding corrected
FIXED: Few glitches with older save files
TWEAKED: Trigger points for Luxuries and advanced food tier demands
If you want to see some of these things in real game, check the latest Developer Diary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym1-alghhVg
We'd like to invite you to replay your experience in Aquatico, check out all of the changes and see what direction we're heading in. There will be another massive chunk of content improvement with the next update, then we'll proceed with the announced elements from the Roadmap, and after that continue following the lists created from your feedback.
Hope you'll all have good fun!
Quick heads up for upcoming content updates
Good day Sea Mayors!
We've had a very busy several weeks, but you could have noticed that based on the number of updates landing on Steam recently. Today however, we'd like to share a few more details on what is just around the corner. Your extensive feedback was noted, and right from release day we've started organizing a number of improvements for Aquatico - all based on your most frequent remarks, and the roadmap we promised at the time. Next week, first of these content updates will arrive. And that will be just the start!
Regular bug fixes and tweaks will still be part of these updates, but we'll now start shifting focus on expanding features, improving mechanics and adding new things.
So, without spoiling too much, allow me to just mention a few highlights from update planned for next week:
- new visual elements on each map depicting destroyed or submerged cities where the game takes place - new derelict objects from doomed civilization, all available for scavenging - expanded Intro section with more detailed elaboration of how the underwater civilization reboot started - enhanced dynamics of people sentiments towards the apocalypse and a new underwater life - expanded events system to make the game more interesting and challenging for veteran players
In any case, at the end of next week this update will be released, and in March another, even bigger one will continue the strong pace of improvements and content expansions.
Until then, have fun!
Quick update v1.009.0
Hello sea-mayors,
Time for another quick update. The changelist is below :)
- when a cage is not connected to a pipeline, the production bar will no longer glitch and display the wrong hint - the transporter carrying resources from fields and greenhouses is now positioned more accurately - transport from orchards now happens regularly - a destroyed Defence platform no longer shoots until it is repaired - fixed a number of hint displays
Have fun and until next time!
Keeping up the pace - Rebalancing package + variety of other goodies
Good day fellow Sea Mayors
A week without an update wouldn’t feel right, so we’re back with yet another nice batch of improvements!
This time, it revolves around many QoL improvements that players requested, plus a significant rebalancing package of almost all resources/demand, and of course a mandatory bunch of bug fixes.
One of the most mentioned things regarding the difficulty side of the game mechanics is the requests for higher tiers of food and luxuries. In this rebalancing package, we’ve also made improvements to how tier mechanics work, and made it more logical and smooth. Alongside that, the accessibility of methods to alleviate the shortages is also tweaked making possible reactions more useable.
Additional upgrades were made to shark attacks mechanics, movements and appearances of underwater fauna, expedition submarines technicalities and so on…
We’d also like to mention that we’re advancing nicely on the first two major content updates. One of them should be out in February, the other in March, and these two will introduce a sizeable boost to several core parts of the game that were frequently mentioned in the forum discussions.
For now, we hope you’ll like the improvements this update brings, and we wish you all a good gaming weekend!
CHANGELOG
ADDED: Multiple additional animations for whales, sharks and manta Rays
ADDED: Expedition house now has and upgrade that expands submarine cargo capacity
ADDED: Another production upgrade for Oxygen extractor, allowing for increased max output
ADDED: Mushroom Cave – balanced and increased production plus added bonuses
IMPROVED: New farm system with better resource management and avoidance system
IMPROVED: Torpedo platform radius in now of correct radius
FIXED: Overhauled fish movement system; movement variations, rotations and paths
FIXED: Possible CTD when builder drone is not correctly released from buildings or farms
FIXED: Bug with error in trade quantities when having multiple trade ports eliminated
TWEAKED: Shark movement speed in chase state
TWEAKED: Modified variables impacting the progression of shark attacks
TWEAKED: Clicking on shark attack notification now zooms camera to a correct attack origin point
TWEAKED: Not all resources are tradeable from start of game, instead they get unlocked with increased levels of Subsurface base through research tree
TWEAKED: Modified the balance of luxuries consumption from both Tier 1 and Tier 2
TWEAKED: Modified the balance of food consumption from all Tier levels
UPGRADED: AZERTY keyboard support
Have fun and watch your oxygen levels
Cargo submarine full of improvements coming through!
Good day fellow Sea Mayors!
Today, just in time for your weekend building spree, we’re ready to push the next update for Aquatico. It took a little bit longer to test this one, but it contains several deeper optimizations so we had to make sure we verify it properly.
This update elevates the game to v1.005.5 , and contains sizeable grid layout optimizations, drones/workers pathfinding improvements, further optimizations to hardware loads, a lot of fixes and improvements for various in-game challenges regarding Food tiers and such…
Additionally, many of you will recognize some tweaks and upgrades to the systems you reported yourself in past days. In fact, quite a few elements of this update originated from player reports. Thank you for sending them, please keep ‘em coming, we are listening and will keep listening.
Behind the scenes of this update, we’re already deeply involved in the preparation for the large updates that aim to address some of the bigger complaints to the gameplay experience of Aquatico – immersion level, background story, lack of clear objectives and similar things. Some parts of the game will be greatly enhanced or overhauled, and we are excited to share this with you! Such expansions will require a bit more time, so we ask for a little bit of patience. We’re confident you’ll like the result in the end!
For now, let me just share the contents of today’s improvements bundle:
CHANGELOG
FIXED: Engine draw on grid overlay significantly optimized, removing fps drop when grid is active
FIXED: Drone behavior when playing on X8 speed is now corrected
FIXED: Guardhouse weapon targeting calculation now works correctly with X8 in-game speed
