Pick up Descent Vector at 50% off during the #PlayTheNorth Ontario Steam Sale from Sept 7-14th, 2022.
Race your space pod through a procedurally generated gauntlet of space stations, asteroids, and debris in this single-player sci-fi endless runner. Test your limits, experience wild crashes, improve your distance, visit unique solar systems and unlock new space pods to pilot.
Flight Dynamics Update
Prepare your pods for descent pilots! Descent Vector is dropping with new updates focused on fixing bugs and squeezing out extra FPS so nothing stands between you and your elite-piloting skills.
New Features:
Added new optimizations to improve overall performance on resource limited hardware. You'll see a minor adjustment to the length of each mission due to these changes.
Adjusted lighting slightly for improved visibility on small screens such as the Steam Deck.
Added an icon to show when the game is saving data.
Bug Fixes:
A big thank you goes to the great people on Descent Vector's Discord Community who reported these bugs. Your input and testing is greatly appreciated.
Fixed a bug where it was possible to travel indefinitely under certain circumstances.
Fixed a navigation issue within the menu when using keyboard or controller only input.
Tweaked a few UI visuals for Ultrawide (21:10) screens.
Expanding Horizons Update Patch
With the latest large content update comes this minor follow-up patch. This patch addresses a few bugs and includes a few small changes.
Please note that this patch will overwrite your settings in Options. You may want to double-check that everything is configured the way you wish.
New Feature:
It's now easier to see when your Phase Shield is about to run out. It will transition from a pink, to orange, then flash blue once it wears off. A sound cue will also occur.
Minor Updates & Bug Fixes:
Leaderboard loading issues on Mac have been resolved.
Leaderboard skull icons are now a little smaller and out of the way.
New lighting in dark spaces helps illuminate some hard to see obstacles.
There is a new option to disable camera shake if desired.
Fixed a bug where the pause menu could be activated on a loading screen.
Space planes and rockets are better positioned in the play area when you're at high distances from the launch point.
Fixed a small bug where phase shield effect wouldn't display in some situations.
Using phase shield through an asteroid will no longer "bump" the asteroid slightly.
The Expanding Horizons Update has Landed
Hello pilots!
The Expanding Horizons update is now live!
Here are the major new features you can expect from this Expanding Horizons update.
New Environments
Mining Lasers, Megastructures and New Content
New Pick-up Mechanic
Damage Mechanic Overhaul
Leaderboard Overhaul
Richer Sound Scape
New Environments
Three new environments are now available, each offering a unique atmosphere and mood plus increasing difficulty as you progress. The first, Betelgeuse, puts you in the vicinity of an unstable supergiant star and bathes you in yellow orange light. Trappist-1C, a desert wasteland planet includes a large population of dusty orbiting asteroids. Finally we have an ice ringed planet in orbit of the massive black hole Cygnus X-1. Each new environment comes with new pod skins and achievements to unlock.
Mining Lasers, Megastructures and New Content
New to this update are added obstacle types, and with procedurally generated levels, the new obstacles provide unique piloting situations to challenge your skills.
You’ll encounter industrial mega structures which span the play area and segments which block half of your route. You’ll need to make split second decisions to navigate these hazards or suffer catastrophic failure upon impact.
Operating in space means items need to get into orbit. Watch out for the new heavy lifting rocket addition which ejects its payload fairings creating multiple threats. You’ll also encounter new space craft which perform roll maneuvers presenting a new danger.
Space based industry is hard at work and mining craft are busy blasting minerals off of asteroids with powerful lasers. Try not to intersect a laser beam with your pod as this will void your pod’s warranty.
These new hazards now spin in random directions at random speeds. This makes each encounter unique so you’ll need to assess each situation and decide how best to navigate the hazard.
New Pick-up Mechanic
The Expanding Horizons update now includes pick-ups which adjust the behaviour of your space pod. There are three types, a shield which will phase shift your pod out of normal space allowing you to pass through solid objects. A retro rocket pick-up which will slow your pod by a percentage for a period of time and a repair pick-up with nanobots to put out fires and to fix up any unsightly scratches.
Damage Mechanic Overhaul
On the subject of damage, this mechanic has been overhauled. You’re free to crash through as many solar panels as you desire but beware, this causes damage, as does just grazing other objects. You’ll want to keep an eye on your hull integrity and seek out repair pick-ups whenever needed.
Leaderboard Overhaul
Descent Vector is as much about competing against the global leaderboards as it is navigating your way through hazardous space. With this new update comes new leaderboards, one for each mission environment. In endless mode you can see when you pass players near your level as their visual markers are now visible in-game. At the end of each endless mission you can now see your standing in the leaderboards without returning to the main menu.
Richer Sound Scape
To add to your experience you’ll find navigating through space is a much richer experience with the addition of new environmental sounds. Space stations, industrial structures, mining lasers, and other objects all have their own sounds creating a rich auditory environment and a more full feeling experience.
One More Thing...
Finally for this update the HUD has been reworked so you can better visualize damage, speed, and distance to landing. The menu is now easier to use, especially for controller users, and the PS5 DualSense controller is now officially supported along with the PS4 and XBox controllers.
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Final Thoughts
We’re extremely excited to get these new features in your hands and can’t wait to see your new scores on the leaderboards.
If you haven’t already, join the discussion on the Steam community hub, share your screenshots, and thoughts. Follow us on Twitter or join our official discord to meet other space pod pilots and chat with the dev.
Cheers! David Tym Game Developer
PS4 DualShock Controller Support Added.
PS4 DualShock controller support has been added. Please note that the controller may try and route audio through its internal speaker. If so, please adjust your sound settings back to your preferred output device.
Unfortunately PS5 DualSense controllers are not supported at this time. You may experience weird behaviour if this controller is connected while playing. Unity, the game engine behind Descent Vector does not yet support that device. As soon as support is offered an update will be provided.
