Movement AP penalty in water is reduced to +2 (down from +3). Aliens now also have a +2 penalty (up from +1). (Jumping costs remain intentionally unaffected.)
FIXES
Fixed a bug where the game would lock up if you stood beside a movable object at the very edge of a map (was more prevalent in DtB games)
Fixed a bug where you couldn't pull an object in DtB if an otherwise non-blocked Deploy pad was behind your unit
Fixed a bug where the pushing/pulling of objects on hazardous ground with the "Completely disallow unsafe paths" option enabled was not blocked as intended, possibly leading to weird issues
Content update -- v0.60.0a (b240122)
USC:CF v0.60.0a, build 240122
NEW
New environment type/theme: Hydroponics
2 new Single Mission map types:
Hydroponic labs (Base)
Hydro-engineering level (Mines)
New environmental modifier: flooding
The whole map is flooded with water at waist-height, imposing unique effects on gameplay
It is only available in the new "Hydro-engineering level" Single Mission map, and in specific missions in the new Operation for now
Units and objects don't receive fire buildup and cannot catch fire by any means
Movement AP cost is increased by 3 for Marines, and by 1 for all non-levitating/non-flying Aliens
Jumping AP cost is increased by 4 by grid for Marines
No scorpions, skitters, swarmers, leeches (Reaper Mothers don't lay leech eggs at all) -- wurms, wormpigs, and crawlers can swim, though!
Dispersion attacks (Flamethrower "Disperse", Bio-rifle "Cloud spray"), and item dispersion actions (e.g. "spill Hydrazine") are not available
New Operation: "Hydroponic hell"
A 3-mission Operation that takes places in the new Hydroponics environment
New enemy: Acidya
A flying, agile, insect-like alien that deals a large amount of acid damage with its ranged attacks
Does not appear in all old Operation missions retroactively, but part of the Single Mission/DTB
enemy pool (Horde balance has been readjusted accordingly)
New gear progression mechanic: Gear Tokens
You can acquire Gear Tokens for completing a game in any non-Campaign mode, based on Difficulty
You can spend them to unlock additional gear on demand during Squad Assembly (profile-wide)
You can still directly unlock items by completing the respective challenge (and also earn Gear Tokens)
New armor items:
Extra armor plating MKII
Advanced combat helmet
AW boots
These cost more than their regular counterparts, but offer better protection and more mobility (less AP reduction)
Can be unlocked for purchasing by playing the new Operation (or with Gear Tokens), or for crafting (boots and helmet only) through Defend the Base! mode
CHANGES
The Xmas 2023 event is now over!
Players who have collected the required amount of presents during the event will receive the following exclusive unlocks:
100+ presents: "Rambo Ducky" squad logo
125+ presents: "Golden Ducky" yellow squad livery
150+ presents: A Commanducky-inspired, modified Assault rifle, the "Quacker" (simultaneously better and worse than the default AR, see if it suits your needs! :D Quack!)
Wunderwurms no longer wear a Santa hat, but are refusing to leave ;)
No more Xmas trees and presents on maps
Don't be sad if you haven't gotten all rewards, they will be back next Xmas!
You can now use ground lock to target hydrazine pools and other volatile substances under other objects (previously you could only target these under enemy units)
Wunderwurms, Shadow Envoys, and Greater Shadow Envoys are now displayed with a purple marker when bio-scanning them in the FoW
The pathfinder will now take hazardous alien auras into account (where possible) if the "prioritize safest path" option is on (default)
Slightly reduced the speed of some of the Organ Shepherd's animations
DTB: light emitted from a damaged Light pillar will no longer flicker (i.e. it stays fully on until the pillar is destroyed)
BALANCE CHANGES
Scoring & rewards:
Increased "Hardcore" session type score multiplier to 1.35x (from 1.25x) in DTB & Single Mission modes
Added a small score multiplier (1.1x) for "Not a drill!" sessions in Single Mission mode
Session type now also affects gained Profile XP in Operations mode
Successful DTB games grant 5x more XP
Readjusted Hard difficulty for a better curve (somewhat easier now "on paper"--with all the new recent hazards, it's still harder than ~6 months ago)
Jumping in areas with an ongoing depressurization (0 < Atmosphere < 100) now costs +4 per grid (similar to jumping in water)
FIXES
Fixed a bug where changing the ammo subtype when the current clip/magazine was currently empty (but a subtype is being used otherwise), extra APs for unloading would be spent
Fixed a bug where on the completion of a two-squad Single Mission the squads were awarded different sets of weapon prototypes
Fixed a bug where it was impossible to get a prototype version of the Bio-rifle
Fixed a regression in the Tutorial where you couldn't select specific items when instructed to in Part 2 (Squad Assembly)
Fixed the damage effects on some recently added props
DTB: fixed a bug where the deploypad could be removed by dispersing hydrazine onto it with a Flamethrower, resulting in a game blocking issue in the next Construction phase
DTB: fixed a bug where the game could hang on the saving screen at the start of the Defense phase when playing on "Not a drill!" or "Hardcore"
DTB: fixed a bug where session type was not always properly set when starting a new game
DTB: fixed a bug where the subsurface scanner was not visible after the Defense phase unless reloading the game
DTB: fixed a bug where Wunderwurms couldn't retreat if had teleported to an enclosed area, forcing the player to hunt them down way beyond the phase deadline
DTB: fixed a bug where movement didn't cost +1 AP in windy weather
DTB: fixed a few small issues with crafting material rewards (particularly in 2 or 1+1 squads modes)
Additional minor UI fixes
Hydroponic Hell major update!
Hey Marines!
Happy New Year, marines! A new major update is live now—forget your new year resolutions and just appreciate that your marines get to live to see another day!
Our new major update brings an end to the limited-time Xmas event. Time to discover your rewards! Explore the murky waters of the new environment: Hydroponics, and face a new insect-like flying alien!
New alien
Acidya: An insect-like flyer and quite a nasty bug.
Its flying abilities allow it to avoid ground hazards.
This one will prefer to target you from afar with highly acidic ranged AOE attacks.
Interestingly, you won’t see it in previous Operations, but it’ll show up in Single Missions and Defend the Base! mode.
New environment
Hydroponics: This new environment adds its share of changes in terms of gameplay with an environmental modifier! Single Mission mode now has two new map types: Hydroponic Labs and Hydro-engineering level. A new Operation is now available in the Hydroponics environment too.
Flooding (in Hydro-engineering level map type and in specific missions in the new Operation for now): Water reaches you at waist-height. Your movements and aliens’ are hindered, costing more APs. Because the area is flooded, fire doesn’t affect you in this watery environment.
Good news is, you won’t find Scorpions, Skitters, Swarmers, or Leeches there! Bad news is, your Flamethrower and Bio-rifle are not a good fit in such a place, since dispersion won’t work there.
End of the limited-time Xmas event
We hope you enjoyed your presents and that they lifted your marines’ spirits! Here’s the list of the rewards depending on the number of presents you’ve collected during the event:
100+ presents: "Rambo Ducky" squad logo
125+ presents: "Golden Ducky" yellow squad livery
150+ presents: A Commanducky-inspired, modified Assault rifle, the "Quacker" (simultaneously better and worse than the default AR, we’ll let you discover this piece of weaponry and see if it suits your needs! Quack quack!)
Community suggestions
Your feedback allowed us to add a new way of unlocking gear without completing missions in higher difficulties by gathering Gear Tokens and spending them on the Squad Assembly screen. Gear Tokens can be obtained by completing a game in any non-Campaign mode, and the amount received depends on the difficulty level. You can still acquire items by completing the corresponding challenges (and while also obtaining Gear Tokens).
Over and out! Stay on the lookout for more updates on USC: Counterforce and challenges to face!
❄️ The USC: Counterforce team
Hotfix -- v0.50.0a (b231222)
USC:CF v0.50.0a, build 231222
FIXES
UI: Fixed the Xmas present counter in the Profile menu being clamped at 100 instead of 150. This did not affect the player's actual progress, though.
Please also note that when you reach 150, the in-game surprise will not yet be granted (as stated in the previous patch notes) -- the nature and availability of the reward will be disclosed later (early January) during the event!
Have a Very Merry Xmas and Happy Hunting!
Frost Horror Show major update!
Hey Marines!
A new major update is available now—no rest for your marines even in the holiday season! Enjoy the festivities, the game is discounted (25% off) from today to January 4 for the Steam Winter Sale!
This major update to celebrate the Winter holidays comes with a limited-time Xmas event, a new weapon, the Bio-rifle, and a new enemy making its comeback: the Wunderwurm! This new content (Bio-rifle and Wunderwurm) will be permanently added to the game.
Let's try to ignore all the aliens surrounding you and enjoy the holiday spirit...
New alien
Wunderwurm: This enemy has a wide range of abilities to attack you and make you lose your mind.
Beware of its psionic 3x3 area attack, capable of reaching you through closed doors and walls within a range of 7 tiles, inflicting physical damage, tranquilization, and shadow buildup.
As this wasn't already hard enough to deal with, it can also heal aliens within a 7x7 area aura, including itself, to a lesser extent, while moving in it.
On top of this, it levitates and is able to teleport. The Wunderwurm really enjoys defying conventional tactics, escaping when wounded, and avoiding hazards.
Keep an eye on its potential shadow trails and collect the rare Asura-49 once taken down to bring back when completing the mission.
New weapon
Bio-rifle: A cutting-edge weapon crafted with care to complete your arsenal! This expensive high-tech heavy weapon, available without unlocking, is not your conventional damage dealer but a versatile tactical marvel against armor. It offers a much-welcome strategic advantage: ignoring the armor and resistances of most aliens to deal huge damage if used properly. This weapon comes with two attack modes:
"Inject", is a free-targeted attack that deals poison damage to aliens or heals a marine within a range of 1–7 squares.
"Cloud Spray", massively infecting a 3x3 area with biotoxin and leaving behind toxic pools that infect aliens stepping on them.
This weapon uses BioShell ammunition, you're now armed to the teeth with this new piece of weaponry!
Limited-time Xmas event
We've prepared a few bloody gifts for you! This Xmas event will last a few weeks. Collect Xmas presents scattered on the map and carry them with you when finishing the mission (or extracting)! A surprise in-game reward is waiting for you once you've gathered 150 Xmas presents!
Read the full patch notes here. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1574870/view/3902996609877466179
Get the game at a 25% discount from today at 7 PM (CET +1) to January 4 at 7 PM (CET +1)! Equip your Bio-rifle and take down the Wunderwurm. Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming content during Early Access!
We wish you all happy holidays! We're all taking some time off and will be out of office, but don't worry, we'll be back in early January!
❄️ The USC: Counterforce team 🎁
Content update -- v0.50.0a (b231214)
USC:CF v0.50.0a, build 231214
NEW
Xmas 2023 event
Will last a couple of weeks (keep your eyes peeled for details!)
During the event, you can collect Xmas presents in every non-Defend the Base mission. These are items scattered on the ground in 3 flavors, a total of 15 in every mission. Carry them with you when finishing the mission (or extracting) to add them to your total collected amount!
Collect 150 Xmas presents for a surprise in-game reward after the event. The details & availability of this will be disclosed later. You can see your collection progress in the Profile menu.
New enemy: Wunderwurm
Those who played the previous USC game would surely remember this weird, little, colorful worm -- an extra rare specimen, and a true "pleasure" to deal with. Now they are back, dressed for the season for the time being, but intent on staying indefinitely. :D
Has a psionic 3x3 area attack that can reach you even through closed doors and walls within range (7); it deals physical damage, plus Tranq. and Shadow
Has a 7x7 aura that heals aliens that pass through or stand in it; the Wunderwurm itself benefits from this while moving, though to a lesser extent
Can teleport away in a range of 15 as a means of escape when it's severely injured -- or when it just feels like it...
It levitates: floor hazards don't affect it, and it counts as full-height when targeting (also can't take full cover behind crates); you can also target grids behind it with any weapon, as it is rather small
Has a chance to leave shadow trails behind as it moves, though not as efficiently as a Shadow Envoy
Leaves behind some Asura-49 when killed (1-4, based on difficulty and luck); this item must be extracted or held in inventory until mission completion for it to be added to acquisitions
New weapon: Bio-rifle
A high-tech heavy arm available without unlocking
It's very expensive, and not a "conventional" damage dealer, rather a versatile tactical tool that also circumvents high armor and other resistances of most aliens to deal huge damage if used properly
Inject: deal poison damage to an alien or heal (!) a marine with this free-targeted attack in a range of 1-7
Cloud spray: mass infect aliens with biotoxin in a 3x3 area AND leave behind toxic pools that can infect aliens that pass through later
New ammo: BioShell, used by the Bio-rifle
Added new rock types (big, small, and debris) for better variety on the planet surface
Added new blood & gore graphics to make the carnage more visually varied :D
Added an option for reduced blood & gore under Settings/Graphics
CHANGES
Floating text for damage on objects and walls will no longer be shown if all effects are actually 0
Diagonal movement next to walls is now possible in some cases where it previously wasn't, but was strongly indicated by graphics (mostly in the spaceship environment)
You can now actually get a prototype version of the Flamethrower
Elemental effects that are incompatible with each other can no longer spawn on new weapon prototypes (incendiary, acidic, and cryo are not compatible with each other)
FIXES
Fixed a rare critical bug when using a disperse-type attack (Flamethrower, Bio-rifle) that could cause a soft lock-up
Fixed a bug where the debris of some objects (fenced artifacts in mines, some DTB objects, and the new "server console" object) would block you from moving an object onto the grid and from picking up items from the ground
Fixed a bug where area effects were applied twice to a unit that has been knocked back in some cases
Fixed a bug where aliens were not processing status effects in their first turn of a mission [regression]
Fixed a bug where the first autosave in a mission with no FoW did not save properly the status of the FoW being revealed
Fixed a very rare potential issue where the game could lock up when attacking with the Flamethrower AND dying in the process
Fixed a very rare potential issue where deleting loadouts in Squad Assembly could lead to problems later when reloading the squad
Fixed the number in the Action Point cost popup being displayed in red in some cases when you play a game after exiting a DTB Construction phase
Fixed Greater Shadow Envoys not displayed as an "outlying biosign" in Defend the Base! mode
Fixed some Operations awarding much more Profile XP than intended
Steam Winter Sale!
Hey Marines!
Winter is here and the festivities have just started! USC: Counterforce is discounted at -25% during the Steam Winter Sale from today to January 4 and we've just released our new major update "Frost Horror Show"! (Yes, there are some references to pick up here!)
25% Off - Limited discount during the Steam Winter Sale
We've prepared a few bloody gifts for your marines! Collect Xmas presents on the map during the special Xmas event to unlock a surprise in-game reward! And one of our gifts for you: a 25% discount on USC: Counterforce during the Steam Winter Sale from today to January 4! Grab a copy of the game and exterminate the aliens!
Update Highlights - Frost Horror Show update
Ready your Bio-rifle! The colorful and pesky bug "Wunderwurm" makes its comeback and will drive you mad! The game will put your skills and tactics to the test! Exploit any opportunity—weapon, environment, positioning, collateral damage and more—to turn the situation to your advantage.
The Campaign in USC:CF will feature a grand strategic layer on a planet map, persistent global inventory management, unit progression with XP gains and permadeath, narrative elements with lore & choices, and even more, compared to the non-Campaign game modes. But how will the Campaign start, what choices will the player have in creating a Campaign session, and how will those affect the course of the game? Today, we’re going to tell you a bit more about this.
Starting a Campaign
From the Main Menu you’ll find yourself on the Campaign setup screen. The Campaign will feature a slot-based save system, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save manually or have multiple saves if you’re not playing on Hardcore (“Iron Man")—the main purpose of this system is to let you easily differentiate between save files belonging to different playthroughs!
In addition to the Difficulty setting known from the other game modes, which will not only control enemy number and strength but also the amount of loot and some other elements (don’t forget, in the Campaign, what items and ammo you spend will remain spent—you'll have to find means to replenish the stock!), there’s the Campaign length/complexity setting that controls how big a war you’re getting yourself into. With the Story option, the background simulation that runs the alien hordes and controls the flow of the whole Campaign will be more simplistic, letting you follow a clear path and finish the story in 15-20 hours if everything goes well. On Normal, you’ll see much more alien activity and more battles, will have to make more strategic choices, and will have to be wiser with your spending and overall management to be able to complete the story in about 50 hours. Full-scale is for the real strategy enthusiast who is not afraid to micro-manage everything—many, many battles await against an enemy on multiple fronts, against the scarcity of resources, and the weight of all choices that cannot be unmade.
Affiliation
As a Fleet Commander of the USCF, you’re not above the intricacies of global politics and corporate espionage. The greatest mega-concerns that run Earth in 2308 have a huge stake in all United Space Command activity, and not everyone is always playing by the book—of course not! At the beginning of the game, you’ll have to choose an affiliation—or you can choose not to have one outside of USC. This choice will affect your Relations and Renown, two new systems that will be important during the Campaign. By navigating the world of politics, agreeing to or rejecting (or failing!) secret missions, selling information to, or withholding intelligence from the different firms, your Relations with them will change. A good relationship will grant you perks, like access to exclusive weapons and items. Renown, on the other hand, measures your dignity as an officer, and if you don’t engage in fishy agreements with non-military agencies, that will boost it dearly. Renown may be used in a far subtler way than Relations, like facilitating a resolution between warring factions, requesting additional reinforcements, or holding the morale of your crew high even when things go awry. The Relations and Renown system will be a secondary layer to the Campaign, one you can mostly ignore if you’re only interested in the war strategy, but it will give your choices even more weight in certain situations. And of course, every mega-concern may have a hidden agenda that can influence the course of the war, so you’d better be prepared!
Personal avatar
You didn’t think you could wage war remotely on a planet many lightyears away from Earth, did you? You, as Commander, will be among your marines aboard the deck of your flagship and will have the option to go into battle with them when you want, or when the necessity arises. At the start of the Campaign, you will be asked to customize your avatar. This avatar will be one of the many units on the roster, representing you, personally. You can choose not to go into battle yourself, and if everything goes well, you’ll never have to; but fighting alongside your marines can boost their morale and your Renown. Some secret missions from affiliations will also require that you oversee the operation in person. And, of course, if the flagship—horribile dictu!—ever gets attacked, you’ll have to fight for your life alongside your fellow crewmates. If your avatar dies, the game is immediately over—but, of course, you can always reload a previously saved game… granted you’re not playing on Hardcore!
Stay tuned for more updates on the Campaign. We're not done sharing sneak peeks at what we're working on and what's waiting for you!
❄️ The USC: Counterforce team 🎁
25% off USC: Counterforce!
Hey Marines!
Round two! USC: Counterforce is at a 25% discount during the Steam Autumn Sale.
You thought it was over? Well, surprise! Time to jump into the game and face the new threats we added with the Halloween major update, plus you get to use a flamethrower set them on fire. What's not to love about grilling a ferocious alien?
25% Off - Limited discount during the Steam Autumn Sale
It’s never too late to give yourself the chills! Prep your marines for a deadly journey to wipe the aliens off the face of M-8322. We're offering a 25% discount on USC: Counterforce during the Steam Autumn Sale from today to November 28! Grab a copy of the game and exterminate the aliens!
Update Highlights - Halloween update
Gear up! There's a handful of aliens to take down! The game will put your skills and tactics to the test! Exploit any opportunity—weapon, environment, positioning, collateral damage and more—to turn the situation to your advantage. If you love the smell of burnt aliens in the morning, then now is the time to get the game. Have some roasted bugs with your flamethrower!
Missed the Halloween goosebumps? No worries, USC: Counterforce is at a discount! We recently released our Halloween major update, adding new enemies and the flamethrower!
25% Off - Limited discount during Turn-Based Carnival
It’s never too late to give yourself the chills! Dive into a mission you wish you were never assigned to… We're offering an exclusive 25% discount on USC: Counterforce during the Turn-Based Carnival from today to November 21! Grab a copy of the game and exterminate the aliens!
Update Highlights - Halloween update
Lock and load! New terrifying aliens have joined the horde! But fear not, you now have a flamethrower to burn them to the ground! Let's start the fireworks with this weapon and discover new features! With new tactical possibilities, upgraded weaponry, and new features, the game will test your abilities and strategies!
