This is the same update that was originally played and tested on the Experimental Build of Astroneer (Details). It is a small patch that mostly addresses Medium Printer and Vehicle Bay accessibility issues from Patch 153 and two minor bug fixes.

• MEDIUM PRINTER base module now unlocked at the beginning of new games.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.
  
• MEDIUM PRINTER base module will include a SMALL SEAT blueprint, available for Printing.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.
  
• VEHICLE BAY base module now unlocked at the beginning of new games.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.
  
• VEHICLE BAY base module will include a ROVER CHASSIS blueprint, available for Printing.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.

• Fix for player colour/suits being wrong in MP after Save game is loaded.
  
• Fix for DEADLY HEAT-SEEKING storm boxes

This is the same update that was originally played and tested on the Experimental Build of Astroneer (Details). It is a small patch that mostly addresses Medium Printer and Vehicle Bay accessibility issues from Patch 153 and two minor bug fixes.

• MEDIUM PRINTER base module now unlocked at the beginning of new games.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.
  
• MEDIUM PRINTER base module will include a SMALL SEAT blueprint, available for Printing.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.
  
• VEHICLE BAY base module now unlocked at the beginning of new games.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.
  
• VEHICLE BAY base module will include a ROVER CHASSIS blueprint, available for Printing.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.

• Fix for player colour/suits being wrong in MP after Save game is loaded.
  
• Fix for DEADLY HEAT-SEEKING storm boxes

We've pushed a hot fix to our Experimental build of Astroneer. The Medium Printer and Vehicle bay are now unlocked at the beginning of a new game. Researching is no longer required in order to unlock them.

Full details on the Experimental build, including how to participate in helping test this can be found here.

----------------


The EXPERIMENTAL build of the game on Steam has been updated with Patch "154".

You will not have access to this update on the main version of the game on Steam. You will need to opt in to the Experimental build of the game in order to help us test this update:

HOW TO JOIN THE EXPERIMENTAL BUILD OF ASTRONEER ON STEAM:

In your Steam library:

• Right Click on Astroneer
  
• Properties
  
• Betas tab
  
• From the drop down select, "experimental - Latest untested builds"
  
• Hit 'Close'
  
• Steam should automatically grab that build. Once it's done, run the game. You're now running the Experimental build of Astroneer.
  
• When you want to go back to the MAIN build, repeat these steps but choose "NONE" from the drop down list in 'Betas' tab.

We will be running this patch on Experimental until Monday/Tuesday (Apr. 24/25) of this upcoming week. At that time we will update the main branch of Astroneer on Steam, as well as have that be the version we push to Xbox 'Play Anywhere'.

NOTE: Your save games will not be compatible with the Experimental build of the game. When we push this update to the main build of the game your save games will (should?) still be compatible. You will be starting a fresh game whenever playing a new Experimental build.

This update mostly addresses the inability to Print objects or Vehicles after unsuccessfully being rewarded with their blueprints for Researching. There's 2 bug fixes included in this update as well.


UPDATES

• MEDIUM PRINTER base module now unlocked at the beginning of new games.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.
  
• MEDIUM PRINTER base module will include a SMALL SEAT blueprint, available for Printing.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.
  
• VEHICLE BAY base module now unlocked at the beginning of new games.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.
  
• VEHICLE BAY base module will include a ROVER CHASSIS blueprint, available for Printing.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.

FIXES

• Fix for player colour/suits being wrong in MP after Save game is loaded.
  
• Fix for DEADLY HEAT-SEEKING storm boxes

We've pushed a hot fix to our Experimental build of Astroneer. The Medium Printer and Vehicle bay are now unlocked at the beginning of a new game. Researching is no longer required in order to unlock them.

Full details on the Experimental build, including how to participate in helping test this can be found here.

----------------


The EXPERIMENTAL build of the game on Steam has been updated with Patch "154".

You will not have access to this update on the main version of the game on Steam. You will need to opt in to the Experimental build of the game in order to help us test this update:

HOW TO JOIN THE EXPERIMENTAL BUILD OF ASTRONEER ON STEAM:

In your Steam library:

• Right Click on Astroneer
  
• Properties
  
• Betas tab
  
• From the drop down select, "experimental - Latest untested builds"
  
• Hit 'Close'
  
• Steam should automatically grab that build. Once it's done, run the game. You're now running the Experimental build of Astroneer.
  
• When you want to go back to the MAIN build, repeat these steps but choose "NONE" from the drop down list in 'Betas' tab.

We will be running this patch on Experimental until Monday/Tuesday (Apr. 24/25) of this upcoming week. At that time we will update the main branch of Astroneer on Steam, as well as have that be the version we push to Xbox 'Play Anywhere'.

NOTE: Your save games will not be compatible with the Experimental build of the game. When we push this update to the main build of the game your save games will (should?) still be compatible. You will be starting a fresh game whenever playing a new Experimental build.

This update mostly addresses the inability to Print objects or Vehicles after unsuccessfully being rewarded with their blueprints for Researching. There's 2 bug fixes included in this update as well.


UPDATES

• MEDIUM PRINTER base module now unlocked at the beginning of new games.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.
  
• MEDIUM PRINTER base module will include a SMALL SEAT blueprint, available for Printing.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.
  
• VEHICLE BAY base module now unlocked at the beginning of new games.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.
  
• VEHICLE BAY base module will include a ROVER CHASSIS blueprint, available for Printing.
  You will no longer be required to unlock its Blueprint from Researching.

FIXES

• Fix for player colour/suits being wrong in MP after Save game is loaded.
  
• Fix for DEADLY HEAT-SEEKING storm boxes

https://youtu.be/xS0qWj_eJXU

This update focuses on two major updates, but also includes a large selection of features, general updates, and fixes to the game.

The two primary goals of this update were to introduce you to Augments, which Aaron writes about on our blog today.
And changes to what we call the Research Curve (how the game rewards you for researching things as an Astroneer) which Samantha wrote about yesterday.

We recommend you read both blog posts in addition to the patch notes to fully understand the changes this build brings to Astroneer.

We encourage you to start a new game to fully play and test out the changes to Researching.
It's the first step of many, we'll need your feedback!

• Added tool augment system: Augment items can be attached to tools (starting with terrain tool) to upgrade or change behavior
  
• Terrain tool can now be interacted with when backpack is open in order to slot in augments.
  
• New unlockable augment items!
  
• Terrain analyzer: Collect terrain of a particular material/color until meter is full. Once meter is full, adding terrain will use the equipped color, and subtracting terrain will filter on the equipped color.
  
• Wide mod: Increases the size of the terrain tool brush while decreasing intensity.
  
• Narrow mod: Decreases the size of the terrain tool brush while increasing intensity.
  
• Inhibitor: Shuts down functionality. Applied to terrain tool, turns off adding/subtracting terrain, but maintains color changes and harvesting.
  
• Complete overhaul of equipment unlock progression. Specific equipment unlocks are now dependent on researching certain types of chests while retaining some randomization.
  
• Steeper difficulty curve: Fewer types of equipment are available at the beginning of a new game, requiring more chests to be recovered and researched to acquire everything.
  
• Research chests are less common overall.

• Hydrazine no longer tradeable at trade module.
  
• Backpack now opens to one side, if space is clear, to support tool interactions, and clear the view ahead.
  
• Backpack gets illuminated when opened to aid visibility in dark areas.
  
• Default terrain tool brush size and intensity adjusted.
  
• Terrain tool now adds grey terrain when no augment mod equipped.
  
• Terrain brush now indicates color
  
• Added an interaction indicator between the Astroneer and held items.
  In multiplayer, the indicators of other players are now visible and receive the accent color of that player.
  
• Dynamite explosion power and radius now increases when multiple dynamite sticks are packed together.
  
• Mellowed out camera behavior when backpack or terrain tool is out.
  
• Updated vehicle code to increase stability.
  
• Added new VFX for deformations.

• Performance: Several significant improvements to key physics systems to improve CPU perf.
  
• Bug: Fixed crash on load of some saved games.
  
• Bug: Fix many objects falling through the world when unattended.
  
• Bug: Fixed foliage floating in air after dynamite explosion.
  
• Bug: Fix tethers disappearing on quick-stow if top-left backpack bundle is full.
  
• Bug: Fix tethers not being placeable while sprinting.
  
• Bug: Fix Astroneer's head remaining cocked until cursor is moved to a forward position.
  
• Bug: Fix auxiliary slot items not automatically equipping to backpack auxiliary slots when printed.
  
• Bug: Fix item unlock messages not replicating to all clients in MP.
  
• Bug: Fix various MP desync issues.

https://youtu.be/xS0qWj_eJXU

This update focuses on two major updates, but also includes a large selection of features, general updates, and fixes to the game.

The two primary goals of this update were to introduce you to Augments, which Aaron writes about on our blog today.
And changes to what we call the Research Curve (how the game rewards you for researching things as an Astroneer) which Samantha wrote about yesterday.

We recommend you read both blog posts in addition to the patch notes to fully understand the changes this build brings to Astroneer.

We encourage you to start a new game to fully play and test out the changes to Researching.
It's the first step of many, we'll need your feedback!

• Added tool augment system: Augment items can be attached to tools (starting with terrain tool) to upgrade or change behavior
  
• Terrain tool can now be interacted with when backpack is open in order to slot in augments.
  
• New unlockable augment items!
  
• Terrain analyzer: Collect terrain of a particular material/color until meter is full. Once meter is full, adding terrain will use the equipped color, and subtracting terrain will filter on the equipped color.
  
• Wide mod: Increases the size of the terrain tool brush while decreasing intensity.
  
• Narrow mod: Decreases the size of the terrain tool brush while increasing intensity.
  
• Inhibitor: Shuts down functionality. Applied to terrain tool, turns off adding/subtracting terrain, but maintains color changes and harvesting.
  
• Complete overhaul of equipment unlock progression. Specific equipment unlocks are now dependent on researching certain types of chests while retaining some randomization.
  
• Steeper difficulty curve: Fewer types of equipment are available at the beginning of a new game, requiring more chests to be recovered and researched to acquire everything.
  
• Research chests are less common overall.

• Hydrazine no longer tradeable at trade module.
  
• Backpack now opens to one side, if space is clear, to support tool interactions, and clear the view ahead.
  
• Backpack gets illuminated when opened to aid visibility in dark areas.
  
• Default terrain tool brush size and intensity adjusted.
  
• Terrain tool now adds grey terrain when no augment mod equipped.
  
• Terrain brush now indicates color
  
• Added an interaction indicator between the Astroneer and held items.
  In multiplayer, the indicators of other players are now visible and receive the accent color of that player.
  
• Dynamite explosion power and radius now increases when multiple dynamite sticks are packed together.
  
• Mellowed out camera behavior when backpack or terrain tool is out.
  
• Updated vehicle code to increase stability.
  
• Added new VFX for deformations.

• Performance: Several significant improvements to key physics systems to improve CPU perf.
  
• Bug: Fixed crash on load of some saved games.
  
• Bug: Fix many objects falling through the world when unattended.
  
• Bug: Fixed foliage floating in air after dynamite explosion.
  
• Bug: Fix tethers disappearing on quick-stow if top-left backpack bundle is full.
  
• Bug: Fix tethers not being placeable while sprinting.
  
• Bug: Fix Astroneer's head remaining cocked until cursor is moved to a forward position.
  
• Bug: Fix auxiliary slot items not automatically equipping to backpack auxiliary slots when printed.
  
• Bug: Fix item unlock messages not replicating to all clients in MP.
  
• Bug: Fix various MP desync issues.

Tomorrow's update will not only introduce Augments to the game, but also a big change to how Research works.

In our latest blog post, Samantha writes about the Research system in Astroneer and how we plan on making it more FUN. You'll see the first step of these changes when the update hits Steam tomorrow.

- SES

Tomorrow's update will not only introduce Augments to the game, but also a big change to how Research works.

In our latest blog post, Samantha writes about the Research system in Astroneer and how we plan on making it more FUN. You'll see the first step of these changes when the update hits Steam tomorrow.

- SES

Astroneers! The 'Augment & Research Curve' update arrives on @steam_games tomorrow, @Xbox 'Play Anywhere' next week.

Check our blog later today and tomorrow for more details about the update.