Dark Faction, our first DLC ever, has arrived, bringing new mysteries, weapons, devices, building blocks, and an all-consuming, galaxy-spanning threat.
Solo or in co-op, plunge into an intense survival story from the moment you enter the world. Wake up on the Vanguard, the ship you just saw in the trailer, and discover what has befallen its crew. This journey will lead you down a dark path, but even this corruption can be excised with new weapons and technology.
Carve Away The Corruption in Melee Combat
Melee combat is a new feature introduced in the Dark Faction DLC. Two specially crafted energy-boosted swords are one of the few things that can harm the Dark Faction. Equipped with a sword, you will also enjoy a shield for a limited amount of time. While fighting, make sure to keep an eye on your stamina.
Ballistic Trajectory Weapons
Dark Faction also brings two brand-new kinds of weapons that use ballistic trajectory: The grenade launcher, and the bow, effective in short to mid-range combat.
A New Environment Spreads
Planets that have been taken over by the Dark Faction can be clearly identified by their darker atmosphere, and their environment changes dramatically, corrupting flora, fauna, and weather. Left unchecked, the corruption will spread to new planets as time passes. Play the story to discover how to halt the spread, even liberating corrupted planets.
Build With New Blocks
Find a way to render the corruption benign and you can build your ships and bases with the new Symelit material, which looks corrupted and organic. It probably won’t eat you alive.
Dark Field Technology and More
Beware the power of Dark Field Generators that interfere with your technology, such as power generators, by crafting Dark Field Neutralizers to counteract the effect. Cripple enemy ships from a distance with the Disruptor Turret by cutting off their thrusters and making them easy prey. Even more advancements wait to be discovered!
Thank you all for joining us on this journey to new horizons. Our small team is proud of what we have accomplished with this DLC, and excited at this opportunity to offer you a new experience in Empyrion.
We would also like to clarify that as ever, work on the base game continues with free updates and bug fixes, details of which we look forward to sharing with you. If you have any further questions about the DLC, take a look at our recent FAQ on Dark Faction.
Today we are not only releasing "Dark Faction", our first content expansion for Empyrion Galactic Survival - we are also releasing a general update for version 1.11
You can find all changes in the changelog below.
The bugfixes listed below also apply to owners of the DLC. We released most of the planned bug fixes towards the end of last year because we didn't want to keep you waiting for the release of version 1.11!
Very important: For the main game version without DLC, development will of course continue (with free content updates and bug fixes)!
As always, we look forward to your valued feedback!
Main game changes:
Base attack system changes: now the base attack's system checks for the playfield difficulty level & also the player structures attack & defense rating to determine what kind of attack will be triggered.
Decreased the overall fog seen when lights (suit light, handheld light, spotlights) are enabled in particular weather types
DialogueState from BlockConfig.ecf: if this is set, always this dialogue state is taken (even if it is overwritten using god mode)
DialogueSystem: added 'RemoveBookmark(int bmId)' and new 'AddBookmark()' with possibility to get the bookmark id (bmId) on bookmark creation
Edited FWN constructor icons to include a colored background and darker shadows.
Various optimisations done for loading into saves to cut down on how long it takes to load into a save game. Playfield changes ‘Akua’ playfield:
RockResources can be easier dug close to poles
Tundra biome is larger
Nights are a bit brighter; adjusted Storm fog colors
Biomes tweaked for decorations, added Savanna transition biome ‘HighGrass’
Terrain stamp placement tweaks, removing some texture artifacts. Note: Playfield seed has been altered.
Fixes:
Parts Collection window: fixed CoQ when pressing "L" in the search window, now updating the page "Info" when pressing "Reload" of a BP and also reloading it in BP lib (so the new version gets spawned)
Parts Collection Window: fixed Blueprints losing blocks when saving a BP via Parts Collection Window and there were blocks without Id changed/moved in BlocksConfig.ecf
01184: Delay of Fuel calculation for just loaded structure lead to wrong fuel consumption
01113: Forcefield effect visual glitch while moving in 1PV on the vessel
01007: Flickering of holo devices & force fields seen at certain angles
First and foremost: We are extremely excited about your enthusiasm for the upcoming DLC 'Dark Faction'! We are also delighted with all the positive feedback and numerous questions that have reached us in the last few days .
You can find the announcement including the trailer OVER HERE.
We will now try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the Empyrion Galactic Survival DLC 'Dark Faction'.
Additionally, we plan to release more blog posts with further details and information about the DLC in the weeks leading up to the release!
As always: If you have specific questions about the gameplay or the new features of the DLC, feel free to post them below this message and we will try to answer them in the next theme blog.
Without further delay - let's get started!
FAQ
- General -
Does the DLC only work in single player? Server owners can set up servers based on the DLC-included game version as normal. However, all players must own and have installed the main game and the DLC to play on these servers
Is the "Dark Faction Rising" scenario suitable for multiplayer mode? The scenario is intended for single player and small co-op games. It is not balanced or made for dedicated servers. Dedicated multiplayer scenarios based on the DLC may follow in the future.
Will the content of the main game (version with and without DLC) continue to be updated free of charge (content updates, bug fixes)? We will continue to provide the main game (version without DLC) with free content and bug fixes for its owners. Owners of the DLC version of the game will of course also receive associated bug fixes and DLC-specific content updates free of charge
Will there be another bug fix update before the DLC release? Bug fixes that are relevant for both the main game version with and without DLC will, whenever possible, be fixed and installed at the same time. However, it is also possible that the DLC game version and the non-DLC game version will sometimes be updated independently of each other. Please keep an eye on our announcements!
- Compatibility -
Can I download/subscribe to blueprints created with the DLC for my non-DLC game? We are currently clarifying the final technical details. However, it will not be possible to use DLC-related content (e.g. blueprints with DLC content) on non-DLC savegames or game versions (neither in single player nor in multiplayer)
Can players who do not own the DLC play on servers that require the DLC? That will not be possible. To play on a server or scenario that uses DLC content, the creators and players must own and have installed both the main game and the DLC.
Can scenarios that were created with the main game (version without DLC) use DLC contents? Scenarios or mods that are based solely on the main game (version without DLC) will not be able to use the contents of the DLC.
- Gameplay & Features -
Will we get melee combat? Yes, there will be melee combat in the DLC game version. Take a closer look at the published screenshots ;)
Will the main storyline of the game be changed, expanded or completed with the DLC release? Eleon Game Studios is a very small studio. To make the DLC fun and enjoyable, all developers and content designers have been working on this project for the last few months. We will of course continue to work on the main scenario ... especially on completing the main storyline (which will be included in both the version with and without DLC!)! However, there is no announcement on this yet and the work on the main story arc it is not part of the "Dark Faction" DLC update or the accompanying update to both game versions for the reasons mentioned above. The eponymous scenario in the DLC will also have its own storyline, which is not directly based on the main storyline or is only loosely connected to it.
Today, we’re absolutely thrilled to announce that Dark Faction, our most ambitious project yet, arrives on February 6!
This DLC is priced at $9.99 / €9.99 and therefore, it contains a brand-new experience and a whole lot of content.
In this first ever DLC for the game, you will discover a terrifying threat to the entire galaxy: an almost indestructible organism driven to spread and take over any life it touches. Plunge into an intense survival story from the moment you enter the world.
We developed this scenario with both new and veteran players in mind. The new player experience provides an easy way to learn the basics of the game while setting up the new story. If you want to experience the new content on an existing character but without the story, you can do that too.
New Features
A New Story (requires new character): Wake up on a derelict ship and discover what has befallen the crew. Uncover the secrets of the Dark Faction and how to stop its spread across the galaxy.
Dark Faction Planets: Explore a new and deadly environment that’s spreading across the galaxy.
Dark Faction Building Blocks: Expand your creativity with a new set of organic building blocks.
New Devices: Craft new powerful devices such as the Translocator, Phase Shield, and Corrupted Shield.
Updated Melee Combat: We’ve updated melee combat, which plays a large role from the beginning of the scenario.
We’ve Partnered with Funcom!
In addition, we’re delighted to announce that we’ve partnered with Funcom for marketing duties on our future projects. That goes for Dark Faction... and beyond.
Funcom’s previous publishing record includes Shiro Games’ Dune: Spice Wars and The Outsiders’ multi-award winning Metal: Hellsinger. They are also the developers of the open world survival game Conan Exiles.
With Funcom taking care of marketing, we’re free to focus entirely on development, and as you will see with Dark Faction, this has given us the opportunity to raise the bar for both the quality and quantity of our content.
A New Chapter for Empyrion
We want to thank you all so much for your support. Being able to release a DLC of this size and scope is a big milestone that we couldn’t have achieved without your support over the years. We look forward to entering this new chapter for Empyrion with all of you.
As we wrap up another incredible year together, we want to take a moment to extend our warmest wishes to each and every one of you. 🎅 This festive season, may your hearts be filled with joy, your homes with laughter, and your spirits with the magic of Christmas.
🌟 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 🌟
We are immensely grateful for the unwavering support and enthusiasm you've shown throughout the year. Your dedication has truly made our community a vibrant and thriving space. Together, we've achieved so much, and we couldn't be more excited about the journey ahead.
🎁 A Special Thank You 🎁
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to each member who has contributed bug reports and valuable feedback. Your attention to detail and commitment to improving our game has been instrumental in making it better every day. It's a true testament to the strength of our community, and we're thankful for your support in this journey.
🎉 Looking Back, Moving Forward 🎉
As we reflect on the year gone by, we're filled with pride and joy at what we've accomplished together. The challenges we've faced have only strengthened our bonds, and we're excited about the opportunities the future holds.
In the spirit of the season, let's continue to support and uplift one another. May the coming year bring even more success, growth, and moments of shared joy.
The festive season is upon us, so it's high time we released update 1.10.5 for everyone waiting for the latest updates, content additions and bug fixes!
With this update, we're not only moving to a new version of Unity, but also adding goodies like AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 2 and NVIDIA DLSS2. You can find some important information about these two new features in the changelog below. With the two technical changes also come a number of field optimisations that are very important for our multiplayer servers and their communities.
On the content side, we would like to present you the new models for constructors, deconstructors and other crafting devices, the new deco trees for interiors, a number of new and updated POIs (some of them with the new NPC model of the Brotherhood of Farr), some new building shapes, improvements to the tools for collecting blueprints and more.
Of course, version 1.10.5 also includes a list of bug fixes. You can find all the details in the changelog below. As always, please report any bugs here: https://empyriononline.com/forums/bugs.24/
- Please note that our Official Servers will wipe today with this release. We will also reset the “Official Server Player Role” on our Discord. If you want access again to the channels specially for the Official Servers you need to use the /global_chat command on Discord.
Official Multiplayer Servers EU / NA Server - Activated the Christmas Event for 2023 - Added Mrs. Nesbitt Suit Prop Hat - Added Temperate Fungus Planet - Added Taelyn Bot Homeworld + System - Added Primordial Planet (Snow) - Replaced Void with a new planet (Destroyed)
Vanilla Server - Activated the Christmas Event for 2023 - Added Mrs. Nesbitt Suit Prop Hat - Added Primordial Planet (Snow)
Changelog v1.10.5 B4257 2023-12-13
Changes:
Updated Unity to 2022.3.8f1
Added video options for AMD FSR2 and NVIDIA DLSS2. We have added support for AMD's FSR2 and NVIDIA's DLSS2 to our game, which can be found at the bottom of the video options in the options menu. These technologies work by using different methods to upscale lower resolution frames to higher resolution ones, while preserving and enhancing the details and sharpness of the original image. They can help you improve your performance and graphics quality, depending on your hardware, resolution, and scene complexity. We recommend using FSR2 or DLSS2 only with 4K or 2K resolutions, as these are the optimal settings for these technologies. Using FSR2 or DLSS2 with lower resolutions (for example 1080p & below) may result in blurry or pixelated images, as the upscaling process may not have enough information to work with. If you are using a lower resolution monitor or device, you may want to keep FSR2 or DLSS2 disabled and use the native resolution of your screen. Please note that FSR2 and DLSS2 have some limitations and trade-offs & DLSS2 only works on Nvidia RTX GPUs.
Blueprint Collection tool
Blueprint Collection editor: added ":tag=XXX" search possibility for tags and changed ":group=XXX" to "part word search"
Blueprint Parts Collection window: small improvements
Blueprint Collection editor: added decals in preview
Blueprint Collection editor: added "E" and "R" buttons for properties
Blueprint Collection editor: fixed new CoQ, added statistics information for Blueprints
Blueprint Collection editor: now you can select a device by clicking on it (if the devices panel is open). Flare lights now also show up in the device list.
Blueprint Collection editor: device tab improvements (better handling of multi select editing)
Console command 'destroy': if no id is specified, the entity the player is looking at is destroyed
Blueprint Collection editor: added first draft of new device tab
Blueprint Collection editor: added ":tag=XXX" search possibility for tags and changed ":group=XXX" to "part word search"
Guided Tutorial
Updated configs (Switched to new Constructor models, Multitool T1 now uses Small Energy Cells as ammo)
Tweaked some POI for Multitool ammo loot
Misc
Main Loca updated for new video option settings
MP: Playfield server optimisations have been done which you should result in you seeing less overall RAM being used (around 1GB less per PF server)
Changed: Multitool T1 now using EnergyCellSmall for ammo
Added: EnergyCellSmall (Craftable in all constructors; 5 Steel Plates, 2 Electronics; 15 fuel value)
Added new models for constructors, deconstructor, portables (constructor, water/o2 condenser, heater/cooler, Autominers)
Added: DecoIndoorTrees block group with new selection of 20 trees (also added to stock scenarios IvD & DF MP)
DialogueSystem: added variable type 'dbglobalpoi_string' and function 'SetGlobalPoiVar(name, val)'
Allow ATMs to be placed on CVs in Default Multiplayer & Invader vs Defender scenarios
Playfield changes
Updated FARR POIs: Replacement of Soldiers and Guards with Farr NPCs (HumanSoldiers/Elites/AlienSoldiers/Cyborg/CyborgSentinels/Shotgun/AssaultRifle); Please visit and check for issues.
Updated Talon Main Settlement (Omicron) (only works with new savegames / pf not visited)
Updated CIV/DESC POIs (Orbital Defence, Distillery, Waystation, Omicron Command)
Added/updated POI (Kriel, RAV, Colonists, Talon'Ar; Thx to Don2k7, Stellar_Titan, Escarli, Matcz)
Added new 'City Ruins' POI (by sulusdacor)
Added: CornerHalfD(Left/Right), NotchedE(left/right), RampConnectorF2(left/right); no icons yet
Added the Temperate Fungus Planet in Invader vs Defender
Replaced Void by a new playfield that is more interesting in Invader vs Defender
Ground texture and deco tweaks for the following playfields: Desert, MoonIce2, MoonNascent, Scorched, Snow, Arid, Barren, BarrenMetal, Lava, LavaNascent, Moon, MoonDesert, MoonIce, MoonLava, MoonLava2, Temperate, TemperatePlateau, TemperateSwamp, DesertBurn.
Removed some texture artifacts
Added all basic RockResources to each world.
Scorched: Adjusted daylight intensity
Decreased groundfog on Temperate playfield
DesertBurnt
Changed some biomes in spawn order
Fixes for some creatures not appearing
Removed Plantation biome, renamed Sand biome into LavaPlains, SandDrift biome into LavaField, added LavaFolds biome
Made playfield day darker again
Tweaked ground fog strength and height variances
Reduced atmosphere O2 percentage
Changed music & description text
Fixes
Fuel for turned off vessels can go missing when the player returns
The player can get hit & take damage when the NPC is behind a block
Possible fix for Visible holes seen in terrain
Lag spike when reloading after opening & closing a corpse's inventory GUI
Ghost blocks remain in place after a thruster has been removed
Water/Lava shader need offset to support child shapes
Moving a weapon\tool from connected toolbar can cause an exception
Close window X-button not in place for galaxy map and autominer
When using logistics, ammo disappears when the Fill All button is pressed
Logistic - connected to cargo container block the turret firing
After opening & closing a GUI then reloading a weapon a lag spike can be seen
CoQ at game start "-ERR- Exception while serializing playfield to file"
Water surface block the access to the underwater devices or vessel cockpit
Weapon movement glitch while moving in God mode
Placing some parts via SP tool broke the color palette for entire BP
Shift+LMB blocks replace feature not working with symmetry
Fixed CoQ with looting some dead NPCs in Invader vs Defender & Default Multiplayer scenarios
Fixed Trader Abbrev in Default Multiplayer
Fix: some factions (wastelanders, karana, tresari) were not attacked by other NPC factions (legacy, warlords etc)
Fixed Players getting stuck in the ventilator after teleporting on the BA_TradersTradersShuttleHub & BA_TradersFrontierHub
Fixed Gambling Table empty dialogue in Kenex Station
Fixed O2 issue on Far Point Outpost (thx to AkevaBanshee)
PDA: Signals are not working if player fly with vessel in area
Fixed NPC Blocks rotating when accessing a dialogue on it
Known
Some devices are not going back to their idle energy consumption