Significant Update Enhances Sins of a Solar Empire 2 Experience
A substantial update for Sins of a Solar Empire 2 has arrived, ushering in a wave of transformative changes that enhance the overall gameplay experience. One of the most notable adjustments is the removal of AI-generated art, a decision that has been met with widespread approval from the community. Stardock, the developer behind the game, acknowledged the feedback regarding the AI-generated portraits, which had previously clashed with the game’s rich visual style. In response, they have completely replaced these portraits with a new set, crafted entirely by human artists.
The update, dubbed ‘UI Horizons,’ features a comprehensive redesign of the front-end menus, making it easier for players to navigate and set up their next interstellar adventure. Among the enhancements is the much-anticipated return of an in-game map editor, allowing players to customize the galaxy’s composition and layout. This tool provides a variety of options, such as adjusting the number of resource-rich planets, modifying skyboxes, and selecting NPC appearances and quantities. Stardock plans to integrate sharing capabilities with the mod.io platform later this year, enabling players to publish and browse maps directly from the client.
In addition to the visual upgrades, the update introduces a new faction selection screen that offers detailed breakdowns of each faction’s identity, abilities, and units. The single-player and multiplayer lobby screens have also received a refresh, along with enhanced customization options for the ‘random map’ function. These changes aim to present more information at a glance while reducing clutter and improving the overall aesthetic of the user interface.
Players can also look forward to new defensive tools for all three factions, alongside balance adjustments that affect gameplay dynamics. For instance, several Vasari capital ships will now come at a higher construction cost, while the expenses associated with building Ship Factories and Fleet Beacons have also increased. Research items have been shuffled, with notable changes such as the elevation of Friendly Jump Telemetry from tier two to tier five.
The enemy AI, particularly for the Advent faction, has received a dedicated controller to enhance its strategic capabilities. Stardock has indicated that players can expect the AI to utilize its Unity abilities more effectively, rather than holding them in reserve. Furthermore, save game files have been compressed, resulting in a size reduction of 70% or more, and engine improvements have led to better missile targeting precision and unit formation handling.
For modders, the update brings new features, although existing mods will require updates to remain compatible. Players wishing to revert to an earlier version of the game to continue using their favorite mods can do so through the ‘game versions and betas’ list in the properties menu of their Steam library.
Sins of a Solar Empire update 1.6 ‘UI Horizons’ is live now.
