4.3 - The "Easy" Update

[pastdue]

With over 630 commits since the last release, it's time for Warzone 2100 v4.3.1!

This release includes a new "Super Easy" campaign difficulty mode, texture compression support, an additional new "Aftermath" soundtrack from Lupus-Mechanicus, model and rendering improvements and fixes, countless bug fixes, and more!

Version 4.3.1 is the first official stable release in the 4.3.x series.

4.3 General Highlights:

• New "Super Easy" difficulty for campaign
• Additional new "Aftermath" soundtrack (from Lupus-Mechanicus)
• Add "LOD Distance" Graphics option, to adjust texture sharpness at distance (defaults to "High")
• Add new Video Options ("Minimize on Focus Loss", "Alt+Enter Toggle")
• Add Flatpak builds (for Linux)
• Support for bidirectional text using fribidi
• Improve Cobra AI yet again (balances against defensive / system research when 1v1 on high oil maps)
• Show the rank a unit will have if it were produced next
• Add console message when limits change
• Update campaign balance (and fixes) for: Alpha 2, Alpha 6, later Beta missions, Beta-end, Gamma 2
• Fix: Chinese, Japanese, Korean text display
• Fix: Rendering improvements for text and translucent effects
• Fix: Inaccurate calculations on lower-performance systems affecting placing blueprints, rotation of camera, etc
• Fix: Returned and redesigned classic models for wheeled propulsion, light and medium half-tracks
• Fix: Model errors with the: cyclone flak, scavenger cranes, wrecked tanker, water pipe features, howitzer, mortar models, retribution body + hover propulsion, VTOL assault gun, tank factory
• Fix: Cyborg and Super Cyborg shadow issues
• Fix: Improve a bottleneck in shadow calculations
• Fix: Make artillery fire over walls
• Fix: Direct weapon: Don't fire when blocked by defense hardpoint
• Fix: Simplify repairs logic, prevent "stuck" repair stations
• Fix: Hotkey doesn't count selected units correctly
• Fix: Do not form alliances with scavengers when starting games
• Fix: Chat message is sent upon clicking anywhere outside of chat widget
• Fix: Fix the balance of FastPlay since the merging of camBalance
• Fix: When starting Beta / Gamma from the main menu, no longer block extra structure space at the LZ
• Fix: Fix OpenGL antialiasing only working at 2x
• Fix: Vulkan device selection when CPU device types (like llvmpipe) are present
• Fix: Fix longstanding save-related issue where incomplete research topics could disappear
• Fix: Build status for trucks in helping mode
• Fix: Redundant components becoming available
• Fix: Keep aspect ratio for sequences in full screen
• Fix: Make Blender .PIE plugin work on Blender 3.2
• And many other bug & crash fixes

And a number of multiplayer balance tweaks:

• Revamp machinegun AA weapons to use machinegun research requirements instead of cannons (PR #2654)
• HVC ROF Rollback for tank and cyborg (PR #2763, #2820)
• Boost flamers: add 1 tile of range to Inferno, 0.5 tiles of range to Thermite cyborg, and reduce Plasmite Flamer weight 5000->1000 and give it a small increase to HP from 75->100 (PR #2714)
• Make Needle require two cannon accuracy upgrades since Scourge Missile requires two rocket accuracy upgrades (PR #2784)
• Make ~T2 MG damage upgrades take less time to research to help keep MGs relevant before Flashlight (PR #2784)
• Increase Heavy Cannon long range by 0.5 tiles making it reach 9 tiles (PR #2820)
• Condense Reinforced Base Structure Materials upgrades to 3 upgrades (PR #2835)

View the full 4.3.1 changelog

There have been over 630 commits since the last stable release, from many contributors including: alfred007 / highlander1599, Bers, chainlito, David Heidelberg, Denis Gantsev, IgnitedIce, kammy, KJeff01, Lupus-Mechanicus, MaNGusT-, Maxim Zhuchkov, Mohammad Al Tahan, past-due, Paweł Perłakowski, Thiago Romão Barcala, Thomas Rupprecht, Tipchik

We'd also like to thank all of the new and returning translators who have helped to improve the translations for the game via the Crowdin project. For more information on how to help with translations, see doc/Translations.md.

Please report all bugs on GitHub.

And don't forget to check out the official Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/ZvRVQ8g

Download at:

https://wz2100.net

Or:
Microsoft Store (for Windows): https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9MW0Z4MPCS8C
itch.io (for Windows or macOS): https://warzone-2100.itch.io/warzone2100
SourceForge: https://sourceforge.net/projects/warzone2100/
GitHub: https://github.com/Warzone2100/warzone2100/releases/

[Zarax]

Congratulations on the new release!

[iddi01]

Remember, the goal of releases is to improve, not to change.

Of course, you already did great and had managed to preserve the feeling of the game for 18 years. However it could have been better.
I have noticed many changes (and sometimes big changes) that were applied with no one asking for it. (for example, the new propulsion models in this version)
In such a case you can make polls and revert the change if the majority agrees
(try to apply a setting to choose between the two in case of graphics.)

Be careful about balance changes. Always make a poll for any of it as well as polls for reverting some balance changes.
Hope u do great and make the next releases better. (:

[pastdue]

With the help of many bug reporters & contributors, we're happy to announce the release of 4.3.2, a bug-fix and improvement release.

Including:

• Numerous fixes for crashes, cleanup issues, and memory leaks
• Fix: Restoring window sometimes shows black screen in OpenGL mode
• Fix: Possible high CPU usage when minimizing window in Vulkan mode
• Fix: Default fullscreen dimensions should match the current resolution
• Fix: PNG files should take precedence over KTX2 files, to support mods
• Fix: Missing top section on cyborg repair turret
• Fix: Update generic design tank

And a few multiplayer balance tweaks:

• Buff Flashlight for tanks, increase HP 100->180 and add 1 tile of range 12->13 (PR #2889)
• Reduce periodical damage on Incendiary Mortar 26-24 (PR #2908)
• Remove MGAA specific research, Whirlwind requires all MG ROF upgrades and Hurricane, AG and Hurricane need MG ROF2, MG ROF3 require Assault Gun (PR #2922)
• Reduce price of Hellstorm from 450->400 and weight from 20000->10000, Pepperpot price reduced from 200->175 and build time from 900->800 (PR #2893)

View the full 4.3.2 changelog

Please report all bugs on GitHub.

And don't forget to check out the new official Discord server: https://discord.com/invite/ZvRVQ8g

Download at:

https://wz2100.net

Or:
Microsoft Store (for Windows): https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9MW0Z4MPCS8C
itch.io (for Windows or macOS): https://warzone-2100.itch.io/warzone2100
SourceForge: https://sourceforge.net/projects/warzon ... ses/4.3.2/
GitHub: https://github.com/Warzone2100/warzone2 ... /tag/4.3.2

[Zarax]

Pastdue, you might want to look at the Plasma cannon, it seems a little too heavy and the turret cannot turn, rendering it extremely dependent on micro to be effective. Is it intentional?

[themac]

Warzone is working fine in general but I have connection issues with this version. While I can easy access the Lobby to take part in online matches opening an own session always drops a connection error telling me to open port 2100 which I did of course for both TCP and UDP. It worked in the past but not today. I also checked the Windows 11 firewall.

[themac]

I also found a bug (?) where I saved a skirmish game but after loading it, it not only forgets that I enabled SHIFT+Backspace and an AI to me, sometimes the game does not respond to SHIFT+Backspace at all after loading the savegame.

[Tzeentch]

I really do like the work done with "Ultimate Scavengers" !