Open Beta Patch v1.27a (18 june 2025)

[Emx77]

Thank you, guys. I've missed the info about beta being available only for the Matrix version of the game.

[Daza99]

Do we have to have the oceania dlc for the matrix version to run the beta? I own both versions of SE but I brought the Oceania update on steam only, so no key for the matrix version.

I brought a new pc a few months back and haven't put on the matrix version until the other day to be able to run different versions. When I downloaded the update for it (maxtrix ver) the installer wanted a key for the oceania dlc. Which I don't have. This is what happens when we have dlc across different platforms. It can get messy with updates.

[Soar_Slitherine]

You don't need Oceania to use the beta patch. When I installed the Matrix version again last week, I was asked for a key, but I'm fairly sure it was the key for the main game, not for Oceania. You can get your key from the 'My Page' link at the top of this page.

[Daza99]

I worked out what happened, with the updater with the Matrix version I just had to click on Shadow Empire file in the bottom window and not choose anything else, and I was able to update fine. And then apply the patch. All good.

[Xxzard]

Great improvement on the AI so far under patches h and i. Also while I'm sure some tweaks for balance will be needed here and there, the changes to water generation and ammo usage in version i have brought these 2 mechanics into play in a major way.

[Janekk]

Wow, amazing patch notes. If this keeps up I might have to fire the game up again soon.

[fibol]

Have rocket, missile and bomb munition costs also been increased?

[Soar_Slitherine]

Yes, aside from air-to-air missiles:

Ammo usage was increased by a factor of between 5 and 15 for most model types. The previous gap in ammo use between ground forces and aircraft was large, but outside of bombhatches, not that large. If they hadn't been touched, aircraft would've gone from one of the least ammo-efficient model types to easily the most ammo-efficient.

The ammo use of guns was increased by a factor of 15, rockets & precision bombs by 10 and and bombhatches and aircraft MGs by 5 (no increase for air-to-air missiles), so aircraft still got a significant relative improvement in efficiency at killing subunits compared to their main competitor in that role, which is tanks (leaving aside energy weapons, which weren't touched yet).

[Haplo]

Hi. Find attached savegame playing with v1.21h. The game crashes when the computer is playing its turn. Clic ENDTURN and wait for the CTD.

Not always the game crashes but from two or three turns to now it does regularly.

Agusti

[Xxzard]

Hi. Find attached savegame playing with v1.21h. The game crashes when the computer is playing its turn. Clic ENDTURN and wait for the CTD.

Not always the game crashes but from two or three turns to now it does regularly.

Agusti

Is it this issue? https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 8&t=397046

If so, the workaround is going to \graphics\shadow\complex1\tech and copying and renaming some images so that 68.png, 126.png and 127.png exist.

[Haplo]

I don't think so, because is a CTD without any warning/message about what the problem is. I don't get any crash report either, is a crash to desktop without any info.

[Elouda]

Also having a CTD during AI turn consistently, 1.21i.

[Vic]

Thanks guys! Working on fixing glitches with 1.21i as we speak!

[Vic]

Made plenty of fixes to the latest v1.21i. Still Matrix only. Hope to move to Steam open beta by end of the week. But for this to happen I'll need as much feedback as possible.

There have been quite a number of nudges. On the roll for this week is still the "Extend Mine" Stratagem that allows you to discover further reserves in a mine at the cost of lower productivity.

Thanks for all the responses to 1.21i . It has been appreciated really a lot.

Note that i'll be in office this week but absent again for 2 weeks after :/ It hurts me as much as you, but they say its important to take some time off

best wishes,
Vic

[mroyer]

It hurts me as much as you, but they say its important to take some time off

Don't believe it... that's just your competitor developers trying to get you to fall behind!
Work 'til you drop is always best. Just another can of Red Bull is all you need...

But, seriously, thanks for all your effort on Shadow Empire, Vic.

-Mark R.

[Starfry]

Deleted

[Thrake]

I'm going to hope for a steam version before you go back to holydays too. The crashes are really annoying. I didn't report my issue as it seems to be fixed in the Matrix version but the game is on hold for a few weeks now.

[Vic]

Bump!

Some fixes made. But also added the option to keep conventional mining going for much longer by introducing the “Peripheral Mining” Stratagem (20PP). Yes this trades some PP and Mining Ease against securing more known deposits in an existing Mine. Furthermore I added plenty of Techs, partly to fill up some Tech Groups that were too underpopulated for the new 4 Techs needed (used to be 3) to master Tech Group rule, partly to improve the attractivity of Ammo-based weaponry versus Energy-based weaponry: A number of pro-Ammo Techs have been introduced. This new balance is further reinforced by improving projectile based weapons on low Air Pressure Planets and introducing battery self-discharge rules, as well as Ablat Coating Tech.

I hope this will be about the extent of the core changes, but some finetuning of Leader Feats/Hex Feats/Faction Stratagems/etc.. Is still in the planning, as some of the really strong ones are not rare enough. Also in the planning are written combat reports to consult during history replay as well as some Logistics finetuning and a Midcore Logistics option + new Portraits. So probably after some extra weeks of testing we are looking at a new release version towards the end of october.

I’ll be out of office for the next 2 weeks (though i will be able to do some urgent fixes the upcoming week) but soon it will be the end of summer holidays and i’ll be able to get dev speed up once again.

Considering all I am moving 1.21k to Steam Open Beta as well. At some point testing though Matrix playerbase is sort of exhausted. Save games should not be touched by the biggest changes in recent versions.

best wishes,
Vic

[Thrake]

Thanks.

[Pymous]

Wow, the latest patch changelogs are absolutely fantastic! The additions and improvements are incredibly substantial. The way planet attributes now impact gameplay is precisely the right direction!

A big thank you to Vic!