A new update is now available

[sofia12]

Welcome back, explorers.
We’re pleased to announce that a new update for Distant Worlds 2 is out now.
DOWNLOAD IT HERE: https://ftp.matrixgames.com/pub/Distant ... .3.4.3.zip
Click here to discover the full changelog: https://www6.slitherine.com/news/a-new- ... -available

[SlizInez]

Changes in 1.3.4.3 (February 19th 2026):

CRASH FIXES
- fixed various rare crashes

MODDING
- now notify player of any modding-related file loading issues (XML errors, etc), with suggestions to disable offending mods

STEALTH AND DETECTION
- tweaked values used to determine ship and base visibility (utilizing stealth, role- and empire-masking). This change will make ships less detectable/knowable when at the limits of scan range

COMBAT
- updated weapon hit calculations with better consideration for stationary or very slow targets (e.g. bases). Net effect is that countermeasures now matter more on bases
- tweaked raid values on Assault Pod components so that can launch subsequent raids sooner, but with lower strength

ECONOMY
- adjusted ratio of empire funding (Research + Colony Growth) down from 50% to 25% of total Research and total Growth, thus ensuring higher baseline research and growth rate even without full bonus funding. This change was applied in a previous update but was not called out in previous changelog entry by accident.

PLAGUES
- somewhat reduced plague frequency, length and spread

GOVERNMENT

- modified Feudalism government to be more viable: less disruptive leadership changes, reduced colony happiness penalty (improves viability of Mortalen as AI empire)
- modified Military Dictatorship government to be more viable: less disruptive leadership changes, reduced colony happiness penalty, removed population growth rate penalty (improves viability of Boskara as AI empire)
- modified Hive Mind government to be more viable: reduced research penalty (improves viability of Boskara as AI empire)

POLICIES
- altered default Haakonish preferred weapon families to better match their race-specific tech (i.e. DealBreaker Beams)

SHIP GRAPHICS
- fixed some minor problems in Haakonish ship models

DATA
- minor tweaks to some Teekan and Haakonish ship components

COLONY INVASIONS AND RAIDS
- colony invasions and raids now have short preparation period after first invading troops landed but before battle begins. This time window (10-15 seconds) better allows invading forces to land as a group prior to commencement of battle
- changed how colony raids are resolved: colony raids can now successfully conclude prior to the elimination of all defending troops. After a period of time the success of the colony raid will be evaluated based on overall strength of raiding troops versus the defending forces. If the raiders are still stronger than the defenders then the raid will typically be successful, obtaining loot from the colony. Colony raids will thus never be longer than one minute, and often shorter than that. This change minimizes damage to defending colony troops, population and quality.

TROOPS
- improved fleet and ship troop loading so that better handle garrison status at colonies (i.e. more likely to find troop load location)

SHIP SALVAGE
- majority of abandoned ships in Debris Fields are now unrepairable and instead must be salvaged (Pick Up command) to obtain bonuses

PLANETARY FACILITIES
- upgrade arrow overlay now more prominent when a planetary facility has upgrades available

EVENTS
- improved event placement for generated independent colonies so that more likely to select planets or moons that are naturally more suitable to the colony race
- added minimum interval to Teekan Salvage Kings event so that does not trigger too often
- Lost Colony ruins event will now place lost colony much closer to discoverer home

START NEW GAME SCREEN
- updated Start New Game screen art

EMPIRES
- ensure standard empires always filtered out from Diplomacy list when eliminated

PIRATES
- fixed pirate factions sometimes not being properly eliminated when lose last base

ADVISOR
- ensure Build Research Station advisor messages always contain research bonus description, even when bonus is from resources

- fixed Build Base advisor suggestion messages not pinging galaxy map location when hovered

FLEETS
- removed UI option for fleets to raid or capture abandoned ships or bases (these missions are non-functional for abandoned ships or bases)

HAAKONISH
- ensure extra starting Haakonish Mining Ship matches the current tech of the empire (e.g. no hyperdrive if not yet researched)

MUSIC
- added new expanded music option that adds music from Distant Worlds Universe to the track list. Note that this option should be disabled when streaming gameplay