SAVE THE DATE: ATHENA ON PTS APRIL 1ST

[NQ-Wanderer]

 

You won’t want to miss a moment of the action when the Athena update hits the Public Test Server (PTS) on Friday, April 1st from 09:00 UTC to April 4th 09:00 UTC.

 

Athena is the last major update (there might be several significantly smaller ones though) before the official release, with many features to look forward to, including some that will add extra spice for PVPers. The PTS preview means that if you have a Dual Universe subscription, you can get hands-on with the new content and improvements before they are introduced on the Live server. Not only that, but you can also use this opportunity to give us your constructive feedback. The more feedback we have from you, the better we can fine-tune the update!

 

With Athena being the last major update before the official release, we are aware you might have many questions about the future. In the coming weeks, we will have more information for you on some of the most discussed questions you might be wondering about. This includes long time topics such as will there be a wipe at official release, Avatar vs. Avatar and DAC implementation. We appreciate your patience and we will have the answers for you as soon as we can.

 

During the PTS weekend, the Design team would appreciate your feedback on these features of Athena:

• The new space warfare system centers around alien core units that will spawn in PvP zones and can be located via space radars. These are resource-generating facilities, like space mining points, that can be claimed by players and organizations. Once you’ve claimed them, accumulate resources and fight for its control!

• Space mining units and relic plasma collectors may be crafted, purchased, and sold. They will be used to extract the resources from alien core units.

• Stasis weapons are used to reduce the maximum velocity of targeted ships, a measure towards bringing better balance to PvP. Big armored ships with powerful space engines will no longer have the advantage that allowed them to easily escape more agile smaller designs. Stasis weapons can be crafted like other PvP items. They use their own specific amunitions, which can also be crafted.

• We are also altering the behavior around a construct’s maximum speed. Constructs’ mass will now impact their speed; the heavier the ship, the less its maximum speed will be. Thus, smaller ships will be able to catch up bigger ones despite the latter having bigger engines than the former.

 

Other key beats of Athena include:

• A revamped FTUE to provide a better, more easily comprehensible starting experience for new players. We want to give new players all the information they need to settle into DU with a solid foundation. The FTUE is accessible on Haven, a new moon which is forever in a safe zone, out of PvP battles.

• A brand-new system map (F4 > "System" tab), to explore the star system of Helios. With 3D models and precise positions in space of your constructs, planets, alien core units, points of interests, better tools to navigate the map, set warp waypoints properly in addition to destination waypoints, and more!

• New skybox and stars rendering improvements that you’ll see as soon as you leave the atmosphere.

• Improved water visuals (on every planet containing it), as well as better flashlight visuals.

• We are adding Mining Units Lua API, for you to customize how you want to monitor your mining activities, accessible from the Codex (F1).

• Athena will also introduce Dual Universe first space market! You’ll be able to shop without making planetfall, directly from your ship. Head to the center point of the safe zone, between Alioth, Madis and Thades. Happy shopping.

 

For more information on the PTS, including how and where to access it, head here.

 

We hope you’ll enjoy trying all Athena has to offer. Your feedback has proved invaluable and has helped us in improving Dual Universe. Please share your thoughts here!