Hello, colony caretakers!

Now that autumn is here, your local ant colony might be seeking a warm place to hunker down. But we’re seeking something a little different – a nomination for Most Innovative Gameplay during this year’s Steam Awards.

Since we launched Empires of the Undergrowth earlier this year, we’ve received a swarm of positive feedback about its unique blend of colony management simulation & RTS gameplay. It’s been such a pleasure to immerse you all in the complex world of ant colonies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELSOKmgDRvA

Over the last year, we’ve released several updates to ensure Empires of the Undergrowth is the best game it can be. These updates have introduced a number of new features and key gameplay improvements.

And there’s plenty more to come! For a more complete look at some updates from the last year, you can check out our update notes:

• Post-Release Patch 1
  
• 1.0 Release Update
  
• New Year’s Feast & Fixes Patch
  
• Custom Game & Achievements Update

We’ve been working on the game's next steps, and the beta branch is now live on Steam.
Here’s what’s included:

• Two New Custom Game Maps: Savannah-themed environments offering unique challenges.
  
• Custom Colony Options: Use any ant species in custom games.
  
• New Game Mode: Remix: Replay levels with different or customized colonies.
  
• Tier 5 Achievements: New objectives for players to complete.
  
• Balance Changes, Fixes, and Optimisations: Adjustments and updates for a smoother experience.

How to Access the Beta
You can access the beta branch on Steam now. For instructions on how to join, click here and use the provided password. Your feedback is appreciated as we finalize these changes.

Creating Empires of the Undergrowth has been a truly spectacular experience for our team. While we knew we could make a great colony management sim, we never expected to build such an incredible community alongside it. Your support has been invaluable in making Empires of the Undergrowth’s v1.0 launch a fantastic success. We’re so thankful to have your support now and for all the future updates to come.

Competition is high for the Most Innovative Gameplay award, so every nomination helps. Check the “Nominate” button at the top of this post to nominate Empires of the Undergrowth for this category in the 2024 Steam Awards.

Thank you all,
Slug Disco

In this optional beta update, we're introducing Remix - a new game mode accessible from the Arcade menu. With it, you can play almost any level in the game (from the campaign documentary missions, extra levels and demo levels) with almost any combination of ants or termites. The possibilities are nearly limitless!


We're also introducing two new savannah-themed custom game maps - Grasslands, and Drive Them Back (custom game version). As far as the latter goes, this is something that has been requested for a whole and we've been meaning to give it a go. If it goes down well, we might make custom game versions of other campaign levels in the future. On both of these maps, you will spawn in a termite mound if playing as termites, and the remaining termite mounds will spawn non-colony fodder termites (as long as at least one Matabele colony is in play).

Finally, the long-awaited tier 5 & tier 4 challenge mode achievements are fully implemented and activated. You'll be able to earn these achievements on Steam immediately if you participate in the beta, but please report any issues you encounter with them to us on the discussion boards.


If you would like to join the beta, the code is balanceandchanges. If you don’t know how to join a beta and would like to, follow the instructions below:

1. Find Empires of the Undergrowth in your Steam library, right-click on it and choose "Properties"
   
2. Choose the "Betas" tab
   
3. In the box titled "Enter beta access code to unlock private betas", enter balanceandchanges
   
4. After the "Access code correct" information appears, make sure you've chosen "Open beta" from the "Select the beta you would like to opt into" drop-down menu
   
5. Press close - the game will now update to the beta branch.

• New game mode - Remix
  
  • Can play almost any level with almost any combination of ants or termites
    
  • Custom colonies will adopt the feeding habits of the selected queen
    
  • Accessed from the Arcade area of the main menu
    
  • Some combinations disallowed for technical reasons (ie, no Matabele medics in leafcutter colonies)
• New custom game maps - Grasslands & Drive Them Back (custom game version)
  
  • If playing as termites, will spawn in mounds otherwise in regular nest entrances
    
  • Non-colony fodder termites will otherwise spawn from unoccupied mounds if Matabele ants are in play
• Tier 5 & Tier 4 Challenge Mode Achievements
  
  • 8 new achievement for tier 4 levels with challenge mode
    
  • 45 new achievements for tier 5 levels
    
  • Can now be achieved and earned on Steam from this beta

• Custom colonies now display the appropriate graphic for their chosen workers
  
• Custom colonies now just say "worker" and "queen" rather than gene thief
  
• Dead fish landmark replaced with map-appropriate large food sources
  
• Large food source landmark will spawn opposing ants that are map-appropriate
  
• Added Aloe version of aphid plants for savannah custom games
  
• Added an extra harvesting slot for woodlice
  
• 5.3 challenge scorpion no longer gets its abilities back when it respawns or moves underground (abilities that happen at 25%, 50% and 75% health)
  
• 5.3 challenge scorpion will no longer attempt to walk away when it performs a ground thump
  
• 5.3 challenge scorpion will only run away if engaged underground; if on the surface it will continue to fight so long as there are enemies to fight
  
• 5.3 challenge scorpion now only escapes when termite sun damage is in progress
  
• Fixed an issue that could cause an aphid to be deleted if a new aphid was taken to an occupied aphid slot on a plant
  
• Custom colony setup now has an "OK" button instead of a "Close" button for player assuredness
  
• Updated Strawclutch thumb to show alternate nests
  
• Updated the Slug Disco logo on the main menu
  
• Many localisation updates

• Fixed leafcutter colonies in a Skirmish game spawning as basic ereptor colonies
  
• Fixed termites, leafcutters and BHA major soldiers not harvesting the correct resource type when in a custom colony different to their usual feeding habits
  
• Custom Matabele colonies in custom games are now only given soldiers if they have them available
  
• Fixed custom AI leafcutter colonies building a media chamber even if they don't have them
  
• If the 5.3 challenge scorpion is killed on the surface its dialogue no longer plays on defeat (as it mentions being killed underground)
  
• Fixed a crash related to titan climbing
  
• Fixed a lignocellulose landmark issue
  
• Pheromone markers in enemy nests now respond to the smoke visual option
  
• Fixed remaining tile materials
  
• Prevented destructible barriers from being inspectable
  
• Fixed an issue where freeplay games would always assume 4 colonies in description
  
• Colony creatures other than leafcutters now make cutting sound when cutting leaves instead of digging sound
  
• Tug of War 3 text label fixed