Dev Blog #82
Greetings, comrades!
Today, we are releasing another Early Access update, featuring numerous improvements that bring our project closer to release.
These improvements include major changes that significantly improve performance in heavily loaded scenes and over cities, as well as new gameplay mechanics. You can find the full list of additions in the patch notes at this link, while in this diary we will talk about the most significant gameplay element introduced in this patch—the Commander Career.
Today, we are releasing another Early Access update, featuring numerous improvements that bring our project closer to release.
These improvements include major changes that significantly improve performance in heavily loaded scenes and over cities, as well as new gameplay mechanics. You can find the full list of additions in the patch notes at this link, while in this diary we will talk about the most significant gameplay element introduced in this patch—the Commander Career.
We have already published a diary dedicated to the Career, which you can read here. So we will not describe the Commander Career in words all over again. However, in addition to the written material, thanks to one of the participants in our Content creator program — BrigadierFox — we now have a detailed video guide to this mechanic, with advice and tips on what to pay attention to to succeed in this mode.
In fact, this video is part of an entire series of tutorial videos called Flight Training, which we are preparing together with BrigadierFox. They will also include detailed breakdowns of other gameplay mechanics and game modes, as well as flying and combat tactics in general.
So get ready for an extensive knowledge base for the project. For now, however, let us return to the Career mode.
So get ready for an extensive knowledge base for the project. For now, however, let us return to the Career mode.
The mode now features 19 mission types that you can assign to your subordinates and, of course, take part in yourself:
- Intercept Bombers (two subtypes—daytime and nighttime interception)
- Airfield Defense
- Intercept Heavy Bombers (two subtypes—daytime and nighttime interception)
- Patrol of a Designated Area
- Combat Air Patrol
- Escort Transports
- Escort Heavy Bombers
- Attack Vehicle Column
- Attack Armored Column
- Attack Artillery
- Attack Frontline
- Attack Railway Junction
- Attack Airfield
- Attack Troops
- Traffic Interdiction
- Close Air Support
- Transfer to a New Airfield
As you can see, the list is already quite extensive and allows you to put a wide range of skills to use in combat. We plan to double this list over the course of 2026 and continue expanding it thereafter. For example, we are already considering implementing such specialized mission types as reconnaissance and artillery spotting, which will diversify the gameplay even further.
This list will also grow with the addition of new aircraft from the first DLC, as each of the five new aircraft will be included in the Career. In addition to missions against air and ground targets, there will also be missions against enemy naval forces.
This autumn, we also plan to add another feature to this mode: persistent damage to the map environment from one mission to the next, with bridges and other damaged structures being gradually repaired. This will further enhance the unique sense that your actions have an impact on the game world.
Although the AI has been significantly upgraded and gained many new functions that make this mode possible, much remains to be done to make AI-controlled aircraft behave more realistically in aerial combat. Our next steps will therefore focus specifically on further refining and improving the artificial intelligence. All of these improvements are based, among other things, on feedback we receive from you, our users.
This list will also grow with the addition of new aircraft from the first DLC, as each of the five new aircraft will be included in the Career. In addition to missions against air and ground targets, there will also be missions against enemy naval forces.
This autumn, we also plan to add another feature to this mode: persistent damage to the map environment from one mission to the next, with bridges and other damaged structures being gradually repaired. This will further enhance the unique sense that your actions have an impact on the game world.
Although the AI has been significantly upgraded and gained many new functions that make this mode possible, much remains to be done to make AI-controlled aircraft behave more realistically in aerial combat. Our next steps will therefore focus specifically on further refining and improving the artificial intelligence. All of these improvements are based, among other things, on feedback we receive from you, our users.
By release, we also plan to add a dedicated tutorial mode to the Career interface, allowing players to quickly learn the specifics of the gameplay and its controls.
Overall, our plans for improving the mode are quite ambitious. Yet even without the planned additions mentioned above, the current scope of the mode already available in Early Access is truly vast. An extensive list of mission types, combined with countless possible conditions created by events occurring during each sortie and affecting subsequent ones, makes for an incredibly engaging and immersive mode. In addition to deepening your immersion in the game events, it also makes the start of every new Career a truly unique gameplay experience.
Overall, our plans for improving the mode are quite ambitious. Yet even without the planned additions mentioned above, the current scope of the mode already available in Early Access is truly vast. An extensive list of mission types, combined with countless possible conditions created by events occurring during each sortie and affecting subsequent ones, makes for an incredibly engaging and immersive mode. In addition to deepening your immersion in the game events, it also makes the start of every new Career a truly unique gameplay experience.