Hardspace: Shipbreaker News

Hardspace: Shipbreaker sits you in front of a moist gateau and hands you a cake slice, only the gateau is a stylish spaceship and the cake slice is a metal-severing laser. It's immediately compelling, as you cut into your rich dessert to extract its delicious insides without accidentally slicing a cherry. In this metaphor, the cherries are explosives.

After a while, I found its early access release got a little lonely and a little samey, but that might have changed with today's "Salvage Your Future" update. It revamps Shipbreaker's campaign and introduces four new voiced characters.

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• Experience a revamped campaign and meet a brand new cast of characters
  You might be alone in space, but that doesn’t mean you have to be lonely! A whole new cast of characters has been introduced to Hardspace: Shipbreaker’s campaign. While living out the trials and tribulations of a spaceship salvager, you’ll meet and interact with fellow shipbreakers and other LYNX employees from all walks of life.
  
• Enjoy a whole new way to learn the ropes
  As part of the tutorial and Act 1 revamp, you’ll also enjoy a whole new way to learn the ropes, before climbing through 30 Certification ranks!
  
• And more!
  A host of additions and changes also arrive as part of the Salvage Your Future update, including a redesigned HUD, new stickers to personalize your tools, quality-of-life improvements and more.
  In celebration of today's update, Hardspace Shipbreaker is also 30% off on Steam!

• Campaign Story Act 1
  - Storyline from Ranks 1 to 7
  - Meet a cast of characters including other Shipbreakers
  - New Data Drives to recover
  
• Certification and Work Order Revamp
  - Certification is now based on Mastery Points
  - Earn Mastery Points for Salvaging and hitting Salvage Goals
  - Work Order replaced with Salvage Goals
  - Certification Ranks 1 - 30 implemented
  NOTE: All Progression has been reset for this update!
• Mackerel Variety Improved
  - Light Cargo, Station Hopper and Heavy Cargo layouts revised
  - Mackerel Exolab science vessel added
  
• Ship Difficulty replaced with Hazard Level
  - Better reflects threats and challenges in ships
  - HUD Redesigned for Improved Clarity

• Story character voiceover is placeholder using internal developers, and will be replaced by professional voice actors in a future update!
  
• People that wish to stay on the 0.3.1 branch will no be able to participate to Weekly R.A.C.E.
  NOTE: during this process, we uncovered an issue where the total value of SOME ships is calculated incorrectly. This has made it difficult to properly balance progression, as some Players will progress faster than anticipated. We are looking into correcting this issue soon, but the problem is too complex and foundational for us to fix for this release. As such, we will likely revisit the early-game progression tunings in one of the next updates.
• To avoid rare possible bugs, please make sure your nvidia drivers are up to date!

• Campaign Story Act 1
  - Storyline from Ranks 1 to 7, introducing a crew of Shipbreakers, the history LYNX Corporation and expanding on the world of Hardspace
  - Tutorial revised for improved onboarding
  - Four new voiced characters
  - Placeholder Voiceover for all story characters (Will be replaced in a future update)
  - Additional Data Drive content for expanded world-building
  
• Work Order System Revamp
  - Replaced with Salvage Indicator
  - Promotes salvaging “the whole buffalo”
  - Salvage Goals provide additional Mastery Point and LYNX Token bonuses to proficient Cutters
  
• Certification Progression Revamp
  - Certification is now based on Mastery Points (MP)
  - Earn MP based on salvage value, and for reaching Salvage Goals
  - Certification Ranks 1 to 30 implemented
  NOTE: All Progression has been reset for this update!
  - The previous version and progression can be played on the archive Steam branch: Version 0.3.1
  - Future Campaign/Progression updates may include additional progression resets
  
• Early Game Ship Variety Improved
  - Mackerel Station Hopper, Light Cargo and Heavy Cargo have been revised to each feel more distinct
  - Mackerel Exolab Science Vessel added
  - Ship Difficulty replaced by Hazard Levels that better reflect threats
  - Slight changes to Mackerel tail and nose composition to improve salvaging
  
• HUD Revamp
  - Layout updated to reduce clutter and screen space use, and improve readability
  - HUD rendering improved to increase readability and performance
  
• Death Flow Revamp
• Improved Death Screen provides more contextual information and humour
• Vocalizations for all elemental damages intensified
• 10 New Stickers Added
• Out-of-Range prompt added to Cutting Tool
• Grapple Strength Improved
  - Baseline strength increased from 1,000 kg to 3,000 kg
  - Strength Upgrades also increased
  
• 🚀 Tether Intersection Allowance Time Increased
• Should allow daisy-chaining objects together more often without breaking
• Some models and textures improved
  - Masterjack
  - Jacks
  
• Thruster Fuel Canister
• 🚀 Removed Cut Guards
• Removed Utility Keys & The Terminals That Require Them

• When Javelins are used in Weekly RACE, the Landing Page incorrectly shows 6 objectives but in-game work order correctly shows 3
  
• Pressurized space outside the airlock entrance at the back section of the Heavy Cargo Javelins
  
• On Salvage Runners the bottom panel near the fuses has a duplicated structural beam
  
• The demo charge loses its durability when the user dies/takes damage, despite still being locked/unpurchased
  
• Panels in the Cargo Javelin unexpectedly dejointed after chairs were yanked off the floor
  
• The wall behind the ECU in Heavy Cargo Javelins has duplicated structural beams
  
• Pulling the fuel cap off the fuel tank on Heavy Cargo Javelins made the fuel flush interaction inactive
  
• Barge not clearing airlock doors in particular between shifts
  
• Railgate VFX warmup sequence not playing
  
• Keel near the cargo hatch is missing a cutpoint in the Gecko Heavy Cargo
  
• "????" tag seen in the structural scanner view in Salvage Gecko
  
• A Real Talker Sticker Description refers to "High-Gain Antennae" as "High-Grade Antennae "
  
• Grade 4/5/6 ships have incorrect thruster class labels in the Ship Catalog
  
• Industrial hoist in ECU room on Salvage Gecko spawns without a rail guide to be attached to
  
• On high difficulty Heavy Cargo Javelins, the fuel X pipe is misaligned
  
• Traditional Chinese texts have parasite characters prompting a line skip
  
• Red shader over incorrect salvage flashes when object is leaving the barge
  
• Parts of the Gecko hull may not dejoint until lights are yanked along the seams between the nanocarbon
  
• The Sticker Category list in the HAB does not update correctly if the player changes the language during gameplay
  
• In the Stickers Menu, the text prompting to place a sticker is unlocalized
  
• In the Stickers Menu, the text indicating that a sticker is locked is unlocalized
  
• When the first loading screen of a session is "front-end to HAB in career mode", multiple locIDs appear in the loading screen tips
  
• Cut points from top-middle ion ring pop off after being in the barge a few seconds
  
• Several Barge objects remain highlighted green, after salvaged on the barge
  
• Soft and hard crates do not have green highlight in the barge
  
• Cut points on the clamps holding the shipping crates onto Javelin Heavy Cargo don't seem to be vaporizing unless you cut them down the middle
  
• Harsh bloom on Commercial Gecko Airlock lights
  
• Polaris audio can be heard in the Tutorial, with no sign of the Polaris
  
• Control VO doesn't prioritize positive feedback when salvaging multiple objects
  
• Interacting with the Kiosk during the Tutorial will allow the player to equip the grapple prematurely
  
• The moon and certain village assets are not properly affected by atmospheric fog
  
• The weight of detached objects doesn't properly update on the HUD, when using the grapple
  
• On some Refuellers, the floor panel under the ECU is marked Titanium for Furnace salvaging
  
• In Scan mode the Multitool appears in the Structural tab
  
• Fuse Breaker lights are tagged as Structure (Aluminium) for Furnace salvaging
  
• Demo Charge preview AR remains green from successfully attaching even while others have turned orange due to impending detonation
  
• Mackerel ghost ship personal terminals pop off when yanking a computer terminal
  
• Released doors can sometimes rebind to the doorframe they came from
  
• Detonating preview incorrectly shows up on Frozen demo charges when valid charges are also detonated
  
• When starting a new shift wheel shows 100% but selecting the tool will show the accurate %
  
• Blocky shadows on Mackerels next to lights in the main cabin
  
• Remaining Mass bar may be incorrect if a ship is salvaged in multiple shift
  
• Demo charges can go through a cargo hatch
  
• Hidden data drive reappears after being destroyed
  
• On the cut point of the amplifiers, a triangle can be seen under the regular texture depicting a square
  
• Stickers screen localization does not change language correctly using the loc debugger
  
• On Javelins, the exterior pillars connecting the octagon panels are misaligned
  
• Crash during the Ship Catalog, when the user claimed a new ship
  
• In the HAB, using Select and Quit button at the same time leads to start a shift while being still in the HAB
  
• Demo Charge Rental Fee not being deducted as after a shift
  
• On Javelins, level II cut points have similar textures to level I cut points but are indestructible for the cutter
  
• Player model fingers on Detonation Tool do not appear to be gripping the tool
  
• LOD issue on the Geckos' Access Ladders beyond a certain distance
  
• Rumble will occasionally continue and not stop when switching from splitsaw to stinger while cutting
  
• The Stickers menu is not translated, when changing the game's language in any other language
  
• New stickers notification number is right justified and does not match the alignment of the new message notification
  
• Unjointed AI Node with no emissives seen in mackerel heavy cargo
  
• Controller able to navigate inbox even when greyed out
  
• Atmospheric regulator became stuck as 'in progress' when activated via haunting as player cut the door
  
• Cannot dismiss 'purchase upgrade' pop-up after purchasing an upgrade

• Community Feedback Barge Revamp
  Barge is deeper and can accept more objects
  Clears between shifts for max efficiency
  
  
• Community Participation Winning Narrative Log Contest Entry Added
  It’s somewhere….
  
  
• Railgate Launch Sequence
  Railgate will periodically launch ships deep into the solar system
  
  
• Demo Charge Durability Effects Added
  Detonator will become faulty over time
  
  
• Bay Startup Sequence
  Barge, Furnace and Processor activate when Shift begins
  
  
• Important Notice
  The next update (0.4.0) will include Act 1 of the Story, as well as completely overhauled Certification and Work Order systems.These changes will come with a complete Progression reset! Visit the Steam Discussions for more info.
  

• 🚀 Barge completely revamped
  + Barge is now deeper and can accommodate far more objects
  + Barge now clears between shifts
  + Incorrect items are highlighted in Red
  + Correct items that are still connected to incorrect items are highlighted in Green until separated
  
  
• 🚀Winning Narrative Log Contest Added
  + Congratulations to Discord user Snark!
  + It’s somewhere….
  
  
• Railgate Launch Sequence
  + The Railgate in the skybox will periodically go through it’s launch sequence, sending ships deep into the Solar System
  
  
• Demo Charge Durability Effects Added
  + The Demo Charge tool has been hooked up to the Durability system
  + As the tool’s durability drops, the Detonator will become more and more faulty
  + Detonator has an increasing chance to fail, up to a max of 3 times in a row
  
• Bay Startup Sequence
  + Barge, Furnace and Processor activate when the Shift begins
  
• Theme-based Ship Lighting added
  + Interior lighting is different between Industrial, Civilian and Science ships
  
• Thumbs-up Animation Revamped

• The game crashes, when the user salvages the middle section of the javelin in its entirety in the furnace
  
• There are two sets of flow volumes in the Salvage Bay, possibly leading to excess furnace furnace pull
  
• The user gets stuck in the Remapping menu, after rebinding left/right button mouse and needs to quit via ALT F4
  
• Ghost Heavy Cargo Javelins spawn with shipping crates
  
• The High Gain Antennae will often bounce out of the barge, when being salvaged
  
• The High-Gain Antenna pierces the border of the barge, when salvaged near the edge of the barge
  
• Mass, Distance, Cutgrade on HUD is missing on all tools except Grapple
  
• Some Upgrades do not immediately apply when selecting "Continue Salvage" and only take effect when selecting a new ship
  
• Incorrect texture used on prongs holding in Mackerel reactor
  
• Explosion elemental effect radius is not calculated correctly. For example, taking Damage from Demo Charges does not apply fire status effect to the player
  
• Door consoles to the cockpit in mackerels spawn unjointed
  
• Demo Charge Model Preview Does Not Render On Glass
  
• Demo Charge antenna model renders behind Rail Gate Village assets
  
• Demo Charges will be immediately caught by the player's hand if thrown while hand is active
  
• Incorrect salvage location for javelin refueller chassis nanocarbon and aluminum
  
• The Fabric on the aluminum structure remains attached to the ship, after the user yanks out the structure
  
• On Cargo Javelins the tail airlock console stops working, when the large middle section fuel tank explodes
  
• On Javelins, the front section of the cockpit flies away, when detached from the ship
  
• On Javelins, the panels separating different sections of the ship are tagged Titanium for Furnace salvaging
  
• Decompression pocket found in the cockpits of the Javelins
  
• Cannot cycle the region leaderboard using Left Stick
  
• On Javelins, Aluminum beams of the ship's middle cage structure are marked for Processor salvaging
  
• On Cargo Javelins, a segment of the fuel pipe is doubled-up
  
• The controller cannot be used to scroll down/up and read the Ghost Ship message in the HAB's "New Message" screen, when not playing in English
  
• Cutting/melting a cut point after deploying a demo charge will trigger the demo charge deploy SFX
  
• On a Salvage Runner, a salvaged titanium panel is spawned inside the wall of the salvage bay
  
• On easy Ghost Javelins, there is an AI free floating in the thruster room
  
• Fume Chute and Waste Disposal listed as mechanical are not showed in Scan Mode Systems
  
• Pod Clamps appear in the scanner's Structural mode marked as Electrical objects
  
• Certain beams on Salvage Runners are offset and cause some Z-fighting
  
• During the tutorial, Ship's A exterior hull texture is displayed as pitch black
  
• Sticker Icons appear low-res when shown on the Sticker unlock popup
  
• Engineering consoles appear green in Systems as electrical but are described as mechanical in Objects
  
• Hand does not turn during a breaker handle interaction
  
• No image linked to "Salvage, Lynx - safety_ad_02.view" in Data Recovery
  
• Missing collision on salvage bay light panels
  
• Clicking outside conflict popup in Key Mapping menu causes the user to become stuck in the conflict state
  
• Purchasing one of each item in the Kiosk causes a large framerate hitch and ClipCursor error
  
• When Weekly RACE Timer ticks down to 0 hours on the landing page, the number of Days does not tick down
  
• Some ships are not using the correct user-facing names in the Free Play selection menu
  
• The battery pack marked barge is not salvaged by the barge
  
• Frozen Demo Charges do not shatter when detonating
  
• Weekly RACE leaderboard scores will show a previously recorded death count but does not reflect the new score
  
• The option "HUD OFF" is half working when the player relaunches the game
  
• Demo Charge Detonator lights remain on after detonating until the user switches tools/modes
  
• Multiple Weaver warnings play when a single object with multiple AI nodes is thrown into the processor
  
• Javelin antenna and mount fly off unexpectedly after being cut free in unpressurized space
  
• Javelins do not contain any 3D Dirty Air assets
  
• On javelins, the class 2 Reactor-Thruster system can be easily salvaged without flushing the thruster
  
• The demo charges slide away, when the user attemps to place it on the nanocarbon cage beams
  
• Javelin reactor explodes after losing 1 pip after thruster exploded and ECU is deactivated
  
• Javelin refueller has one specific aluminum reactor casing panel is unyankable
  
• Floating AI Node outside a medium difficulty ghost Mackerel, when starting the shift
  
• There is no daily rental fee for the demo charge
  
• Airlock consoles lights stay on despite being disconnected from the power sources
  
• All items on the Kiosk can be purchased whether the player is full or not, resulting in unnecessary debt for the player
  
• On geckos the crawlspace coolant pipe is misaligned, with the incorrect connecting end to the ECU wall
  

Early-access spaceship slicing simulator Hardspace: Shipbreaker has fired another update into orbit. This time around you’ll have yet another class of giant abandoned ship to crawl around in. To make matters both better and worse, you’ve got the new demotion charge tool to do it with. They’re nifty remote precision charges but apparently disarming them if you change your mind can be a trick. The new Business Is Booming update is out now for all you pro shipbreakers.

(more…)

• New Ship Type: the Javelin-Class
  Javelins are long, thin and built with modular sections
  Narrow interiors, and complex exterior structural elements
  
  
• New Tool Available: The Demo Charge
  Place multiple charges for an elaborate demo sequence
  Performs powerful cuts on nearly any material
  
  
• Tool Durability System Updated
  Clearer low durability effects for all tools
  
  
• Tool Selection Revamped
  New Radial Menu accomodates expanded roster of equipment
  
  
• New Stickers
  10 New Stickers available!
  
  
• Bug Fixes, Optimizations & Quality of Life Improvements

• Javelin Ship-Class Added
  - Two Roles: Refueling and Heavy Cargo
  - Three Sizes: Small, Medium & Large
  
• Demo Charge / Detonator Tool Added
  
• Tool Durability Revamped
  - Low-Durability Feedback (FX / SFX / UI) improved on all tools
  - Low-Durability gameplay effects adjusted for all tools
  ❐ Grapple: Reduced max strength
  ❐ Cutter: Increased idle heat
  ❐ Thrusters: Reduced top speed & helmet rattle
  ❐ Scanner: Increased distortion and visual noise
  
• Tool Wheel UI Added
  - Tool Wheel access added to Gamepay ‘Y’ / ‘△’, Keyboard ‘R’
  
• Tool Mode Toggle action added to Gamepad D-Pad Right, Keyboard ‘V’
  
• Default Scanner Toggle changed from Gamepad ‘Y’ / ‘△’ to D-Pad Up
  
• Cut Level UI added to HUD - Shows the Cut Level of the current object under the reticle
  
• Front-End Screen Updated
  
• New Stickers Added
  ❐ Ichthyologist
  ❐ Herpetologist
  ❐ Javelineer
  ❐ Full of Gas
  ❐ Environmentally Conscious
  ❐ Energy Conscious
  ❐ Put a Hex On It
  ❐ A Real Talker
  ❐ Under Pressure
  ❐ Art Collector
  
• Pop-up Message added to HAB when returning after unlocking a Sticker
  
• SplitSaw Cut Grade Upgrade removed
  
• Ghost Ship spawn rate reduced
  
• Ghost Ships now appear only in Ship Grade 4 and up
  

• On Salvage Runners, the reactor goes directly in meltdown after using the utility key
  
• On Salvage Runners, the front (nose) panels fly away, when disjointed
  
• On Salvage Runners certain objects are attached to the cockpit door frame
  
• Salvage Runner coolant pipe behind ECU wall still active after removing coolant from the ECU
  
• Aluminum wall behind ECU is tagged as processor on all geckos except Salvage Runner
  
• Inconsistent reactor room labeling, Industrial and Salvage geckos are labeled 'Engine Rooms'
  
• Pressurized space seen in the exterior of the salvage gecko (starboard side)
  
• The "Present ID" text on the front screen stays in english regardless of language
  
• After rebinding the menu keys, the shift summary prompts don't update.
  
• The text describing the Open Shift doesn't fit properly in German and French
  
• The HUD notification prompting to listen to audio logs doesn't fit properly in several languages
  
• The text on the prompt button to delete a profile doesn't fit properly in German
  
• Decompression pockets, unknown SFX and light changes in the cargo area on Industrial Gecko
  
• Class II reactors' health bar is not displayed consistently between states
  
• The audio log labelled as "Curry, Mary" has its text displayed twice in the data viewer.
  
• Electrical Circuit Hissing sound persists inside the Bay after choosing to salvage any ‘Direct Ways Corporation’ type of ship
  
• Very long description text when approaching some objects can overlap with the hud
  
• The player can't apply a stickers on a tool using his/her mouse
  
• Data Viewer headers are difficult for the reader to parse
  
• Ghost Ship - AI Nodes can cause exterior of airlock to violently decompress.
  
• Soft Crates stay on fire when salvaged
  
• On certain mackerels, the top and bottom of triple stacked storage bins remain bound, after yanking the middle part
  
• No longer possible to navigate with the controller in the HAB, after the shift ended while being in the Kiosk
  
• Klyne Co. Sales data drive shows "Klien Co." in the Data Viewer
  
• The 3D dirty air props have the wrong sound attached when impacting surfaces/helmet
  
• In the tutorial, the "Start shift" button does not stay black
  
• If the player plays an audio log and stops it at the same time while this log is already playing, the audio log will replay but no audio log interface will be shown
  
• Button prompts on the Leaderboards screen are not updated when keys are remapped
  
• Thrusters can be salvaged without using an utility key or the emergency thruster overrides
  
• Fuse light mini game uses the same beep sfx as the 10 second countdown timer
  
• Dying while interacting with the kiosk prevents user from respawning
  
• A crackling sound can be heard, when the Open Shift Oxygen Settings pop-up appears
  
• When terminating a Rank 10 profile, the past profiles menu displays a set of default values
  
• Overheating cutter in Free Mode plays danger audio and VFX
  
• Cutter behaves as if it had 100% durability after restarting the game, but shows 0% durability in the HAB
  
• O2 loss when smashing helmet while in pressurized space
  
• The Stickers menu is not translated, when changing the game's language in any other language
  
• Occasionally, F key/X button no longer allow the user to open doors or use the kiosk.
  
• Mackerel Engine Rooms are incorrectly set up as Reactor Rooms which causes audio issues
  
• Computer terminals spawn on the mackerel floor
  
• It is not possible to view a sticker collection by clicking on the "View collection" prompt in the Sticker Menu
  
• Section of the Fuel Pipe on the Gecko Stargazer is immovable unless an elbow joint is vapourized
  
• Pocket of pressurized space with the "Crawl Space" room volume found near the front of a Gecko - Heavy Cargo
  
• On Stargazers, the fuel X pipe is attached to the ship's hull
  
• AI Nodes spawn without being fixed to an object in Ghost Mackerels
  
• Incorrect audio plays for "Romano, Ellen - Captain" file under "Mars" Data Recovery entry
  
• Browsing image prevents interrupting an audio log
  
• Fuel flush SFX did not trigger when flushing the nacelle pipes
  
• AI node SFX quieter when destroyed by a splitsaw
  
• On Mackerels, the space under the cargo hatch is tagged as Crawl Space
  
• In the HAB, the user can scroll two lists at the same time if there are two scrollbars to control
  
• The Control VO remains distorted, when abandoning a ghost ship shift and starting to salvage on normal ships
  
• If the player quit the Equipment menu and enter an upgrade tree at the same time, he/she will be blocked in the HAB main menu.
  
• Fuel Pipe on Science Geckos spawn overlap with a panel at the back of the ship
  
• Ghost Ship Computer Keyboard Terminal keyboard appears as 'unconfigured' in scanner object mode
  
• AI Nodes spawn unjointed in the Mackerel Cockpit if the reactor spawns in the crawlspace
  
• Player can re-roll their ship catalog by quitting to the front-end and re-entering career mode
  
• It is not possible to stop an audio log by clicking on the "Stop" prompt in the player
  
• Incorrect texture on a cockpit floor panel in the geckos
  
• In the Data Recovery menu, you can select the wrong Data Device by hovering it after selecting one first
  
• Messages and Stickers menu are not locked during the tutorial
  
• "Employee advancement" stikers are not credited on accounts/saves older than the current version
  
• Unpressurized air pocket when near a cargo hatch on light cargo mackerels
  
• On Transport Geckos, the Reactor Room Atmosphere Regulator continues to pressurize the room exposed to the outside
  
• Some subtitles are not refreshed correctly in the tutorial
  
• Airlock Consoles Light is slightly out of the console screen.
  
• Ghost Ship intro music stinger does not respect player's volume settings