EreaDrone News

[p][/p][p]Challengers is back! Participate in this race open to everyone, on Saturday 31st January, at 12PM (Noon) UTC.[/p][p]You will be able to earn some banners and small prizes for participating and winning![/p][h2]How to participate?[/h2]

1. [p]Click here to register, registrations are open until 1h before the start of the race![/p]
2. [p]In-game, submit at least 1 qualification time to qualify (Tournament tab in the main menu)[/p]
3. [p]On Saturday 31st of Jan, join us in the EreaDrone Discord server to fly in the event![/p]

[p]And that's it![/p][h2]Info[/h2]

• [p]Challengers is our series of monthly events, focused on being accessible to everyone, especially beginners[/p]
• [p]You can fly with any drone you want, there are no restrictions[/p]
• [p]This event will be livestreamed on our Youtube and Twitch channels[/p]
• [p]You can submit up to 12 qualification laptimes, so make them count![/p]

[p][/p][h2]Track: Eloujah's meadow[/h2][p]This Challengers event will happen on one of our very first tracks, Eloujah's Meadow![/p][p][/p][p]See you there, in the sky![/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]The Physics V2 Beta has now concluded, and we are very happy with the results. You can now use the new Physics system on all of our drone models (including Standard), with our new updated UI![/p][p]But that's not all we have for this full release, there's some new exciting stuff brewing, with a chunk of it already available in this update: improved UI and lobby system![/p][p]Before that, a quick reminder of what was in the Beta:[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]As you may have seen during the Beta, the Physics V2 update has improved on the previous Physics model that we were using up to now.[/p][p][/p][h3]Improved Drone Profile Menu[/h3][p]This improved menu allows you to set up your drone and physics exactly how you want them! To allow you to tweak them to perfection, you can also fly directly from this menu, so no need to open or close the menu to see what every setting does and feels like.[/p][p]As well, we have included helpful text and video tooltips that explain what every setting does, with extensive explanations if you want them. This will greatly help if you're new, or not sure exactly what "Motor Attack" even is.[/p][p]You can open this menu directly at any time using the new keyboard bind.[/p][p][/p][h3]New options and sliders[/h3][p]We've included more options for you to tweak your flight experience. To enable Physics V2 on your drone, please select "Physics V2" in the Physics Version toggle. This will also let you use the legacy system if you want that.[/p][p]Want to fly on Mars to see what it feels like? Go ahead with the new Gravity slider.[/p][p]In the Session settings, you can tweak Altitude, Temperature, and Humidity, to tailor your flight conditions to what you can expect in the real world. This is useful if you are training for a big outdoor competition, to really get the details right![/p][p][/p][h3]Useful UX changes for the Track Editor[/h3][p]Unrelated to the Physics Update, we released some changes to the track editor, including an improved checkpoint menu to make it more understandable, and the ability to rename track elements to better keep track of them![/p][p][/p][p]Now that we have closed the Beta, we are releasing some additional features and improvements![/p][p][/p][h3]UI Changes[/h3][p]As you may have seen, we now have a new redesigned Main Menu! While it has the same functionality as the old, we expect to make more changes to it very soon. There's also now all the social links for EreaDrone accounts.[/p][p]We also added a new stylish Game Mode Selection Menu! Choose between Race, Freestyle and Challenge with animated flair. Hover your cursor over the mode you want to select it. The whole sim has also gotten some new polish, with new animations and transitions all over the UI.[/p][p][/p][p]There's a new Content Creator Mode option, that for now only removes the version number in the corner. This is a WIP feature, and we will add more to it soon like replacing licensed music with royalty free music and more.[/p][p]This is the start of a wider UI update, that will be our next focus. More on this later.[/p][p][/p][h3]Better, Faster Lobby system[/h3][p]The Lobby system has been reworked, for both Single and Multiplayer![/p][p]When changing Weather, Time of Day, or Altitude/Temperature/Humidity, the Sim no longer reloads the map in full, so loading is now significantly faster.[/p][p]You can also now open the session settings at any time using the new rebindable shortcut.[/p][p]We will also rework the Lobby and Session settings menus, in the upcoming update, so stay tuned![/p][p][/p][p]This Physics V2 Update is the first step on our Road to 1.0! EreaDrone will receive a host a new updates that overhaul major systems to make it the best sim it can be, as well as adding new exciting features.[/p][p][/p][h3]Roadmap for what's next[/h3][p]We want to introduce our Roadmap, including the changes we want to make to the sim.[/p][p]For now, in rough chronological order:[/p][p][/p][p]We will announce what's behind those mysterious "TBA" as we go along this roadmap. Of course, we remain commited to the FAI seasons, Challengers events and Fly with the Devs events during these updates.[/p][h3]UI Update[/h3][p]The next update will be the UI update! While we already included some UI changes in this release, we have big plans to change how the interface works in the sim, making it look better, and of course be better to use. We hope this will be a solid base to make further changes.[/p][p]You can learn more about what's next for EreaDrone during our next Fly with the Devs #2 session this Saturday, 17th January at 1PM UTC in the EreaDrone Discord server. Come fly with us, participate in a track making workshop, and ask us any question you want![/p][p][/p][p]We hope you are exicited for this new update, as well as what's next for EreaDrone in 2026! Happy New Year from the EreaStudio team![/p][p][/p][h2]Bug fixes[/h2][p]Of course, we also fixed some bugs![/p]

• [p]Fixed replay related issues: replays playing too fast and incorrectly displaying time[/p]
• [p]Fixed menu scrolling up while switching tabs in Options[/p]
• [p]Fixed artifacts in the 'button pressed' animation[/p]
• [p]Fixed some buttons not appearing or causing exceptions[/p]
• [p]Fixed avatars sometimes being mixed up in scoreboards[/p]
• [p]Fixed Drone selection screen not showing up when switching from spectator to pilot[/p]
• [p]Fixed input binding not being able to be cancelled by pressing Escape key[/p]
• [p]Fixed PID related issues[/p]
• [p]Fixed other drones having max volume in certain conditions[/p]
• [p]Fixed instability in Challenge and Tutorial modes[/p]
• [p]Fixed localization typos[/p]
• [p]Fixed various minor bugs[/p]

[p]We also made various performance and optimization bugs, and updated internal components.[/p][p][/p]

[p]Hi Pilots![/p][p][/p][p]We have released a small update fixing some bugs.[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Fixed players being unable to progress past the Setup screen and not being able to play, because the 'Next' button was not working[/p]
• [p]Fixed some small performance issues. We are still working on bettering performance[/p]
• [p]Fixed the Physics V2, and Legacy Physics options being mislabelled and in the wrong order on some drone models[/p]
• [p]Fixed the size of the updates. Recently, we have pushed a few large updates (15Go+), which were due to a malfunction in our patching system. This has now been fixed, and the updates should be much smaller. Sorry for the inconvenience.[/p]
• [p]Physics V2 is now the default option when creating a new Drone Profile. Please take the time to give some feedback using the in-game button, it helps us greatly and you can earn rewards![/p]

[p][/p][p]Thank you![/p][p]- The EreaDrone team[/p]

[p]We are finally releasing the Physics Update! But before that, we need you to test it out to make sure it's perfect. We will run a Beta, which will be open for about 2 weeks, and you will be able to get rewards if you test out the new features, and give us feedback![/p][p]Please note this is still a beta, so some features are not fully ready, and we might also add new features, so feel free to check back often.[/p][p][/p][p]To participate, no need to switch to a beta branch. Just download the latest update, and you’re good! To earn rewards, please test the new physics and features, and then give us feedback using the in-game link. If you submit feedback multiple times, you will also be able to get multiple rewards, so check back every time we make an update to the Beta.[/p][p][/p][p]🈂️ Call to translators: [/p][p]Do you speak Japanese, Korean, or Spanish, and want to help out? We need your help to provide a better experience for the simulator, and make it more accessible. Feel free to reach out to us by mail at [email protected] or directly on the Discord server, if you want to participate.[/p][p][/p][p]To try out the new physics, open the updated Drone Profile menu. Here, you can choose the improved Physics V2 model, and tweak new settings, while flying around![/p][p][/p][h2]✨ New Drone Profile Menu[/h2][p]Fly while tweaking the settings, to directly compare the settings and how they affect your drone. No need to open the menu, change the setting you want and then close it back again, it’s now been streamlined![/p][p]New video and text tooltips were added! All of the settings in the Drone Profile may appear complicated, so we added new tooltips that illustrate and explain what every setting does, and how it affects your drone, and you might even learn some new things… [/p][p][/p][h2]🔩 More settings and sliders[/h2][p][/p][h3]2️⃣ Physics Model toggle[/h3][p]In the Drone Profile, you can now choose which model of Physics you want to use. The Legacy model is the old EreaDrone physics, and they will remain available if you prefer them.[/p][p]Physics V2 is the new model that is introduced in this beta. It is now more accurate, using enhanced aerodynamic data, and incorporates more real-life physical phenomena. Please try it out, and give us your opinion on it, we want it to be perfect![/p][h3]🍎 Gravity[/h3][p]A lot of you requested it, and here it is: a gravity slider! Want to fly like on the Moon, or Saturn? Want to tweak the gravity slightly to your taste? Now you can, using the Gravity slider.[/p][h3]🏔️ Environment settings (in Session settings)[/h3][p]You can now tweak the Altitude, Temperature and Humidity of the environment you are flying in. These all affect how the drone flies, and you can now change and tweak them how you like. If you are training for an important competition, you can look up the local temperature, humidity and altitude to make the simulator even more realistic! [/p][h3]✨ Physics Quality setting (in General settings)[/h3][p]You can now choose the quality of the Physics. Higher quality physics will be more accurate, but will use more CPU power. We have optimized the physics, so don’t hesitate to try higher quality settings, even if your PC isn’t very powerful.[/p][h3]⚙️ General enhancements and optimization for physics[/h3][p]The whole physics engine has been updated and optimized, and the game should now run more smoothly. If you encounter any remaining problems, please reach out to us, and mention it in your feedback. Thrust, drag and many other aspects were reworked to be more accurate.[/p][p][/p][h2]🛠️ Track Editor[/h2][p][/p][h3]📋 Enhanced the Checkpoint list[/h3][p]The Checkpoint List was often quite confusing, especially when there were a lot of checkpoints. We have added the gate name and picture to help with that. Buttons to move the checkpoint up, down, and to the top were also added.[/p][h3]🏷️ Renaming elements[/h3][p]You can now rename elements you placed down, so you can find them faster. Also, the checkpoints are now named by the elements they are placed on, so this will help you navigate it easier as well. [/p][p][/p][p]We have also implemented other minor QoL features, and bug fixes related to the Track Editor.[/p][h2]⚒️ Bug Fixes[/h2][p]Fixed a few bugs related to account creation. If you had trouble creating an account recently, please contact us directly, preferably on the Discord server.[/p][p]Fixed several bugs reported to us by the community. If you ever experience any issues, please report them to us. Your reports are indispensable.[/p][p][/p][p]We look forward to seeing your feedback. Don't hesitate to speak your mind, now is the time to make EreaDrone the best it can be.[/p][p][/p][p]The EreaDrone team [/p]

[p]v. 1144 → 1160[/p][h2]👥 PROFILE CUSTOMIZATION MENU, and TRACK OF THE WEEK 🗓️[/h2][p]As you may have already seen, we have recently introduced cosmetic Profile Banners and Player Titles, but no way to change them. That’s because we were working on the expanded Player Profile menu! You can now check out the stats, leaderboards, created maps, and tournament participation of other pilots, and yours! Here, you can also select which banner and player title you want to use.[/p][p]To get to the Profile menu, click on your profile in the top-right corner of the Main Menu, then View/Edit Profile.[/p][p]- Added a Profile Page with tabs (General, Leaderboard, Maps, Tournament, Banners, and Titles)[/p][p]- Enhanced the Social menu. It now loads faster and scrolls more smoothly[/p][p]- Added Player Banners and Titles. They appear in the Profile and Social menus, Leaderboards, and Multiplayer Lobbies[/p][p]- Added a Track of the Week! On top of the Track selection, you will be able to choose the featured track of the week, with a separate weekly leaderboard. Getting to the top will earn you rewards[/p][p][/p][h2]🤖 BETTER DRONE FEEL & OPTIMIZATION ⚙️[/h2][p]We have made some under-the-hood changes to how drone physics and handling are managed to prepare for the upcoming Physics Update. We have also fixed an issue relating to drone feel: drones should now feel way smoother. Stay tuned for what’s coming next![/p][p]- Fixed an issue causing the movement of the drone to be stuck at 60Hz in some scenarios when it could be higher, causing stutters and a bad drone feel[/p][p]- Made some internal changes to optimize drone physics and handling[/p][p]- Added Nvidia DLSS4 support, available in the Anti-Aliasing options[/p][p][/p][h2]🚧 TRACK EDITOR UPDATE 🎢[/h2][p]We recently added some quality-of-life features to the track editor, as well as new truss elements that will allow you to create any gate shape you want.[/p][p]- You can now select, move, and delete multiple elements at once[/p][p]- Copy/paste now works for the coordinates of objects[/p][p]- New Elements: TrussBare, TrussNode, TrussLegShort, and TrussLegLong[/p][p]- Triggers now look better and are less intrusive, reducing visual clutter[/p][p]- New setting: Spectator Maximum Zoom in Options/Controls[/p][p]
[/p][h2]🐛 BUG FIXES 🛠️[/h2][p]Fixed an issue where the cursor would sometimes completely disappear[/p][p]Fixed scrolling sometimes not working in the Options menu, depending on the mouse position[/p][p]Fixed the Drone profiles sometimes not being initialized correctly, causing several downstream issues[/p][p]Fixed the Track imported image sometimes not being visible[/p][p]Fixed a scrolling issue in the Track Editor library[/p][p]Fixed screen tearing in certain scenarios, in particular in spectator mode[/p][p]Minor bug fixes[/p][p]... and updated internal components and systems[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We hope you enjoy the new features, and especially the improved drone feel. We are always open to feedback, here on the Steam Community Hub or our official Discord Server.[/p][p]We will share some more news about the beta for the Physics Update shortly.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]See you in the sim![/p][p][/p][p]The EreaDrone Team[/p][p][/p]