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Liftoff: Micro Drones News

Update 1.0.1 released!

[p]
What a launch!

We've been smiling non-stop all week thanks to the incredible response and support from all of you. V1 was a major update, and we’re thrilled with how smoothly everything went. Of course, there are always a few final touches to polish, but that’s part of the journey. This marks our first post-launch update, and we’re just getting started![/p][h2]
Changelist
[/h2]
[p][/p]
  • [p]Added quick Steam Workshop access buttons for custom tracks and races in the multiplayer game lobby.[/p]
  • [p]Updated the race guide's path generation to be more consistent with the intended flow of the track. This fixes some switchbacks in the path that should've been straight.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed The Siren achievement not correctly unlocking.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed the 02 - Starry Night track in the San Lipo Drive nighttime environment.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed issue with leaderboard profile pictures showing a white image.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed blurry loading screen images on lower quality settings.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed issue in the track builder where deleting an item while manipulating the gizmo could make the editor go in an undefined state.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed the spline tool in the track builder to prevent spline items being placed on game triggers.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed several collisions in the Azure District - Silverscreen environment.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed the flight controller settings menu not selecting the correct rates model if the drone setup was using a different model than BetaFlight.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed an issue in multiplayer where an error could occur during the finish screen while having the drone selection or level selection open, and the next game was started.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed a controller calibration issue where the controller and UI wouldn't get displayed.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed issue in the track editor where spline spacing wasn't being saved properly.[/p]
[p][/p]

Full Release: Liftoff: Micro Drones

[p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]
When we launched the Early Access of Liftoff: Micro Drones back in late 2021, we made a bold promise: to deliver the ultimate simulator for the micro drone class.[/p][p]Today, we’re proud to say, we’ve kept that promise. And it’s all thanks to you. Your passion, feedback, and unwavering support have shaped every update, every feature, every line of code. [/p][h2]
TL;DR
[/h2][p]The changelist below is massive—packed with the fixes, features, and fine-tuning you’ve been waiting for. But we know you love a good TL;DR, so here’s what you really need to know:[/p]
  • [p]Track Builder — The long-awaited, fully custom toolset is finally here. Over a year in the making, built from the ground up to empower your creativity. Create, share and download custom tracks. [/p]
[p][/p]
  • [p]Levels — Azure District (previously Silverscreen) and Melon Pan Park now feature stunning nighttime versions, each transforming the experience into something entirely new.[/p]
[p][/p]
  • [p]UI/UX Polish — We’ve polished every pixel. Buttons are consistent, menus intuitive, everything feels tighter, smoother, better.[/p]
[p][/p]
  • [p]BETAFPV Air75 — You asked. You waited. It's here.[/p]
[p][/p]
  • [p]Steam Achievements — Track your progress, challenge yourself, and unlock milestones[/p]
[p][/p]

Changelist
[p][/p]
[p]New:[/p]
  • [p]Two new environments![/p]
    • [p]Melon Pan Park - Neon City[/p]
    • [p]Azure District - Grip[/p]
  • [p]All new Track Builder[/p]
    • [p]Build and configure your own custom Tracks and Races![/p]
    • [p]Share your custom content through Steam Workshop[/p]
    • [p]Place gates, triggers, checkpoints, resizeable blocks, …[/p]
    • [p]Familiar industry-standard 3D editor controls: 3D gizmo, increment snap, snap points[/p]
    • [p]Spline placement tools[/p]
    • [p]Over 175 Track Items with various skins, with more to come![/p]
    • [p]Empty variants for each “daytime” Environment; and the night variants are under way![/p]
  • [p]Achievements! 18 achievements are available to unlock.[/p]
  • [p]Thumbnails and description added for each track[/p]
  • [p]Added BetaFlight Air75[/p]
    • [p]BetaFPV Air75 frame[/p]
    • [p]BetaFPV Motor 0802SE 19500kv[/p]
    • [p]BetaFPV Motor 0802SE 23000kv[/p]
    • [p]BetaFPV LAVA 1S battery 450mAh 75C[/p]
  • [p]Multiplayer high scores save a recording. Recordings can be reviewed in the leaderboards menu.[/p]
  • [p]Pre-v1 leaderboard times have been archived. They can still be accessed by selecting the ‘Legacy - no recordings’ option in the leaderboards menu.[/p]
  • [p]Added a volume setting for Ambient sounds.[/p]
[p][/p]
[p]Updated:[/p]
  • [p]Extensive UI polish pass for consistency and flow.[/p]
  • [p]Added Purist toggle for leaderboards.. You can now switch between purist and regular leaderboards.[/p]
  • [p]Updated text in the multiplayer game lobby to be more readable.[/p]
  • [p]Changed the default motors for the BetaFPV Air65 frame from 23000kv to 27000kv.[/p]
  • [p]Updated the race guides visualization. Arrows are used for the next checkpoint, and spheres for subsequent ones.[/p]
  • [p]Updated the race guides’ generation to be more smooth between checkpoints.[/p]
  • [p]Several new options in the game settings menu:[/p]
    • [p]toggle skip the race countdown[/p]
    • [p]setting for how many checkpoints ahead the race guides should show[/p]
    • [p]Threshold for “best lap time” notification[/p]
  • [p]The next music track starts playing when loading in an environment.[/p]
  • [p]In the multiplayer game lobby, clicking on a player now shows their leaderboard times and drone setup. You can clone their drone setup to include it in your own fleet.[/p]
  • [p]The multiplayer chat window now displays new leaderboard high scores set by other players.[/p]
  • [p]Updated the display logic of the multiplayer chat window. When expanded, the chat will always be visible. When collapsed, the chat will auto-expand when the player is not flying and auto-collapse when they start a flight.[/p]
  • [p]The realtime ranking in-game now shows your personal best score for a race.[/p]
  • [p]Updated the multiplayer game settings menu to store your last session, and restore it when creating a new game.[/p]
[p][/p]
[p]Bugfixes[/p]
  • [p]Reduced frame weight of the BetaFPV Air65, so motors and propellers are not counted double.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed propeller blur visuals on certain props.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed camera part angler where it wouldn't stay between \[-180, 180].[/p]
  • [p]Fixed issue where the default spawnpoint could still be used for drone placement.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed issue where rewind would also bring the drone to a previous spawnpoint.[/p]
  • [p]Tutorial Fixes:[/p]
    • [p]Fixed issue where the flight inputs were being re-enabled after returning from an exercise, possibly conflicting with the dialog being shown already.[/p]
    • [p]Fixed several issues in the game features tutorial.[/p]
    • [p]Fixed issue where resetting the drone during an ongoing dialog would lock the player out from continuing to fly afterwards.[/p]
    • [p]Fixed ZetaFlight input issues in the tutorial.[/p]
    • [p]Improved Hoverdrone track in tutorial.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed issue with hover drone not showing the proper speed and altitude values in the Item Collect game mode.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed issue where the propeller collisions would not work as intended when the drone is not armed.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed issue where UI becomes unresponsive after a race.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed issue with KISS rates where the yaw channel was always overridden with the pitch channel values.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed drone audio getting “stuck” upon disarming.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed windshield collider on car in San Lipo Drive.[/p]
  • [p]Partner logos are no longer low-res in the splash screen on lower quality settings.[/p]
[h2]

What to Expect Next
[/h2][p]In the days and weeks ahead, we’ve scheduled time for:[/p]
  • [p]Rapid fixes and improvements While we’ve tested extensively, an update of this scale always brings unexpected bugs. We’re ready to respond quickly and keep things running smoothly.[/p]
  • [p]Track Builder enhancements The new Track Builder is a powerful starting point, but we’re not done. Expect additional building elements, quality-of-life improvements, and ongoing polish.[/p]
  • [p]New content in development The next micro drone is already in production, and we’re actively conceptualising the next environment, with level production to follow shortly after.[/p]
[h2]A Heartfelt Thank You
[/h2][p]Once again, we want to express our deepest gratitude to the entire Liftoff and FPV community for being part of this journey. FPV has always been a passion-driven niche, and while it may be a smaller market, it’s one with a big heart. Projects like Liftoff: Micro Drones only exist because of your collective support. Every single pilot makes a difference.[/p][p]What we’re launching today is not just the result of our development efforts, it’s the achievement of an entire community. True teamwork.[/p][p]A special thank you goes out to our testers, who’ve spent the past weeks relentlessly bug-hunting and stress-testing the new Track Builder. Your dedication and detailed feedback have been invaluable.


[/p][h3]
A Tribute
[/h3][p]Lastly, we’d like to dedicate this launch to someone truly special, a legend in the Liftoff community whose creativity and passion have touched us all.[/p][p]Shane Hirst, known to many as Mekon, gave us countless hours of joy through his incredible tracks. His talent, generosity, and love for the game inspired a generation of pilots and creators.[/p][p]Though he’s no longer with us, his legacy lives on in every turn, dive, and gate we fly.[/p][p]This one’s for you, buddy. Thank you, Shane. You will be missed.[/p][p][/p]

Liftoff: Micro Drones 1.0 Lands August 4

[p]Liftoff: Micro Drones is officially leaving Early Access on August 4th!
[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]
Thanks to years of incredible community feedback, the sim has grown from a modest start into a full-featured experience. What began with just 3 drones and 3 locations now features 24 drones, 7 locations with 14 level variations, including a new skate park version of Melon Pan Park and the all-new bouldering gym in Silverscreen. V1 also introduces the Air75 drone, Steam achievements, a completely polished UI, and a brand-new track editor, that lets you create and download custom tracks!
[/p][p]And the best part? This is only the beginning, more updates are already in the works beyond the V1 launch! [/p]

Egg hunt



Only 5 days left of egg-streme fun! 🐰🍫

In Liftoff: Micro Drones, every level hides a sweet surprise, tucked away by our cheeky bunny buddy. Follow the trail of fluff to uncover your hidden treats. But hop to it, this egg-venture wraps up on April 20th!

Update 0.7.4 released!



'The Air 65 desperately needs to be in this sim!'
'The Air 65 would be an amazing addition!'
'Oh yeah, Air 65, please!'
'I own the Air65. I totally agree'
'Just got mine, would love to practice in the sim!'
'Are you planning to add the Air65 ?'
....

These are just a few of the many requests we've received over the past few months. Well, we heard you, and we teamed up with BetaFPV to make it happen! "

[h2]Changelist[/h2]
  • Added BetaFPV Air65 frame
  • Added BetaFPV Motor 0702SEII 23000kv
  • Added BetaFPV Motor 0702SEII 27000kv
  • Added BetaFPV Motor 0702II 30000kv
  • Added Propfan 1219S 3 blade propeller
  • Added BetaFPV LAVA 1S battery 260mAh 80C
  • Added BetaFPV LAVA 1S battery 300mAh 75C
  • Redo of the battery wires for all frames to match more styles/shapes of batteries.
  • Added Drone descriptions in the workbench