1. Forever Skies
  2. News

Forever Skies News

Beta Branch Hotfix | EA.1.5.3 #30157

Greetings scientists,

We just sent a hotfix to the beta_branch which includes some improvements and fixes.

Here's what changed:

[h3]NEW CONTENT:[/h3]

Pet:
  • Sounds for Friendly Insect’s “Pet” interaction
Airship:
  • Stairs Room now has Left and Right version

[h3]CHANGED:[/h3]
  • Friendly Insect can now follow the player when the airship’s vertical and horizontal speed is close to 0 (there is no requirement of the airship being docked anymore)
  • Amber King Size Bed crafting cost balance
  • Sprinkler Lamp light brightness slightly reduced
  • Soft Cushion cannot be picked up while there are Friendly Insect’s equipment items “connected”
  • Aquarium for Moths name changed into Moth Vivarium
  • Pet’s Yellow Sporty Headwear can now be unlocked by a Memory Card

[h3]FIXED:[/h3]
  • Underdust lift buttons work properly now even if the Friendly Insect is not near the player
  • Friendly Insect’s Yellow Sporty set now has proper materials
  • Quick-moving items into the Friendly Insect’s backpack in the Soft Cushion menu disabled
  • Stairs Room textures/materials added
  • Stairs Room missing icon added
  • Neon Plant missing icon added
  • Crystal Lamp textures/materials added
  • Crystal Lamp missing icon added
  • Sprinkler Lamp missing icon added
  • Wrecked Amber King Size Bed VFXs added
  • Wrecked Amber King Size Bed database entry fixed
  • Added missing localization texts

[h3]KNOWN ISSUES: [/h3]
  • The Friendly Insect
  • sometimes* stops following the player if they do the following actions in order: 1. Make the pet follow them 2. Move the airship (the pet will stop following when the airship starts moving) 3. Make it follow them once more. Reloading your save will fix this for now.
  • Sometimes the pet doesn’t follow the player to the Underdust locations (doesn’t teleport to the player when it should). Like before, reloading your save will fix this for now.


That's all for now, thank you for all of your bug reports!

Our Next Patch Highlights + First Dwarf Bundle

[h3]Greetings scientists![/h3]

We wanted to give you a heads-up on what is being added in our next patch and let you know that EA.1.5.3 is now live on the beta branch!

[h2]First Dwarf x Forever Skies Bundle is Available[/h2]

First off though, we've partnered on a bundle with our fellow Polish devs Stardrifters in support of their new game First Dwarf.

First Dwarf is an action RPG with mechs, colony survival, crafting, base building, and tower defense mechanics all blended into one amazing mix. Explore a fantasy open world, sprawling on islands floating in the sky. You can play it solo or get a buddy to join through coop assist mode.

They are launching with a 15% discount and if you already own Forever Skies you can grab an extra 10% using our bundle.

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/42411/First_Dwarf_x_Forever_Skies/

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[h2]Our Next Patch[/h2]

ICYMI, a few days ago we uploaded our June devlog, where we revealed some of the exciting new features coming to EA.1.5.3!



[h2]Its Not Just a Bug It's Also a Feature[/h2]

The next content patch puts the spotlight on our friendly insect pet, making it not just adorable, but incredibly practical too!

“Pet the bug” is a feature we have planned and made public since we released our first roadmap in June 2023, but we didn’t want to just stop there.



Players will be able to customize their pet with a fancy hat, a backpack and a harness in a few different colours. We plan on adding more customization options as development progresses.



The hat and harness options are purely cosmetic. They add to the bugs wholesome aesthetic but thats all. However, we hope the backpack will be a game changer for players. Give your pet this attachment from the customization menu and have it join you on your adventures away from the airship.

Your pockets getting full while you explore? Off-load some of those resources into your pet’s backpack. The total number of slots available is not final and will be balanced throughout the beta phase. Eventually, we would love to have a range of backpack upgrades with increasing slots.



[h2]New Airship Decor[/h2]

EA.1.5.3 isn’t just about your pet, as we have also added some new Airship decorations and a new room module.



We have added a new Stairs Room Module, a Kingsize Bed that recovers your energy levels quicker and more!

EA.1.5.3 will also include Japanese and Korean localization!

ALL of this content is available RIGHT NOW on our beta branch. Instructions on how to join can be found at the bottom of this blog. We will be adding more content throughout the beta, such as interior lighting decor range, Kickstarter rewards if you were one of our backers and more!

------------------------------------------------------------

[h2]BETA PATCH NOTES[/h2]

[h3]NEW CONTENT:[/h3]

Pet:
  • Friendly Insect “Pet” interaction added
  • Friendly Insect companion can follow the player during exploration
  • Friendly Insect companion, while equipped with backpack, unlocks additional inventory slots
  • Friendly Insect companion can be customized
Pet Customization:
  • Basic set of pet’s equipment is unlocked when the Friendly Insect is first placed on the Soft Cushion
  • Crafting recipes available through a new set of Data Cards (green)
  • Three colored sets of the Pet’s outfits (cap, shoes and backpack)
Tools & Devices:
  • Amber King Size Bed - enhances the sleeping process
  • Crystal Lamp (left and right)
  • Sprinkler Lamp
Airship:
  • Stair Room
Resources:
  • Neon plant
Localization:
  • Japanese
  • Korean

[h3]CHANGED:[/h3]
  • Soft Cushion trigger for opening pet’s equipment screen

[h3]FIXED:[/h3]
  • Pig Smile Seeds icon fixed so it can match all the other small plant seeds
  • Proper Advanced Pass Component icon implemented

[h3]KNOWN ISSUES:[/h3]
  • Friendly Insect can follow the player only while the airship is docked (lands on a location’s platform). This means the pet won’t follow you while the Airship is in the air and when visiting locations accessed via the Docking Plank. We are currently working on this and will implement the fix soon.
  • Using Quick Move (Shift+Click), the player can move items from their inventory to the Friendly Insect’s inventory even if a pet’s backpack wasn’t crafted yet. These items can be accessed after the pet’s backpack is equipped.
  • There is currently no boiled version of the Neon Plant.
  • Localization for non-English languages is still work in progress and will be updated before this update goes live on main (leaves beta)
  • Textures are currently missing from Stairs Room module, the pets yellow outfit and Crystal Lamp
  • Icons for the new lamps, Neon Plant, and the Stair Room missing


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[h2]How To Access the Test Branch[/h2]
  • Open the Steam application on your PC and locate Forever Skies in your games library
  • Right click - PROPERTIES- BETAS
  • Put in the password: BlimpWorkshop
  • From the dropdown menu select the beta branch tilted: beta_flight
  • Press the blue “Opt into beta_flight…” button
  • In your Games Library click on Forever Skies [beta_flight]
  • Install the Test Branch


[h2]How To Create and Load Existing Saves into the Test Branch[/h2]

Your existing saves for the main game are stored in a different folder compared to your saves on the test branch. If you want to continue and test the game using your existing progress, you’ll need to do the following:
  • Locate your save files on your PC. By default they should be stored in the following file path:
  • C:\Users\\AppData\Local\ProjectZeppelin\Saved\SaveGames\
  • Select the save file that you want to test your progress on, right-click, copy.
  • Located your Test Branch save file folder. By default they should be stored in the following file path:
  • C:\Users\\AppData\Local\ProjectZeppelin\Saved_BetaFlight\SaveGames\
  • Paste your copied save file into this location
  • As a precaution make a 2nd copy of your save file and paste it somewhere on your desktop or in a safe folder. This way you can ensure you have a clean, backup save just in case.


After you have done the above, you can start the Forever Skies Test Branch from Steam and your save will be present when you select “CONTINUE”

[h3]Existing Saves Won’t be Affected but use an Imported Save To Play the Test Branch[/h3]

Your existing saves, progress, and any custom settings you’ve set in from the main game won’t be carried over to the Test Branch. Your pc will see this as if you are installing and playing the game for the first time ever. Likewise, by playing on the Test Branch, your main saves should not be affected at all.

This also means any progress on the test branch will not be carried over to the main game once the update is live. The test branch is designed to allow you to explore and test new features without impacting your current progress.

Players can opt to play the test branch starting a fresh save, however, if you want to test new content with your existing progress, airship, etc (and we suggest you do) you will need to make a copy of your main game save and import it into the test branch. Instructions on how to do it can be found below.

[h3]Where to Submit Bugs[/h3]

All bugs or issues that you encounter while playing should be submitted via the FEEDBACK TOOL that you can find in-game when pausing the game. Subsequently, you can find the tool under this link too:

https://www.farfromhomegames.com/en/playtests
You can also submit bugs and keep up to date on features via our Feature Upvote site - https://forever-skies.featureupvote.com/

Thats all for now, speak soon!

Developer Update Video | June 2024

Greetings scientists! 👋

Our latest devlog is OUT NOW on YouTube. It’s been a minute since our last episode, so hopefully you enjoy it!

We have some intriguing updates to discuss with you!



This devlog covers:

  • A look back at the launch of Feature Upvote
  • First look at the Friendly Pet patch (EA.1.5.3)
  • Combat Update tease
  • We answer some of your questions from episode 2

If you only want to see the new content, you can go ahead and skip to 1:49 in the video.

Check it out ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ ⬇

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzhGhdg3ESM

WDC World Ocean Day Charity Sale - Proceeds to Help Save Ocean Wildlife



[h3]Hello Scientists. [/h3]

We are excited to announce that we are once again supporting WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation during the World Ocean Steam Sale

The sale starts today and runs until 15th June, 10am PDT 2024, and you can save 15% off on Forever Skies and our custom WDC Charity Airship item.

As always, 100% of our net revenue for the charity item goes to WDC to support their conservation work. What's more, we've agreed to also donate 25% net revenue from the game game sales to WDC for the duration of the event.

So whether you are new to Forever Skies or still thinking about grabbing the charity airship decoration item, know that any support will be going to this great organization.

[h2]FOREVER SKIES - HELP THE PLANET BUNDLE[/h2]

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/40918/Forever_Skies_Help_the_Planet_Bundle/

[h2]THE FULL WORLD OCEAN STEAM SALE EVENT[/h2]

Be sure to check out the full sale where you can find a slew of games on discount, all of which are helping WDC raise money for their work.



[h2]WHO IS WDC?[/h2]

WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation is the leading global charity dedicated to the protection and conservation of whales and dolphins.



Their expert-led teams in the UK, Europe, the Americas, and Australasia work across the whole spectrum of threats, from climate breakdown to accidental entanglements in fishing gear. They bring together, and work hand-in-hand with, businesses, philanthropists, scientists, NGOs, governments and grassroots communities to find solutions to the problems faced by whales and dolphins. Their aim is to reverse the global decline in whale and dolphin populations by creating safe seas for these majestic creatures.



If you want to read more about WDC, you can do so here: https://whales.org/

“Crafting & Fuelling” Patch Now Live + New Bundle Offer!

[h3]Greetings scientists![/h3]

Patch EA.1.5.2 is now live and includes a bunch of new features and we just launched a bundle with fellow mobile base survivalists Volcanoids!

[h2]Volcanoids x Forever Skies Bundle is Available [/h2]
First off, we've partnered on a bundle with our good friends behind Volcanoids. Volcanoids is a fantastic base-building, open-world survival shooter that replaces your typical base with a mobile, giant drill.

And you know we're all fans of mobile bases here! Alone or with friends, explore an island plagued by eruptions, upgrade your drill, and fight robots to uncover what's been hiding beneath the surface.

If you already own Forever Skies you can grab an extra 15% using our bundle. Click below.

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/41771/Volcanoids_x_Forever_Skies

[h2]What's Been Added in the New Update?[/h2]
Alright, so let's get into what’s new! Here is a quick overview with more details for each further down.



[h2]Craft From Storage[/h2]
We heard your feedback! With EA.1.5.2, players can now craft items directly from all storage boxes on your Airship. This QOL improvement will save players a lot of time finding where they placed that last Polymer piece!



We have also updated the UI to show players what and how many resources they have in their inventory & storage total when crafting.

This option can be turned off in the settings for those who prefer a more traditional survival game experience

[h2]Fuel Tank[/h2]
The tank holds up to 400 units of fuel at a time and can be placed anywhere on your airship, meaning you no longer have to run to each individual Upgraded Engine to refuel it, all fuel types can be placed inside.



This new Airship item can be found at the Overgrown Lift location and becomes craftable once you have the Upgrade Station (for now). With one Fuel Tank, players can connect pipes from the tank to two Upgraded Engines using the same pipe system as airship gardening.

We have also introduced the Cross-Pipe which gives you the ability to overlap pipes and provides more freedom when placing them.



We need to hear your thoughts after trying this new system! Does it help? Does it make refuelling your Airship easier? What improvements would you like to see? Let us know…

[h2]Moth Aquarium[/h2]
Introducing the Moth Aquarium! I guess it’s technically a Vivarium? But you get the point! With this new decoration, you can keep any moths you catch alive for decoration (or consumption, no judgement, a scientists gotta eat!)

We would love to do more with the Aquarium in the future, (breeding, anyone?) but for now this will look great in your on-board your airship!

Also, look how those little guys come alive when you turn on your Flashlight.



[h2]Bloom Exterior Modules & Decorative Wings[/h2]
EA.1.5.2 adds to the Bloom range by including new Exterior Bloom Modules. Such as a new Catwalk style and a couple of new railing designs!



We have also added additional decorative wings. These can be placed anywhere on the outside of your airship providing there is space.

They won’t help you survive the world or navigate the skies. You don’t exactly *need* them to complete your objectives either, but they will sure make your airship exterior look way cooler!



[h2]New Upgrade Station[/h2]
The Upgrade Station gets…well…upgraded in EA.1.5.2, just like how the Ship Workstation did last month. This station which is used to upgrade your Airship and personal tech, now has a brand new model and animation.

It's a small change in the game, but we hope these small changes improve your overall experience when playing Forever Skies!



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[h2]Patch Notes[/h2]

Here are the full patch notes for EA.1.5.2:

[h3]NEW CONTENT:[/h3]

Devices:
  • Fuel Tank
  • Aquarium for Moths
  • Cross pipes
  • Airship:
  • Bloom Catwalk
  • Bloom High Railing (left and right)
  • Bloom Railing
  • Bloom Short Railing
  • Dragonfly Wing (left and right)
  • Entwined Wing (left and right)
  • Fish Bones Wing (left and right)
  • Root Wing (left and right)


Player:
  • Crafting directly from storage
  • Craft From Storage - toggle Gameplay options
CHANGED:
  • Fuel inlet socket on Upgraded Engines support leg
  • New model for Upgrade Station, animations and VFXs
  • Fabricator UI change to show inventory and storage crafting. Switched on or off accordingly


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's all for now folks, happy flying!
Team Far From Home