Aloft News

[p]Ahoy, Sky Sailors! [/p][p]The Bloom & Blight update has arrived! This is our third major update in Early Access and the biggest we’ve released so far.  [/p][p]Begin a new journey in a sky remade. Experience upgraded progression, ecosystem restoration, wind lanes, along with improved combat, new corruption strains, enemies, and stronger weapons. [/p][p]Join us as we explore the new and improved features. You can get the highlights below, or read the full changelog here.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][h2]New World Generation [/h2][p]We have reworked world generation from the ground up. While this change requires a progress reset for all players, we believe the stronger and more flexible foundation is worth it for the future of the game.[/p][p]This means you will have to create a new character and world for this update, but you may revisit your older saves at any time by switching to the 0.3.3 legacy branch via the game’s Steam settings. Please visit this post for more information.[/p][p][/p][p]The result is not just behind the scenes, but also keenly felt from a gameplay perspective, through a denser world with more rewarding exploration. [/p][h2]Revamped Progression [/h2][p]You now have far more control over what you unlock next. Tech tree progression has been overhauled and split into three trees:  [/p]

• [p]Knowledge for basic machinery. Advanced through Knowledge Stones.  [/p]
• [p]Sailing for sailing equipment. Advanced through Lost Anchors. [/p]
• [p]Research for cure-related technologies. Advanced through a combination of Corruption Anomalies and research lab breakthroughs. [/p]

[p][/p][h2]Reworked Ecosystem Restoration [/h2][h3]Life Sapling Islands [/h3][p]Each sector now has three Life Sapling islands. These start out wilted and unhealthy, but by tending to each one's flora, fauna, and funga in a variety of engaging activities, you can bring back their lush glory. You will never have to abandon your precious fur friends again! [/p][p]Once ready, you will revitalize the island by becoming the life wind itself. Where you fly, greenery follows. [/p][h3]Life Trees [/h3][p]Each sector is now also home to a Life Tree. These towering, flowering wonders will be brought back to life after you have healed each Life Sapling in that sector. Explore the Life Tree’s underground basins  to gain insight, which lets you progress further into your tech tree. [/p][p][/p][h2]Wind Lanes [/h2][p]Catch a ride in the great Wind Lanes to travel swiftly between island clusters. Restore all Life Saplings within a sector in order to unlock these windswept corridors.  [/p][p][/p][h2]New Corruption Strains and Nodes [/h2][p]Two new corruption strains are spreading across the skies: Sportox and Flogade! Learn how to combat and counter each of their treacherous peculiarities. While exploring corrupted islands, you’ll find Corruption Anomalies. Get them to your Research Lab, along with Mykter, Sportox, and Flogade samples, to earn Breakthroughs in cure-related technologies. [/p][p][/p][p]Corruption nodes have also been reimagined into an exploration challenge. To remove corruption and cleanse an island, you must first seek out and destroy all the weak points scattered across an island infested by monsters. [/p][h2]New Tools and Weapons [/h2][p]To combat the new Sportox and Flogade enemies, we offer new and improved tools and weapons. [/p]

• [p]Windstone tools are the upgraded version of Stone tools. They have a larger combo zone than other weapons. [/p]

• [p]Serrated Bone tools are the strongest in the game. Their combo finale deals increased damage. [/p]

[p][/p][h2]Time to Soar, Sailors! [/h2][p]The life wind is calling you to the skies, Sailors! There are many new wonders to discover and challenges to overcome.  [/p][p]With so many updates, your feedback is more important than ever! We are always listening, so please feel free to share your thoughts or report any bugs. [/p][p]Raise your sails and let the wind guide you, Sky Sailors. ⛅🍃 [/p][p][/p]

[p]Ahoy, Sky Sailors![/p][p]
In a recent Devlog, we announced that your previous saves (characters and worlds) would no longer be compatible with Aloft’s Bloom & Blight update. This is because we’ve made significant stability improvements to core systems such as world generation and sava data.

That being said, your previous saves are not gone! If you’re not ready to play the new update just yet, or if you’re feeling nostalgic, you can access the 0.3.3.22 legacy branch by following the steps below:[/p]

1. [p]Right-click Aloft in your Steam Library and select Properties. [/p]
2. [p]In the window that appears, navigate to the Betas tab and choose 0.3.3.22_legacy_branch from the drop-down menu.[/p]
3. [p]Once selected, Steam will display the ‘Update’ button, allowing you to download the legacy version and continue your previous adventures.[/p]

[p][/p][p]Some reminders:[/p]

• [p]You may switch between different versions of Aloft at any time.[/p]
• [p]The 0.3.3.22 legacy branch will not receive any updates or support.[/p]
• [p]Users must be on the same version of the game in order to play together in multiplayer.[/p]
• [p]Custom Islands on the Steam Workshop remain compatible with the Bloom & Blight update.[/p]

[p]Thank you and please let us know if you have any questions! 💙
[/p]

[p]Ahoy, Sky Sailors!

The air’s getting crisp and the streams are heating up — join us all week for community content creators LIVE on our Steam page![/p][p]
Check out the schedule below to join our creators as they explore the new Bloom & Blight update, as well as the chance to win an Aloft Steam Key! 🔑[/p][p]
November 4: MurningStar, LoonaValkyria, and Kodeations![/p][p]November 5: Two Beards & a Producer, XoChop, and MorningDarkne55![/p][p]November 6: MooseRef, LezardFleck, and Oneuptilsunup![/p][p]November 7: MaeGamerOver, CuddleMonster86, and BlinkBlinkGames! [/p]

[h3]Blight creeps through the clouds tonight… but soon, the Bloom will return.[/h3][p][/p][h3]Happy Halloween, Sky Sailors! 🎃[/h3][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]Ahoy, Sky Sailors! [/p][p]
We recently shared the first part of our update Devlog, where we dove into technical improvements and new features coming to Aloft: progression tech trees, ecosystem changes, Life Saplings, Life Trees, and the new world generation. That Devlog also contained important information about your saves, so please be sure to check it out if you haven’t already.

We also recently announced the update’s title and release date: Bloom & Blight, which ships on November 4th!

We’re now back to deliver part 2 of the Devlog focusing on corruption, enemies, and research – let’s take a look![/p][h3]
CORRUPTION STRAINS & NODES[/h3][p]As you may know, the world of Aloft is plagued by a mysterious and infectious fungal corruption that aims to completely overtake ecosystems by preying on other fungi, but also on fauna and flora.

This corruption manifests in multiple strains – distinct tiers of corruption, each with its own appearance, enemies, and level of threat.

Currently, the Mykter strain has spread across the world, but going forward it will be found exclusively in Emerald Isles, leaving room for new, more dangerous strains to emerge.

We will soon be introducing two new corruption strains: Sportox and Flogade!

Sportox will be found invading Fallen Heights and recognised by its bright orange bulbs and toxic spore fumes. [/p][p][/p][p]Flogade will be found infesting Red Cliffs and recognised by its black tissue, jagged spikes, and scorching red-hot ooze.
[/p][p][/p][p]Our infamous corruption nodes will also come in Flogade and Sportox versions. Further, nodes are being reimagined as an exploration challenge – instead of being chained to the node’s trunk, weak points will be scattered across the island as corruption cores.[/p][p]
You’ll need to explore and hunt down 2–5 cores before the node itself becomes vulnerable to attack. Careful, enemies will be chasing you down along your path! Once all the cores are destroyed, the node will weaken, opening the way for you to strike the final blow and cleanse the island.[/p][p][/p][h3]NEW ENEMY STRAINS[/h3][p]Sportox & Flogade enemies have entered the chat! That’s right sailors, prepare to battle stronger tiers of Guardians, Cowards, and Shriekers! These new monsters will spawn in Fallen Heights and Red Cliffs. 

The new enemies will also have strain-specific special effects: the Spore Cloud and the Scorching Ground! 

Sportox enemies will unleash Spore Clouds, a drifting haze that will hang ominously above the ground. Any player caught within it will suffer the Asphyxiated condition, taking steady damage as toxic spores choke the air around them.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Flogade enemies will ignite the Scorching Ground, a fiery hazard on the battlefield. Players who step into it will suffer the Scorched condition, taking an initial burst of damage followed by ongoing burn damage over time.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]NEW TOOLS & WEAPONS[/h3][p]To face these new fungi, we’re tooling you up with stronger gear: Windstone and Serrated Bone tools!

Windstone tools will deal more damage than their regular stone counterparts and will have a larger combo zone, making it easier to chain combos and land powerful hits![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Serrated Bone tools will be the strongest of all the tool tiers. Their combo finale will deal increased damage, letting you strike with the greatest force![/p][p]
[/p][h3]RESEARCH & BREWING LABS[/h3][p]Research will now require a special new resource from corrupted islands: the Corruption Anomaly! These strange, bubbling anomalies will pulse and glow across corrupted islands.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]
Take these anomalies, along with Mykter, Sportox, and Flogade samples back to your Research Lab to experiment with and earn Breakthroughs.[/p][p]
Breakthroughs can be spent on the Research Tech Tree to learn various cure-related technologies, such as Brewing Labs and Terrariums. Each biome will have two tiers of Brewing Labs – tier one labs will concoct the fungicide, but only the upgraded tier two labs will be advanced enough to brew the cure!

[/p][carousel][/carousel][p]That wraps up part 2 of our Bloom & Blight Devlog!

Thank you for reading and for continuing to share your thoughts and feedback. Your input has been invaluable in shaping Aloft’s new systems and enemy encounters!

We can’t wait to see you take on Sportox and Flogade foes when Bloom & Blight launches on November 4th. Until then, keep your sails high and your blades sharpened, Sky Sailors! 💙[/p]