Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance News

[p]With the release of the new Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance: Uprising Conquest Mode DLC on the near horizon, we thought it would be a good time to journey back to the world of Terminator for more intel on what to expect.[/p][p][/p][p]You can see some of the new content this mode bring on the Steam page here: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]Save Game System Update[/p][p]In the last dev diary, we mentioned the team's decision to limit save functionality in Uprising to reinforce the roguelike feel. However, following player feedback, we've adjusted our approach.[/p][p]New save options include:[/p]

• [p]Quick Save Option: Can now be enabled via custom difficulty settings. It’s off by default to preserve the roguelike experience, but available for those who prefer flexibility.[/p]
• [p]Autosaves: Now trigger every 20 minutes during all missions (not just long or complex ones).[/p]
• [p]Victory Saves: Completing a mission will now autosave, letting you exit and return later to collect trophies or salvage vehicles.
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[p]We hope these updates strike a better balance between challenge and player choice.
[/p][p]Following the Games Story[/p][p]Although Uprising delivers a more open, roguelike experience, it still follows the storyline we began in the main game and continued with the We Are Legion DLC last year.[/p][p]In this DLC, you take on the role of an officer tasked with helping build and sustain the rising Resistance, battling against the various factions entrenched in the heartlands of the United States.
[/p][p]Your commanding officer is a returning character—Major Stevens, last seen assisting Lt. Church in the final mission of the base game. From a former military base captured from the Marauders in Alabama, you’ll manage and expand your army, fighting across multiple sectors to reclaim territory from Legion, the Marauders, and the Cartel. You'll also support your Movement allies and decide whether to befriend—or oppose—the enigmatic Integrators.[/p][p](The Uprising begins, capturing the Alabama base from the Marauders)[/p][p][/p][p]Sectors and the Army Store[/p][p]Each sector you capture provides unique units to your Army Store. For example:[/p]

• [p]Capture the Island Sector near your initial base to unlock Bradley tanks.[/p]
• [p]Take control of the Integrator base on the new Riverside Village map in the north to unlock Integrator Dozers and Technicals.
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[p]The composition of your army is shaped not only by what you capture, but by the route you take across the map.[/p][p]And of course, any vehicles and weapons abandoned on the battlefield can be salvaged for use in your growing force.[/p][p][/p][p]Allied Sectors[/p][p]You can only attack sectors adjacent to ones you already control. However, forming an alliance with a faction—such as the Movement—allows you to use their territory as a bridge to reach new areas.[/p][p]In one of my playthroughs, for example, this let me link up with Movement forces stationed near the Legion’s main base, opening a path for a full-scale attack with my army.[/p][p][/p][p]Legion Deep Raids[/p][p]Legion can deploy airborne forces using the same carrier technology introduced in the We Are Legion DLC. This enables them to launch Deep Raids, striking even sectors fully surrounded by friendly territory.[/p][p]That means your main base—or even secondary bases—can come under sudden assault. Defending these becomes critical to surviving the machine onslaught.[/p][p][/p][p]Quality of Life improvements[/p][p]We've made several QoL upgrades across the DLC and the base game. For example:[/p]

• [p]Training upgrades are now visually indicated directly on unit icons within the army management screen.[/p]
  • [p]You’ll see a small “upgrade available” icon—like this one on the Templarios unit or the Heavy Weapons Squad below.[/p]

[p](Templarios have an available upgrade)[/p][p][/p][p]Further Updates[/p][p]When the DLC releases, development doesn’t stop there. Conquest Mode's open-ended design gives us plenty of room to expand.[/p][p]Look forward to:[/p]

• [p]New unit types[/p]
• [p]Additional mission types[/p]
• [p]Emerging world events in future updates and DLCs
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[p]And Finally[/p][p]The Uprising DLC is nearly here. Keep an eye out for more info dropping soon—and join the discussion on our official Discord! I’m always there, ready to answer your questions.
Join Discord
[/p][p]And once again, I’ll leave the last words to Major Stevens, returning to lead the fight in Uprising:[/p][p][/p][p]“Divided… the machine has us beat. But together…together there is a way forward…if we choose to resist!.” [/p][p][/p][p]So, see you on the battlefield soldier very soon, the Uprising is upon us![/p]

[p]With Lieutenant Church heading north in search of new recruits and allies for the growing Resistance, the task of holding the heartlands has fallen to you, the player, charged with managing our forces and standing firm against the relentless advance of Legion’s hordes.[/p][p]And so, here we stand, preparing to face the challenge of our newest addition: Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance: Uprising![/p][p]The new Conquest Mode DLC is being released very soon, and so I thought it would be a good time to give a bit more detail on some of the new quality of life features that have been introduced.[/p][p]You can see some of the new content that the Mode will bring on the Steam page here: [/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Faction Icons[/p][p]We released a screenshot of the world map last month. I wanted to show you the updated version with new faction icons now in each sector that they own. To be honest, this was due to a number of color blind people who noted they couldn’t tell the difference between some of the factions. I think you’d agree, the new faction icons make that much easier to see.
[/p][p](Conquest Map showing new faction icons)[/p][p]
No Saves for a Rogue Like Experience[/p][p]So, the team made the decision for the Uprising Conquest Mode to remove the Save Game function during most battles. [/p][p]There are still some autosaves during a few ‘critical’ missions when objectives have been met,  but these are slightly longer,harder missions. For most battles, there is no save, as battles should be somewhat shorter, with missions being won or lost in 15-20 minutes. [/p][p]There will always be an autosave BEFORE the mission, which is made every time you press DEPLOY in the mission briefing screen.[/p][p]However, as there are many elements that are RANDOM, when you re-load a mission from that save, you will likely get a different experience. Your spawn point(s) may be different, the enemy will attack from a different direction and encounters may be different. Even skipping a couple of days may mean that the mission will be somewhat different.[/p][p]This has been designed to create the Rogue Like experience that the Conquest Mode gives you.
[/p][p](Mission Briefing screen showing Deploy - and is that a new map!!)[/p][p][/p][p]Retreat[/p][p]With the more Rogue Like game flow of the mode, we have provided a RETREAT option during battles which allows you to extract your troops immediately.[/p][p]This allows you to sneak into sectors and ‘steal’ trophies and scavenge vehicles, without starting a large-scale battle. You can also help to weaken an enemy (if you can’t destroy it in one go), as all destroyed units will temporarily reduce your opponents strength (reserves). When attacking the sector again, the enemy will be weaker. And if that sector is cut off from its key point, then its ‘strength’ will not be replenished.[/p][p]So, retreat becomes a very useful feature to sneak, and not be overwhelmed.
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(Retreat option is found on the Menu. There is still honor in leaving, to fight another day)[/p][p][/p][p]Evacuation & Re-deployment[/p][p]Throughout the missions in the Uprising Conquest Mode, the EXIT area is always available, allowing players to extract units from the mission battle, back to the Army Reserves screen.[/p][p]This then allows you to re-supply, heal (if you have spare troops available), repair and refuel vehicles. It then allows you to re-deploy them if you have a slot remaining for that unit type.[/p][p][/p][p]One-Button Extraction[/p][p]When you have gained a victory on the battle, when you have achieved the objective, whether that is domination, defended a point for a given amount of time, or depleted the opponents so they retreat, a VICTORY button appears, allowing for a quick extraction if you wish.[/p][p]This finishes the map, and your units are returned to the Army Management screen.[/p][p]So, you do not have to move all your units to the EXIT area to extract them.[/p][p]You can use the VICTORY extraction whenever you like once the battle has completed, so you may want to spend some time scavenging for vehicles and weapons, get drivers into vehicles, picked up weapons, and then press VICTORY to extract with your new found loot.[/p][p][/p][p]I have found playing the Mode, that with Extraction abilities, you can use tank drivers and other specialised drivers to drive vehicles off the map, remove the driver out of the vehicle, and then re-deploy them without a vehicle, to search and drive other vehicles off the map.
[/p][p]Abandoned Vehicle Markers[/p][p]Most maps will have abandoned vehicles, and as these are discovered, you are informed by an officer, and a marker is placed on the map. This is very useful when salvaging the battlefield after a fight.[/p][p](An abandoned vehicle marked on the map. An Integrators Plasma Howitzer!)[/p][p][/p][p]And Finally[/p][p]There will be more information dropping about the Uprising Conquest mode before it is released, so please do watch out. And I am always available to answer your questions, when I can, on the official discord channel here.
Join Discord
[/p][p]And finally, I want to leave the last word to Major Stevens, who returns for the new Uprising Conquest Mode. Here is some dialogue of his straight from the game:[/p][p]“The mission's in crisis in the heartlands. Legion, barbaric Marauders, Cartel gangs, those blasted machine cultist Integrators - friends are hard to come by, but we got a few left still. We'll need to rally with every last one of em, soldier, 'cos I ain't ready to say die to the machine. Not yet.” [/p][p]So, good luck on the battlefield soldier, the Uprising is almost here![/p][p]
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[p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]We’re excited to announce Uprising, an upcoming DLC for Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance, introducing a brand-new strategic game mode set across a vast map of the former United States. Take command of the Resistance movement and lead the fight against Legion, Cartel, and other hostile factions in a dynamic, living world where your choices truly matter.[/p][p]Experience freeform sandbox gameplay with 22 sectors, new tactical maps, diverse mission types, and evolving faction dynamics that ensure no two campaigns play the same.[/p][p]The Uprising DLC offers deep resource management, intense strategic battles, and new units including an assault support helicopter and specialized infantry. Whether you focus on assault, sabotage, or defense, your decisions shape the future of the Resistance.[/p][p]We are now opening beta sign-ups for players eager to test this exciting new chapter, be among the first to experience what the DLC will offer.[/p][p]Are you ready to lead the Resistance and change the course of the war? Go here to sign up and learn more.[/p]

The Spring Update for Skirmish and Multiplayer is out now.

In case you missed it, we released a Dev Diary a few days ago that went in-depth on today’s update. The main highlight is a new feature: the Army Management tool, which allows you to create your own unit and army presets for Skirmish and Multiplayer modes.



This gives you more freedom to set up and customize your reinforcements, just like in the main campaign. You can add new weapons, armor, and engine upgrades to vehicles, as well as additional weapons and abilities to infantry units.

We hope you enjoy this new addition. Let us know what you think. Below you’ll find the full changelog for the update, have fun and enjoy the game.

Changelog:
• Added army editor where players can create their own army presets for each faction and use them in Skirmish and multiplayer matches.
• Added weapon upgrades for Movement and Founders helicopters in Skirmish/Multiplayer modes.
• Fixed an animation issue with infantry on client side in multiplayer.
• Fixed several rare random crashes.
• Fixed all known issues with Chinese fonts.
• Minor AI fixes in Skirmish/Multiplayer.
• Fixed minor pathfinding

Welcome back to the Resistance!

It is time for an information dump on some upcoming updates and new content for the game. Check out information on the soon to be released Army Management Screen for Skirmish and Multiplayer, as well as some new bits of information on the upcoming Conquest Mode and some player questions answered too.

Skirmish and Multiplayer Army Management Update
It’s the Mid 2020’s, when in Terminator: Dark Fate, we are told that the Machines will rise up. Are we now entering the period of Machine Rule? Is the world on the brink yet? Well, one thing we are on the brink of is the new update for the game, that sees army customisation for Skirmish and Multiplayer introduced.

Next week, we are releasing the new Army Management tool for Skirmish and Multiplayer games. This allows you to create new army presets, customising units and squads that can then be used either in Single Player Skirmish, or when you go head to head with other players.

The new Army Management tool has the same customisation seen in the main campaign, allowing you to add new weapons, armor and engine upgrades to vehicles, and to add additional weapons and abilities to infantry units.

Customised units become ‘presets’ within your army roster, that can be called during reinforcement. There is a set amount of ‘preset points’ within each army to balance the amount of customised units you can field, keeping the balance of armies fair.

Either duplicate an existing Army set up and customise that duplicated version, or create a new customised army from scratch.

Each new customised unit has its own new points cost. So, crank up a unit to the max, it may become twice as expensive as its base unit. For example, in the images below, there are 2 sets of Rangers units. The first is the default, that costs 800 points, the second, a rangers squad with an additional Laser Sniper Rifle and a full suite of additional abilities (Bullet Rain, Powerlifter, Marathon Runner, Chameleon and EMP Devices) that costs 2180 points.
So there is a direct balance between cost and enhanced abilities.
But it does allow you to hone various units to maximise their battlefield potential.





Each new preset can be called just once during a battle, but quickly duplicating presets in the Army Management Screen allows multiple versions of a unit to be easily created.

And fear not, the base, default version of a unit can be called upon during reinforcement as many times as you wish, so running out of unit types if you haven’t created multiple presets of each won’t happen.

The Movement also is improved with this new Army Management screen as it now allows you to pre-set up tractor and trailer combinations, so trying to hurriedly link up a tractor and trailer during a multiplayer game is no longer an issue. The example below shows a customised Tractor Truck, with a Heavy Platform already connected (an additional 400 points for the additional Mounted Minigun and Junk Armor on the customised Truck preset) Selecting the Tractor or Truck would automatically select the connected unit too.



It is also possible to set up passengers within presets, so if your tactic is to deploy troops quickly using vehicles you can pre-load them into vehicles to quickly call them up.

We have found that this new Army Management system opens a whole new dimension to Skirmish and Multiplayer, allowing a much more varied array of vehicles and units at your disposal and we are really interested in seeing some of the custom armies that you create.

Some Visions from the Future!
The next big release on the horizon is the new Conquest Mode. I wanted to drop some more nuggets of information about it here, so here are 3 new facts about it:

1) There is a new helicopter appearing in the Conquest Mode. Although not a troop carrier, it will be cheaper and have a full range of strike capabilities.

2) The United Federation of Marauders will emerge as a new united faction. Those disparate marauder gangs will band together, to become an even greater threat to the Resistance's existence.

3) The Cartel playing both sides? If you play your cards right, you may be able to have Cartel Templars join your Resistance, if you can overthrow some local Cartel factions.

Finally for this diary, I asked the community (on discord) for some questions that they wanted answers, so here are some that I randomly took:

Community Questions:
These questions were posed by players on the official Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance discord channel. Why not join, and you can ask me directly.

How will the tech from Galveston affect the Resistance soldier equipment and vehicle customization, can the dev sneak peak a bit of info about it?
is there a change we go to Europe and Asia and does legion have any present there (from discord user: NQIMNyannn)

The plan is that in the Campaign DLC, there will be new enhancements, abilities and units that will be directly influenced by the tech gained at Galveston (the end of the first campaign). We are looking at enhanced humans, and the first use of humans attempting to harness the Legion tech discovered there on their vehicles.

Release date on Conquest DLC? (from discord user: Diabolos)

I can’t give the official date at the moment as release windows can change, but the current plan is to have it released during Summer 2025. There will also be a Closed Beta released prior to release so if you watch out for announcements, you may be able to get an early look at it in progress.

Are you planning on adding different types of environment? maybe a map with snow or a mission in the ocean with ships? (from discord user: krankSIE)

Well, we have mentioned that the new Campaign planned for the end of the year will see Church and the Resistance head up in to Canada. Expect some more extreme environments, and how would Legion units perform in snow?

Will there be other nation / remnants of, or factions not yet seen? (from discord user: Nikita)

The plan is to introduce some elements of other nations in future campaigns. Hopefully I can drop some more information on this in later info dumps.

So, prepare for the new Army Management Screen update that will be available next week (currently playable on an Open Beta branch on Steam) and I will see you on the future battlefield!

Good luck.