Rivals of Aether II News

It's time for our first mid-month patch! Each mid-month update will feature a new epic skin plus other features and bugfixes we can roll out. This November, shred with the new Rockstar Bundle including the Rockstar Kragg skin, icon, emote, Rock Out Death Effect, plus coins and Aether Bucks. We've also got plenty of other updates players have been asking for including some big improvements to matchmaking, controls, and more.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]



[h2]Matchmaking[/h2]
Per-server region-preference matchmaking:

• Region Preferences menu now allows you to select which of the available server locations you would like to play on. Deselecting less ideal servers or a server that is being problematic will now no longer place you there, so you can select just the servers you like to play on there and then only play there in the majority of cases.
  
• Region Preferences menu now shows full list of server locations with ping or approximated ping in cases where there's not an exact beacon. Each location has an associated list of beacons, the pings to the beacons in their list are averaged to determine the approximate ping for a location, locations with no good beacons are sorted to the end of the list.
  
  • Region preferences are now saved to disk.
    
  • Region preferences and region override lists are now properly sorted by average ping.
    
  • Adjusted leniency setting ping values.
    

• Added a limited-form of player rematch protection. After any 1v1 match you are locked out of matching into your previous opponent for ~40 seconds.
  
• Ranked matchmaking now takes into account your Rank in addition to your Elo. This helps us prevent matches with large Elo disparities while still accounting for the Ranks at the ends of the skill curve that cover a wider range of Elos.
  
• Matchmaking no longer automatically times out after 2 minutes, so in smaller regions at slower times of day you should no longer need to babysit the queue and can alt-tab and wait for the Match Found notification sound.
  
• Fixed Matchmaking exploit that allowed you to match with players far outside your actual Elo.
  
• Fix for online results stats showing all 0s for players 1-3.
  

Online

• Increased Match Prep time to 25s. Match Prep is the time after one player has connected until all players have connected. If not everyone connects the server will cancel the match. For some slower PCs the 15s time was too short and sometimes they were unable to load into the server and would arrive after the match was cancelled.
  
• The game will now stop the connection loop when processing a forfeit / match cancellation. This fixes an issue where if you forfeit or otherwise left the server during the window of time before your client confirmed your connection it would place you back on the server incorrectly.
  
• Locked InputProcessor from assigning a controller to a slot when alt-tabbing in, helps prevent the keyboard from claiming your slot incorrectly if you were alt-tabbed while matchmaking.
  

[h2]Controls Refactor Pt. 1[/h2]

• New Taunt bindings: : All Taunt, Taunt 1, Taunt 2, Taunt 3, Taunt 4.
  
  • Taunt 1-4 only shown for Keyboard players.
    
  • Taunts are set to dpad on controller by default. If you prefer dpad movement, there is a new bind for controller called "All Taunt" which is a single button you press that will taunt based on the direction your movement stick is being held.
    
• Can now unbind a binding without binding it somewhere else.
  
• Added Shorthop Attack during jumpsquat macro binding.
  
• Changed cursor movespeed logic / curve.
  
• Cursor now interacts with edges of screens differently in a way that allows for snapback testing.
  
• Nothing option added for choosing what your grab or parry buttons do in the air.
  
• Save tag for players who sit out when playing rotations.
  
• Hard Press Threshold added to Stick Sensitivity settings.
  
  • This highly requested controls setting from Rivals of Aether allows you to choose how far you have to move your joystick for it to be counted as a hard press (e.g. dash and fast fall inputs). Previously all players had the default value of 80%, but now you can choose any value between 50% and 95%.
    

[h2]General Updates[/h2]

• Fixed settings menu input forwarding on character select screen.
  
• Updated button displayer in rebinding tab.
  
• Adjusted UI position of "Steal Stock".
  
• Level 0 will no longer be incorrectly displayed on a character when you received exactly enough XP to level up.
  
• Button bindings now right align in the options menu.
  
• Tweaked tooltip wrapping.
  
• Added padding to the bottom of player slot option scroll boxes so that tooltips dont cut off buttons.
  
• Currency popup edits.
  
• Refactored free cam widget to allow keyboard input for moving up / down. Added follow player camera mode.
  
• Fix timer showing up in matches where timer setting is 0.
  
• Main game clock can now count upward in Arcade mode.
  
• Playerslot Options Menu tooltips now correctly resize when multi-lined.
  
• Player Slot Tooltips now hide themselves when switching tabs.
  
• Fixed Advanced Controls not showing up for keyboard players.
  
• Changed top bar options Discord link to fire off of Select instead of X/Left Face Button, and also does not happen if you're currently rebinding controls.
  
• Playerslot Options Menu tooltips now correctly resize when multi-lined.
  
• Fix for CPUs getting not getting marked as ready correctly + other misc ui fixes.
  
• 4 digit character levels no longer extend out of the character box.
  
• - Reset to Default now closes properly on confirm, Added a couple tooltips.
  
• Server properly handles forfeits that occur during the window of time after all players have connected but before the server has rank data.
  
• Miscellaneous crashfixes.
  
• Improved coupon error messages.
  
• Improved ownership checks on items.
  
• Removed dithering from outline clip - cleans up visual in areas with no outline.
  
• Attempted to fix a weird leg stretching bug with Loxodont.
  
• Slam Dunk Ranno skin fixes
  

We hope everyone's been enjoying the launch month of Rivals II. Our next update is scheduled for December 3rd, and includes a new event plus some balance changes. In the meantime make sure to also check out our highlights from some great recent events here:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]


[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

We've got a hotfix patch rolling out with some small updates to make your lives better this weekend. Make sure to restart Steam if you don't automatically see the latest version.

• Kragg LowPoly FX fixes
  
• Event end timer updated
  
• Polished Event Level up animation, event track item widgets
  
• Starter Bundle Bonus coins indicator on results and arcade complete screens
  
• Player Slot option tooltips
  
• Maypul abyss terry spin material uses correct colors
  
• [StageSelect, TourneyMode] Fix for toggling local tourney mode on/off not properly resetting all the game state values
  
• Fix for occasionally being unable to select a stage or make a ban in tourney mode
  
• Email Entry Popup fix
  
• On Steam Deck and Steam Big Picture, when using a controller that is not a keyboard or a GameCube controller, the visual keyboard now automatically appears when focusing a text input field.
  

• Fix being able to move focus into bg while in a lobby
  
• Low Poly Platform Color palettes fixed
  
• Air Grab/Parry None setting
  
• [CSS] Fix for Add CPU button sometimes not functioning
  
• Added Advanced Controls tab to player slot options menu and reorganized certain options
  
• Fix for main menu music stopping randomly
  
• Confirm Forfeit modal in Ranked
  
• Secondary ledge grab box QoL change
  
• Slamdunk Ranno fixes
  
• Matchmaking crash fix
  

Today is our first big update bringing monthly events to Rivals II! Events will be a permanent feature now that they're here, rotating each month with their own cool themes. This month's is RIVALS 3D - where we're going back in time with Low Poly skins and other Low Poly items like platforms, death effects, emotes, and icons. You can see the trailer that revealed the theme this weekend below:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

If you haven't heard us talk about events before, they're basically like a free battlepass. Just like you earn character XP, you'll also now earn XP on the event track. You can see your progress on the new event screen and unlock rewards as you level up, including Aether Bucks, coins, plus a range of Low-Poly goodies shown below. Once you hit the end of the track you'll even keep earning bonus coins for every extra level you hit. Events will also feature a themed bundle along with new individual items in the shop.



Event skins are also listed out for each event in game. These are skins that are on or similar to the monthly theme, and if you play matches using them you'll speed up your progress.

Since this is our first event we'll also be keeping a very close eye on XP gain rates and rewards, and make changes where needed so that everything feels good. All Rivals 3D event items will also remain in the shop after the event ends, so you don't have to worry about missing out.



[h3]Events[/h3]

• Rivals 3D event added!
  
  • The event track page in the store is now open. Players can earn event XP, rewards, and find other event themed items in the shop! The Rivals 3D event runs from 11/4 - 12/2.

[h3]User Interface/Experience Improvements[/h3]

• "Add CPU" button added to CSS player slots.
  
  • This should make it a little easier to hop in a game with a computer opponent.
• Added Discord Support button to top bar.
  
• Added a Feedback + Bugs hotkey when the top bar options menu is opened.
  
  • These changes make the support buttons more visible. Disocrd is still the best place to open up a support ticket if you need help, aside from emailing us directly. We may not be able to answer all requests immediately, but sending one here will make sure we can see it.
• Reworked the UX (user experience) for rebinding your controls. You can now press start to save, and hold start to cancel with no additional prompts.
  
• Reset to Default button renamed to -> Reset Controls, plus now shows a confirmation prompt.
  
• Ranked now shows a checkmark Some small blind character select (ranked) ui polish {shows a checkmark / makes it a little more clear that you're not supposed to see their character}
  
• Changed currency icons from Single to Small stacks.
  
• Added some safeguards to prevent invisible / accidental queuing.
  
• Added bonus coin graphic to currency, plus a bonus coin graphic to item unlock popup.
  
• Post match coin reward visuals properly account for Starter Pack bonus coins.
  
  • This makes it more clear that you actually are getting your starter pack coin bonus. Players who already had a starter pack were receiving these coins, they just weren't properly shown post-match.
  
  
• Made small interface improvements for ultrawide or other nonstandard window sizes.
  
• Fixed abyss medals going wild with particles.
  
• The Store Steam Overlay being open now prevents menu navigation.
  
• Fixed incorrect stage displaying on versus screen during arcade mode.
  
• Fixed text-only menu button highlight animation.
  
• Fixed an invisible platform on Orcane's break the targets stage.
  
• Moved location of settings save data to fix issues with steam cloudsave and playing on multiple devices.
  

[h3]Audio[/h3]

• Set master volume default to 60 instead of 80.
  
• Randomized main menu music after leaving the title screen.
  
• Added better transitions for background music when moving between menus.
  
• The main menu no longer has dead air after the current song finishes.
  
• Fixed a bug so that the training stage plays the training mode music regardless of the current stage platform layout loaded.
  

[h3]Replay Improvements[/h3]

• Adjusted Replay Auto-Save and manual replay save logic.
  
• Restructured how replays are saved in order to make them more efficient.
  
• Added a Replay Auto-Save setting in Gameplay Settings.
  
  • Lets you choose between "Off | Local Only | Online Only | All"
• If a player does not have the relevant auto-save setting on for their current match type, they can press Y to Save Replay on the results screen. In a local match this saves it immediately, in an online match the server will save and upload it for that player following the match.
  
  • Replays are only uploaded to playfab player data for players who request it or have the relevant auto-save setting enabled.
• Opening the Replay menu now downloads any replays if there are any before populating the list.
  
• Added a Refresh prompt on the Replay menu that will download any replays if there are any and then repopulate the list/
  
• Fixed an old bug where replay menu list would lose focus if you moved navigation up from top or down from bottom of list.
  

We hope you enjoy our latest patch! Let us know what you think as always over on our nolt board, and enjoy the extra pixels this month.

Last week we teased the Slam Dunk Ranno skin but didn't reveal much about it. Today we're happy to share that this isn't just a normal skin, but instead our first Esports skin made with the goal in mind of supporting community tournaments!



Our vision for supporting events with it means everything from giving this skin to scenes of all sizes to help boost attendees, to letting them use it to pump up the pot bonus or even do giveaways. This means (at least at first) getting this skin will be connected to the events themselves. However, don't worry if you see one you really like, because later down the line we'll make sure they're available for everyone.

If you're a local TO who is interested in learning more about this, coming soon we'll have a form for local events to submit their information, and receive Slam Dunk Ranno skins based on certain criteria like attendees.

We also took the opportunity to do some special palettes of the skin for some events that are already happening. Make sure to keep your eyes on these to learn more:

Week 2 of our month long Twitch Drop campaign is underway! From 10/30 at 10am PT to 11/6 at 9:59am PT, you can grab free Aether Bucks, drop themed icons, and palettes for Maypul and Kragg.

These purple palettes and icons can be unlocked for the whole cast if you watch during each of the different elemental weeks of our celebratory Launch Campaign.





[h2]How to Unlock[/h2]

All you need to do is watch streams in the Rivals of Aether II category that have drops enabled!



Once you've earned a Drop, you'll see a notification in your Twitch Inventory in the top right where you can claim your item. It will link you to this page, where you can log into your Aether Account, then click the "Unlock your Twitch Drops items in ROA2" button. Make sure you link your correct account or you won't receive your drops in game. If you're not sure what your Aether Account email address is, just press start on the main menu of Rivals II to see your account email.

[h2]For Streamers[/h2]

All you have to do to get the drops on your channel is opt in on your dashboard and stream Rivals II, that's it! This is an open campaign for anyone streaming the Rivals of Aether II category.

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Note: If you missed the first week (Fire Week) or are worried about not being able to get any of the drops this month, don't fret, these will become available again at a later date/method.