Galactic Civilizations III News

[h2]4.21 also brings a number of long requested balance updates.[/h2]

What players will probably notice the most, however is how much better the AI is at putting together fair trade offers. This may only merit a single line in the change log but represented the bulk of the engineering time for this update.



[h2]Changelog[/h2]
[h3]All versions:[/h3]

• AI is now significantly better at putting together trade offers with the player (ones likely to be acceptable to the player).
  
• Asteroid likelihood in a system increased from 20% to 25%
  
• Ion storm spawn likelyhood an a sector increased from 50% to 65%
  

[h3]Retribution:[/h3]

• Minimum star distanced reduced from 7 parsecs to 5 parsecs
  
• Approval requirement for content reduced from 45% to 40%
  
• Civilization capital raw resource production increased from +2 to +3
  
• As hardware continues to become more powerful we have bumped up the number of objects a map can spawn:
  
• Small galaxy base object spawn increased from 300 to 400 (this is how many planets, stars, etc. are allowed)
  
• Medium galaxy base object spawn increased from 500 to 700 (this is how many planets, stars, etc. are allowed)
  
• Large galaxy base object spawn increased from 750 to 900 (this is how many planets, stars, etc. are allowed)
  
• Huge galaxy base object spawn increased from 900 to 1000 (this is how many planets, stars, etc. are allowed)
  
• Gigantic galaxy base object spawn increased from 1000 to 1200 (this is how many planets, stars, etc. are allowed)
  
• Excessive galaxy base object spawn increased from 1400 to 1500 (this is how many planets, stars, etc. are allowed)
  
• Insane galaxy base object spawn increased from 1500 to 1600 (this is how many planets, stars, etc. are allowed)
  
• AI weighting of technologies improved to ensure the AI researches the updated tech tree more effectively
  
• Ministry of Alien Affairs now gives a +0.25 diplomacy bonus
  
• Interstellar Tourism prereq changed from requiring Immigration to ministry of alien affairs to make available earlier in the game.
  
• Supply ship manufacturing cost reduced from 200 to 125
  
• Early game music tracks updated
  

This small update resolves some issues with using non-English versions of the game not displaying characters properly. It also updates the in-game version string.

Stardock released a v4.2 update today for Galactic Civilizations III, its massive space sandbox 4X strategy game. The update has taken a large amount of community feedback into account as it works to address the game’s balance.



The version 4.2 update focuses on balancing several existing elements within the game, including planet classes, resource requirements for certain Starbase modules, habitable planet counts in each map size, and more.

“This update wouldn't have been possible without our community,” said Stardock CEO Brad Wardell. “Without their feedback and their sharing of saved games, it would have been much more difficult for us to take a look at some of the more specific balance issue within various play scenarios.”



Some adjustments have been made to values granted by certain technologies, and the default player count on each map size has also been increased. The AI has been updated to be more generous when trading tech, and an AI player will no longer rush a ship when it doesn’t need to.

Since Galactic Civilizations III released in 2015, Stardock has made frequent updates while taking player feedback into account. Because of this, the game has continued to improve throughout the years, ensuring that even long-time players have something new or interesting to look forward to when an update is released.

The v4.2 update is now available. Make sure to check out the full changelog down below!

[h2]Change Log[/h2]

[h3]Fixes[/h3]

• Typo Fixes
  
• Fixed an initialization bug
  

[h3]Balance[/h3]

• Planet class 26 added
  
• General balance of planets classes moved down some.
  
• Players can start slightly closer together.
  
• Starbase particle beam support weapon no longer requires Elerium
  
• Starbase Stinger missile support weapon no longer requires anti-matter
  
• Starbase Shield Generator support module no l,onger requires Elerium
  
• Starbase Point defense support module no longer requires Elerium
  
• Starbase Titanium plate module no longer requires Durantium
  
• Starbase perimeter Scanner no longer requires Durantium
  
• Starbase sector scanner Durantium cost reduced from 2 to 1
  
• Starbase modules resource cost reduced by 1
  
• Starbase Archeology module benefits increased
  
• Starbase level 1 economic modules no longer require special resources
  
• Content approval threshold reduced from 45% to 40%
  
• Starting year increased from 2242 to 2243 for Retribution
  
• Tiny map habitable planet count increased from 32 to 36
  
• Small map habitable planet count increased from 40 to 48
  
• Medium map habitable planet count increased from 100 to 120
  
• Large map habitable planet count increased from 200 to 250
  
• Huge map habitable planet count increased from 300 to 320
  
• Gigantic map habitable planet count increased from 400 to 450
  
• Immense map habitable planet count increased from 500 to 550
  
• Planetary Improvement tech increases admin points +1
  
• Colonial Engineering tech increases admin points +1
  
• Artificial Gravity tech increases admin points +1
  
• Interstellar Resupply tech increases admin points +1
  
• Xeno Commerce tech increases admin points +1
  
• Xeno Entertainment tech increases admin points +1
  
• Retribution: Star distance reduced from 7 tiles to 5 tiles.
  
• Default player count per map size increased:
  
  
  • Small: 3 to 5
    
  • Medium: 6 to 9
    
  • Large: 8 to 11
    
  • Huge: 12 to 17
    
  • Gigantic: 16 to 21
    
• Colony ships cost more
  
• Prototype hyperdrive requires anti-matter instead of Promethion
  
• Slight bump to improvement costs.
  
• Tiny hull receives +2 speed buff
  
• Small hull receives +1 speed buff
  
• Cargo hull cost increased.
  
• Capital world now provides +5 Credits per turn.
  
• Capital production bonus increased from 2 to 3.
  

[h3]AI[/h3]

• AI more generous in tech trading
  
• Fixed bug that could cause an AI player to rush a ship when it didn't want to.
  
• AI will no longer overwrite its current improvement project.
  

Galactic Civilizations III's next update is now in opt-in and ready to test out! Players can expect tons of improvements and user requested changes, check them out below:



[h2]GalCiv III v.Next[/h2]

• Tiny hull receives +2 speed buff
  
• Small hull receives +1 speed buff
  
• Cargo hull cost increased
  
• Slight bump to improvement costs.
  
• Colony ships cost more
  
• Prototype hyperdrive requires anti-matter instead of Promethion
  
• Fixed bug that could cause an AI player to rush a ship when it didn't want to.
  
• Easier difficulty levels made easier with "dumber" AI.
  
• Default player count per map size increased:
  - Small: 3 to 5
  - Medium: 6 to 9
  - Large: 8 to 11
  - Huge: 12 to 17
  - Gigantic: 16 to 21
  
• Star distance reduced from 7 tiles to 5 tiles.
  
• AI more reasonable in tech trading
  
• Planetary Improvement tech increases admin points +1
  
• Colonial Engineering tech increases admin points +1
  
• Artificial Gravity tech increases admin points +1
  
• Interstellar Resupply tech increases admin points +1
  
• Xeno Commerce tech increases admin points +1
  
• Xeno Entertainment tech increases admin points +1
  
• Maps given more habitable planets:
  - Tiny map habitable planet count increased from 32 to 36
  - Small map habitable planet count increased from 40 to 48
  - Medium map habitable planet count increased from 100 to 120
  - Large map habitable planet count increased from 200 to 250
  - Huge map habitable planet count increased from 300 to 320
  - Gigantic map habitable planet count increased from 400 to 450
  - Immense map habitable planet count increased from 500 to 550
  
• Content approval threshold reduced from 45% to 40%
  
• Starting year increased from 2242 to 2243 for Retribution
  
• Starbase particle beam support weapon no longer requires Elerium
  
• Starbase Stinger missile support eapon no longer requires anti-matter
  
• Starbase Shield Generator support module no l,onger requires Elerium
  
• Starbase Point defense support module no longer requires Elerium
  
• Starbase Titanium plate module no longer requires Durantium
  
• Starbase perimeter Scanner no longer requires Durantium
  
• Starbase sector scanner Durantium cost reduced from 2 to 1
  
• Starbase modules resource cost reduced by 1
  
• Starbase Archeology module benefits increased
  
• Starbase level 1 economic modules no longer require special resources
  
• Planet class 26 added
  
• General balance of planets classes moved down some.
  
• Players can start slightly closer together.
  

We'll be updating this list as we put out new updates. We have a lot of plans for this Summer.

[h2]To Access[/h2]
Go to Steam, go to the properties, go to Betas and choose the Opt-in (regardless of what it's labeled).