The Atlas Problem Playtest News

[h2]UPDATE 5: MANDATORY OVERTIME[/h2]
Using the new [color]Research & Development Lab[/color], expand your array of structures, abilities, and technologies to be more efficient at collecting critical resources! In particular, the new [color]Loadout Kit Tool[/color] and [color]Scanning Array[/color] will allow Station Managers to optimally strategize around that day's wave patterns and [color]Space Weather™[/color].

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• Refined tutorial phase to help new Station Managers get started
  
• Fully implemented base building and resource collection
  
• A wide variety of definitely-harmful, sometimes-helpful weather patterns to strategize around
  
• Early implementation of the progression and loadout systems
  
• A little bit of space mystery to discover
  
• Tech tree, project management, and loadout system for changing your strategy between waves and lives
  
• Enhanced resource collection mechanics
  
• Optimized drone AI behavior
  
• Expanded buildable structures
  
• Various bug fixes and performance optimizations
  

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Alongside this update, we're expanding our playtest program to welcome more Station Managers to Atlas!

[h3]How to join:[/h3]
Simply request access through the "Request Access" button on this page. We're processing applications regularly and will be admitting new Station Managers in batches. All playtesters will receive regular updates with new content and features as development progresses. Your feedback during this crucial stage will directly influence the evolution of Atlas Problem.



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[h2]YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS[/h2]
As we enter this new phase of development, your feedback is more valuable than ever. Share your thoughts through our Discord server where you can chat directly with the developers.

We're particularly interested in hearing about your experience with the new weather system, the resource balancing, and which aspects of the game you found most engaging.

See you on Atlas!

Bugs squashed, performance improved, and secret things added for the future.

*(*your home away from home, i.e., your work)*

[h2]Greetings, Station Managers[/h2]

We're pleased to announce that Update 4 for The Atlas Problem has been deployed and is now available for all playtesters. This major update introduces the Employee Journal and Handbook, new structures, and significant quality-of-life improvements to improve your performance enhance your experience on Atlas.

[h3]What's New in Update 4:[/h3]

- Employee Journal and Handbook: Your comprehensive guide to life on Atlas, including jukebox controls, a structures database, and tutorial tips so you can revisit what you've learned
- New Introduction Scene: A proper welcome to your new home away from home
- Welding Torch: New repair tool replaces the old repair hotkey
- New Structures: Point Defense Cannon, Redirector, and Wall to enhance your base defenses
- Numerous Quality-of-Life Improvements: Updated UI, more intuitive resource collection, clearer interactions, and a lot more
- 🎂

Update 4 is available now in the beta branch, and will be available by default on Monday, March 10th.

📋 [View the complete patch notes here]

As this is still a playtest beta, we're particularly interested in your feedback on the new systems, QOL elements, and structures. Please share your experiences, bug reports, and suggestions on our Discord server.

Thank you for your continued support as we develop Atlas Problem!

*—The Atlas Problem Development Team*

(*Work environment may vary. Survival not guaranteed.)

[h3]New Features[/h3]

• Employee Journal and Handbook! Your comprehensive guide to life on Atlas
  
  
  
  • Jukebox music controls and some new musical tracks
    
  • Settings menu moved from pause menu to journal for easier access
    
  • Complete structures database
    
  • Tutorial tips and milestones database for tracking progress
    
• Introduction Scene: New opening sequence to better introduce you to Atlas
  
• Welding Torch: A new "weapon" used for repairing structures, replacing the old repair hotkey
  
• Flexible Round Timer:
  
  • The round timer is now much longer, and descent is permitted during rounds
    
  • Timer pauses during descent, but you cannot rest until your goal is completed
    
• Navigation Aids: Onscreen compass and waypoint system to help you find your way
  
• Relocated Fuse Switch: Now has its own underground hangout spot, with the generator to keep it company
  

[h3]New Structures[/h3]

• Point Defense Cannon: Protect your base from incoming debris
  
• Redirector: Control and manipulate the flow of resources
  
• Wall: Basic defensive structure to protect your installations
  

[h3]Quality-of-Life Improvements[/h3]

• Improved Repair System: Repair bar now behaves more consistently
  
• Enhanced Build Interface: Better interaction between selecting structures and build menu
  
• Smarter Resource Collection: Adjusted loot pickup so you only collect nearby resources of the type you're highlighting
  
• Clearer Interactions: Onscreen text to indicate what you're interacting with
  
• Streamlined Start: The Begin Round Button has been retired(🪦) - the elevator opens on its own and round begins automatically when you exit to the surface
  
• 🎂
  

[h3]Known Issues[/h3]

• For some users, the first time you use the NAV it will be dark on the surface
  
• In rare circumstances, PDC Turrets may start spinning aimlessly; this will resolve at the end of the wave, or the next time they encounter debris
  
• Sometimes the crosshair may vanish. Don't panic! It'll be back (after resting, or at worst quitting and reloading)
  
• You maybe able to complete the round with the Anomalous Debris without completing the collection goal. You're welcome.
  

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Thank you for your continued support as we develop Atlas Problem! Report any issues or share your thoughts on our community Discord server.

—The Atlas Problem Development Team

Hey everyone! We have a very big patch today, which we’ve been working hard on for the last few months.

You’ll notice a lot of UI changes (more than it’s worth listing), as well as some gameplay changes, especially to construction and collection of resources.

Behind the scenes, most of this update was about us totally rebuilding a lot of the systems driving the game to be more robust and easier to extend (into the rest of the game beyond this demo). This is going to let us start adding many new structures, research, and story beats much more easily in the next few months

Known Issues

• When loading from a save, damaged structures will not show the correct visual effects until they are partially repaired or take more damage.
  
• The wave timer briefly shows the time from the previous round when a new wave starts.
  
• Some shadow glitches are visible on the ACV drones when viewed through the control room display screen.
  
• If the ACV drone gets hit in the right way by debris it will get knocked on its side; Sweepy has no ability to recover from this, please put it out of its misery if this happens (recycle it). ♻️
  
• Pausing while taking damage sometimes makes the pause menu buttons unclickable; in this event, the P or Esc keys will still work to unpause.
  
• Very rarely, structures will load from a save i incorrectly rotated.
  
• Timing on the subtitles (both on screen and on the holo table) is still being fine-tuned.
  
• In some cases the visor will not be enabled correctly. You’ll be okay without it for now.

As always, join the Official Discord for discussion and to report bugs!