Steel Swarm: APOCALYPSE News

🎉 Our demo phase has been successfully completed. Huge thanks to everyone who joined, played, and shared their feedback!
Now, it's time for the next chapter: Early Access.

What awaits you during Early Access?

• Obelisk and upcoming new XBTs
  
• Competitive Mode and Ranked System
  
• Skins and Skin Boxes
  
• In-game Store
  
• Launcher Assistant
  
• Battle Pass
  
• Full Gamepad Support
  
• Steam Deck Support
  
• Linux Support
  
• In-game Ping System
  

📌 Add to your wishlist now:
👉 Steel Swarm on Steam

[h3]🎮 Gamepad Support & Controls[/h3]

• Full gamepad support has been added (in-game and in the launcher).
  
• A gamepad-specific assisted driving mode allows units to move toward the direction of the left stick.
  
• Aim assist has been added for gamepad users.
  
• Keyboard and controller binding options have been added to the launcher settings.
  
• A new auto-attack toggle has been added: continuously fires the first skill until canceled.
  
• Toggle auto-attack: Shift + F (keyboard), RB + RT (gamepad).
  

[h3]🔁 XBT Rotation[/h3]
Free Rotation: Queen, Firefly, Sphinx, Freedom Fighter, Khan

[h3]⚙️ Gameplay & System Updates[/h3]

• Removed lifetime cone damage from Vulcan, Guardian, and Escort Drone bullets.
  
• Fixed an issue where Vulcan could deal damage beyond its intended range. (Deaths caused by out-of-range Vulcan attacks will no longer occur.)
  
• The launcher background now features swarms walking across the bridge.
  
• Minor performance improvements made to the launcher.
  
• Hover highlights have been added to XBT cards in the launcher.
  
• Tier 1 Vulcan damage now scales linearly to its maximum at level 10 when attacking XBTs.
  

https://steelswarm.net/news/patch-notes-2025-5-2.html SSA TEAM

In Steel Swarm: APOCALYPSE, the war is no longer limited to just mouse and keyboard! Very soon, gamepad support for Xbox, PlayStation, and other controllers will be available on Windows systems.
Whether you're ambushing in the city or dodging under Mantis’ feet — now you can do it all while chilling on your couch, gamepad in hand.

• [h3]🕹️ More Control, More Fun[/h3]
  
  With the new gamepad support:
  
  
  • Xbox, PS, and other controllers will be plug & play compatible.
    
  • Menus and UI will be optimized for controller navigation.
    
  • To match the console-style gameplay, aim assist and streamlined driving features will also be enabled.
    
  
  
  This means a smoother and more competitive experience, especially for players who prefer to play with a controller.
  

• [h3]👀 Ready to Feel the Console Spirit?[/h3]
  
  This update isn’t just about comfort — it's a signal of what's to come.
  
  As many console players already know:
  
  Some battles just feel better with a controller.
  
  Which makes us wonder:
  
  

  "Could Steel Swarm come to consoles someday?"

• [h3]📅 When Is It Coming?[/h3]
  
  Gamepad support is currently in its final testing phase and will be released very soon.
  
  Be sure to follow our social media and Steam page so you don’t miss the announcement!
  
  Steel Swarm: APOCALYPSE keeps evolving.
  Whether you're a seasoned commander or a brand-new pilot — the fight is now at your fingertips.
  
  And this time, the aim is yours… and so is the throttle.
  
  SSA Team

[h2] ⚖️ Balance Changes[/h2]

[h3]Firefly[/h3]
- Flamethrower damage reduced at early levels. (Level 20 damage unchanged)
- Flamethrower cone angle reduced from 25° to 20°.
- Blue Flame area reduced: cone angle from 35° to 30°, and radius from 22.4 to 20.8.

[h3]Ironclad[/h3]
- Increased damage at early levels. (Level 20 damage unchanged)
- Health regeneration increased.
- All physical defenses increased by 10 points.
- Triangle Formation defense reduction value corrected.

[h3]Queen[/h3]

Smoothbore and Heat Ammo damage increased at early levels. (Level 20 damage unchanged)
Health regeneration increased.

[h3]🛠 Equipment[/h3]
Cold Blood duration reduced from 300s to 120s.
Shield price increased from 1500 to 2000.

[h3]🌲 Jungle[/h3]
Xalium rewards for the following jungle units have been reduced:

• Pirate Smuggler: 330 → 250
  
• Riot Supressor: 330 → 250
  
• Xorm Seeker: 500 → 400
  
• Outpost: 500 → 400
  
• Bulldog: 88 → 77
  
• Xorm Stalker: 88 → 77
  

SSA TEAM

[h3]🔄 WEEKLY XBT ROTATION[/h3]
The new free XBT lineup:
Queen, Firefly, Ironclad, Inso, Khan

[h3]🎨 UI & EXPERIENCE IMPROVEMENTS[/h3]

• 🖼️ Added a new launcher background.
  
• 📦 After opening a loot box, players will now continue from where they left off instead of being sent back to the main menu.
  

[h3]🛠️ BUG FIXES & ADJUSTMENTS[/h3]

• Practice Mode: Fixed an issue where Tier 2 minions would not spawn when the Supercomputer was stuck.
  
• Social Menu: Fixed a bug where the right-click context menu wouldn’t open.
  

SSA TEAM