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Retro Commander News

Update 2.27.153 - Game Setup Screen, Graphics & Balancing

  • Game Setup Options: "AI Challenge" added which makes the last faction or team non-playable and gives the AI additional assets. Some map scenarios were removed where the same could be obtained by using this new game setup option.
  • Game Setup: streamlined and simplified the game setup screens. All the options are still there but are collapsed by default.
  • EMP Field & Weapons: weapons could be active and shoot before they were fully built. Now, e.g. the EMP field is only active when the unit/structure is fully built beforehand. Thanks to Tim Stibane for reporting the bug!
  • Field Effect: EMP/PSY field effect added to increase clarity during gameplay. Will indicate the activity of the field.
  • Graphics: updated coloring for Alien Battleship, Alien Drone Carrier, Troop Transport, Cruiser, Battleship and Airships. For non-updated maps, the faction-color will not be rendered correct. Please update those maps.
  • Graphics: structure, nature and unit shadows desaturated.
  • Graphics: recolored the Dolphins, Submarines and Submersibles.
  • Graphics: improved rotation interpolation.
  • Alien Destroyer: updated rotation speed for Alien Destroyer and Submersibles.
  • Keyboard: the [Pause] key now pauses or unpauses the game. The key can be changed to e.g. '='/etc. in the settings if your keyboard doesn't have a [Pause] key.
  • Sound & Other FX: sound FX and other effects were not always played due to timing issues. If things were faster to update (or slower to render), then some FX could be missed.
  • Sound FX (Fallback): improved fallback sound FX for eliminating a robo dog or small robot (non-human).
  • Comic Pause Button: now transparent when on small screen in landscape mode.
  • LAN Games: IP addresses can now be copied to clipboard.
  • Language: latest translations added - Thanks :-D
  • Code Improvement: user configuration options code streamlined with utility methods.
  • Maintenance: update logging for sign-ins via Google Play.
  • Maintenance: updated monitoring and statistics for Jetty.
  • Maintenance: commons-net updated to 3.11.1.
  • Maintenance: improve logging by reducing number of minor errors and warnings for clarity.
  • Bugfix: making sure no endless loops when rendering tiled images.
  • Bugfix: Droid login bugfix with improved Base64 parsing of JWT (using URL).
  • Bugfix: some water/etc. tiles had seams due to wrong parsing of the ground tiles (now fixed).
  • Bugfix: render code was wrong for units with backed-in coloring (didn't always update).
  • Bugfix: multiplayer tournament info didn't show the total players but players per game. Update the details for clarity.
  • Bugfix: map generator didn't recognize certain names such as "Rock" anymore due to earlier renaming of elements.
  • Bugfix Crashes: when the mail manager was 'null'.

Update 2.26.150 - Skirmish Missions & Building

  • Skirmish Missions: all the campaigns now also contain skirmish missions based off the campaign missions (with slight modification).
  • Building: structures can now also be placed even if there are temporarily no build units (e.g. robos) available.
  • Giving Build Robots: giving build robos is now possible to team mates (previously disabled).
  • Game Auto-Deletion: multiplayer games without activity are auto-deleted (as always). There is now a notification which will be given to the player that his/her game has been auto-deleted for clarity.
  • Map Zoom: pressing the SHIFT-button will allow an extra 2x Zoom-In/Out of the map via mouse wheel (or keyboard).
  • Parallax: improved fake-3D effect. To try enable "Parallax" in the game's settings. Please let us know what you think?
  • Graphics: smoother interpolated rotation for certain troops, such as the aircraft carrier, battleship, truck and others.
  • Editor: now contains a list of recently used items for convenience.
  • Renamed: "Rock" -> "Stones" and "Boulder" -> "Rock".
  • Game Manual: updated the refund policy (consumable products).
  • Language: latest translations added - Thanks :-D
  • Maintenance: created new Windows, Mac OS and Linux binaries with latest compatibility updates. Especially, the list of Mac OS Binaries improved.
  • Maintenance: Updated libGDX to 1.13.1. Misc. bugfixes across multiple platforms. E.g. Droid keyboard now works correctly.
  • Maintenance: Updated TeaVM to 0.11.0. Misc. fixes especially to code generation.
  • Maintenance: functionality to test the catalog purchasing system (for development).
  • Maintenance: updated Droid Sign-In functionality to the new CredentialManager (old way retired in 2025).
  • Maintenance: Jetty updated to 9.4.56.v20240826 (fixes thread starvation).
  • Maintenance: improved memory management for low-memory devices.
  • Internal: dev.-environment automatically puts the 1 internal game server as LIVE.
  • Bugfix: Assimilators/etc. could not be loaded onto Barge/Chinook anymore.
  • Bugfix: login would not work if a space ' ' was added to the username or password. Trimming the entry before logging in players.
  • Bugfix: troop and structure listing for players was showing non-related alien troops.
  • Bugfix: AI was trying to build non-buildable unit and internally crashed.
  • Bugfix: Droid notification now opens the app again when clicked (broken previously).
  • Bugfix: some models where wrongly tagged as directional.
  • Bugfix: SecurityManager doesn't work with JDK 21+.
  • Bugfix Crashes: when comparing two objects and one was null (note panel).

Bugfix: Loading into Barge/Chinook

Bugfix for Assimilators/etc. not Loading in Barge and Chinook. Please also updated the downloaded maps to the latest version.

Retro Commander: Alien Faction

The latest update to Retro Commander has just landed, and it's bringing a whole new level of excitement to the battlefield. Players can now take command of an alien faction, adding an exciting new dimension to the game's RTS mechanics. This new faction introduces a unique play style with powerful, otherworldly units, advanced technology, and strategies that will challenge even the most experienced commanders. Whether you’re facing off against other players or battling through the campaign, the alien faction adds fresh, tactical depth to every encounter, making every match feel uniquely intense.



Alongside this new faction, Retro Commander also introduces a brand-new chapter to its campaign, complete with stunning comic book-style cutscenes that advance the story. The narrative delves deeper into the conflict between humans and aliens, offering players a chance to unravel the mysteries of this intergalactic war. The new chapter promises exciting twists and high-stakes missions that will keep players on the edge of their seats. Whether you’re playing as the humans or the aliens, this new content expands the lore and takes the Retro Commander experience to a whole new level.

Update 2.25.148 - Alien Faction & Alien Campaign CH08

  • Alien Faction: there is now an alien faction featuring mobile construction vehicles (MCV), alien units including antimatter bombs. You need to have the latest version for the aliens to display.
  • Campaign CH08: campaign chapter 08 (CH08) now has the humans battle against an alien invasion.
  • Battle Map A1: an battle map pitting humans against aliens (there will be more scenarios later).
  • Default Map: the default map included with the game now has a "Two vs. the Aliens" scenario.
  • AI: improved targeting, i.e. preventing distraction by AI Base Center/Map Pings (which can't be attacked).
  • AI: making sure AI doesn't get stuck calculating the base center. Will now accept sub-optimal locations also (in regards to road-building).
  • Modding: please update your maps with the latest bundle.config which contains the latest balancing and aliens. Then re-upload the map - Thanks!
  • Language: latest translations added - Thanks :-D
  • Bugfix: fragment shader for coloring (CC-color) didn't properly do pre-multiplied alpha/etc.
  • Bugfix: deep water tiles were rendering wrong at blocked beach locations!
  • Bugfix: parachuting down sometimes destroyed a unit, even though there was enough space to land (use Engine v.07+).
  • Bugfix: capturing e.g. town centers didn't properly filter for units that were allowed to capture or not (use Engine v.07+).
  • Bugfix Crashes: for when we don't properly parse R2L characters.
  • Bugfix Crashes: when the display mode could not be loaded.
  • Bugfix Crashes: attempt to fix crashes due to Audio (iOS).
  • Bugfix Crashes: when a vital unit got removed (objectives hints).