Wildgate News

[p] A new patch for Wildgate is now available on Steam![/p][p] [/p]

• [p]To share your feedback, join our official Discord server[/p]
• [p]To report bugs, visit our Bug Report portal[/p]
• [p]For technical or troubleshooting assistance, submit a help request[/p]

[p][/p][p]Keep reading to learn about the latest changes.[/p][p][/p][h2]PATCH HIGHLIGHTS
[/h2][p][/p][p] // DEV NOTE: This is our smaller midseason patch outside of our usual Reach Anomaly updates/rotations. The team are hard at work on our Hallowed Beyond event for the 23rd of October, as well as development on a New Game Mode, our new Outlaw two-player ship, a new prospector, weapon, and more for Season 1 in late November. You can find more details on these here - we look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks! [/p]

• [p]New Training Mode added[/p]
• [p]Legion AI/Ship changes[/p]
• [p]UI improvements to support future new game modes[/p]

[p] [/p][h2]NEW TRAINING MODE[/h2][p][/p][p] // DEV NOTE: We have changed how training works to try to better onboard new players, who often jump right into games unprepared for the chaos and carnage that is Wildgate. We will see if this helps and adjust as necessary to try to make the best new user experience we can.[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Training mode added - this gives new players a solo experience for learning about ship combat and ways to win in Artifact Hunt.[/p]
  • [p]AI gunners will be available on the training ship to help new prospectors learn the ropes.[/p]
  • [p]New players will now be required to complete both Tutorial and Training Modes before queuing Artifact Hunt for the first time on their own.[/p]
  • [p]Queuing with an experienced player as your party leader and completing a game of Artifact Hunt or Versus AI will unlock Artifact Hunt immediately.[/p][p][/p]

[h2] NEW GAME MODE SELECTOR[/h2][p]
// DEV NOTE: This screen/UI update sets us up for adding New Game Modes in future. Setting your ship preference was previously part of ‘Loadout’ menus. It’s now been moved more up front as part of this screen to be easier to access and more visible before you queue for a match.

This updated screen now includes:[/p]

• [p]New Training Mode[/p]
• [p]Space for future new game modes to be added[/p]
• [p]Ship preference selection.[/p]

[p][/p][h2]REACH HAZARDS[/h2][p][/p][p]// DEV NOTE: We are experimenting with smaller games for a few reasons. New players are often overwhelmed by 5 ship games, and we are hopeful that they’ll be able to track things (and have a higher win percentage) if some of our games have fewer player ships. We also have times of day right now where we struggle to make good matches for our best players. Rather than throwing them in a game with everyone else, we are going to make smaller games and fill out the space with some AI ships and see if that is a good experience for all involved. [/p]

• [p]Legion Ships have been renamed to Legion Patrols.[/p]
  • [p]If a match is started with the ‘Few Ships’ modifier (less than a full lobby), then ‘Legion Patrols’ is a guaranteed Hazard.[/p]
  • [p]The number of Legion AI Ships in a match will scale with the amount of human crews (more humans, less AI Ships).[/p]
  • [p]Legion AI ships now have a more consistent loot pool to reduce variance in their difficulty level.[/p]
  • [p]Removed some weapons from the Legion AI ship loot pool that Legion gunners aren’t currently very good at using 😅[/p]

[p][/p][h2][/h2][h2]RECENTLY ADDED CONTENT
[/h2][p][/p][p] // DEV NOTE: These updates to the Reach were added in previous Reach Rotation/Drop hotfixes, which have landed roughly every 2 weeks so far. We share updates on these on socials and our official Discord when they go live, we're documenting them here for ease of reference and better player visibility. [/p][p][/p][p]2nd October:[/p]

• [p]SPEC OPS SCATTER CANNON - pushes ships away[/p]
• [p]KINETIC SHIELD GENERATOR - +20% shields >50% less dmg from mines, bomb traps and
  bomb cannons[/p]
• [p]QUANTUM PROBE SENSOR - +300m scan range, scanned ships stay on map longer,
  reveals Artifact[/p]

[p]
18th September:[/p]

• [p]DEFENSE DRONE - hardpoint drone that shoots enemy torpedoes[/p]
• [p]LEGION PATROLS - Legion ships patrol the Reach, enemies may board your ship![/p]
• [p]DEAD SENSORS HAZARD - dead ships won’t show on map; no player or ship kills in kill feed [/p]

[p][/p][p]Hey prospectors, [/p][p][/p][p]Wildgate’s launch was just the starting line. Now, two months later, we’re ready to talk about what’s changing and where we’re going next. We're grateful to everyone who has joined us in the Reach so far - seeing you play and create moments of chaotic glee has been the best part of all of rocket ship.[/p][p]But let's be real. It's also been tough. We've seen the conversations online, and you've told us loud and clear what's not working:[/p]

• [p]Finding a match can take too long.[/p]
• [p]The game can feel barebones after a while.[/p]
• [p]Playing solo or with a small crew isn't always easy.[/p]

[p][/p][p]We're listening, and we're here to talk about what we're doing and where we're headed.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]// THE TL;DR[/h2]

• [p]New Game Mode: The first iteration is set to drop at the end of November with Season 1.[/p]
• [p]New 2-Man Ship: Perfect for smaller crews, also launching in Season 1.[/p]
• [p]Shorter Queues, Smaller Crews: Making it easier to find a match and compete, even with a small team. [/p]
• [p]Hallowed Beyond Event: Haunted POIs, vampiric hardpoint, and new cosmetics starting October 23.[/p]
• [p]Welcoming New Players: Steam Free Weekend and Free Trial, coming later this year.[/p]

[p][/p][p] [/p][p] [/p][h2] // TACKLING MATCHMAKING & QUEUES[/h2][p] When we started digging into the feedback that hit closest to home, we found three main issues that need our full attention: matchmaking quality, content volume, and the small crew/solo player experience. Our team has been focused on attacking all three.[/p][p]We know that long queue times and unbalanced matches, especially in certain regions (sorry Australia 😭), have been incredibly frustrating.  [/p][p]Prospectors patiently lining up for their chance to compete.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]WHAT WE'VE DONE[/p][p]On September 5, we deployed fixes and changes to matchmaking that, from your feedback, markedly improved the `fairness` and balance feeling for matchmaking. However, we know that current player count will still sometimes see new players mixing with more experienced Prospectors.
[/p][p]
[/p][p]OUR ONGOING WORK[/p][p]Our main focus is on making it easier for players to find a game, even without a large number of people playing at the same time. By not always needing a full 20-person lobby, we can reduce queue times and make it much easier for you to find a match and get to playing. We’re also continuing to work on our matchmaking logic to make sure we’re matching you with players of a similar skill level.[/p][p]One of the problems contributing to these matchmaking challenges is that our current game mode requires large lobbies to feel fun and competitive. We want to be able to provide a good experience for every player, no matter the time of day or size of their crew. So, we’ve got some bigger changes that will expand the ways you can play Wildgate, and welcome new players into the Reach.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h2]BUILDING FOR SEASON 1, LAUNCHING LATE NOVEMBER[/h2][p][/p][p]A NEW WAY TO PLAY[/p][p]Early sneak peek of new game mode selection UI. Imagine, if you will, a brand new game mode nestled in there - Coming in November![/p][p][/p][p]While we’ll be sharing more about October’s updates here in a bit, we first wanted to talk about our new experimental game mode. It's the most complex project we've worked on, and it's designed specifically to tackle the issues you’ve raised. We know that it will need some work after you’ve all had a chance to fly it around a bit when it releases in November, so please pardon our space dust and keep the feedback coming![/p][p]In this mode, multiple Wildgates are open from the start, so you can decide how long you want to stay in the Reach. Do you play it safe and escape with a small haul, or do you risk it all for more loot? The choice is yours. [/p][p]Even more mysteries await you in Season 1...[/p][p][/p][p]The goal is to enter the Reach, salvage valuable treasure, and then escape through a Wildgate without getting blown up! You can increase your score in many different ways - looting, questing, destroying NPC ships, grabbing Artifacts and more. Artifacts are not required to exit through a Wildgate - they will give you a big score of treasure, though.[/p][p]We built this mode with three key things in mind:[/p]

• [p]Easier Onboarding: Our hope is that this mode can give new players a smoother introduction to Wildgate with a less pressurized experience. [/p]
• [p]Playing with friends (or without): We know it’s not always easy to have a full crew of four. This mode is built to support teams of 1 to 4 players, so you can jump in for a quick match even if you’re flying solo. [/p]
• [p]A different kind of adventure: We love the intense PvP of Artifact Hunt, but we know players may also be looking for other ways to play. This mode is less about frequent PvP ship battles and more about a classic space adventure. You’ll still see some exciting battles, but your goal here is focused around gathering treasure. Your ship being destroyed means you lose your haul, which makes a fight a much bigger decision. [/p][p] [/p]
• [p]A NEW 2-MAN SHIP[/p]

[p]Shotgun![/p][p][/p][p]As a direct response to your feedback about playing with smaller crews, we’re releasing a new 2-man ship with Season 1. It’s designed to be a perfect fit for the new game mode, but it can be used in the Artifact Hunt mode, too. [/p][p]And that’s not all – November’s Season 1 is planned to release with a new Prospector, a new weapon, new equipment, and an adventure pass. More on those to come in future updates![/p][p]We’re sharing all of this early because we want you with us on the journey. Definitely expect some Reach dust (AKA, space jank) along the way, and keep the feedback coming as we keep shaping Wildgate for November, and beyond.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h2]OCTOBER EVENTS: MIDSEASON PATCH & HALLOWEEN BEYOND[/h2][p][/p][p]SEASON 0: MIDSEASON UPDATE[/p][p][/p][p]To prepare for Season 1’s updates, we’ll be releasing a small patch in early October that focuses on welcoming brand-new Prospectors into Wildgate. This includes:[/p]

• [p]An improved new player experience[/p]
• [p]A Friendly AI Bot [/p]
• [p]An updated game mode selector[/p]

[p]Between the matchmaking updates in September and this new player mini-patch in early October, it might be time we have a party 🎃. Enter: Hallowed Beyond.[/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]HALLOWED BEYOND: OCTOBER 23[/p][p][/p][p]Our first themed event, Hallowed Beyond, will kick off on October 23. There will be a spine-tingling in-game event with haunted locations, a new vampiric hardpoint, and some limited-time cosmetics for your Prospector. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2] // A WORD FROM MOONSHOT[/h2][p]

These updates will be a big step forward, but they’re just the beginning! We want current players to return to an exciting, improved game and to help new players stick the landing with a smoother and more supportive early experience. Our hope is that these changes will help Wildgate grow into the game we’d all like it to be. [/p][p]And if you want even more behind-the-scenes intel on these developments, check out this Dev Update video with our head Game Designer, Dustin Browder for a deep dive into the thought process.[/p][p]We’re grateful to everyone who has been with us from the early days, and to the passionate players who continue to hold us accountable and share critical feedback. Thank you for being part of this community, and we’ll see you in the Reach! 🌌[/p][p][/p][p]- The Moonshot Team [/p]

[p]Happy Chinese Launch Day!

We're excited to be welcoming a whole bunch of new prospectors to the Reach, as Wildgate goes live in China today thanks to our partners NetEase.

If you've any questions on how this all works for Wildgate, our China Launch FAQ blog will have you covered.

To celebrate, here's a look at a few pieces of art from Netease which are being used for Chinese server launch!

We'll see you soon for some news in our Developer Update for September! Did someone say...new ship?

-The Moonshot Team

[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p]The Reach doesn’t hand out trophies - unless you escape with an Artifact, that is. It keeps scars, tall tales, and the kind of grudges you can measure in lightyears. But now, for the first time, prospectors everywhere will have a scoreboard to settle who truly rules the chaos.[/p][p][/p][p]As one of many community requests and pieces of feedback we’ve received and acted on since launch, the more competitive souls amongst you asked for ways to see your Infamy rank. This one was a (relatively) quick win we could act on, so while we're working on other major improvements and additions to the game, here are the new Infamy Leaderboards!
[/p][p]✨ leaderboards.playwildgate.com ✨
New to the Infamy system? It’s Wildgate’s opt-in progression path for the bold. Equip the Infamy Badge in your customization options so that every win adds to your score. But be careful - Every loss will take a little Infamy away. Only those who wear the badge take part, making Infamy a true test for Prospectors who want to prove themselves. You can read more about Infamy here.
[/p][p]Inside the Leaderboards[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Sign in with your Dreamhaven account: Your profile card pops up beside the leaderboard with your Infamy score, title, and rank (if you are in the top 100).[/p][p][/p]
• [p]See your place: Your row is highlighted so you can track yourself against the competition.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Browse the climb: View 10, 20, or all 100 rows at a time. Scroll, click, and compare.
  [/p]
• [p]Monthly reset: Infamy Leaderboards reset on the 1st of each month at 1 AM PDT / 8 AM UTC. Every cycle is a fresh chance to climb.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Tiebreakers: If scores are tied, total XP decides who ranks higher. If that is tied too, the Reach flips a coin.[/p]

[p]
[/p][p]Take Your Shot:[/p][p][/p][p]Put on the badge, dive into the Reach, and fight your way up the ranks. Whether you make it to Commodore or claw your way into the Top 100, this is your chance to carve your name into [/p][p]prospector legend.[/p][p][/p][p]The Reach is watching. Let’s see what you’ve got!
[/p]

[p]Hey everyone, [/p][p][/p][p]In a few days time, we’re welcoming a whole new crew of Prospectors to Wildgate![/p][p][/p][p]This coming Tuesday, September 23rd, the Chinese version of Wildgate and its servers will launch. We know news like this often brings up questions about player numbers, matchmaking, content and more. You can find an FAQ covering all the main points below.[/p][p]
While our partner NetEase pushes ahead to bring Wildgate to a new community, our Moonshot team remains fully focused on our roadmap for the coming weeks, months and beyond.

As we shared in our mini-update last week, we’re looking to have a September Dev Update ready for you in the coming days. We’ll discuss what we’ve heard and are taking action on in terms of your feedback, share news on our Roadmap progress, and also some new ideas that we’ve been experimenting with, too…

Until then, 欢迎我们中国船员队友

- The Moonshot Team[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]FAQS:[/h2][p][/p][p]Q: Are servers being shared? What will this launch mean for Wildgate’s Player Count?
[/p][p]A: Wildgate in China will be on separate, dedicated Chinese servers. Players will be able to play both through Steam China, and through our partner Netease’s own client for the game.

We remain committed to work on a Free Trial experience as well as more ways to both bring in new players and excite existing players to return to Wildgate. For more information, read our first Dev Update - we look forward to sharing a second one soon!
[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Q: Will the launch in China affect the ongoing development of Wildgate?[/p][p]A: Ongoing development and publishing of Wildgate in China will be handled by our partners Netease. Our Moonshot Games team continues to work on Wildgate’s Roadmap as we push forward towards Season 1.[/p][p][/p][p]

Q: Will there be any differences between Wildgate in China and Wildgate’s global version?[/p][p]A: As our partner in China for Wildgate, NetEase has chosen to develop some specific game features to support the needs of Wildgate’s Chinese community, and may continue to do so in future.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Q: Will any cosmetics or content that is available in future on Chinese servers come to international servers?
[/p][p]A: Some cosmetic content may be developed specifically for the Chinese community - there are no plans to share this beyond China currently.[/p][p]
[/p]