UBOAT News

[p]Dear Captains,[/p][p]We have made the tough decision to move the release date for the Type IX: Distant Coasts DLC and the free Update 2026.1 from January 29th to April 17th.[/p][p]We understand that a delay is never good news, especially so close to the expected launch. However, after evaluating the current build, we believe this extra time is necessary to ensure the DLC is truly ready for release.[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h3]How we are using the additional time[/h3][p]Our primary goal with this extension is to deliver a stable and polished experience from day one. Specifically, this time will allow us to:[/p]

• [p]Improve Stability: We feel that extra time is needed to fix several issues introduced by the new content and ensure a smoother gameplay experience.[/p]
• [p]Ensure Save Game Compatibility: We will use this time to ensure better compatibility with your existing save games, as we discovered a few issues that initially slipped under our radar.[/p]
• [p]Expand the Features: Since we have this extra time, we plan to take the opportunity to include a few features that we originally couldn't fit into the schedule. This includes external water-tight torpedo canisters, a feature highly requested by the community.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]Pricing[/h3][p]When the Type IX: Distant Coasts DLC launches, it will be priced at $16.99 USD. We will also be offering a 10% launch discount following the release.[/p][p]Thank you for your patience and for sticking with us as we work to get the Type IX ready for sea.[/p][p][/p][p]Yours,[/p][p]DWS[/p][p][/p]

[p]Dear captains,[/p][p]We are back with a new development blog! This time it's a long one.[/p][p]As always, we’ve been working hard on the next updates for UBOAT. Let’s dive into the details.[/p][p][/p][p]We are wrapping up work on the Type IX family, which will consist of three variants.[/p][p]Type IXA is available from the beginning of the war in 1939. It's unique in that it has three periscopes.[/p][p]Type IXC has an extended range over the IXA and is the main workhorse of the Type IX line.[/p][p]Type IXC/40 has even greater range and an upgraded conning tower by default.[/p][p]These will be the largest U-Boats in the game, with the highest range and vastly more living space. This makes them the best choice for distant operations.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We've finally managed to improve the part of the game that, to us personally, has needed improvement the most for quite some time. We've reworked how port stays feel and function in many ways.[/p][p][/p][p]You no longer have the same group of officers following you wherever you go. Instead, each port has its own flotilla headquarters where you can interact with its staff.[/p][p][/p][p]The command structure is now represented more faithfully, with each flotilla having a Flotilla Commander, Ia: Chief of Operations, IIa: Flotilla Adjutant and IVa: Flotilla Quartermaster. There is also a briefing room and a staffed communications room in each flotilla headquarters to make it feel more authentic and lively.[/p][p]You will be able to travel between the port, flotilla headquarters, and your accommodation by speaking with a driver.[/p][p][/p][p]Flotilla and accommodation buildings differ between regions. For example, in France and Malaysia they are requisitioned hotels, while in Germany they are purpose-built military facilities.[/p][p][/p][p]After visiting each new flotilla headquarters and being welcomed by its flotilla commander for the first time, you will also gain access to a quick port activities menu. This menu will appear by default after docking at your port each subsequent time and makes things convenient, but it is fully optional and may be disabled in the settings if you prefer to do everything manually.[/p][p][/p][p]We've invested more time into the upcoming long patrols that we first described in a previous dev log, namely the Cape Town Group, Wolfpack Eisbär, and Wolfpack Seehund. These are going to be much more story-rich missions, with a lot happening along the way![/p][p][/p][p]You will have an opportunity to participate in historical events such as rescuing survivors after the Laconia Incident, meeting the surface raider Atlantis, performing a reconnaissance mission of St Helena, and more.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Once you arrive at the patrol destination, you will find yourself in competition with other commanders for the highest GRT score in the pack.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]During these patrols, you will sometimes receive aid from Abwehr agents in British colonies who will be using a radio transmitter in Portuguese Goa to send updates about potential high-value targets.[/p][p][/p][p]We've added several more Allied bases to the game in the Atlantic and near the Cape of Good Hope:[/p]

• [p]St Helena Island.[/p]
• [p]Ascension Island (anchorage and an air base).[/p]
• [p]Azores air base operating from late 1943 onwards.[/p]
• [p]Port of Durban.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]New Faces[/h3][p]While developing officers for the flotillas and missions, we quickly noticed that it was time to add more faces to the game to make characters more distinct and recognizable.[/p][p]We've added 11 new face types and 3 new complexions. It's now also possible to choose eye colours. Below are a few examples.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Sea Shader and Clouds[/h3][p]We've made various improvements to the sea shader and clouds to make the environment look more realistic. The sea now uses more modern shading formulas, while clouds now interact correctly with atmospheric scattering, making them much more visible in the sky than in previous versions.[/p][p][/p][h3]Fog Simulation[/h3][p]In previous versions, fog had a strong tendency to exist in only two states: either full-on fog with visibility of a few hundred metres, or no fog at all, with short periods of transition.[/p][p]In 2026.1, you will often encounter the entire spectrum. In addition, fog is now simulated more faithfully depending on the date and location. For example, summer months in the Arctic have numerous foggy days, while fog is less common in warmer seas.[/p][p][/p][h3]A More Realistic Wave Spectrum[/h3][p]For a long time, we were quite sure that we had made some mistake in the code that computes the spectrum for sea waves. After years of glancing at it from time to time, we finally found the culprit. A simple line of code was missing, which prevented waves from dissipating into negative energy. This adjustment eliminates some waves that shouldn't exist and makes the overall visual experience more convincing.[/p][p]While we were at it, we also made the swell a bit more intense.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Tanker Interactions[/h3][p]It's now possible to stop tankers and send crew to them, just like with other merchant ships.[/p][p][/p][h3]More Realistic Engine Animation[/h3][p]Diesels on the Type IX are now animated more closely to how real engines work, with a correct firing sequence for the cylinders.[/p][p]Note: We haven't ported this to the Type VII and Type II yet, but we plan to do so soon.[/p][p][/p][h3]Gun Animations[/h3][p]Guns no longer instantly rotate to their targets but instead rotate over time as they should.[/p][p]We've also improved shell splash effects.[/p][p][/p][p]We are set to release update 2026.1 along with the Type IX: Distant Coasts DLC on 29. January 2026.[/p][p]We know it has been a long wait, but we want to get everything right and hope that it will be well worth it![/p][p][/p][p]Yours,[/p][p]DWS[/p]

[p]Dear captains,[/p][p]We are back with a new development blog! As always, we’ve been working hard on the next updates for UBOAT. Let’s dive into the details.[/p][p][/p][h2]UBOAT on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5[/h2][p]We are excited to announce that Ultimate Games has successfully ported UBOAT to major consoles. UBOAT will launch on Xbox Series X|S on August 27th and will also surface on PlayStation 5 on September 17th.[/p][p][/p][p]We’re looking forward to these releases and hope that you or your friends will enjoy them![/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]XBOX Store Page | PS5 Store Page | Ultimate Games Discord[/p][p][/p][h2]Type IX: Distant Coasts DLC[/h2][h3]Indian Ocean Theater[/h3][p]The upcoming expansion will greatly expand the game, adding new ports, air bases, random events, and many new shipping routes across the Indian Ocean.[/p][p]While playing this expansion, you will have an opportunity to join Monsoon Group U-Boats, which operated completely on the Indian Ocean along Japanese submarines. Historically, nearly 50 U-Boats were sent to the Far East, although only a few ever returned. One of the main objectives of these missions was to disrupt British colonial shipping at its most vulnerable points, forcing British command to divert resources from the Atlantic.[/p][p][/p][carousel][/carousel][p]As a U-Boat commander, your base of operations in the Indo-Pacific will be Penang, held by the Empire of Japan. To reach it from the nearest European port, you will embark on an unprecedented voyage through enemy-controlled waters—across the Atlantic, around the Cape of Good Hope and Madagascar, and into the Indian Ocean.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][carousel][/carousel][p][/p][p]There are many key enemy ports and naval bases in this new theater, such as Mombasa, Colombo, Mumbay or Aden. While developing these new ports, we've also introduced some general improvements in their design. They are now defended by coastal forts, regular patrols and searchlights ("light barriers").[/p][p][/p][carousel][/carousel][p]Upon your arrival, you’ll find a fierce war already underway between the Allied and Axis powers - so expect heavy enemy activity![/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Campaign Expansion[/h3][p]The expansion will also add several new missions on the distant coasts to the game. In 1941 - 1943 group patrols on distant seas take place, where several U-Boats and a tanker depart together on a single operation, such as Cape Town Group or Wolfpack Eisbär.[/p][p]There is also a new mission on the Atlantic inspired by Operation Kiebitz, where your objective is to rescue Kriegsmarine officers from a Canadian POW camp. In addition, some old missions will see improvements.[/p][p]For mission purposes, we've also added an automated Morse decoding sheet to the periscope view, that will aid you in decoding Morse encoded light signals.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Overview[/h2][p]Our goal for this expansion is to give you, as a U-Boat commander, new reasons to dive even deeper into UBOAT. We want to deliver a fresh gameplay experience - and we hope to succeed![/p][p]There’s plenty more in development, and we’ll be sharing it with you in future dev logs once these additions take final shape.[/p][p]We still don't have a specific release date to declare for the expansion, but we hope that we will be able to commit to a certain date soon.[/p][p]Captains, thank you for your attention - and see you in the next dev log![/p][p][/p][p]Yours,[/p][p]DWS[/p]

Dear Captains,

After releasing two updates earlier this year, we’re now dedicating ourselves full-time to the next free update and the Type IX DLC, which we plan to launch together.

This work will still take several months, but we wanted to give you a heads-up and an overview of what’s on the way.


As we announced in October, we’re bringing the Type IX family of U-boats into the game. These will be the largest boats yet, with 6 torpedo tubes, capacity for 22 torpedoes, and a cruising range that outclasses every other U-boat.

Since the previous dev-log we’ve been modelling the interior from historical references. The compartments and most major devices - launchers, diesel engines, electric motors - are largely complete. We still need to finish some equipment, such as the TDC.


In June we’ll begin integrating everything into a fully functional boat. Based on our experience with earlier U-boats, this phase will take a few months.


Alongside the Type IX itself, we’re creating new content and missions in distant theatres, tailored to these long-range boats. Work is already under way, and we’ll share more once the design is mature enough to commit to it.


Now, let’s talk about the next free update. Version 2025.2 will add a few major features, some of which are already in development.

[h2]Weather forecasts[/h2]
This update will introduce weather forecasts to the game. Radio bulletins will be transmitted at set times each day; your radioman will be able to receive and decode them into plain text. The forecast will also appear in a dedicated forward-looking UI element on the map.


This control will also visualise the local day-night cycle, making sunrise and sunset times easy to see - something that was previously often confusing to determine.

We believe this will be a game-changer feature for attack and mission planning.

[h2]Mission flexibility[/h2]
With this update, it's going to be possible to accept new assignments over the radio while still at sea, without going back to port. This capability is particularly useful for the long-range Type IX, but seasoned captains will appreciate it in other boats too.


In addition, you’ll also be able to inform command by radio that you can’t pursue an optional side-mission for operational reasons, so that its objectives won’t clutter your mission summary.

[h2]Modding improvements[/h2]
We’ve begun collaborating with a known modder from the community to make improvements and fixes to the game’s modding tools.

While we’re at it, we’d love to hear suggestions from the wider modding community on how to make modding easier and more accessible. We can’t promise to implement every request, but we’re committed to making improvements in this area for the next update.



Thank you in advance for your participation. If you’re interested, please post your requests on our modding forum.

Yours,
DWS

Dear captains,

There is a new patch available for version 2025.1.1.

[h3]Localization:[/h3]
- Russian localization update by Hard.

[h3]UI:[/h3]
- Fix: In some languages, AOB, distance, and velocity values were missing from the subtitles when an officer used the periscope and reported them to the TDC operator.
- Fix: Most languages incorrectly referenced torpedo loading instead of mine loading in the tooltip on an officer’s portrait during mine-loading operations.
- Fix: After minimizing campaign objectives on the map, their names were not correctly translated in the tooltip displayed on their icons.
- Fix: Lines plotted between two ports could not be removed using the eraser tool on the map.
- Fix: The TAB menu could remain visible after releasing the TAB key, if for example the UI was quickly disabled using a hotkey during the menu’s fade-in animation.

[h3]AI:[/h3]
- Fix: Resolved the most common (and possibly only) cause of ships in a convoy moving in circles, if their route passed close to land.

[h3]Graphics:[/h3]
- Fix: Sunlight could sometimes shine directly into submarine pens without casting shadows.

[h3]Missions:[/h3]
- Fix: The tutorial continuation prompt no longer appears if the skipper dies during the last assignment and no new assignments can begin until a new skipper is promoted.

[h3]Simulation:[/h3]
- Fix: NPC ships will no longer continue moving if their center of mass shifts forward and their propellers are lifted out of the water.

[h3]Crew:[/h3]
- The controlled officer no longer verbally confirms taking over a station in first-person view when using a manually operable device.

[h3]General:[/h3]
- Periscopes can now be rotated twice as fast in manual mode; binoculars rotate even faster, with additional tuning for smoother control.
- Damaging port structures is no longer considered a hostile act, while defending the port from an enemy attack, as it was easy to damage it by accident.
- Fix: Resolved an issue that could prevent the periscope from being usable in first-person view.
- Fix: Resolved a bug where 100 units of fuel without an icon could appear in the left-side storage window.
- Fix: If an officer was firing the AA gun at an aircraft while an engineer was repairing it, the engineer could incorrectly be credited for shooting down the plane.
- Fix: Additonal encounters realism setting wasn't correctly stored in save files and could change mid-campaign, if it was adjusted in a different playthrough.
- Fix: Resolved an issue that could sometimes make it harder to pass through a hatch in FPP, because the passage was being interrupted.
- Fix: Creating a new shift for sailors without giving it a name could cause various issues.
- Fix: Various other technical fixes and improvements based on log files from submitted bug reports.

Yours,
DWS