The combat update is finally here! As in, it’s out! Right now! Go play it! Or, if you’re still waiting for Starbound to update, why not check out the trailer?

A few notes:

• Your existing characters and worlds should be more or less intact, but as usual, you will need to start a fresh universe or explore far-off systems in order to experience some of the new content.
• If you are running any Starbound mods, they may be incompatible with the latest version of Starbound. I’d recommend backing up your existing characters before launching the game!
• In fact, backing up your existing characters in an Early Access game is never a bad idea.

ATTN Modders! We’ve put a comprehensive tutorial up on the wiki describing how to create new missions in Tiled!

As always, click ‘read more’ for the changelog. :)

• Generated and tiered two-handed weapons now have special abilities that can be activated using right click. Many (45+) possible abilities are available for various classes of ranged and melee weapons!
  • Yes, some guns now have flashlights
• Change to hammer mechanics: hold left click to wind up, release to fire
• Change to spear mechanics: continue holding left click after a swing to keep the spear out to fend off enemies
• Several new classes of hard-to-find unique weapons: boomerangs, chakrams and fist weapons
  • Find blueprints to upgrade these weapons into even more powerful and specialized versions at higher tiers
  • Dual wield fist weapons to enable powerful combo finishers
• A few miscellaneous unique weapons and items such as flamethrowers and remote-detonated grenade launchers

• Lots of new unique monsters found throughout the galaxy, each with their own special abilities and behaviors
• Knockback is more powerful and reliable
• Monsters have clearer ‘telegraphing’ to indicate when they are about to attack
• Remade shields and improved blocking mechanics
• Replaced electric stun status effect with Electrified, which periodically damages other nearby enemies
• Hostile monsters now damage the player on touch

• New system for player-controlled vehicles which can be spawned and despawned using Vehicle Controllers (acquired at the Outpost)
• Hoverbikes!
  • Great for travelling across planet surfaces quickly!
  • They include a passenger seat so you can transport your friends!
  • Come in several attractive colors!
  • Drive carefully to avoid blowing yourself up!
• Boats!
  • Similar to the previous boat tech, useful for crossing large bodies of water
  • Your friends can ride on deck or pose dramatically in the bow
• Visit Rob Repairo in the Outpost shipyard area to repair your vehicles using auto chips, which can be found in the world or purchased at the Outpost

• Quest givers’ portraits are shown on quest dialogs and in the log
• Colonists now occasionally give players new procedural quests to help improve their house or social standing
• The abandon button can be used on procedural quests and the same quests can now be declined

• New ‘Midnight’ planets
• New ‘Frozen’ planets (replaces Tundra)
• Prism, Steam Spring, and Hive sub biomes
• Over 300 new microdungeons and other improvements to all underground biomes, including background caves and parallaxes

• Craftable elevator objects, because stairs are so last millennium
• Consumable dyes to change the color of armor and clothing
• Capture pods are (for now) used to capture and relocate critters, with a more complete pet system returning in a future patch
• Loads of item descriptions have been fixed/replaced/added, including lots of Novakid ones!
• Too many new objects, items, costumes, colony tenants, etc. to list
• Too many bug fixes, item tweaks, and balance changes to list
• Improved support for Tiled map and tileset format for modders

• Some one-handed, unique and biome weapons which still use the old system will be replaced in a future patch