We've got another big 'un for you today!

This update focuses on mission balancing, improving pirates, and a new experience and upgrade unlock system.

We've improved procedural mission generation, with jobs to closer stations being more likely. This makes it much easier for you to combine jobs in smart ways. We've also added special 'Price Boosted' jobs, that offer double pay, but are quite rare. You'll immediately notice them on the job board because of their little added animation!

Pirates are now more aggressive, attacking you if you get too close to them. The Pirate Wanted list is now much more dynamic too, with rookie pirates replacing killed ones, and old pirates gaining kills as time goes by. Now you can decide what to do- kill 'em all while they're weak, or wait for them to become more powerful pirate lords and have higher bounties before hunting them down!

The XP system now unlocks upgrades by tech level instead of cost, giving us more flexibility. Your XP is generated from various factors, such as completed missions, your kills, mining experience, and how many derelicts you've raided. This should more accurately describe your actual experience in the game.

We also made some visual improvements, like shiny new Space backgrounds, and a new image for repairing your ship.

Beyond all these, there are lots of other changes, fixes and improvements made, here's the full list for you:

Final major rebalance of missions

• Increased number of jobs available
• Made it more likely that missions have closer systems as target
• Made timed local missions also available in mid/late-game
• Added rare 'Price Boosted' Missions, plus animation
• Raised time limits on passenger and courier jobs
• Generally upped number of courier jobs
• Moved Photo missions to mid-game

Features / Gameplay

• New pirates now appear and get added to wanted list
• Old pirates gain kills and can receive a higher bounty
• Pirates get angry and attack if you get too close
• Added new Experience and Upgrade unlock system
• Upgrades are now released by tech level, instead of price
• Made "Show mission in map" default game feature
• Added Low fuel reminder warning you when leaving station
• Added derelict crates sometimes containing cash
• Made available upgrades update each time you dock
• Made pressing Enter now also reload missiles
• Removed 'Expert HUD Mode' from game
• Added HUD targeting markers for all misc objects
• Made time-dilation distance closer to furthest station
• Added mini-tutorial for guns and missiles
• Added reminder for leaving system and for saving game
• Added three new early game achievements

Fixes / Improvements

• Added new and improved Space Backgrounds
• Added special background for repair screen
• Improved repair cost calculation
• Fixed station monitor background size for higher Resolutions
• Added a short delay before going to Game Over Screen
• Reduced lightning flash for storms inside system
• Made local jobs show station instead of system
• Fixed 'Death Blossom' Achievement
• Fixed collisions after ship disappears for docking
• Repositioned System Damage icons
• Fixed Question Input box getting previous input
• Improved maximum Virtual Resolution for higher Res settings
• Fixed player not being removed from wanted list
• Increased cabin space on Interceptor and Fighter type ships
• Fixed Taxi mission achievement
• Added version number to loading screen
• Made experience necessary for story progress dynamic
• Made taking story missions not cancel all other missions
• Made map not draw additional lines on zoom-out
• Fixed repetitive track playing on entering station
• Fixed overflow bug in shield display
• Fixed Split buildup sound playing when Split cancelled

As always, please let us know what you think!

Have fun with all the changes!