Roadmap

This is the official roadmap for Avorion by Boxelware.

Preface

Developer Note: "These are all features that we would like to introduce to the game, but it's no guarantee that we actually do it! Some of these have been partially added, others are worked on right now. So please be patient, it might take us a while to get through the list!"

Confirmed Upcoming Changes

These are confirmed features/updates that will be coming to the game.

Last update: November 2020.

Developer Note: "For the future, we want to make sure to not spread our efforts too thin, since we're a small team. We've added so many systems where we're only scratching the surface, and that makes the game feel unfinished. We want to implement our own vision of the game, and to do that, we'll have to stick to what we're good at. That means fleshing out some systems that work really well in the game, but at the same time, it means reducing, maybe even removing some systems that we think don't work well. In general, we want to go towards less micro-management intensive, finicky gameplay and more towards macro decisions & commands."

Upcoming Updates

• December 2020 Update: QoL & Bugfixes

Big Changes - 2021

Developer Note: "Rough timeframe for these changes is Q1/Q2 2021."

• Improvements to UI visuals
• New progression system based on knowledge for different materials
• More diverse faction areas on the galaxy map
  • Central vs. outer regions where different rules apply
• Less micro-intensive commanding of ships
  • More kinds of commands (ie. go trade, go salvage, go explore)
  • More importance to captains
  • Improved performance for remote ships
• Scenario: "Classic Avorion" without the new progression
• Scenario: "Free Play" that can be configured to your individual liking
• Autopilots
• Removal of the "Independent Targeting" damage penalty
  • Instead, each turret can potentially fire independently and can be configured to do so
  • Amount of independently firing turrets can be increased with upgrades
  • Example: TCS upgrades will contain independent firing slots

Smaller Changes - 2021

• Various community-requested & QoL features
• Improvements to the tutorial
• Listing of build mode features & "tricks" in the encyclopedia
• Fighter balance adjustments
• Bounties on bulletin boards
• Improved visuals for asteroid fields and busy sectors
• Civilian ships that travel around for improved flair
• Photo Mode

Unconfirmed Planned Content

This is the official list for what we've planned with the game. Just because a feature is listed here, doesn't mean it'll be implemented. These features aren't in any kind of order.

Last update: November 2020.

General Content

• Fleet warp drive to take your entire fleet with you when jumping as long as they're in close proximity
• More different upgrade types
• Strafing in Keyboard mode
• Travel Hubs where players can fast-travel to other travel hubs
• Specialty goods, maybe 1 - 3 per faction
• Improved controls of allied ships
• (done) Hackable Containers
• (done) AI uses workshop ships
• (done) Real docking where one ship actually attaches to the other
• (done) Improved visuals for AI ships

Graphics

• Blocks that create an exhaust particle effect
• Blocks that create a spark particle effect
• Motion Blur

Combat

• Stealth Mechanic
• Cloak blocks
• Weapon: Ion Cannon that drains energy on hit
• Weapon: Mines
• Weapon: Anti-Matter cannon that shoots slow but incredibly powerful anti-matter shots, drains entire battery on shot

Multiplayer

• (done) Settings for balancing PvP on servers
• (done) These settings will include limited number of ships, volume and stations per player

Scripting API/Modding

• Make galaxy size moddable
• Make materials moddable
• Control camera via scripts

Endgame Content

• (done) Legendary Bosses for after the Guardian was killed, that are really hard to beat and require different tactics
• (done) Legendary Weapons with unique visuals and/or effects
• Anomalies
• Radiated sectors

Events, Missions, Story

• More Events happening
• More Distress Calls
• More Bulletin Board Missions
• (done) Spawn Xsotan fleet when the wormhole to the center is opened
• Event: Distress call from ship with a reactor leak, players must fix the leak
• Event: Wave-By-Wave attacks from Enemies that end in a boss fight
• Event: A crewmember has a life-threatening accident and you have to ship them to another station for medical care
• (done) Event: A station needs resources/goods in 20 minutes
• (done) Event: Protect a convoy during a transport mission
• Mission: Find a smuggler's stash (then decide if you want to keep it or give it to him)
• (done) Mission: Investigate missing freighters
• Mission: Investigate goods being stolen from container fields
• Sector: Deserted pirate asteroid with lots of stolen goods in containers floating around it
• Sector: Minefield

User Suggestions

These features are user suggestions that were confirmed as future features.

Last update: November 2020.

General

• (done) Changing of save game location
• (done) Make trailer ship designs to be available as blueprints
• General lower size (volume) limit for ships: Reason is griefing
• Reputation gain for healing AI crafts (up to a certain level)
• Balance missions in starting region to have easier conditions
• Have ships attack with priorities: Ships -> Stations -> Rest
• Have Energy Suppressor Satellites turn into wrecks when they burn out
• Warnings before buying dangerous/illegal goods
• (done) Execution of map commands only after confirmation
• Increase range of mining/salvaging fighter salvaging command
• (done) Station that uses Industrial Tesla Coils
• (done) Tutorial improvements: New features (map commands & enchaining)
• (done) Have ships of factions refuse to give out the coordinates of their home system if relations are at bad

Scripting & Modding

• Improve render callbacks for cleaner layering
• Add functionality to check if chat window is open
• (done) Add server side API that tells when player loaded the sector. Not just joined, but all resources were loaded and "Space" pressed.

Visuals

• Scale explosion size with weapon size

UI Improvements

• (done) Turret Factory: Add "duplicate turret" function (will be resolved through turret blueprints)
• (done) Allow movement of fighter squads in list
• (done) Color menu improvements
• Make the player's ships' hyperspace bars visible on galaxy map if charging
• Show credit rewards for mission completion on the current missions screen under player info
• Cancel Button for refinery
• (done) Change sorting of dialog options, so that players won't accidentally take an option that is bad for them
• (done) Show the ship dimensions (x-y-z meters)
• (done) Add ship name to chat report about passage fee to give players more information