2026-08-31 11:17 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
v0.2.1 - HUD & Vehicle ImprovementsImproved unit tracking and HUD readability, alongside better vehicle driving and collision avoidance.AddedUnit type icons now appear when zooming far out, making it easier to see what enemy types are where.Icons of the same unit type merge into larger grouped icons when close together.Replaced the old unit icons with a new, simpler set designed specifically for HUD use. The new icons are also packed into a shared texture atlas for better performance and smaller file size.ChangedUnit tracking boxes now fade out when zooming far out, keeping the new unit icons
2026-08-24 15:43 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
This is the first update since launch a month ago that brings larger gameplay changes rather than mainly fixes and improvements.Vehicle transport had been in my plans for a while, but player feedback pushed it to the top of my gameplay priorities. Bugs and the worst pathfinding problems still came first, but this became the main new system I wanted to get into the game.Vehicle TransportInfantry squads can now mount friendly vehicles and use them for transport.With an infantry squad selected, target a friendly vehicle to give a mount command. The squad will move toward it and mount once close e
2026-08-17 12:04 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
v0.1.6 - Anti-Air & Weapon Balance HotfixI originally planned to move straight from v0.1.5 into the larger v0.2.0 update, which is mainly focused on vehicle mounting and dismounting. However, after quite a few reports about anti-air balance over the past week, I decided to pause that work briefly and push out one more smaller update first. v0.1.6 focuses mainly on making flak and missiles fairer and more reliable to fight against, along with a few weapon balance changes. Work on v0.2.0 will continue after this.ChangedImproved enemy flak targeting behavior. Flak now aims for randomized burst po
2026-08-11 11:58 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
v0.1.5 - Combat Systems UpdateThis update reworks several of Drone Sector's underlying combat systems, including projectile damage, explosions, and weapon configuration. Explosions can now use separate near and far damage areas instead of relying on a single explosion radius, providing more control over how different weapons deal damage. Weapon and ammo selection UI has also been expanded to expose more of this information to the player. The new combat system is easier to balance and expand, and serves as an important foundation for more advanced damage behavior and potential weapon-stat moddi
2026-07-31 15:28 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
v0.1.4 - Pathfinding UpdateThis update reworks the tactical pathfinding and vehicle movement systems, alongside several map, balance, and UI changes. A new previous-version branch is also available on Steam. This allows you to return to v0.1.3 if the latest update causes problems. It can be selected from: Steam - Drone Sector - Properties - Game Versions & Betas - previous-versionAddedAdded a public previous-version Steam branch containing v0.1.3.ChangedAdjusted the lighting on the Patagonia Heights map.Added more roads to the Flatland Airbase map.Added large rocks around the starting areas of
2026-07-24 15:10 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
v0.1.3 - Minor UpdateThis update improves text readability for Simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Korean players, adds Steam Cloud support, and includes several smaller content and balance changes.AddedAdded Steam Cloud support for save files.Added a fourth music track.ChangedThe game now remembers the selected language between sessions.Added scattered rocks around the spawn areas on the Dry Foothills map, providing additional early concealment and cover.UIChanged the Simplified Chinese, Japanese, and Korean fonts to Noto Sans for improved readability.FixedFixed an issue that could cause units
2026-07-22 20:03 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
In the previous post, I covered what Drone Sector includes at its Early Access launch. This time, I want to look further ahead and share my current plans for the game.This roadmap is not a fixed production schedule. Priorities may change based on player feedback, technical challenges and what the game needs most. Some of the longer-term features are still early ideas, and their exact design may change substantially before development begins.Immediately after launch, the main priority will be fixing bugs, improving balance and performance, and addressing the most important issues raised by play
2026-07-22 17:04 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
v0.1.2 - HotfixThis hotfix addresses several objective detection issues and makes additional early-game balance adjustments.FixedImproved unit detection within capture and extraction zones.Improved collision around river bridges to reduce units falling through or off them.BalanceAll difficulty levels now begin with the APC .50 cal weapon unlocked and equipped.APCs armed with 40 mm cannons will no longer appear before 15% Heat.All difficulty levels now begin with 20 mm HEI and 30 mm API ammunition instead of 20 mm API.Structures are now more resistant to small-caliber minigun fire.Increased rai
2026-07-21 19:52 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
v0.1.1 - Launch HotfixThis is a small launch-day hotfix addressing early balance and localization issues.BalanceIncreased Warhead Materials rewards from several objectives.Increased infantry movement speeds.FixedFixed an issue with resource reward calculations that caused some objectives to give lower rewards than intended.UI / LocalizationFixed map and mission option text not appearing correctly in non-English languages.
2026-07-13 21:00 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
Drone Sector launches into Early Access on July 21.I wanted to make this post mostly as a practical overview of what will be included in the Early Access version at launch. The demo showed the core shooting and battlefield support gameplay, but it hasn’t showcased the larger structure around it.The game's price will be $16.99 with a 10% discount on launch. Keep in mind that this price might vary depending on Steam region. What the demo showedThe demo focused on getting players into missions quickly. It showed the core gunship gameplay. Spotting enemies, providing fire support, guiding ground s
2026-06-02 15:22 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
Demo MissionThe new demo has a more focused mission structure, built around the new player experience.Instead of opening with the full weapon and ammo selection systems, the demo gives a pre-defined loadout and puts the focus on the in-mission gameplay. Scout the area, blow up enemy armor, destroy objectives, counter the anti-air, guide your ground squads, capture the objectives and extract to safety.I'm also experimenting more with staged objective flow. Your squads first need to capture enemy intel. Based on that, you’ll learn where the main resources are hidden. Once the resources are secur
2026-05-21 14:09 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
Vehicle Avoidance SystemFor a while, one major issue with vehicles was that they could drive full speed into each other and get stuck.The problem was fairly simple: vehicles were not really aware of each other.Static map geometry is easier to deal with. Roads, buildings, slopes, forests, and blocked areas can be baked into the navigation data or handled through pathfinding. Other vehicles are different. They move around, stop in unexpected places, and sometimes block the exact path another vehicle wants to take.The first step was adding a registry of all active vehicles. This allows each vehic
2026-04-01 20:45 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
Tracked VehiclesWhen I started building vehicles for Drone Sector, I assumed tanks would be easier to implement compared to wheeled vehicles. Mainly because their AI doesn’t need to worry about turning radius. Tanks can rotate in place.In practice, both approaches have their own tradeoffs.Wheeled vehicles are easier to reason about. Their physics is more straightforward and largely handled by Unity. Visuals are way simpler too. Most of the complexity ends up in AI behavior. Cars can’t turn on the spot, so they need to reverse and adjust, especially in tight spaces.Tracked vehicles remove that
2026-02-21 16:16 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
OverviewThis is the first demo update since late October. The most noticeable changes are with thermal vision contrast, HUD readability and the new map. Beyond that the game might look similar, but it should play a lot better. Clearer objectives, more reliable AI, better controls, and a deeper air-defense loop.Play the demo!Patch notesMissionsMission start point selection.Sandbox mode with customizable objective and enemy counts.Procedural objectives expanded with more possible targets.Capture objectives simplified and separated from Protect objectives (capture can’t be accidentally failed).Ob
2026-01-20 17:32 UTC · Community Announcements · Klimbi123
New gunship design (XAQ-1B “Blackout”)Work on the new gunship design started in late November 2025. MicroProse is helping with art, but the broad direction and constraints were on me. I wanted it to feel futuristic, but still semi-feasible.Old school AC-130 style is not viable in a future where anti-air is widespread. The new design needed stealth.I spent time reading about stealth aircraft design, and it is very limiting in practice:Heat and engine placement matter, so the engine needs to be buried inside the body. No big sci-fi wingtip engines.VTOL is complex and not essential for Drone Sect
Full appinfo as delivered by Steam PICS, changenumber 38806063. Also at /api/app/3279440/raw.
{
"appid": "3279440",
"common": {
"name": "Drone Sector",
"type": "Game",
"releasestate": "released",
"icon": "cb51dc2ed67bb223a40e031aa64769e725a696a1",
"clienttga": "afb5dccab0d34190643e1f92920eb511a9b40550",
"clienticon": "cb51dc2ed67bb223a40e031aa64769e725a696a1",
"oslist": "windows",
"osarch": "",
"osextended": "",
"content_descriptors": {
"0": "5"
},
"aicontenttype": "1",
"steam_deck_compatibility": {
"category": "2",
"steamos_compatibility": "2",
"steam_machine_compatibility": "2",
"test_timestamp": "1784678400",
"tested_build_id": "24338214",
"tests": {
"0": {
"display": "3",
"token": "#SteamDeckVerified_TestResult_DefaultControllerConfigNotFullyFunctional"
},
"1": {
"display": "3",
"token": "#SteamDeckVerified_TestResult_TextInputDoesNotAutomaticallyInvokesKeyboard"
},
"2": {
"display": "3",
"token": "#SteamDeckVerified_TestResult_InterfaceTextIsNotLegible"
},
"3": {
"display": "4",
"token": "#SteamDeckVerified_TestResult_DefaultControllerConfigFullyFunctional"
},
"4": {
"display": "4",
"token": "#SteamDeckVerified_TestResult_ControllerGlyphsMatchDeckDevice"
},
"5": {
"display": "4",
"token": "#SteamDeckVerified_TestResult_DefaultConfigurationIsPerformant"
}
},
"steam_machine_tests": {
"0": {
"display": "3",
"token": "#SteamMachine_TestResult_DefaultControllerConfigNotFullyFunctional"
},
"1": {
"display": "3",
"token": "#SteamMachine_TestResult_TextInputDoesNotAutomaticallyInvokesKeyboard"
},
"2": {
"display": "4",
"token": "#SteamMachine_TestResult_DefaultControllerConfigFullyFunctional"
},
"3": {
"display": "4",
"token": "#SteamMachine_TestResult_ControllerGlyphsMatchDevice"
},
"4": {
"display": "4",
"token": "#SteamMachine_TestResult_DefaultConfigurationIsPerformant"
}
},
"steamos_tests": {
"0": {
"display": "3",
"token": "#SteamOS_TestResult_GameStartupFunctional"
},
"1": {
"display": "1",
"token": "#SteamOS_TestResult_DefaultControllerConfigNotFullyFunctional"
},
"2": {
"display": "1",
"token": "#SteamOS_TestResult_TextInputDoesNotAutomaticallyInvokesKeyboard"
}
},
"configuration": {
"supported_input": "other",
"requires_manual_keyboard_invoke": "1",
"requires_non_controller_launcher_nav": "0",
"primary_player_is_controller_slot_0": "0",
"non_deck_display_glyphs": "0",
"small_text": "1",
"requires_internet_for_setup": "0",
"requires_internet_for_singleplayer": "0",
"recommended_runtime": "proton-11.0-beta",
"requires_h264": "0",
"requires_voice_files": "0",
"gamescope_frame_limiter_not_supported": "0",
"hdr_support": "0",
"requires_proton_soundfonts": "0"
}
},
"controllertagwizard": "1",
"small_capsule": {
"english": "8bc14fe756d8a672e7052834e408e97d9e237f18/capsule_231x87.jpg"
},
"header_image": {
"english": "9417319f909f2fabe957cb66b8ad5bb1f8372401/header.jpg"
},
"library_assets": {
"library_capsule": "en",
"library_hero": "en",
"library_hero_blur": "en",
"library_logo": "en",
"library_header": "en",
"logo_position": {
"pinned_position": "BottomLeft",
"width_pct": "45.40162980209545",
"height_pct": "69.22346236048446"
}
},
"library_assets_full": {
"library_capsule": {
"image": {
"english": "d8277a7a5fae73c48048b44ce92201e1ede0ca58/library_capsule.jpg"
},
"image2x": {
"english": "d8277a7a5fae73c48048b44ce92201e1ede0ca58/library_capsule_2x.jpg"
}
},
"library_hero": {
"image2x": {
"english": "b5d3145c481dc819deb84acdefbfc0d9813828fa/library_hero_2x.jpg"
},
"image": {
"english": "b5d3145c481dc819deb84acdefbfc0d9813828fa/library_hero.jpg"
}
},
"library_hero_blur": {
"image": {
"english": "b5d3145c481dc819deb84acdefbfc0d9813828fa/library_hero_blur.jpg"
}
},
"library_logo": {
"image": {
"english": "446efb46e24caf2266dd943c9b042584fb7bd95b/logo.png"
},
"image2x": {
"english": "446efb46e24caf2266dd943c9b042584fb7bd95b/logo_2x.png"
},
"logo_position": {
"pinned_position": "BottomLeft",
"width_pct": "45.40162980209545",
"height_pct": "69.22346236048446"
}
},
"library_header": {
"image": {
"english": "e1d151d5ba5cb19c6c13c8ccc9bac440de815976/library_header.jpg"
},
"image2x": {
"english": "e1d151d5ba5cb19c6c13c8ccc9bac440de815976/library_header_2x.jpg"
}
}
},
"store_asset_mtime": "1784631020",
"associations": {
"0": {
"type": "developer",
"name": "Icosphere"
},
"1": {
"type": "publisher",
"name": "MicroProse Software"
},
"2": {
"type": "franchise",
"name": "Drone Sector"
}
},
"primary_genre": "28",
"genres": {
"0": "1",
"1": "28",
"2": "2",
"3": "70"
},
"category": {
"category_2": "1",
"category_67": "1",
"category_68": "1",
"category_69": "1",
"category_74": "1",
"category_78": "1",
"category_23": "1",
"category_62": "1"
},
"supported_languages": {
"english": {
"supported": "true",
"full_audio": "true",
"subtitles": "true"
},
"french": {
"supported": "true"
},
"italian": {
"supported": "true"
},
"german": {
"supported": "true"
},
"spanish": {
"supported": "true"
},
"japanese": {
"supported": "true"
},
"koreana": {
"supported": "true"
},
"brazilian": {
"supported": "true"
},
"russian": {
"supported": "true"
},
"schinese": {
"supported": "true"
},
"polish": {
"supported": "true"
},
"ukrainian": {
"supported": "true"
}
},
"steam_release_date": "1784631027",
"community_hub_visible": "1",
"gameid": "3279440",
"content_descriptors_including_dlc": {
"0": "5"
},
"store_tags": {
"0": "11104",
"1": "599",
"2": "4182",
"3": "4168",
"4": "1678",
"5": "19",
"6": "1708",
"7": "3993",
"8": "1774",
"9": "5673",
"10": "4191",
"11": "4791",
"12": "15045",
"13": "3942",
"14": "3813",
"15": "4684",
"16": "12472",
"17": "1716",
"18": "9",
"19": "1676"
},
"review_score": "8",
"review_percentage": "89"
},
"extended": {
"developer": "Icosphere",
"publisher": "MicroProse Software",
"homepage": "https://icosphere.dev/drone-sector"
},
"config": {
"installdir": "Drone Sector",
"launch": {
"0": {
"executable": "DroneSector.exe"
},
"1": {
"executable": "DroneSector.exe",
"arguments": "-releaseChannel qa",
"config": {
"betakey": "private-testing"
},
"description_loc": {
"english": "Play with testing tools enabled."
},
"description": "Play with testing tools enabled."
},
"2": {
"executable": "DroneSector.exe",
"arguments": "-releaseChannel dev",
"config": {
"betakey": "develop"
},
"description_loc": {
"english": "Play with testing tools enabled."
},
"description": "Play with testing tools enabled."
}
}
},
"depots": {
"3279441": {
"manifests": {
"public": {
"gid": "4260104831511435982",
"size": "4710254151",
"download": "1810633424"
},
"previous-version": {
"gid": "7750244342826724404",
"size": "4617411435",
"download": "1804348272"
}
}
},
"branches": {
"public": {
"buildid": "25025781",
"timeupdated": "1788174988",
"timebuildupdated": "1788124070"
},
"previous-version": {
"buildid": "24775431",
"description": "Temporary fallback around updates",
"timeupdated": "1786968211",
"timebuildupdated": "1786966899"
}
},
"privatebranches": "1"
},
"ufs": {
"quota": "10000000",
"maxnumfiles": "200",
"savefiles": {
"0": {
"root": "WinAppDataLocalLow",
"path": "IcosphereDev/DroneSector/Saves/Career",
"pattern": "*.json",
"recursive": "1"
},
"1": {
"root": "WinAppDataLocalLow",
"path": "IcosphereDev/DroneSector/Saves/Career",
"pattern": "*.bak",
"recursive": "1"
}
},
"rootoverrides": {
"0": {
"root": "WinAppDataLocalLow",
"os": "Linux",
"oscompare": "=",
"useinstead": "LinuxHome",
"pathtransforms": {
"0": {
"find": "IcosphereDev/DroneSector/Saves/Career",
"replace": ".config/unity3d/IcosphereDev/DroneSector/Saves/Career"
}
}
}
}
}
}