June 2026 - 'Prelude' v1.61 Update Changelog

from Sins2 Forums

June 2026 - 'Prelude' v1.61 Update

Release Status: *** RELEASED ***

We’ve decided to switch gears for our June update to a more modest v1.61. Our ARES update (which is still available in opt-in) requires more time in the oven before a full public release. As such, our plan is to release the new ARES AI system along side our next DLC later this summer. Expect continued updates to the opt-in build for ARES as we work.

NOTE: Be aware that updates will break most mods until the mod author updates them.

Change Log - v1.61.4 (July 10, 2026)

  • Added visual range circles for defense structures during placement.

  • Fixed bug that prevented missiles from retargeting (still requires requisite tech unlock).

  • TEC

    • Garda Flak Frigate: increased each turret’s pitch/yaw firing tolerance by 150% to better track enemy missiles/strikecraft. This will greatly improve their ability to engage off-axis missiles such as those fired by the Tempest, as well as improving their ability to target missiles that are very close to the Garda.

    • [Reinforcements DLC] Takadaran Command Ship

      • The Takadaran is intended to act as a force multiplier for the smaller units fielded by the TEC Enclave in the mid and late game. Increasing the magnitude of both its defensive and offensive support abilities should help it, and by extension fleets of frigates, cruisers and corvettes, remain relevant even in high lethality late game battles.

      • Hold the Line ability updated:

        • Ship damage reduction increased from -10%/-15%/-20%/-25%/-35% to -20%/-30%/-40%/-50%/-70%

        • Structure damage reduction increased from -20%/-25%/-30%/-35%/-45% to -40%/-50%/-60%/-70%/-90%

      • Magnetic Overshield damage prevention increased from 40%/50%/60%/70%/90% to 50%/60%/70%/80%/100%

        • This should help the Takadaran’s build variety by providing both greater returns on a single ability point investment in Magnetic Overshield, as well as allowing a full five point investment to completely mitigate incoming damage against the ship’s Shield, Armor or Hull while active.

      • Coordinate ability updated:

        • Corvette cooldown changed from -0.15/-0.2/-0.25/-0.3/-0.4 to -0.1/-0.2/-0.3/-0.4/-0.5

        • Frigate cooldown changed from -0.1/-0.15/-0.2/-0.25/-0.35 to -0.1/-0.2/-0.3/-0.4/-0.5

        • Cruiser cooldown changed from -0.05/-0.1/-0.15/-0.2/-0.3 to -0.1/-0.2/-0.3/-0.4/-0.5

        • Corvette linear speed bonus changed from 0.05/0.1/0.15/0.2/0.3 to 0.1/0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5

        • Frigate angular speed bonus changed from 0.1/0.15/0.2/0.25/0.35 to 0.1/0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5

        • Cruiser ability cost bonus changed from 0.15/0.2/0.25/0.3/0.4 to 0.1/0.2/0.3/0.4/0.5

    • Updated new TEC portrait images (previous were older versions of the hand-painted redos)

  • Advent

    • Added ability for purchased Gauss Defense Platforms to gain shield burst and regen (via Advent synergies).

    • Added ability for Phase Jump Inhibitors to gain shield burst/regen (via Advent synergies).

    • Vigilis Sentinel: increased each turret’s pitch/yaw firing tolerance by 150% to better track enemy missiles/strikecraft. This will greatly improve their ability to engage off-axis missiles, such as those fired by the Tempest, as well as improving their ability to target missiles that are very close to the Vigilis.

    • Tempest Frigate: Missile damage reduced from 20 to 18 (-10%)

      • The Tempest is greatly overperforming - while PD changes will help to prevent it being a dominant pick, a damage reduction is also warranted to reduces its overall lethality when massed.

  • Vasari

    • [Reinforcements DLC] Anarkul Command Ship

      • Countermeasure Pulse ability: added pierce value of 60 at all levels.

    • Junsurak Warden: increased each turret’s pitch/yaw firing tolerance by 200% to better track enemy missiles/strikecraft. This will greatly improve their ability to engage off-axis missiles, such as those fired by the Tempest, as well as improving their ability to target missiles that are very close to the Warden.

      • Increased range of ultra-light phase missile from 5100 to 7200

      • Point Defense Pulse Guns:

        • Decreased cooldown from 1.5 to 1 second

        • Decreased damage from 6 to 4

        • Increased range from 5100 to 7200

          • The Warden’s point defense guns were underperforming against the Tempest - faster firing PD guns with unchanged final damage per second greatly improves the Warden’s ability to suppress Tempest attacks despite having relatively few guns for a PD unit. In addition, longer range allows the Warden to screen for the Vasari fleet more effectively from a static position - this will further differentiate it from the short range but mobile Sulsurak Defensor.

Change Log - v1.61.3 (June 19, 2026)

More than a hotfix, but we’re calling it one anyway!

  • NEW - Texture Quality Setting

    • We’ve added a new setting to Settings → Graphics → Rendering Device to adjust the texture quality of units in the game.

    • Adjust this if you’re on a laptop or on Steam Deck, as those systems use Shared Memory for graphics and will crash if you run out of it. This is the #1 cause of crashes for players on these systems.

  • Custom Portraits

    • Updated default custom portrait directory for the legacy AI artwork so users can select pictures from previous versions.

    • Made various custom portrait bug fixes (e.g., garbage elements showing between menus, custom portrait selection not ‘sticking’ between menus/sessions).

    • Updated to allow you to use custom portraits for AI players.

  • Fixed bug where the map generator would incorrectly count planets.

  • Fixed bug that allowed quicksaving in tutorials.

  • Fixed various save game compatibility bugs.

  • Fixed the Map Search bar not working in the Change Map dialog.

  • Various localization fixes (more incoming).

Change Log - v1.61

  • AI players can now survey planets they own based on difficulty level.

  • AI bonus modifiers adjusted to help ease issues that get an AI’s progress blocked (e.g., not enough exotic refineries).

  • Added new AI loadouts subsystem which allows AI players to better pick out abilities/upgrades for all units.

  • Improved autocasting and AI only autocasting for the Radiance Battleship. It will now use its abilities more intelligently. Animosity and Cleansing Brilliance will now activate in the center of groups of units, while Detonate Antimatter will favor targets that are higher level or channeling abilities.

  • By user request, the original AI portrait art is now selectable for each faction (we won’t judge). Select these using the new custom flow. You can find them in the game’s install directory in the textures folder.

  • Players can now use custom portrait art in the faction customization section - scroll to the bottom and click the + box. These appear in single-player games only.

Modding

  • Added two new enums to player_ai.uniforms:

    • surveying_upgrade_check_interval_in_minutes

      • Type: array

    • max_concurrent_surveying_upgrade_requests

      • Type: positive integer value

  • Added new .loadout system. Allows you to define ability/upgrade picking order.

To Use Older Versions (for Mods, etc)

  • On Steam

    • Select ‘Sins of a Solar Empire II’ in your Steam Library.

    • Click the gear icon in the upper right.

    • Select Properties → Game Versions & Betas

    • Select the version you want from the Beta Participation list.

    • Steam will update you to that version.

Stardock Sins of a Solar Empire Sins of a Solar Empire II Sins II Support
348 views 0 replies | Pinned