Quick Guide
- Smart Filters revolutionize belt and drop zone sorting.
- New Roles & Permissions offer hosts granular control in co-op sessions.
- Multiplayer security is rebuilt with robust authentication and re-enabled lobby codes.
- The Lunchbox System provides portable food buffs for longer digsite sessions.
- Numerous bug fixes and quality-of-life enhancements improve overall gameplay.
Miners, get ready to streamline your operations and enjoy a more secure co-op experience! The first part of the Ore Factory Squad Steam Phase 0 update has officially landed, bringing a host of crucial improvements and exciting new features to the popular co-op mining and factory-building game. This initial post-launch update focuses on enhancing core gameplay, bolstering security, and laying the groundwork for future expansions.
The developers have listened closely to player feedback, prioritizing key areas like automation control, multiplayer stability, and overall quality of life. This update, labeled v1.0.5, addresses immediate concerns while introducing systems that promise to make your factory-building journey smoother and more engaging.
Smart Filters, Roles, and the Handy Lunchbox System
The Phase 0 update introduces several significant features designed to empower players with more control and convenience in their factory endeavors.
Precision Automation with Smart Filters
One of the most anticipated additions is the new Smart Filters for Belts & Drop Zones. Automation in Ore Factory Squad should now be considerably easier to manage, allowing for highly specific routing and sorting.
- Splitter Belts and Pallet Drop Zones now feature smart filters, enabling you to select specific items or entire categories for each output or slot.
- This enhanced control means you can design more intricate and efficient production lines, ensuring resources go exactly where they need to, reducing bottlenecks and optimizing flow.
Enhanced Co-op Control with Roles & Permissions
For players who enjoy building factories with friends, the new Roles & Permissions System offers hosts unprecedented control over co-op sessions.
- Accessed via the in-game computer application, this system allows hosts to manage what each player can do.
- The default "Employee" role now comes with more limited permissions, a measure implemented for public lobby protection.
- Crucially, existing roles can be edited, and custom roles can be created, giving hosts the flexibility to tailor permissions to their squad's needs and play style.
Customize roles to fit your playstyle.
If you're playing with trusted friends, consider creating custom roles with broader permissions. For public lobbies, the default Employee role's limited permissions offer added security.
The Convenient Lunchbox System
Long workdays at the digsite just got a little easier with the introduction of the Lunchbox System.
- This new everyday tool allows players to store up to four food items, which can be consumed anywhere on the map.
- A major quality-of-life improvement: food buff timers no longer decrease while you're in the City. Their duration is now only consumed when you are actively working at a digsite, making those valuable buffs last longer where they matter most.
Rebuilding Multiplayer Security and Re-enabling Features
A significant portion of the Phase 0 update was dedicated to overhauling multiplayer security, a direct response to recent issues that affected player experiences. The developers have invested a substantial amount of time into rebuilding core systems to ensure a safer and more reliable co-op environment.
- Rebuilt Lobby Security: The entire lobby security system has been reconstructed, featuring multi-step authentication and additional server-side protection. This aims to safeguard multiplayer rooms from unauthorized external connections and prevent griefing.
- Lobby Codes Return: After being temporarily disabled, lobby codes are now re-enabled. They feature a protected handshake protocol and are now 10 digits long, offering a more secure way to join specific sessions.
- Steam Friends Integration: Players can once again join friends directly through Steam, either from their friends list or by sending in-game invites, restoring a fundamental co-op convenience.
- Invite-Only Visibility: Invite-only rooms are now visible again in the Server Browser, making it easier for friends to find their private sessions.
- Text Chat Added: A new text chat feature has been implemented, providing another essential communication channel for players to coordinate with their squad during multiplayer sessions.
This robust focus on security, including the implementation of an authentication and ban system (as noted in earlier patch notes), demonstrates the developers' commitment to fostering a positive and secure community.
Quality-of-Life Improvements and Bug Fixes
Beyond the major features, the Ore Factory Squad Steam Phase 0 update delivers a comprehensive list of quality-of-life enhancements, balance adjustments, and crucial bug fixes based on community feedback.
- Reworked Contract System: Contracts now offer a wider range of requests that better reflect a player's actual progression, moving beyond level-based requirements. You can also view warehouse stock directly from the Contract interface before accepting a job.
- Improved Forklift Handling: The forklift controls have been refined, and the inverted steering wheel issue has been fixed, making vehicle operation smoother. An interface now shows pallet contents when carried.
- Vehicle Headlight Logic: Headlights now turn off when the engine is stopped and activate automatically at night when the ignition is started, adding a touch of realism.
- Stock Sell App Toggle: The Stock Sell application now includes a toggle to show only items currently available in your stock.
- Belt Connection Fixes: An issue preventing all belt types from connecting correctly to machine sockets has been resolved.
- Increased Day Length: Players now have more time to dig and manage their factories thanks to an increased day length.
- Progression Rebalance: XP and money earnings have been rebalanced to provide a smoother and more satisfying progression curve.
- Stability and Performance: Several crash fixes improve overall game stability, and performance improvements aim to reduce stutters and enhance general gameplay smoothness.
- Minor Bug Fixes: Numerous smaller bugs and inconsistencies reported by the community, such as inverted mouse settings resetting and robots/handlers getting stuck, have been addressed.
These diverse improvements collectively contribute to a more polished and enjoyable Ore Factory Squad experience, reflecting the developers' dedication to continuous refinement.
What's Next for Ore Factory Squad?
This Phase 0 update is just the beginning. The developers have outlined an ambitious roadmap for Ore Factory Squad, leading up to Version 2.0 through five distinct phases. Phase 0 itself is planned in two parts, with Part 2 expected in the coming weeks to introduce even more features and improvements.
Future phases promise exciting new content, including oil extraction, expanded city life, advanced technology, and heavy arctic industry. All planned roadmap content is slated to be delivered as free updates, ensuring that the game continues to grow and evolve for its dedicated player base.
The developers encourage players to join their official Discord to stay updated, share feedback, and help shape the future of Ore Factory Squad. You can find more information about the game and its updates on its official Steam page: Ore Factory Squad on Steam.
FAQ
What are the main highlights of the Ore Factory Squad Steam Phase 0 update?
The main highlights include the introduction of Smart Filters for belts and drop zones, a new Roles & Permissions System for co-op, a convenient Lunchbox System, and a comprehensive overhaul of multiplayer security features.
How does the Phase 0 update improve multiplayer in Ore Factory Squad?
The update significantly improves multiplayer by rebuilding the lobby security system with multi-step authentication, re-enabling secure 10-digit lobby codes, restoring Steam friends integration, and adding an in-game text chat for better communication.
Is the Phase 0 update the only planned content for Ore Factory Squad?
No, the Phase 0 update is just the first part of a larger, multi-phase roadmap leading to Version 2.0. Future updates will introduce new industrial layers, expanded city activities, advanced tech, and new environments, all planned as free content.
What kind of quality-of-life changes are included in this Ore Factory Squad Steam Phase 0 update?
The update brings numerous quality-of-life improvements such as a reworked contract system, improved forklift handling, increased day length, rebalanced XP and money earnings, and various bug fixes addressing issues like stuck robots and performance stutters.