Unrailed 2: Back on Track has just received a new experimental version update focusing on smoother online play and more intelligent bots. Players who like to test new features early can access this update via the Betas menu on Steam. It’s a chance to see what’s coming, though some changes might still shift based on player feedback.
You can opt into the experimental version by right-clicking Unrailed in your Steam library, selecting Settings, then Betas. The developers encourage feedback through either the Steam discussion or their Discord server. Now, let’s take a closer look at what’s new and fixed.
Changelog v-561-67708b4
- Improvement: Player jitter has been reduced during high ping and poor network conditions, which should make multiplayer sessions feel more stable.
- Improvement: Game time synchronization now better handles inconsistent network situations to keep everyone more in sync.
- Improvement: The network protocol can address certain desync issues that caused problems before.
- Improvement: UI bubbles have received tweaks and bug fixes for clearer communication.
- Bug fix: The reconnect to lobby modal no longer overlaps with the auto-save modal, avoiding some annoying screen clutter.
- Regression fix: Versus mode maps are properly aligned again after previous layout problems.
- Freeze fix: The Labyrinth mapgen freezing issue has been resolved.
- Crash fix: Addressed startup crashes related to auto-saves.
- Change: Removed start cartridges in classic mode to adjust the early game experience.
- Change: Cannon auto-placement of tracks in the editor is back when the flag is on the last track.
- Bug fix: The crafter is now visible at the start of classic mode sessions.
- Bug fix: Fixed ghost engine smoking visuals in the lobby.
- Balance: In the ?-station on the island map, a piggy bank replaces the hexnut wagon.
- New: You can now place multiple “flag” emojis to create paths. The bot will try to follow these paths, including maintaining secondary routes near mountains or bottlenecks. If no flags are set, the bot defaults to a standard path.
- Improvement: The bot only places rails on the brake track crafter if explicitly selected via emoji.
- Improvement: Bots can now bring animals to the milk wagon and use the milk from it.
- Improvement: Player and bot outlines match, and bot name tiles display a bot icon. The bot’s circle indicator is smaller.
- Improvement: Bots can use stomp and running action cartridges.
- Improvement: Bots try to avoid mushroom explosions and will wait for tracks to be crafted instead of rushing when the train is near crashing.
- Improvement: Bots wiggle out of spider webs and can serve the versus wagon.
- Change: Placing a bridge emoji now directs the bot to try reaching that position, similar to flag emojis.
- Bug fix: Fixed issues where some bots would do nothing or get stuck in loops.
Wow, that’s quite a list! The bot’s smarter pathfinding and interaction with game elements like animals and milk wagons could change how you approach cooperative play. Have you ever had a bot just stand there doing nothing? Those days might be over soon.
What do you think about these bot changes and network fixes? Have you tried the experimental update yet? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments—your feedback might help shape the final version.
