X-Wing Alliance Upgrade 2024 is now released!!
Strap yourself in because we have a lot of info and important changes to share with you.
There will be a Changelog PDF attached to this page also.
We've found and fixed a lot of bugs since May when we wanted to release it. Likely there will still be some as always with any mass release mod.
So please accept our apologies, report any you may see and have patience while we fix any found.
XWAU 2024 has been in progress for several years now. It wouldn’t be possible to make what we do without the technical brilliance of @JeremyaFr and @blue_max. We owe them a massive thank you!
Also, the XWAU wouldn’t be here without @Forceflow who has continued to pay the web costs for 20 years.
The whole team has been involved in one area or another of this release, and it’s the collaboration of teamwork, sharing feature ideas and striving for the best releases that makes up what we do. Thanks to all current and past XWAU Team and Beta members that have contributed over the years.
Our thanks to @Ace Antilles for his hard work in compiling all the files into this release and trying to keep it all together as it grew in size.
Thanks also to @Vince T for his work in organising multiple Readme files.
-----------------------------------------------------------
INSTALLATION
Please backup any Pilot saves, custom configuration files or changes that you have custom edited before using this Update. We are not responsible for lost game progress.
Before installing we recommend you create a backup copy of your existing XW Alliance Upgrade folder.
!! THIS UPDATE IS NOT COMPATIBLE TO USE WITH THE TIE FIGHTER TOTAL CONVERSION !!
You MUST install XWAU 2024 onto a fresh “standard” installation of X-Wing Alliance.
Do not attempt to install over any older version of the XWAU 2020 Mega Patch OR the TIE Fighter Total Conversion. This will cause issues with the game and leave many unnecessary files behind.
Once you have installed a fresh XWA please run it at least once to ensure the game starts properly.
You will need roughly 20GB of free space for installation. This allows extra temporary space to copy files.
The XWAU is now about 12GB plus in size. This is due to adding so many HD updates in one installer
For more installation information read the details in the installer or the PDF included.
-----------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT CHANGES
Please read these important changes to the some of the previous XWAU game behaviour.
Pilot Files: Your Pilot files no longer get stored in the root XWA folder but a dedicated one.
We can now have separate folders for each game mod, such as XWAU or the TIE Fighter Total Conversion.
Please copy and place your *.PLT pilot files to this existing folder. UserData\XWAU\Pilot.
Then when you launch the game you can select them as normal.
Ray Tracing: For the best effect we have now enabled in flight Ray Tracing lighting by default.
We have tried to optimise the look of some models for this effect. We realise not everyone may like this style but supporting both lighting types is getting trickier.
Some missions are a little darker than they should be. We will be trying to optimise the lightning on those missions more in the future.
You can still disable Ray Tracing or change selected options in Babu Frik’s Configurator effects section.
Vsync: This is now enabled by default, it will sync the refresh rate of the game to the refresh rate of your monitor. We HIGHLY recommend changing the refresh rate of your monitor to 60Hz as well! The reason for this is many missions can start behaving badly with high refresh rate monitors. Some issues stop you completing them. We know everyone likes to see fast FPS numbers etc but X-Wing Alliance already runs faster than it was designed for. So, sit back and enjoy a smoother mission experience over watching that little counter in the corner
We realise this could be an issue for some VR users. You can still disable or enable Vsync again in the Babu Frik’s Configurator VR section. We do stress though the problems this may cause with gameplay.
-----------------------------------------------------------
NEW FEATURES
New User Interface Features:
XWA Upgrade goes HD! We now have the ability to use far bigger format sizes to improve the game.
Totally new Widescreen images and videos have been created to try and maximise the screen space used.
Concourse:
@MechDonald has given XWA a whole new amazing look in many places! He has created a new Concourse, with ship animations in the window which change per mission too. As well as a new Tour, Battle, Tech Globe and Film rooms, complete with HD loading videos.
Crew Quarters:
MechDonald has given Ace Azzameen a total room upgrade to store his trophies. All new images for the rewards and medals you get given. There are also a few optional ones in the Craft Manager you can swap.
Interface:
Forceflow has made a whole new User Interface for the game. New icons for all the menu bars, Campaign Battle and mission images, cutscene thumbnails, plus new Skirmish ship selection images.
Ace Antilles has made new bigger sized Map and ship Hull icons, Cursor and upscaled Squad Logos.
Planets and Nebulas Backdrops:
Forceflow has rendered all new HD sized Planets for to be used as backdrops in the missions.
Some HD Nebulas have been replaced thanks to the TFTC. More will be added in the future.
Sound Improvements:
Ace Antilles has given the game a massive upgrade in the audio department! We can now add custom sounds for almost any area of the game. This has been a large undertaking, and some sounds will still need tweaking or improving. Big thanks to @iteachvader for use of his sounds and improvements also.
Includes sounds for:
Canopy opening, Ship landing, Engine Wash, Enter and Exit Hyperspace, Flybys, Hangar ambience, Hyper End and Start, Engines, S-Foils, Landing Gear, Shuttle Take Off and Landing, Starship ambience, SFX overall, Weapons Shields, Lasers and much more!
Movies:
The original mission cutscene videos in the game have been replaced with new upscaled versions.
@marcop000 created these videos and graciously allowed us to use them. He has taken the old SNM files and recoded them with a much larger frame size for widescreen monitors.
He also enhanced them to try and improve the older quality videos as best as possible. @m0rgg has converted them to MP4 for better VR mode compatibility.
-----------------------------------------------------------
NEW RELEASES
Container Hanger – Vince T has created a brand new Container Hanger model perfect for launching TIE Experimentals from. It has several Profiles that can be chosen, these can add floor and ceiling hatches to the Interior hangar or added gun turrets. Guns used to be on the separate ContainerHangerGuns.opt only.
Deep Space Manufacturing Facility (X7 Factory) – Vince T created a brand-new Factory model with several pod layout variations available via optional Profiles.
The X7 Factory, while in previous games, surprisingly does not appear in any XWA missions! It can be used in Skirmish mode but we wanted to make use of this brilliant upgrade.
Ace Antilles has therefore added it to the game as part of: Battle 4: Mission 1 - Shipment to Mining Colony. It features as a neutral background element to the Bilbringi repair yards region using the Object Profiles.
Imperial II Star Destroyer - Vince T completely remade the ISD2 with a brand-new model! Built truthfully to the original ILM studio model it features HD textures and various skins to choose from. This version is also much better optimized to reduce impact on game performance. It uses the latest sound options such as Weapon Range, a nifty new feature that randomly pulls from a pool of laser sounds for each individual shot.
Dynamic engines now illuminate nearby geometry and can switch on/off depending on ship speed or if the engines are disabled. The inflight hangar is now covered by blast doors which open upon proximity to friendly ships. Plus, the hangar maps have been updated with new layouts too.
Imperial Nebulon B Frigate – A totally new ship created from scratch by @DTM . It’s based on the designs of EC Henry. The concept is the Rebel Nebulon B has had its armor stripped down and this is the clean, heavily armored version as used by the Imperial Forces. It comes with HD textures and multiple profiles.
It features in the Campaign but we have used Stats Profiles to keep it the same difficulty in this mission.
T-Wing – HD-Remake of the T-wing Interceptor by DTM with the latest XWAU features.
New improved front nose area based off the X-wing style, rear cover, new pilot and HD textures.
It comes with the latest Dynamic Cockpit features: Damage effects, Shadow Mapping and Animations. Includes FG Skins, Beam effects and damage textures, working landing gear and opening cockpit canopy.
Also, there are opening weapon bay hatches underneath the ship that open when landed in the hangar!
Extra Craft: We have decided to add some great new ships, which were not part of the vanilla game to complement existing missions. This is something we may expand on in the future.
While the ships have been available before they have been optimised and even some textures improved.
These will be playable in Skirmish mode with some making a small appearance in the campaign.
Gozanti Cruiser from DTM.
Quasar Fire-class Escort Cruiser from Driftwood.
U-wing Starfighter from DTM.
VCX-100 Light Transport from DTM.
Hangar Ladders: Ace Antilles added new Hangar Ladders for fighters! Background X-wing and Y-wing fighters in hangars can have 1 or 2 ladders for the pilot or Astromech by using Profiles. Multiple Rebel Hangar Maps have been setup with this if you look closely.
Hangar Walkway: Ace Antilles added a new Hangar service bridge model. This goes over the top of ships for mechanics to work on Fighters.
-----------------------------------------------------------
NEW MODEL UPDATES
Corellian Transport and Millennium Falcon:
@Master Qui-Gon has given the iconic ship a much needed make over with many improved features!
Now there is a working retractable boarding ramp and landing gear when the ship takes off.
Normal Maps have been created, Beam effects and damage textures, and new areas modelled to the hull.
One of the biggest changes has been in the texture improvements. Thanks mostly to XWAU member @Prime.
The cockpit has been massively overhauled to try to be more movie accurate. It now features animated images and lights and even moving Hyperspace and throttle levers!
While we would still like to make a full Dynamic Cockpit for the YT series, we are not able to right now.
With the help of @ual002 and the https://www.moddb.com/mods/swgl Star Wars Galactic Legacy: Jedi Academy mod there are new far improved
heads for the pilots. Han Solo, Lando Calrissian and Nien Nunb especially now look as they should.
A new Emon and Aeron model have been added as Profiles for mission uses. Also a different head for Ace.
Also, we have new Skins that can be chosen and extra Profiles to be selected for more mission variety.
Firespray - Slave I / Andrasta:
Master Qui-Gon with Ace Antilles have given this bounty hunting ship an update with many improved features! It’s become one of the ships using nearly every feature the XWAU has created.
It has new improved textures and uses normal mapping, with some extra model details.
The cockpit has been improved to try to be more movie accurate. It now features a lower seating area too.
The pilots have been improved too with options for Boba Fett, Emon Azzameen and Jango Fett.
For now the interior view of the cockpit will rotate around and show space when the S-foils are closed.
There are now multiple Profiles to choose from like Slave I, Andrasta, Enforcer and Firespray.
Multiple new Skins and different Flightgroups have automatically assigned unique Laser colors too!
Also included are unique sounds for lasers, engines, flyby and more!
You can default to the different Object Profiles via Craft Manager or manually via Mission INI files.
Selected default Skins are also now applied used in Skirmish mode too when using a chosen Profile.
Medium Transport:
Master Qui-Gon has created a new version. There are now working landing gear and it uses new normal maps. Also it features the latest beam effects and damage textures and a material file for better shading.
You can change the version you see in game between Master Qui-Gons or Marco Antonio Malheiros by using Craft Manager from the Alliance Launcher.
There are several Family battle missions in the campaign where Marco Antonio Malheiros version will be used by default. Changes made will still show in the Skirmish Editor battles.
Otana - Family Transport:
Ace Antilles has made some more improvements to the Family Transport ship and cockpit.
With Forceflows help there is now a working retractable boarding ramp and landing gear when it takes off.
The exterior Opt has had its textures upscaled to try and improve the overall look in places.
Meshes have been smoothed and converted from Tris to Quads to improve performance.
The cockpit has had some needed texture improvements based on the work of Prime.
With the help of Ual002 and the Star Wars Galactic Legacy Jedi Academy mod there is a new improved Ace Azzameen head. This also matches the one in the YT1300 Corellian Transport.
Also added new Emon model and other pilot Profiles for different mission uses.
TIE Advanced x1:
Thanks to yahman321 and Ace Antilles we finally we have a Darth Vader pilot in the Exterior Opt!
Vader is now the default Pilot and FG choice, plus there is also an improved look to the TIE Pilot too.
Select which Pilot is flying in missions by using the additional Object Profiles. You can also use Craft Manager to fly which version you prefer in Skirmish mode.
By using Skins you can select FG9 to hide the pilot and show an empty cockpit when inside a Hangar.
Z-95 Headhunter:
HD-Remake of the Z-95 Headhunter by DTM with the latest XWAU features.
The two Dual and Quad engines Opt versions are now merged together using Object Profiles.
New pilot model added, also includes Flightgroup Skins, Beam effects and damage textures, working landing gear and opening cockpit canopy and Cockpit sparks. New material files for better shading.
There are multiple choices of Skins that can be selected and even individual wing Flightgroup stripes.
Meshes have been smoothed and converted from Tris to Quads to improve performance.
You can see pictures and videos of the XWA Upgrade releases in the Showcase section on our website.
-----------------------------------------------------------
CONFIGURATORS
Babu Frik’s Configurator: Some of the menus have been tweaked or improved.
There are some new VR Options available to enable or use with the latest features.
A new Beta mode Hyperspace option is available. This makes all ships Hyper in and stop almost instantly, rather than a long run in. While it may be screen accurate it will cause campaign balance issues. This is why it’s still a test version currently.
Craft Manager: This new Configurator now contains the multiple ship choice options for Flightmodels.
For example Starfighters, Transports, Starship etc that were selected from Babu Frik’s before.
More choices have been added for most of the different ship profiles that have been added over time.
Multiple Ship Profiles have been hard coded into the campaign. So switching them in Craft Manager will alter the look in the Skirmish mode, but not necessarily in the Azzameen Campaign Battles.
You can also change items and rewards in the Crew Quarters that you have obtained from missions.
For example, different Rebel Posters, Space Pirate flags or Lady Blue photographs.
The coding for both programs was becoming so large it was hard to manage. Also this gives both programs room to grow. Now you can configure settings easier without worrying about touching other areas.
-----------------------------------------------------------
FLIGHTMODELS
Ace Antilles has checked and touched up almost every model and improved them where needed to.
New material files have been created for shield, beam and damage effects and selected texture shading.
Illumination improved on some and models have had recalculated face normals to improve shading. Meshes have also been converted from Tris to Quads to improve performance.
The full list of notable changes to the models is found in the Changelog PDF.
-----------------------------------------------------------
EFFECTS AND FEATURES
BlueMax and m0rgg have been constantly improving and fixing issues in the VR side of the game.
There are some extra options available in Babu Frik’s Configurator you can enable easier.
Active Cockpit 2.0 - It is now possible to press buttons inside the cockpit when running with VR on.
Gloves will be displayed in the cockpit and even a VR keyboard can be used inside the cockpit instead of blindly reaching out for the keyboard when wearing your headset.
To activate this feature, open the Active Cockpit section in Babu Frik’s Configurator.
See this YouTube video to watch it in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMJKV5Fqr4c
Please see the readme file for further details here: Readme\Special Effects\Special Effects Readme.pdf
-----------------------------------------------------------
There's tons more changes to XWAU than I can list here!
Including lots of tweaks and fixes to the Missions. A massive thanks to @LPhoenix for those.
So please refer to the Changelog PDF attached for the full list.
Thank you to everyone involved in creating XWAU 2024. It's been a long process but we got there in the end!
Thank you also to the excellent Beta testers from here and Discord. Your names are in the games credits text.
We hope you enjoy what we have created and don't worry there is still more to come!
May the Force be with you!
This is absolutely fantastic... thanks for all the hard work.
