It was meant to be the release on the Golan III with some minor touch-ups here and there, but we found new ways to expand the game, so everything got bigger, yet again.
Before you install
Be sure to grab the latest version of the XWAInstallerManager available in the downloads section This will ensure the easiest installation and will match the Installation Guide
So here are the highlights of XWAU 2025 1.1.0
Golan III by Vince T
This is of course the big one. Marvel at yet another one of Vince’s creations, based on the original model from Dragon. The Golan III is a massive and truly impressive model. One of the last few original models it was in dire need of an update, and now it might just be one of the most impressive models we have.
Feature Updates
- A new way to display the background of missions has been developed by blue_max. This allows to display true 360° environments. These are known as skyBoxes (a.k.a cubeMaps) and allow for much higher detailed environments.
All missions have been edited to make use of this feature with new environments created by Forceflow, some of those include images created by NASA. The skyBoxes can be combined with existing backdrops and are meant to work in tandem. - Ships can now have variable sFoils to either clamp onto a target (currently used for the AMU to properly grab onto the asteroid base) and grab targets for pickup. Currently this feature can be observed on the Heavy Lifter in B2M2 and on the AMU in B6M7. It’s a small effect, but it adds a lot of immersion to the game.
- There are also a lot of functional upgrades in the hooks. For more details here be sure to check the Hook_Readme.txt in your Readme/Hooks directory in the XWAU 2025 1.1.0 installation.
You can always find a lot of information in the forum Modding Channel: viewforum.php?f=33 - Now you can get telemetry data from the game into SimHub. This external application enables support for a wide range of devices like motion platforms, bass shakers, dashboard screens and custom cockpit controls.
MechDonald has completed updating all cut-scenes to stunning 2k videos. All videos are re-creations of the original videos, staying true to their original intent while massively improving on their visual quality. We highly urge you to check those out as they are a true marvel! (You can access the cut-scenes via the Main Menu of the game by pressing Esc) You already saw a teaser of the new videos in our last post, but there is so much more to see, so be sure to check them out. (A new release of C-3PO is also imminent so that you can enjoy all the videos in your language of choice)
Craft Updates
- Imperial Star Destroyer II low detailed model by Vince T for use in Battle 7
- Asteroid Mining Unit: now features sFoils to clamp onto a target
- Carrack Cruiser: Fixed laser colours and a wrong LOD mesh number.
- Container Hangar: Bugfixes and updates
- Escort Carrier: Material File and LOD distances optimised. Updated various hitzone types to MiscHull so irrelevant components are hidden when browsing subsystems.
- Firespray: Fixed incorrect Mesh 0 setting. It won’t be upside down now when in the hangar
- Heavy Lifter: now features sFoils to grab targets
- Medium Transport: Fixed incorrect Landing Gear data.
- Passenger Liner: Material File and LOD distances optimised. Updated various hitzone types to MiscHull so irrelevant components are hidden when browsing subsystems.
- Tie Fighter: Material file tweaks and fixes.
- T-Wing: Skins fixed for the base Opt to do with the LOD texture.
- Victory Star Destroyer I & II: Replaced the static merged turret meshes with individual rotary turrets that each track their target independently. For balance reasons a number of these are deactivated in the default profile but there is now a new ChallengeMode profile which enables all of them.
Tweaked the ini file to correspond with the new mesh order. - X-Wing: Skins fixed for XwingExterior of the NewBlue, NewGold, NewGreen, NewRed folders.
- Z-95 Headhunter: Optimised INI for the ObjectProfiles section.
The latest Beta release from blue_max with bug fixes and many extra VR improvements.
Please see the readme file for further details here: Readme\Special Effects\Special Effects Readme.pdf
The latest Hooks from JeremyaFr are included in this release with many bug fixes and extra options.
For detailed updates on Hook fixes since the last release please see the forum Modding Channel: viewforum.php?f=33
Missions
All missions have been update to use the new skyBoxes, removing the old super backdrops and various other backdrops. Several mission fixes have also been implemented, though no major changes have been added.
This or previous releases have many changes to Mission INI files and the Mission TIE files.
The changes over the years to all the missions are too long to list. For a more complete details please read the Forum Mission Balancing section. viewforum.php?f=35
Known Issues
Despite our best efforts one mission, B7M3, is giving us a hard time. There is a high chance that the player will be destroyed by the Death Star II and even when the mission is marked as complete while flying, it can still be set to failed when the game ends the missions automatically. One workaround that seems to work is to immediately hit Q and SPACE once you are close enough to the buoy so that the game marks all goals as finished. We don't really know what is causing this right now. It's annoying but you might have to cheat your way past that mission if it doesn't let you finish it.
For more known issues make sure to check the 1.1.0 specific thread.
It's been a lot more work than we anticipated, but we are really glad to be able to get this to you in time for the holidays! We hope you all enjoy this update, so go grab the new update and have some fun!
