(TEST) - April 2026 - 'UI Horizons' v1.55 Update

Published on Friday, April 17, 2026 By RammaStardock In Sins II Support

Release Status: *** AVAILABLE ON TEST_EDITION ***

Our April update contains a couple of big changes and an even larger number of under the hood improvements! Firstly, we have updated the entire front-end UI for the game. The new layout provides more information without having to scroll, eliminates dead space, and uses new visuals. Next, back by popular demand (literally) is a brand new, in-game map editor. The new editor is simple to use and even auto-imports your creations to the game’s listing. Last, not not least, there are dozens of improvements and optimizations to the game engine.

To Use the Test Edition

  • On Epic Games

    • Install the Sins of a Solar Empire II - Test Edition product from your Library

  • 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 'test_edition' from the Beta Participation list.

    • Steam will update you to the latest files.

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

April 16th, 2026 v1.55

Gameplay

  • NEW: In-game map editor! By popular request, we have added a simple, easy to use map editor inside the game. Generated maps will automatically be imported to your map listing locally. Later this year, we will add the ability to easily share custom maps from in-game via mod.io along with more improvements to the modding menu.

    • Starting positions can now be managed via the map preview. Just drag and drop the player icon.

  • NEW: Added new AI controller for Advent Unity ability use. Advent AI players will now strategically use Unity abilities.

  • NEW: Added one new ability for all Weapon Defense Platforms and Hangar Defense Platforms.

  • Players can now change map selection in the lobby in multiplayer games. No more having to exit out to pick a different map!

  • Improved ability active/passive autocast definitions to enhance state tracking. Autocast abilities should trigger more effectively.

  • Improved unit formation slot assignment and synchronization in fleet movement.

  • TEC

    • Autocannon Defense Structure

      • New Ability: Flechette Blast (direct damage in an arc radius)

        • Requires: Unlock Autocannon Defense Flechette Blast Research. Tier 2 (750/125/150, 150 seconds).

    • Gauss Defense Structure

      • New Ability: Meson Bolt (debuffs target armor)

        • Requires: Unlock Gauss Defense Meson Bolt Research. Tier 3 (1200/200/300, 225 seconds).

    • Hangar Defense Structure

      • New Ability: Enhanced Production (reduces strikecraft build time)

        • Requires: Unlock Hangar Defense Production Research. Tier 2 (750/125/150, 150 seconds).

  • Advent

    • Transcencia Starbase

      • New Item: Power Surge (Cost: 1500/550/400, 120 seconds)

      • New Item: Pulse Resonance (gives starbase missiles splash damage - Cost: 1500/550/400, 120 seconds).

    • Beam Defense Structure

      • New Ability: Synergetic Ward (generates protective AoE field)

        • Requires: Unlock Beam Defense Ward Research. Tier 3 (800/250/600, 225 seconds).

    • Hangar Defense Structure

      • New Ability: Empowered Anima (gives strikecraft weapon and shield bonuses)

        • Requires: Unlock Hangar Defense Anima Research. Tier 2 (500/125/300, 135 seconds).

    • Laser Defense Structure

      • New Ability: Psionic Burst (direct fire beam attack that penetrates targets)

        • Requires: Unlock Laser Defense Blast Research. Tier 2 (500/125/300, 135 seconds).

  • Vasari

    • Missile Defense Structure

      • New Ability: Disruptor Nanites

        • Requires: Unlock Missile Defense Disruptor Nanites Research. Tier 2 (0/270/240, 150 seconds).

    • Pulse Defense Structure

      • New Ability: Phasic Trap

        • Requires: Unlock Pulse Defense Phasic Trap Research. Tier 3 (0/450/480, 270 seconds).

    • Kortul Devastator Capital Ship

      • Cost increased from 0/1680/1320 to 0/1950/1440

    • Skirantra Carrier Capital Ship

      • Cost increased from 0/1680/1320 to 0/1950/1440

    • Vulkoras Desolator Capital Shp

      • Cost increased from 0/1680/1320 to 0/1950/1440

    • Marauder Capital Ship

      • Phase Out Hull Ability

        • No longer targets friendly units; added minimum target unit level (4) requirement; cannot be recast on the same target

      • Cost increased from 0/1680/1320 to 0/1950/1440

    • Jarrasul Evacuator Capital Ship

      • Gravity Warhead Ability

        • Can now target starbases capable of phase jumping.

      • Cost increased from 0/1680/1320 to 0/1950/1440

    • Ship Factory cost increased from 0/300/0 to 0/480/0

    • Fleet Beacon cost increased from 600/600/120 seconds to 900/720/150 seconds

    • Research Changes

      • Friendly Jump Telemetry research moved from Tier 2 to Tier 5

      • Sulsurak Blueprint research moved from Tier 1 to Tier 2

      • Junsurak Blueprint research moved from Tier 2 to Tier 1.

      • Mobile Resonance Capacitor Blueprint

        • Cost changed from 0/810/900, 525 seconds to 0/840/960, 600 seconds.

      • Resonance Mastery research moved from Tier 4 to Tier 5; now requires 1 quarnium.

        • Phase Resonance bonus duration increased from 120 to 240 seconds.

      • Atomic Engineering and Flawless Armor no longer provide mobility bonuses. These have been moved to Atomic Lattice Armor.

      • Phase Missile Predictors shield bypass chance increased from 20% to 24%

      • Phasic Strike Resonance bonus duration decreased from 120 to 60 seconds.

Visuals / UI

  • NEW: Front-end UI has been overhauled.

    • News window added which displays the most recent information about the game.

    • Faction selection screen added, which gives a breakdown of each faction, their special abilities, units and more.

      • Replaced all previous faction portraits with custom, 2D hand-painted versions. Also added a number of additional selections.

      • Unit Preview Window added to faction selection screen. Players can now view each 3D unit, rotate the camera, etc. including any mesh upgrades (e.g., starbases).

    • Updated Single- and Multiplayer lobby windows.

    • Updated random map UI/UX. Players can now select their star type and skybox.

    • Updated Settings window layout and options.

  • NEW: Added new Player Colors and customization options!

    • Players can now customize color saturation and brightness for each team color.

  • Added new aiming system for missile and projectile weapons. Missiles will now target aim zones instead of the unit center.

  • Projectile and beam weapons can now aim at any part of the target unit.

  • Improved unit selection box rendering.

  • Improved various UI elements:

    • Enhanced sizing and layout calculations (performance)

    • Improved text rendering with drop shadow support

    • Enhanced text entry input handling and validation

    • Improved item rendering and scrolling performance in list boxes

    • Improved window management and rendering

Misc

  • Improved spacial grid system to improve performance, query and update systems. Should improve overall game performance, camera movement and unit selection.

  • Improved physics data manager to improve calculation caching.

  • Added new system for missile targeting precision. Missiles should handle hitting fast-moving targets more accurately.

  • Improved state machine for ability usage tracking. Should improve queued ability behavior to process correctly.

  • New game saves are now automatically compressed to reduce file size. This change reduces save game file size by 70% or more.

  • Enhanced save file checksumming to better detect save files with errors.

  • Performance Related

    • Improved player mission tracking system.

    • Improved bookmark storage system.

    • Improved control group assignment and recall system.

    • Improved unit Item tracking with improved removal/addition logic.

    • Refactored visible object culling system. Should improve FPS dips when panning across populated systems.

    • Optimized entity definition load system with improved error validation.

    • Optimized mesh rendering system.

    • Improved self-shadowing volume computation.

    • Enhanced 3D primitive drawing.

    • Improved shader compilation and caching.

    • Enhanced video playback performance.

    • Improved multi-line text rendering.

    • Enhanced asset loading of UI elements with better error handling.

    • Improved various math and physics calculations/operations.

  • Fixed bug that prevented the sound system from resetting properly on mod unloading. This would cause assert/crashes on exit.

  • Improved Recorded Game Management

    • Added Delete All button for bulk removal

    • Added Open in File Explorer button for direct access. NOTE: For changes to be registered in Steam Cloud, the game must be running during any file operation.

Modding

  • Buff stacking limits now support more than one stacking limit type.

    • stacking_ownership_type and stacking_limit_met_behavior switch places in the data fields because we want different ownership types per limit, but only one limit_met_behavior.

      • If any limit is hit, then the stacking limit is considered reached

      • The old format is maintained for backwards compatibility with existing mods.

  • Added new constraint: has_missing_planet_health

    • Checks if planet unit is damaged

  • Added new constraint: is_channeling_ability

    • Checks if the unit is currently channeling

  • Added NOTconstraint. Inverts constraint logic with additional safeguards.

  • Added pick_unit_anywhere autocast type. Requires ownership filter.

    • Enables autocast on long-range abilities to any valid target on the map.

  • Added research buff provider definition support.