The Echoes of Mars — patch notes and updates
Stored observation / content update:
Dated developer announcements recorded from Steam. Open the source for the complete update.
| Update | Date | Excerpt / source |
|---|---|---|
| Devlog #5: Help me playtest the next update | 2026-10-22 | The Echoes of Mars is almost ready for its biggest update yet, and I need playtesters. Already own the game? You can join right now: Right-click the game in your Library and choose Properties. Open the Betas tab and pick web-beta. Let Steam download the small update. Under the main menu it should say version 2.0.1. Play it the way you like, then tell me what's good and what's wrong in the comments below. Everyone who sends feedback goes on the Quality Assurance list in the game's credits. Don't own it yet? Comment "I want to playtest" under the video on YouTube and I'll send you a Steam key. |
| Devlog #4: Moving The Echoes of Mars to my own engine | 2026-10-14 | This week I've been moving The Echoes of Mars from Unity onto my own engine built on TypeScript, because the web is the side of me I know best. The lore, characters, conversations and gameplay stay mine, so I'm taking it a bit slower to keep the human spirit in. |
| Devlog #3: I drew my characters by hand | 2026-10-05 | Hi everyone! This devlog is a video, and a longer, slower one. I recorded it in Sakha, with English and Russian subtitles: turn on CC. Three people, drawn by hand This week I finished the final portraits of three characters. Dr Bernice Tan, the Chief Engineer, builds your defences and runs the research. Dr Anouk Visser, the xenobiologist, wants to understand the creatures. Officer Thomas Alway, head of security, wants everyone safe, which means the creatures gone. These are not the first versions. In 2024 I drew them in a simple, cartoony style, in a hurry before release. These took two rounds of drafts. Bernice, from the first strokes to the |
| Devlog #2: my tower defence game is losing its towers | 2026-09-29 | Hi everyone! A lot of what you build in The Echoes of Mars was never a tower. Generators, walls, support: none of them shoot. So in the major update, everything you place gets one name: Tech. The new Tile Menu The new Tile Menu flips the old flow: you pick a tile first, then decide what to do with it. Every action shows its impact before you click, like Reinforce +25 max HP or Refund +25 Energy. Each one has its moment: repair and reinforce between nights; amplify, or blow your Tech up and take the enemies around it with it, mid-fight. While the menu is open, the world slows almost to a stop. Under the hood, I'm reshaping the game's structure |
| Devlog #1: the night cycle is getting rebuilt, game sequencer, and UI | 2026-09-21 | Hi everyone! I'm working on a major update for The Echoes of Mars. This is my desk right now, with the new gameplay schema pinned in the middle, plus two early screenshots of the new UI. Both are work in progress. The night cycle is being rebuiltThe old game sequencer had too many phases. The new one has two, Preparation and Defence, with far more inside them. Between nights you talk, research new tech and send ground teams out for resources. Before the defence starts, you pick which towers you take with you. Ground teams also bring back Amp Cards. Each card boosts certain tiles. During the night, creatures drop chitin. Use it to reinforce th |
| The Echoes of Mars at Tower Defense Fest | 2026-03-09 | The Echoes of Mars is featured in Steam Tower Defense Fest 2026.It is a voxel-style tower defence game on Mars, made by me solo, and it is part of the event running from March 9 to March 16. Thanks to everyone supporting the game! |
| Update 1.20 is Live! | 2026-03-08 | Good Sol to You, Strategists!Update 1.20 is now available, focused on cleaner pacing, better stability, and stronger foundations for future content.What’s New in 1.20Dialogue Pass: Filler dialogue has been removed, leaving the most important story moments and key interactions.UI Text Fixes: Text rendering issues have been resolved (including engine-side improvements from the Unity 6 upgrade).Tower Deletion Visual Fix: Deleting towers while the game is paused now correctly shows the visual deletion state.Tile Occupancy Fix: Fixed an issue where a tile could still appear occupied after a tower had already been deleted.Under the HoodThis update |
| The Supporter Pack DLC is now available for free! | 2024-06-28 | Get an inside look at the game's development with this exclusive bundle. You'll get to see my sketches and drafts, as well as watch video commentary from me discussing the game's creation. This DLC is a way to show your support for indie game development and doesn't affect the gameplay in any way. Thank you for your support! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2998170/The_Echoes_of_Mars__Supporter_Pack_DLC/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/2998170/The_Echoes_of_Mars__Supporter_Pack_DLC/ |
| Update 1.10 is Out! | 2024-06-28 | Good Sol to You, Strategists! This update includes several improvements designed to enhance your gameplay experience: Animated Intro: Immerse yourself with the new animated introduction. Wave Variability: Encounter more diverse and challenging waves of enemies, keeping every battle fresh. Rebalanced Enemies: Enjoy a more balanced combat experience with reworked enemy stats and behaviours. Various Fixes: Bug-fixes and minor improvements. I also wish to inform you that the Journal feature has been postponed to Update 1.20. I apologise for the delay and appreciate your understanding as I continue to refine this key aspect of the game. These upda |
| Game User Interface (UI) Showcase on Behance | 2024-06-08 | Good Sol to You, Strategists! Explore the details of the user interface of our game in the following UI showcase! Check out the UI showcase now: Behance Link |
| [Update 1.00.8] Patch Notes | 2024-06-02 | New Improvements: Bugfix: Resolved the 'Master Strategist' achievement issue. Bugfix: Fixed the blinking tooltip in certain situations. Progress Reset: Nullified values in stats after resetting progress. Game Logic: Enhanced game sequencing logic for smoother gameplay. Settings: Fixed jitteriness in the settings scroll. These updates enhance stability and improve the overall gameplay experience. Thank you for your continued support and feedback! |
| So, What's Next? UPCOMING UPDATES! | 2024-05-31 | Get ready for a series of awesome updates! From crucial bug fixes in v1.00.8 to new achievements, enemy behaviours, and a free DLC in v1.10, there's a lot to look forward to. Plus, v1.20 introduces the innovative 'SIMULATION' mode and global leaderboards. Stay tuned for these exciting enhancements and more! Current Version: 1.00 (as of May 31st) Technically: 1.00.1, where 'x' represents bugfixes and minor improvements. Upcoming Updates UPDATE v1.00.8: Bugfix: 'Master Strategist' achievement. Bugfix: Tooltip blinks in certain situations. Improvement to game sequencing logic. Release Date: Coming days UPDATE v1.10: Additional achievements. Enha |
| 'The Echoes of Mars' is out! | 2024-05-28 | Enjoy a special launch discount for the next two weeks. Don't miss out—grab your copy and share the adventure with your friends! See you on Mars! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2948460/The_Echoes_of_Mars/?l=english https://store.steampowered.com/app/2948460/The_Echoes_of_Mars/?l=english |