Auto Ball — 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics Update & Pool Balance Changes | 2026-10-30 | A fresh look A new font across the whole game, refreshed portraits for nearly every character, and a smaller shared unit pool that makes contesting a build matter. Balance Changes The shared unit pool is smaller. In an 8-player lobby there are now 18 copies of each 1-cost character, 16 of each 2-cost and 14 of each 3-cost (down from 30, 26 and 22). Since a 3-star unit takes six copies, only two or three players can 3-star the same character - if you all chase the same build, someone comes up short. Look & Feel New font, Exo 2, used everywhere from menus to the match HUD. 31 of 32 characters have refreshed portraits with more of their animal i |
| Steam Achievements & Minor Improvements | 2026-10-28 | v0.183.1 This update adds Steam achievements and new star ranks on every unit. New Features Steam achievements are here: 34 to earn. They cover your first win, hat-tricks, comebacks, win streaks, collecting characters and synergies, climbing the ranked divisions, and 50, 250 and 500 round wins. UI & Quality of Life Unit star ranks are now outlined bronze, silver and gold stars, on the pitch and on your bench and field during setup. A 3-star unit gets a bigger centre star so it stands out at a glance. Bug Fixes The unit pool no longer shows the units in your shop once the match starts. |
| Improved UI & Bug Fixes | 2026-10-25 | v0.182.0 This release adds a shared unit pool display, a new stamina and ability charge meter, patrol route previews during setup, and a simpler way to set up local and private games. New Features You can now see how many copies of each character are left in the shared unit pool, including during the match. During setup, dragging a character shows a preview of the route it will patrol. The game guide can now sort its characters by unit type. Balance Changes The Capybara no longer stands still when nobody on its team is tired. It now follows the teammate with the least stamina, including one who has collapsed, so it is already there when they |
| Chasing Mechanics Update | 2026-10-23 | Mechanics Update Chasing players no longer knock the ball into their own goal by running straight at it from upfield. They curve around the ball instead. UI & Quality of Life Opening the settings menu in a local game now pauses it, in setup and in the match. Closing settings picks up exactly where you left off. This covers games against bots, the tutorial, the sandbox and replays. Online games are unaffected. |
| Visual Enhancements to Unit Effects and Sandbox Update | 2026-10-20 | New Features Every ability's visual effect has been redrawn with much more detail. Porcupine quills look like real quills, beams have a bright core, ice tiles show crystal facets, the Beaver's wall has wood grain, and much more! The abilities themselves work exactly as before. New "Enhanced effects" option in Video settings, on by default. Turn it off for better performance on weaker machines. The visual effects will return to the old simpler versions. Bug Fixes Pressing Tab in the practice sandbox no longer starts a random demo match. Use Run to play the board and you can tab to get back to it afterwards. UI & Quality of Life Settings screen |
| The tutorial update | 2026-10-19 | New Features A guided tutorial for your first game. Over your first three rounds a coach walks you through buying units, placing them, synergies, rerolling, leveling up, items and the tournament table. UI & Quality of Life The standings are more clear, and now tag the team you play next. Bug Fixes On Windows, launching the game no longer opens an empty command prompt window alongside it. |