A major update for the 4X strategy game Ara: History Untold has been released, with version 1.4 dubbed the “Living Strategy Update”. The update is the first to be released since Stardock took on the production management role in May.
Alongside the new update is an Untold Scenarios DLC pack, containing a number of “what if?” scenarios to explore alternative historical outcomes. These include Bronze Age Collapse, the Clash of Hemispheres, and Europe at the Crossroads.
Version 1.4 of Ara: History Untold looks to build off community feedback with new features, gameplay enhancement and quality of life improvements. These include:
- Living Strategy View: Now the primary default gameplay viewpoint, this feature blends elements of the detailed Living World close-up perspective with the broader strategic overview. The design enables players to seamlessly manage cities, armies, and resources with greater ease while remaining immersed in the game’s detailed environments.
- Advanced Map Generator: Version 1.4 introduces a significant upgrade to the map generation algorithm, now featuring twice as many strategically distinct regions per map size. These enhancements deliver more intelligent resource distribution and improved player starting positions, offering expanded strategic depth and greater replayability. A newly updated Earth map makes full use of these improved generation mechanics.
- Strategy AI Player v2.0: The computer opponent’s artificial intelligence systems have been extensively overhauled to provide players with more meaningful strategic competition, especially during the late-game period. AI opponents will now make more nuanced decisions, better optimize their resources and challenge players with deeper strategic considerations.
- Significant Micromanagement Reduction: Leveraging the new AI systems and the citizen simulation system, the game’s citizens can now automatically select items from the player’s inventory to self-supply their dwellings, shops, factories, and other buildings based on their needs. Players can easily toggle this automated feature or guide citizen behaviors directly using in-game Policies, maintaining full control over their gameplay experience.
- Battle System Improvements: Combat mechanics have become deeper, longer-lasting, and more transparent, supported by a new Battle Viewer panel. This panel clearly explains battle outcomes and provides improved tactical clarity, helping players better understand and manage military encounters.
- Graphics Engine Optimization: Extensive updates have significantly improved game optimization, reducing GPU usage and significantly increasing framerate stability, particularly in later-game scenarios.
- Simulation Speed Enhancements: Optimizations to the game’s simulation engine deliver faster turn times and improved UI responsiveness, contributing to a smoother playing experience.
- Gameplay and Balance Enhancements: Version 1.4 features numerous gameplay improvements, including pacing adjustment, recipe tuning, and extensive balance revisions. Additionally, dozens of community-reported bugs have been addressed, further refining the overall experience.
Ara: History Untold is one of a number of historical 4X titles that have sprung up to challenge Civilization – especially looking to launch ahead of Civ 7 – each introducing their own twist on how to deal with the passage of time. In our review, I said, “Ara: History Untold is another distinctive take on the historical 4X strategy genre, putting a real emphasis on furthering your nation, managing supply chains and resources, and shifting the focus away from warring mentality it’s so easy to sink into. There’s room to grow, but this is a strong contender.”
Source: press release
