SkyInFlames news & patch notes

Settings

• Added V-Sync option.
• Default road color changed to yellow.

Lobby & Multiplayer

• Fixed RU typo: "Создать лоби" → "Создать лобби".

Main Menu

• Fixed crash when clicking the Discord button.

Balance

• Iskander cruise missile price: 900.
• Iskander cruise modernization cost: 1000.
• Iskander cruise missile flight time: 210 s.
• Removed S-300 ballistic missile modernization

Fixes

• Fixed image artifacts in fullscreen mode on some GPUs.

• Lobby list now updates more smoothly

• Strategic Hub (strategic_hub) HP changed to 1300
• FP-5 "Flamingo" missile flight time reduced to 8 minutes; price adjusted accordingly
• StormShadow missile flight time increased

• Fixed a crash caused by rendering tactical markers at extreme camera zoom-out distances

• Fixed crashes related to map loading and caching

Network and multiplayer

• New combat synchronization: We implemented compression and batch sending of unit and missile data, as well as adaptive frequency and upload budget for the host. 2v2 matches with a large number of units no longer hit RAM limits and don't freeze the ping indefinitely.
• Protection against "lagging" players: A single player with a bad connection will no longer ruin the match for everyone else. A hopelessly lagging client will be automatically disconnected after 30 seconds and returned to the main menu.
• Improved reconnect:
  • Accepting an invite to an active match immediately drops you into the game into the same slot.
  • Reconnecting to an ongoing game correctly restores your slot, faction, unit control, and the general state of objects.
• Unit transfer: Fixed the mechanics of transferring vehicles to an ally.

Controls and camera

• Smart map dragging: Map panning by holding the middle mouse button (scroll wheel) now works perfectly. The map is "grabbed" under the cursor at a 1:1 ratio at absolutely any zoom level.
• Classic pause: Pressing ESC now pauses the game in singleplayer and sandbox (pressing it again returns you to battle).

Fixes and optimization

• Effects optimization: The maximum number of simultaneous explosions is now limited to 50, and a strict budget for heavy visual effects has been added. There should be fewer FPS drops!
• Smart vehicle selection: Ground vehicles, when selected mixed together with aviation, will no longer recklessly drive into enemy territory when giving orders to aircraft.

Balance

New Combat Units

• Tu-160 "White Swan" (RF) - strategic bomber carrying 12 Kh-101 cruise missiles. Each missile can be programmed with its own waypoint route - scout enemy air defenses in advance and deliver a devastating strike from deep territory. After launch, the aircraft enters a holding pattern and returns to base.
• Tunguska (RF) - self-propelled air defense system: twin cannons (range ~8 km) plus 8 x 9M311 missiles (up to 12 km). Universal coverage against drones, helicopters, and aircraft at close to medium range.
• Gepard (Ukraine) - self-propelled air defense system with twin 35mm cannons (~12 km), pure artillery. Highly effective against "Shaheds" and helicopters at short range.
• FP-5 "Flamingo" (Ukraine) - single-use truck-mounted launcher with one cruise missile. Plot a route (Ctrl+RMB), press Space - 5-second countdown with black smoke, then launch and the truck disappears.
• Added Kh-101 missiles and supporting munitions, produced at the missile factory.

Tactical Markers - New Team Communication System

• Toolbar: attention (ping), attack, defense, arrows, freehand drawing, eraser.
• Quick pings without tool selection: Q - attention
• In multiplayer, your markers are visible only to faction allies; observers see all markers.
• Pings disappear automatically; arrows and drawings persist until manually deleted.

Multiplayer and Steam

• Completely overhauled Steam lobbies: create and find games, lobby chat, online and in-game player count.
• Auto-reconnection on connection loss - with status indicator and retry countdown.
• Password-protected lobbies and closed rooms.
• Version mismatch highlighting - games on different versions marked in red.
• Team modes: 1v1, 2v2, and free arrangement (1v2 / 2v1).
• Match settings in lobby: time limit, victory condition (conquest / points), starting resources (low / normal / high), and starting army (none / minimal / medium / abundant).
• New game timers in multiplayer.
• After victory or defeat, you can continue playing indefinitely.

Single-Player vs AI

• Coordinated missile strikes and air defense suppression (SEAD) - AI takes out your anti-air systems before attacks.
• Reinforces air defenses at the front lines and uses reconnaissance before striking.
• Selects least-defended targets for drones and deploys FP-5 "Flamingo".

Economy and Logistics

• New facilities: National Recovery Fund and Federal Resource Storage.
• Introduced unit maintenance (per-minute costs) - large air defense networks now require upkeep.
• Anti-snowball for team games: outnumbered teams receive an economic bonus.
• Fixed auto-supply and warehouse logic; eliminated item duplication via helicopter on warehouse.

Roads and Movement

• Massive expansion of the road network, including new RF regions.
• Fixed vehicle exit from RF and ground unit stuttering on road movement.
• Updated pre-calculated pathfinding cache for faster match starts.

Combat System and Balance

• Reworked aircraft countermeasures: now you can evade anti-radar missiles by dispensing flares. Each aircraft has its own flare capacity.
• Fixed ballistic damage against air targets.
• Increased ballistic missile speed in the cruise phase.
• Air defense scanner sectors now follow turret heading instead of hull.

Interface and Optimization

• Redesigned construction HUD and orders menu.
• Friendly units now have distinct map icons - easy to distinguish from enemy units.
• Fixed units not appearing in battle on weak PCs.
• Integrated native module for simulation acceleration.

Update Patch Notes

New Capabilities for Troop Transfer and Air Defense

New Units

Changes in Economy and Logistics

Balance and Tactics

Fixes

Update

Fixes

UI Fix:

Other Improvements:

IN PROGRESS Game Mechanic and Units

• C400 and Patriot PAC 2

• Pansir and Gepard

• Ship KARAKURT and Sea Baby

• AA FPV drones

• Tu 160, F16, YAK 52

• Pylons for Air units (KAB, GBU, ESM pods)

• Helicopters

• Iskander and HIMARS

Special Function

• Savegame

• Matchmaking

SPRING – SUMMER Game Mechanic and Units

• More AA units

• Multiplayer 2v2

• Multiplayer COOP (2vAI)

• Counter Battery Radar

• FPV Drones

• Electronic Warfare

• More Planes

• Air Formations

Special Function

• Unit Viewer

• Discord Events

OTHER STUFF

• Company and Quick Missions

• Mission Editor

• Tournaments

• RU units are now restricted from moving through Ukrainian territory.
• Fixed engine initialization error when returning to the main menu.

• Fixed empty (unloaded) trucks dispatch.
• AI will no longer attack its own objects.
• Fixed distance logic for AI aircraft.
• Fixed engine initialization error on "Fast Start". (If it happens again, let me know).
• Updated aircraft icon (Mig35)

In this update:

• Added solo mode against AI. You can try the game in a single-player format (testing phase, AI behavior bugs may occur).

• Added roads in remote regions of the Russian Federation. Improved logistics for ground vehicles.

• Fixed a helicopter hovering bug over certain objects.

• Multiplayer synchronization improvements. Please report any issues to the developers.

• Aircraft vision changes. Removed vision for aircraft located at the airfield.

• Removed restrictions. Deleted no-fly zones in certain parts of the Luhansk and Zhytomyr regions.

• Economy: Increased cost for Mobile Fire Group (300 -> 500) and Engineer (220 -> 300).

• Technical side: Optimization fixes.

Victory Points Rebalance:

• Intercepting ballistic targets (S-300) — 5 points.

• Intercepting missiles (Kh-32, Storm Shadow) — 3 points.

• Reconnaissance drones — 1 point.

• Combat drones — 0 points.

The project roadmap will be released soon.

• Added chat to the multiplayer lobby and in-game.
• Fixed explosion effects and destruction animations (crashes during explosions on some GPUs).
• Improved aircraft behavior and Kh-32 / Storm Shadow missile logic.
• Adjusted target detection system and strategic/military site behavior.
• Added fixes to the production system (new recon UAVs initially available on the map were added to drone production facilities).
• Improved Steam and multiplayer integration stability.

Lobby Customization Changes

Now you are a true strategist even before the battle begins. We've added full control over the match conditions:

• Match Duration: Set a time limit for the session.

• Victory Conditions: Choose one of two match-ending scenarios.

• Economy: Adjust starting funds to match your playstyle.

• Combat Presets: Select your starting army composition for a quick start.

New Aircraft Units

• An-26: A light transport capable of flying at ultra-low altitudes. This makes it a difficult target for radars and AA systems.

• Il-76: A heavy strategic aircraft for transporting large amounts of resources and troops.

Hotkeys & Controls

New commands added to improve combat efficiency:

• \:

  • Instant launch of all weaponry on Su-24M and Tu-22M3.

  • Quick deployment of S-300 systems and radars.

• \: Manual flare release. Use it in time to evade enemy missiles.

• \ or \: Selected area patrol mode.

Prepare the airfields! Your logistics is now your victory.

Attention, Commanders! We are excited to present a fresh update that significantly expands the capabilities of long-range and tactical aviation in the game. The spotlight is on two iconic aircraft and their devastating weaponry.

Key Changes:

• Su-24M (Ukrainian Air Force): The legendary frontline bomber is now available with high-precision Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Strike strategic targets at vast distances with surgical precision.

• Storm Shadow (Cruise Missile) - By utilizing ultra-low altitudes, it remains out of reach for enemy air defenses and allows for maneuvering to adjust the final target point.

• Tu-22M3 (Russian Aerospace Forces): The long-range supersonic bomber-missile carrier enters service.

• Kh-32 Missile (Supersonic) - A modern weapon for the Tu-22M3, designed to penetrate air defense systems and destroy high-priority targets.

• Mechanics Update: A new mechanic has been added for the simultaneous launch of all aircraft armament.

Prepare for takeoff. You now have everything you need to demonstrate true Precision and Power in the skies!