Progress Update 8/09/2025

Next week sees the release of a new version of Thrive, which will hopefully prove to be a rather enjoyable update to our community. As has been so with other releases, there is a 0.8.3 release candidate available for players to download and play. We would appreciate any and all feedback on several features - balancing has received some focus this update, so we are curious to see how players respond to some changes.

Moving on to news about progress, highlights for this week include the completion of a basic intercellular matrix for the multicellular stage, the implementation of 12 achievements, and some balancing changes. Some pre-release work will be completed throughout this week as we ready to enter feature freeze before the release of 0.8.3

We would also like to highlight the impending release of the Microbe Stage soundtrack, an optional purchase on Steam for players who would like to support Thrive's development more. Put it on your wishlist if you are looking forward to it! Clicking this text will direct you to the soundtrack.

Programming

• New devbuild available to our Patreon supporters
  • Implemented a set of 12 microbe achievements
  • Intercellular matrix is now represented in the multicellular stage with visual links
  • Buffed thermosynthesis and radiosynthesis by 20%
  • Buffed oxygen inhibitor toxin damage by 67% to match buffs to other toxins
  • Added proper icons for locked and unlocked achievements
  • Added a sound for when an achievement is unlocked
  • Fixed ATP warning staying active in the multicellular editor
  • Steam: added achievements
  • Made our game export script to delete the test runner before starting as that caused failures
  • Updated Thriveopedia content
  • Updated translations

Graphics

• An intercellular matrix has been implemented for colonial organisms. Note that in game, segment opacity is slightly tweaked on ends, making connections look more seamless.

Gameplay

• Some balancing changes, particularly around making agents more consistent and some buffing to the more specialized metabolisms.
• Some discussion on the forums revolved around our list of achievements.
• Some discussion on the loading-screen story concept one of our theorists is developing.

Sound

• Nothing Substantial

Theory

• Nothing Substantial

Outreach

• Nothing Substantial

Other

• Nothing Substantial