Distant Worlds 2 Control Update Ahead of April DLC

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The Distant Worlds 2 Control update went live on March 20 after a period of beta branch testing on Steam. This brings a host of improvements and small additions alongside the large revamps of two original races, so they match the quality of the newer DLC races. As always, the major update coincides with a DLC release, this time for the Atuuk and Wekkarus races which is set to be available on April 3, 2025 which we look forward to covering.

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Distant Worlds 2 Control is the fourth major update to this 4x stratgy game, after the Aurora, Discovery, and Stellar updates. The headline features of the patch are the Zenox and Boskara faction updates which deepen their mechanics and make them more immersive to play which is always desirable. There is also a large slew of other additions, updates and fixes that further improve the game.

Faction Updates

Patch Changes

The list of changes and additions to Distant Worlds 2 Control is far too large to list in its entirety here, so I’ll list the categories that received substantial or noteworthy changes here, check the full list of changes in the Steam update. I picked out a couple specific changes I’m particularly interested in to discuss afterwards.

• Performance Improvements
• Engine Improvements
• UI Improvements
• Crash Fixes
• Ship and Fleet Behaviour
• Fleet Templates
• Ship Design
• Queued Missions
• Boarding and Raids
• Galaxy Setup
• Game Events
• Game Editor
• Modding and Localization
• Ship Models
• Exploration and Galaxy Search
• Empire Policies
• Planetary Facilities
• Economy
• Diplomacy
• Colonization and Outposts
• Docking
• Characters

The Upgrade Design button now selects the best upgrade component for each existing component, retaining the same component family. Previously the Upgrade Design button simply selected the highest tech level component for the category. This is massive for me because in the past the automation would change my “escort carriers” into standard gunboats. Now they will remain as escort carriers which I run from the earliest possible point which iirc is frigate for Gizurean, Destroyer for Ackdarian and usually Cruiser for most other races. I have been asking for this change for a long time and prior attempts such as weapon focus in automation settings did not address the issue, though a “hangar priority” option has also been added there now too which should allow for auto designed ships to focus on carriers (which the erudite want) or ignore them completely (which the luddites want).

The combination of changes to ship and fleet behaviour are massive as how Distant Worlds 2 operates involves many individual ships and fleets all operating under different orders. This gameplay allows you to play solely as the Commander in Chief rather than the CIC plus every military rank below that down to lieutenant as you’re expected to micromanage every ship in many games – although that is better than the Stellaris way which is to blob every single ship you own in one sloppy mess where ship designs have little impact. DW2 promotes having many designs of ships, even of the same class as they fulfil separate roles such as rapid interception for small threats, cheap and efficient patrol designs, synergistic main battle fleet designs, escort designs and more.

These two changes from Distant Worlds 2 Control alone provide a massive improvement in the game for me. After this all I want I think are more content (as always) and UI improvements which is my last gripe with the game. Some design decisions of the interface just don’t click well with the way I think but it’s manageable so I can still get massive enjoyment from the game. Perhaps what I want here is too radical a change for a game and more likely for a sequel, if possible or desired at all by the developers which it may not be which is perfectly fine.

DLC Summary

Touching on this briefly as the review will hopefully be coming soon, the Atuuk are the youngest race in the galaxy, are highly sociable and eager to become part of the galactic community. They have lofty goals and often over estimate their abilities to achieve them due to diminutive stature and unimpressive intellect but their overriding societal goal “the Great Direction” gives them purpose and their high population growth rate as always is a great benefit.

The Wekkarus are a secretive and ancient faction whose history is shrouded in mystery. They prefer to keep to themselves, fortifying their Deep Ocean cities and colonies. They can manifest the “ghosts” of their ancestors to aid them when in crisis which can provide substantial boons.

As always, at the very least these two additional races will provide excellent friend and enemy options in the ultimate 4x sandbox that is Distant Worlds 2 even if you don’t enjoy playing them yourself. If either of their playstyles tickles your fancy however, the DLC is even more of a must buy as a single game of DW2 can last you dozens of hours of enjoyment – let alone subsequent playthroughs of which there will be many!

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Distant Worlds 2 Control is another excellent update to a game that launched with massive but unrealized potential. It has long been in a state that makes it one of the top 4X contenders, so each additional update only improves on that position, also opening it up to a wider audience as the rough edges get filed off. Any strategy game player should find even more enjoyment in Distant Worlds 2 Control than they had in the past. The improvements definitely make the game more approachable to new players who perhaps played the more approachable Stellaris, Galactic Civilizations 4 or other 4X games who now want something deeper to sink their teeth into.

If you’re looking for more Distant Worlds 2 content, check our Ikkuro and Dhayut and Quameno and Gizurean DLC reviews, or some of Dastactics excellent Lets Plays like this Mortallen run or his excellent 19 part tutorial series. Lastly don’t forget to keep an eye on the upcoming Atuuk and Wekkarus DLC releasing on April 3!

#roundtablecoop