The “Objective Reality” update for Sins of a Solar Empire II has landed. Version 1.43 brings new systems, shinier planets, and a few more ways to blow things up in space—strategically, of course.
Mission System Arrives
The headliner is a new mission system. Instead of traditional tutorials, players now get hands-on guidance through faction-specific missions that dish out rewards like resources and exotics. It’s optional and works in both single-player and multiplayer—on or off depending on your preference.
Visual Enhancements:
Shader updates have been rolled out, improving shadow clarity, lighting, and unit materials. Atmospheres now scatter light more convincingly, and gas giants get extra parallax shading. If you want to shake things up, three experimental shaders are also available:
- Cel Shading – Think anime-style glow.
- Retro Shading – A throwback to pixelated glory.
- Liquid Crystal – All green everything.
New Gravity Wells
If your strategy involves gravity—good news. The update adds new gravity well types:
- Irradiated planets
- Shattered worlds
- Brown dwarfs
- Neutron stars
These areas offer more tactical depth, especially in multiplayer. And if you’ve got the Paths to Power DLC, you can now toggle a match setting that replaces some derelicts with capturable Ancient Starbases. Cue the scramble for control.
Map Additions
On the map front, 1.43 adds new battlegrounds, including Neutron Tempest, a 5v5 map designed to showcase the newly added space terrain. Expect tight engagements and high-stakes plays.
TL;DR
Update 1.43 doesn’t reinvent the galaxy, but it gives Sins of a Solar Empire II a healthy injection of content. Missions for learning, shader tweaks for flair, and stellar anomalies for chaos.
