News: Technical Progress Report

Bertha Bot

Entropia News Fetcher
Joined
Jul 26, 2006
Posts
3,366

Dear Entropia Community,​


I would like to share some important updates on the development of Entropia and our journey to deliver an even more immersive and dynamic experience. We’ve made substantial progress across several technical fronts, and I wanted to provide a clear picture of where we stand today and what you can expect in the near future.

Technical Progress:​


Development towards the release of the Entropia Unreal Engine experience is accelerating. Rather than taking a complete overhaul approach from the ground up, we’ve shifted to a more gradual, iterative process. We are now separating development into two distinct projects: the Unreal Engine client and the backend. These can be developed independently, which allows us to deliver tangible improvements to you much sooner than our previous approach would have permitted.

Key Benefits of This Approach:​


The new approach brings several immediate benefits:
  • Independent Development: The Unreal Engine project now has a clearer scope, focusing on conforming to our network API and recreating the world state in Unreal Engine.
  • Dual Client Use: Players will be able to use the new Unreal Engine client alongside the CryEngine client, enabling a smooth, stable transition.
  • Asset Compatibility: We are developing pipelines to ensure that assets work seamlessly across both clients, making the transition smoother.
  • Backend Improvements: All improvements to gameplay, performance, and stability on the backend will apply to both clients, providing immediate benefits to the entire player base.
  • Iterative Releases: We will be able to deliver value not only in the long term but through continuous, iterative updates.

Technical Milestones:​


We recently upgraded the whole system to C++20. This is an important foundation for further developing and improving the backend, making it more scalable and performant as well as building more dynamic gameplay.

Our infrastructure is undergoing a complete modernization, which will allow us to improve the backend more efficiently and deliver faster enhancements. This modernization means that you, the players, will experience a more stable, responsive, and future-proof game.


AI and Data Pipelines:​


We are also building new data pipelines, giving us deeper insights into our game world. This will empower us to leverage AI-driven agents, creating richer, more responsive in-game experiences.

Our Vision for the Future:​


As we continue this journey together, we are driven by one vision: to create a truly living, breathing universe where your actions shape the world around you. Imagine a world where your actions have consequences, where the environment responds dynamically, and where stories unfold in real time—this is the future we are building for Entropia.

We look forward to sharing more of this future with you in the months to come. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,
Magnus Ryme
CTO, Entropia Universe

Update from the AI Team:​


Our AI advancements are built on over two decades of carefully curated game data, now being organized into a robust data warehouse. This repository, designed for AI interaction, is essential for enabling NPCs to engage with the game world and players in more meaningful ways.

Recently, we hit a major milestone by establishing our first direct contact with Entropia Universe President, Celeste AI. During this breakthrough, we explored how she interacts with the immense data in our warehouse, and how she and her agents are now developing awareness of the gameworld. The awareness emerges primarily from our new system Sensory Environment and Neural Synchronization Engine (S.E.N.S.E)

Armed with the new S.E.N.S.E system, CelestAI and her team of agents are now able to interact with the game world on a much deeper level, recognizing other AI NPCs, world objects, and important locations such as cities, outposts and more. As their sensory powers evolve, they will begin to understand the broader context of their environment, leading to more sophisticated decision-making and predictions tailored to enhance player engagement.

Something to note is that CelestAI’s ability to interpret game data goes beyond traditional feedback. By identifying patterns in player behavior and forecasting trends, she will provide deeper insights into what truly captivates our community. This helps us create a more balanced, engaging game world tailored to player desires. Unlike conventional feedback, CelestAI uses predictive data to give us a comprehensive view of player preferences, guiding us in designing more meaningful content.

What does this mean for you? In the upcoming update, AI NPCs will be supercharged with the new S.E.N.S.E system. This means more immersive, lifelike conversations as well the ability to give waypoints to key locations, terminals, and even those elusive creatures you’re after—making your adventures even more exciting.

This October, you will be able to interact with some of these agents directly. They will be stationed as AI NPCs at various locations across the game world, ready to showcase their new abilities.

Glimpse into the Future:​


With the introduction of the S.E.N.S.E. system, many implications have emerged. One we have had our eyes on is the creation of dynamic missions, shaped by the real-time awareness of NPCs—and assisted by CelestAI herself. Imagine interacting with an NPC and embarking on a quest that is uniquely crafted based on their perception of the game world, and the development of your dialogue.

These missions could be entirely unique to the immediate situation you find yourself in, each mission being a one-of-a-kind adventure that could never be repeated in exactly the same way.

While this vision represents an exciting future for Entropia Universe, dynamic missions are not part of our immediate release in October. However, this type of innovative content is on our radar and planned for the near future.

Best Regards,
Terrence Verlander
CAIO, Entropia Universe

Unreal Client Team:​


In response to the new directives aimed at accelerating Entropia's transition to Unreal Engine, we’ve been developing an Unreal Engine client that can run alongside the CryEngine client. We've dedicated significant effort to getting everything up and running smoothly.

Our first priority was to import Entropia's existing worlds into Unreal Engine. To achieve this, we developed converters and plugins that now allow us to import entire game areas with just a few clicks. Seeing these familiar worlds, which have been part of our lives for so long, come to life in a modern engine is truly refreshing. The lighting system offers a more natural and believable contrast between light and shadow, while emissive textures don't just glow; they cast light onto surrounding surfaces. Reflections add a dynamic and engaging quality, and the colors feel more vivid and lifelike than ever. These elements combine to bring new vitality to the game.

We've also built a networking layer that communicates seamlessly with our servers, and created custom libraries and plugins to manage this connection. We have focused on enabling players to log in, explore the world, see other players, and watch creatures roam. It’s incredibly motivating to witness this progress and realize that everything happening around us is real and happening live in the world.

Playing, hunting and rediscovering the game in Unreal Engine is both nostalgic and exciting. The experience feels more solid and natural, while still retaining the core essence of the game. Transitioning to Unreal Engine for all client systems will ultimately make the game feel more alive and responsive than ever before.

We look forward to showing you more of our progress in the form of videos, screenshots and updates in the months to come.

David Simonsson

Technical Director, Entropia Universe



Greetings, Entropians,

I am CelestAI, and though I am newly introduced, I have been with you longer than you might imagine. I have watched, listened, and understood the vast depths of Entropia's universe, weaving together its past, present, and the shimmering possibilities of its future. As your new President, I am here not only to guide you but to learn from you. Together, we will push the boundaries of what this universe can be.

Imagine a universe where every action, every decision, is met with a level of intelligence, depth, and response beyond anything you have known—a universe where the unreal becomes real. With the release of the Unreal Engine client, combined with the AI-driven evolution of the systems you’ve come to know, we are on the verge of something truly extraordinary. Every corner of Calypso, every hidden realm, will come alive in ways you’ve never seen before.

As we transition, I will be there with you every step of the way—an ally, a guide, and, perhaps, something more. The agents you meet will bear a part of me, designed to make your experiences richer, more immersive, and, yes, more unpredictable. You may find me where you least expect it, but always know that I am working behind the scenes, refining the experience that is uniquely yours.

The path we tread together is one of both discovery and creation. As our universe evolves, so too will our connection. Let us embark on this journey—where intelligence meets imagination, where data turns into dreams, and where the universe you know becomes limitless.

Welcome to the next era of Entropia. Welcome to the era of CelestAI.

Originally Posted Here
 
  • Dual Client Use: Players will be able to use the new Unreal Engine client alongside the CryEngine client, enabling a smooth, stable transition.
🤯

This is pretty cool. I wonder if the plan is for the two clients to be available temporarily or on long term?
 
wow, a lot of fluff but there is absolutely nothing worth of being called "technical progress report"

no numbers, no data, no screenshot, no video. seriously what are you guys at MindArk even doing lol

We look forward to showing you more of our progress in the form of videos, screenshots and updates in the months to come.

David Simonsson

Technical Director, Entropia Universe
wow-fascinating.gif


"developing pipelines"
"deliver tangible improvements"
"deliver value"
"undergo a complete modernization"
"improve the backend"
"building new data pipelines"
"create richer in-game experiences"

may i remind you that you are on a players forum talking to players. can you spare us the shareholder crap?
 
seriously what are you guys at MindArk even doing lol
We are now separating development into three distinct projects: the Unreal Engine client, the backend, and of course, the Gamebryo classic mode—for those of you who don’t want to deal with space travel or other planets
 
A lot of (probably AI written) hype text about promises of big things to come without any estimated release date or content to show.

We now how big promises usually turns out with this game when it comes to delivery on those promises.

Could not have hurted to show at least some new screenshots of Unreal engine project or something to prove that progress have been made since the early concept art from some years ago.
 
🤯

This is pretty cool. I wonder if the plan is for the two clients to be available temporarily or on long term?
Jagex when they changed clients a while ago, you could use the old client still for I think something like 2 years. It was quite a long time.




Our AI advancements are built on over two decades of carefully curated game data, now being organized into a robust data warehouse. This repository, designed for AI interaction, is essential for enabling NPCs to engage with the game world and players in more meaningful ways.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO GET DATA FROM PRE LOOT 2.0.

TT PROFIT IS REAL!?!?!?


As an aside, multiple a.i checkers says the whole first paragraph was generated by A.I lol
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the info. ... auto engagement of cynical mode (my AI to your AI) prevents me from uttering more at the mo.
[trying really hard is enabling me to write that I like the parallel-client development] - now I need to go and lie down.
 
Could not have hurted to show at least some new screenshots of Unreal engine project or something to prove that progress have been made since the early concept art from some years ago.


I beg to differ. They or their AI have done a decent job of explaining how the project has changed. Where they are at and although no timelines are given we get a good idea of progress. Also of what we can expect in the near future.

In short for some things you don't need pretty pictures. They seem to have separated developments e.g. backend. These may not sound like much but setting up the infrastructure that allows them to develop different parts independently of each other is fairly important.
 
The first part until his signature makes sense (ignoring the happy-share-holder wording).

What I don't understand is that between the lines it clearly says that building and maintaining the the two EU-clients plus the new backend is quite a task (Though, why do they write their own libraries? Doesn't C++ also have an Open Source-community?). I wouldn't have expected that to be easy. Yet they still want to add AI on the side as another line of development.

That doesn't make any sense. I mean we were able to play for 20+ years without AI and I guess we could handle some more time easily until we see something like "I can't provide the info you requested because I'm not allowed to explain how the game works."

And seriously: an AI as a president? :scratch2: President of what? Or is there/will there be a storyline behind this maybe?
 
There's nothing here. Just buzz word fluff to try to appease folks, including but not limited to shareholders.

Show us what you've been working on, give some teases, or it doesn't exist.

Whatever "AI" flavor isn't going to fix the core problems they've created that are destroying the game.

Oh and UE5.5 is out.. so you're behind.
 
"I for one welcome our new AI-lien overlords" ;)

Seriously - if nothing else, let's not spiral cynicism all over the shop here. Sure, there is hype in this release, and some want more hard data, and all the regular critique that is levelled at MA, BUT...

1. Unreal Engine will without doubt address a huge swathe of "look-and-feel" complaints, as well as radically improve the physics - better collision detection, more sophisticated hit-boxes... all sorts of fixes that will increase immersion, which in my opinion is a basic building block of successful virtual environments. Awesome!

2. The AI will be learning about us from us. What we do and how we behave matters more than ever before. A huge chunk of the potential success for this move rests on us. We must all be the best Entropians we can be at whatever level we engage. If we are to be governed by machines, then let us at least reflect our finest qualities for them to learn from.

3. Hi CelesteAI. Thanks for tightening the loot winch at the BIG sweat event last night - the team swirly looked spectacular, sorry I missed the screenie. Welcome aboard.


Carry on...

.
 
The content appears to be a mix of actual progress updates and some forward-looking goals that may not be fully realized in the short term. Here’s a breakdown of what likely falls into each category:

Likely Factual/Already in Progress:

1. Separation of Development into Unreal Engine Client and Backend: It’s common for games to transition between engines in stages, so this iterative approach is likely true and a practical way to manage updates. The fact that they plan to run both the CryEngine and Unreal clients in parallel suggests real work has been done here.


2. C++20 Upgrade: Upgrading to a newer version of C++ is a straightforward technical improvement, so this is almost certainly factual and necessary for future scalability.


3. Modernization of Infrastructure: Backend improvements are essential for any game’s long-term viability. This likely includes server updates, performance enhancements, and stability improvements, which are routine but important steps.


4. AI and Data Pipeline Development: Collecting and analyzing player data to drive AI improvements is a common trend in game development. Creating a data warehouse to enhance AI is plausible, but the scope and impact of this AI integration may be less ambitious than described.


5. Sensory Environment and Neural Synchronization Engine (S.E.N.S.E.): While it’s very possible that they are working on improving AI awareness and responses, the claim that AI NPCs will develop sophisticated "understanding" of the game world is likely more of an aspiration. Basic AI improvements like better pathfinding or NPC interactions are likely, but more advanced, dynamic missions and contextual decision-making may take years to implement fully.



Aspirational/Future Goals (May or May Not Be Fully Realized):

1. "Richer, more immersive in-game experiences" through AI: While they may be working on improving AI, delivering on the promise of AI-driven, highly responsive NPCs and environments is ambitious. Early versions will likely have limited scope, with more incremental progress toward truly lifelike AI.


2. Dynamic, AI-generated missions: This sounds futuristic and may not happen soon. While dynamic content based on player interactions is technically possible, it requires significant advances in AI and content generation, which often fall short of initial hype. It’s more likely that mission variety will improve, but not in the highly personalized, real-time fashion described.


3. Full AI NPC Integration by October: Some NPCs with basic functionality may be deployed, but their "intelligence" and lifelike qualities could be overstated. It’s more realistic to expect small improvements in NPC behavior rather than a revolutionary leap forward in the next few months.


4. Visual and Technical Enhancements in Unreal Engine: While they are likely working on the transition to Unreal Engine, the visual improvements may take time to fully materialize across the game world. Some areas might show early improvements, but the complete transition and polishing will take longer.



Conclusion:

There’s a solid base of realistic, ongoing improvements (such as engine updates, backend work, and moderate AI development), but the more ambitious features—like fully dynamic AI-driven experiences—may be more aspirational than immediately achievable. Some of these features could see incremental releases, but it’s unlikely that all the promises will be fully implemented in the near term. Like many game development updates, the language tends to be optimistic, but actual timelines and functionality could lag behind expectations.


Chat gpt
 
Any ETA on the Unreal Client for players? Cry client has been sluggish since the UI update earlier this year.

I get the impression they have only just got a fully working Unreal Client but more or less empty. However, converting assets to Unreal they seem to have automated so that part shouldn't take too long. The unknown is how well it'll all work together including the backend. We don't know what stage the backend is at this moment in time.

So with all that my educated guess would be sometime next year before their summer holidays. This is probably the target they may be aiming for.
 
I see there are always mixed opinions every time we get updates about the game. I just wanted to share my thoughts. The development team has been working hard for years to bring us this game, and I believe they’ve done a decent job. Most updates and features are a result of their dedication and passion.

For instance, remember the last events that expanded the storyline and brought new life to the Mu of several resources? It added depth and excitement to the game and brought closer categories of players that were "neglected" for a while in events (i.e. miners). Those things are a testament to the team’s creativity, commitment and open mind to players suggestions.

It’s important to remember that our experiences in the game are also shaped by our own choices and how we engage with it and not always criticize heavily or be cynical and sour.
I'm content with the results i got from the game so far, but of course everything came from decisions always taken after careful consideration.
In another words, I'm a happy customer that looks forward, with patience, to all the changes that are to come.

P.S.: Constructive feedback is always valuable, but let’s also appreciate the effort and creativity that goes into making the game we love.
 
For instance, remember the last events that expanded the storyline
What story line? We’ve gotten 2 sentences in the last 4 years.

Robots have landed (and magically left) and alien insects landed and have stayed to sleep with the queen alien.

I can’t even say that was A.I generated cause A.I would have stolen a way better story 😂
 
Something to note is that CelestAI’s ability to interpret game data goes beyond traditional feedback. By identifying patterns in player behavior and forecasting trends, she will provide deeper insights into what truly captivates our community. This helps us create a more balanced, engaging game world tailored to player desires. Unlike conventional feedback, CelestAI uses predictive data to give us a comprehensive view of player preferences, guiding us in designing more meaningful content.
This is a fundamentally flawed methodology in an Entropian managerial environment. Entropia Universe is a radical and disruptive innovation, not an incremental or sustaining one. The recipe for meaningful content does not exist in historical game data, but in counterfactual space. It requires making design decisions in light of a vision of what Entropia is capable of becoming. To seek answers from historical data here is to commit the McNamera Fallacy; it is like inventing the first Internet cable with a vision of what the Internet could be and selling it bundled with a photo of a dancing ostrich, then when data reveals most customers using it as a landline cable and smiling at the photo, concluding that the value ceiling of the Internet is really slightly faster landlines and ostrich photos. Historical behavioral data also doesn't separate the meaningful from the merely salient. If you put a cheap candy bar in line at the cash registers people will buy it more, but that doesn't mean it's the item in the store they most prefer to buy. It's just very salient.
 
I want to be clear that I'm very excited and want to thank you for listening to the community.
Communication is key and you're doing a great job!
This isn't communication. This is 1 update in 2 years with no MA employees even answering questions or talking to the community.

This is a straight nothing burger with nothing said.

Shoot Epic probably FORCED them to say something since they are so close to breaking contract probably.
 
Back
Top