Emperor of the Fading Suns New Build and Turn-Based Thursday Fest

EFSe is part of Steam’s Turn-Based Thursday Fest, and we have released version 1.52e of the game to celebrate!

1.52e Changelog

• Steam workshop integration: mod descriptions are now preserved, and modders can now include preview images (preview.jpg in mod directory)

• Implemented fixes for cargo handling

• Unit cargo capacity is now displayed in the interface

• Fixed a regression causing automatic rejections of some diplomatic contracts

• Fixed a bug with air units running out of fuel prematurely

• Fix bug with towing units and cargo

• Fixed the Linux launcher so it can start from a different directory

• Right clicking on a space group containing hidden units now behaves correctly

Phoenix Mod 1.3 Changelog (also includes 1.20, 1.21)

Technology

• Increased maximum Like Level cap to 100
• Added new Structure Technology category
• All structures now have dedicated technologies with proper descriptions
• Apothecary now requires Regenerative Biology (formerly Hospital tech) —

Units & Recruitment

• Stealth War Marshal camouflage increased to 20 (matching Rangers)
• Star Carriers are no longer medics and now serve carrier-only roles
• Naval Replenishment Ships are now healers (as originally intended)
Militia • Can now be built anywhere
• Can only be built by houses (AI and human alike) • Bulldozers can now only be built in Districts
• Fixed graphical issues on several units —

Economy

• Reduced price of Monopols
• Reduced price of Reactors —

AI

• Independents (Rebels) can now produce units —

Galaxy

Starting Units

Reworked starting units to: • Better communicate unit variants to players
• Reinforce correct perception of unit roles
• Rebalanced star terrain to support new negative sect healing mechanics
• Star routes adjusted for improved flow and balance
• Starting star assets massively reworked

New System: New Mariana

• Added New Mariana (formerly Vril-Ya)
• Handcrafted shared start system
• Designed for slow progression gameplay
• Initially inaccessible from the rest of known space

Starting Setup Changes

• All factions now receive starting resources on Byzantium and New Mariana
• Added Logistics Truck to all B2 starting setups
• Ministry starting units massively overhauled
• Rebels now begin with star units in select locations
• Added various minor unit placements across the galaxy

Map Changes

• Criticorum replaced with Lyssar, a handcrafted rebel-controlled city planet with extensive infrastructure
• Removed Rebels over Pandemonium
• Fixed another hidden Symbiot homeworld star zone —

Misc

• Added experimental Manowiz tutorial system (early/barebones)
• Main menu adjusted — galaxy must now be selected manually
• Asteroid graphics updated to be more striking and compatible with future variants —

Bug Fixes

• Fixed Empty Planet bug caused by incorrect duplication of another planet

Feb. 2, 2026 EFSe Update

The latest update not only fixes a couple bugs and adds quality of life improvements, but it also provides a significant overhaul for the Phoenix mod we introduced last year. Phoenix is a great example of what modders can do with the game tools.

EFSe Changes

  • Added UI symbols for towing and for being tower (towING and towED)
  • Fix a problem with missed payments preventing ending a turn
  • Sect change timers should now be correct
  • Phoenix mod updates will arrivein it’s own section in a bit
  • Units with negative healing (only in mods) will disappear if 0 hp

Phoenix Mod Changes

  • Fixed text spasming issues.
  • Corrected infantry movement cost on mountains (now +1 instead of +2).
  • Set voting units to the correct owner faction (55 instead of 1000).
  • Passed over tech.dat to correct and clean up technology descriptions.
  • Added several missing artwork assets.

Technology

  • STRBuild tech updated to match vanilla behavior.
  • Gunship now requires Hovertech instead of Energy Physics.
  • Energy Physics now unlocks Attack Helicopters instead; tech description updated accordingly.
  • Hover Infantry now correctly requires Hovertech.
  • Dervishes are now built in Institutes and still require Academician.
  • Renamed Old Scientist to Mad Scientist; now requires Scientist (still not buildable).
  • Sensor Ships now require Scientist.
  • Void Citadels now require Scientist.

Naval & Space Unit Balance

  • Naval Cruiser movement increased to 9 (from 2).
  • Naval Cruiser build time increased to 4 turns (from 2).
  • Naval Attack Transport movement increased 7 → 8.
  • Barge movement increased 1 → 3.
  • Re-added Star Supply Ship (mobile healer)
  • Reduced Star Fighter weapon strength.
  • Reduced Star Torpedo Fighter armor.
  • Freighters and bulk haulers are now more resistant to strikecraft.
  • Freighter cargo reduced 9 → 8 (better synergy with bulk haulers).
  • Fast Freighter cargo reduced 5 → 4 (logistical rounding, rule-of-half consistency).
  • Most armored vehicles now use 9 movement as a baseline.

Terrain, Movement & Logistics

  • Removed camouflage penalty for vehicles and amphibious units over oceans.
  • Significantly increased starlane connectivity.
  • Massively expanded starlane connections further.
  • Star terrain rebalanced to improve cutoff mechanics.
  • Added river near B2 Hawkwood Starport and District to allow transfers.
  • Added substantial additional carrying capacity across the game.

Galaxy

  • New Galaxy Map Layout
  • Transferred ownership of Imperial Guard assets on Stigmata to the Garrison.
  • Removed Void Citadel on B2, replaced with a Stardock assigned to the fleet.
  • Removed Sceptor on Leminkainen.
  • Added missing Church to Li Halan homeworld.
  • All homeworlds now start with additional troops.
  • Stealth War Marshals can now attack on B2.
  • Strengthened Absolution Rebels to survive longer against the Symbiot.

AI & Balance

  • Barred AI from producing certain upgrades to prevent excessive spam.

EFSe 1.52c Changelog

Steam Workshop Integration and GOG Mod Launcher

This has been one of the features most requested by Emperor of the Fading Suns players and modders, and now you can access EFS mods quickly and easily from the game launcher. The launcher also gives you access to our EFSe map editor.

When you select “Play” in Steam or on GOG, you start the new launcher. If you select “Play” in the launcher with no mods selected, you will select the classic version of the game. You also have the ability to select mods. If on Steam, you can select from mods stored on your computer or in the Steam Workshop. If on GOG, you can select from mods on your computer, though we are working with GOG to upload mods there as well.

Phoenix Mod Shipped with Game

You can select the Phoenix mod in the new launcher and try out a very different version of Emperor of the Fading Suns. Enjoy!

Other Enhancements

  • Improved how AI factions handle lab building 
  • Patriach death interval is now randomized 
  • The AI uses the House sliders (taxes, tithe) more effectively
  • Fixed a problem when the game failed to load correct images
  • Players can no longer accept multiple contracts for the same vote 
  • Players now receive messages when accepting or rejecting contracts
  • Structures take collateral damage during combat and bombardments
  • On the message screen, messages players have selected and read are displayed in a darker color 
  • Hitting Esc on Byzantium II no longer interferes with ministry assignments 
  • Corrected how cities consumed food with Universal Warehouse set to off
  • Group Finder fixed to handle end of turn correctly 
  • Adjusted the House screen to prevent overflows with large numbers 
  • Added various tooltips, mostly related to sect bonuses 
  • Fixed a problem with failed loans being paid multiple times 
  • Fixed issue with difficulty settings not being applied correctly in some cases
  • Fixed various Map editor issues

Modding

  • Allows modders to set a units cargo capacity to 16. The classic game still caps storage at four units
  • The maximum number of rounds in a combat are now moddable 
  • Max resource pod capacity is now 9999 
  • Corrected how wide menus align themselves (modded games only) 

Steam Workshop Support in EFSe

The Emperor of the Fading Suns team is very happy announce that Steam Workshop integration launched today! This has been one of the features most requested by Emperor of the Fading Suns players and modders, and now you can access EFS mods quickly and easily from the game launcher. When you download the latest Steam version of the game and select “Play” in Steam, you will get the option to launch the base game or the new launcher.

If you select the launcher, you can then select “Mods”, which will show not only the mods you have installed locally (the game now ships with two) but also mods in Steam Workshop. You can select one of these to play and then, from the launcher screen, select play to try that mod. We have also added Map Editor access to the launcher. You can see a brief video on the new launcher at https://youtube.com/live/oLCB9e3WVIA?feature=share

PLEASE NOTE: HDI has no control over the content that modders put on the Steam Workshop (or anywhere else). As per the game’s EULA, we can make no warranty regarding mods, and you try new mods at your own risk. Mod responsibly!

We have also added a one-click mod launcher to the GOG version of the game. However, since GOG does not have the same Workshop functionality of Steam, it works differently. We have added a “launcher” folder to your EFSe files. If you select the “launcher” app, it opens the same launcher you get in Steam. However, there are currently no EFSe mods on GOG, so you only have the option to launch the two that ship with the game. We hope to see EFSe mods on GOG soon.

The two mods that ship with EFSe are Legacy and Phoenix. Legacy is essentially the 1.4 version of EFS (the pre-enhanced game). While it uses all the Enhanced functionality, the base game is the 1.4 version. Phoenix is a new mod by one of our veteran modders, and we hope you enjoy giving it a try.

Please let us know if you have any problems using this new launcher, and what mods you enjoy playing – or plan to create yourself! You can get the game at https://store.steampowered.com/app/2799350/Emperor_of_the_Fading_Suns_Enhanced/ and https://www.gog.com/en/game/emperor_of_the_fading_suns