The latest update for Power Network Tycoon, version 0.9.005, has been released, delivering a suite of quality-of-life improvements, interface refinements, and critical bug fixes. This patch focuses on enhancing the player experience across several key areas, from core power management systems to controller accessibility.
A significant portion of the update addresses the behavior of capacitor banks. These crucial components have received fixes related to reactive power allocation management. The adjustments also cover their return logic upon disconnection and their transition between off-peak and on-peak states. Additionally, a visual improvement now shows a tick movement when a player mouses over a supply substation, providing clearer feedback.
Controller users gain substantial new functionality. The developers have added a gamepad wheel, activated by the L1 or Left Bumper button, to streamline the process of building assets. Control over game speed has also been refined for gamepad play. The R1 or Right Bumper button now toggles game speed, replacing the previous system which used separate buttons for speeding up and slowing down.
Several user interface enhancements aim to improve clarity and planning. The Finance panel now displays "Daily Income" and "Daily Maintenance" costs, giving players better tools for long-term budgetary strategy. Visually, most UI panels and buttons have been given a drop-shadow effect, contributing to a more polished look. Navigation within certain UI elements, like the regulator panel, has been improved specifically for gamepad users. The sensitivity of scroll bars has also been reduced for finer control.
Key gameplay mechanics have seen thoughtful tweaks. The method for connecting solar panels, wind turbines, or grid batteries using a shortcut (holding Ctrl) has been revised. The game now intelligently selects the nearest inverter with the least existing connections, rather than simply the closest one. This change helps prevent players from accidentally overloading a single inverter during rapid construction. Furthermore, when making such a connection, floating text briefly appears to confirm the target inverter and its current load percentage.
Technical and balance adjustments round out the patch. The minimum power value required to close a circuit breaker when energizing a nuclear reactor has been lowered from 450MW to 400MW, making the startup process more forgiving. An event trigger related to black starts has been fixed. Previously, running out of oil and then purchasing more would not initiate a black start if only power generators were supplying the grid. This logic has been corrected. Changes have also been made to the community notice "Improved Power Quality," affecting its pricing and doubling its duration.
The update resolves a collection of persistent bugs. These fixes address an erroneous issues flag appearing on substations when no problems were present, street lights incorrectly staying on during daylight hours, and a camera movement stutter that could occur when changing the game speed while moving the view.
