The Downloads page has been updated and the nightly builds (Windows and Linux!) are now generated by Github Actions. Now the build process is open for anyone to maintain, there’s a reference for package maintainers, and any mod and fork can make their own builds easily. Plus if something catastrophic happens, you’ll always have a mirror.

Some important changes to note:

• The Data Patch is now included with OpenXcom. You no longer need to worry about when to install it, update it, overwriting original files, etc. We’ve also moved it to Github so you can report any issues or changes there. If you’re compiling it yourself you still need to download it separately, but just stick it in your “bin” folder and you’re good to go.
• The Transifex translations are working again as well. If you need a version more recent than the one in the builds, just grab them from Github Actions.

By popular request, the Windows nightlies now include an installer version as well. Now you no longer have to deal with boring old manually copying files, and get to beta-test an extra piece of software as well! I realize this might make some documentation obsolete, but not like you were reading it anyways.

Also my legal council would like me to remind you to not install a nightly on top of 1.0. The consequences to the universe might be catastrophic. Just uninstall 1.0 if you’re going that route, you’re likely not going back to it.

After losing (or maybe even winning) the game over and over, you ever wondered how well you actually did?

Because I’m nothing if not shameless in stealing other games’ good ideas. 😛

Possibly one of the longest-running OpenXcom code mods is Soldier Diaries / Commendations, which keeps detailed stats of all your missions, allowing you to revisit your successes and failures anytime you want. Mostly failures.

However, being a separate branch meant it always trailed behind the official version, leading to many old bugs, compatibility problems and installation difficulties keeping players from trying it out. But no longer! Soldier Diaries has now been integrated into the official version, so now everyone can crack open the spreadsheets and write fanfics about their soldiers.

Given our current in-between releases, there’s been a lot of questions regarding nightlies and mods and what goes where and etc, so hopefully this will help you out: https://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Installation_FAQ_(OpenXcom)

It’s intentionally dumbed down and not meant to be exhaustive documentation covering every single possible setup and platform (that’s what the rest of the wiki is for).

So what’s been going on in the frontier? Well, now that TFTD is getting nice and stable, we’re taking the time to look at all the feature requests and improvements we had to put off because we were too busy with TFTD. 😛 This particular request has been in hibernation for over a year:

Can’t wait? Try the nightlies!

In addition, I’ve been playing underling for a change, and helping out the fine folks at OpenApoc. Check out the latest progress report. I contributed a whole 3 seconds of footage in there!

Like what you see? Then you should join the project! They could use all the help they can get.

Finally, Extra Life is coming this weekend! The yearly event where people stream games to raise money for charity, and we’ll be joining in as usual. I’ll be streaming this Saturday, 6th November, so subscribe to watch me be terrible at videogames (mostly X-COM) or to ask us anything, including “what’s the deal with aiming? are you really a robot? why isn’t TFTD out yet?”.
I’ll also be attending Lisboa Games Week the next day (I know you portuguese are out there!) if I don’t die of games overload first.

Sometimes you just gotta learn to let go. Make sacrifices. Leave old friends behind. Move on. But other times…

You can load your original X-Com saves once more.