• We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.

Console Edition Development Diary #64 - First Milestone Update

Hello all,

My name is Rachel, and I am the Associate Producer for the Stellaris Console Porting Project at Behavior. We are the team that brought you Toxoids, and we are now scaling up the team to tackle the First Contact and Galactic Paragons DLC’s and all the free updates between 3.5 and 3.9. This is quite the challenge, and we wanted to give the community some insight on what is needed for this to be done.

This is our first Dev Diary, and we wanted to set some pillars on how they are going to happen going forward. The Dev Diaries will happen at semi-regular intervals, but will mostly align with our internal milestone deliverables. We will work hard to give you all a peek behind the scenes, and let you see how the project is progressing. We might show screenshots of the new UI we are testing, how we are implementing new features to work on a controller, or discuss the limitations of working on a closed system versus an open platform like the PC.

So what have we delivered this time around?

The main tasks we have been focusing between the delivery of Toxoids and now planning and investigating the new content. We have also been onboarding new people to the project.
We have been going through the game and looking at all the changes done between 3.5 and 3.9 and making sure to document this as work that needs to be done when we start building the console part of it. This is especially important if there is a new UI or player options. We are also going back and checking all the new assets to make sure that we have resolutions that are required for the console port.

Example:

settings audit 3.png

Yeah, this might be difficult to bring over

We are also setting up the pipeline for builds, so we can produce new builds at a regular pace for testing and development.

What is the current status of the 3.9 build?

Currently, the changes from 3.5 -> 3.9 have been merged into our Console Edition build. That is to say, all the PC code is there. Now that all the PC code is there, the next steps will be to implement the UI from 3.9 and make all the new features and buttons work correctly in Console code. We are currently in the process of disabling features and UI until we can get the game to load to the main menu on both platforms, so we can then begin implementing and turning the new features on.

So what is next?

In the upcoming dev logs we will start showing some more examples of things that we are doing. We will try to avoid being too ‘inside baseball’ on the game production aspect of it, but our hope is that we can share more of the actual parts of the process needed to get Stellaris to run on a console.

We’re excited to be working on the game and look forward to bringing you more updates as time goes on!
 
  • 28Like
  • 2
Reactions:
Hello all,

My name is Rachel, and I am the Associate Producer for the Stellaris Console Porting Project at Behavior. We are the team that brought you Toxoids, and we are now scaling up the team to tackle the First Contact and Galactic Paragons DLC’s and all the free updates between 3.5 and 3.9. This is quite the challenge, and we wanted to give the community some insight on what is needed for this to be done.

This is our first Dev Diary, and we wanted to set some pillars on how they are going to happen going forward. The Dev Diaries will happen at semi-regular intervals, but will mostly align with our internal milestone deliverables. We will work hard to give you all a peek behind the scenes, and let you see how the project is progressing. We might show screenshots of the new UI we are testing, how we are implementing new features to work on a controller, or discuss the limitations of working on a closed system versus an open platform like the PC.

So what have we delivered this time around?

The main tasks we have been focusing between the delivery of Toxoids and now planning and investigating the new content. We have also been onboarding new people to the project.
We have been going through the game and looking at all the changes done between 3.5 and 3.9 and making sure to document this as work that needs to be done when we start building the console part of it. This is especially important if there is a new UI or player options. We are also going back and checking all the new assets to make sure that we have resolutions that are required for the console port.

Example:

View attachment 1077167
Yeah, this might be difficult to bring over

We are also setting up the pipeline for builds, so we can produce new builds at a regular pace for testing and development.

What is the current status of the 3.9 build?

Currently, the changes from 3.5 -> 3.9 have been merged into our Console Edition build. That is to say, all the PC code is there. Now that all the PC code is there, the next steps will be to implement the UI from 3.9 and make all the new features and buttons work correctly in Console code. We are currently in the process of disabling features and UI until we can get the game to load to the main menu on both platforms, so we can then begin implementing and turning the new features on.

So what is next?

In the upcoming dev logs we will start showing some more examples of things that we are doing. We will try to avoid being too ‘inside baseball’ on the game production aspect of it, but our hope is that we can share more of the actual parts of the process needed to get Stellaris to run on a console.

We’re excited to be working on the game and look forward to bringing you more updates as time goes on!
Thanks so much, Rachel. To you and everyone assisting you. Difficult but appreciated work!
 
I have a question for developers? Do you really want to leave us with this version of the game until the end of the year?! there is no such thing as optimization in this game... the game is completely unplayable!! How can you take money from people for a product that does not work at all as it should?! do you have any plans to improve the optimization and smoothness of the game?!
 
I have a question for developers? Do you really want to leave us with this version of the game until the end of the year?! there is no such thing as optimization in this game... the game is completely unplayable!! How can you take money from people for a product that does not work at all as it should?! do you have any plans to improve the optimization and smoothness of the game?!
Its better than ck3, which isn’t saying much. But even with 10 empires on a large galaxy with 3 fallen empires and 2 marauders and normal options otherwise, I really don’t have any issues beyond trying to run the speed on high with 1m+ in ships fighting inside of a single system.
In those situations i just slow down the speed to get through it.
I’m really not seeing the crashes (luckily) others complain about. Im on a Series X and sometimes play on cloud for reference.
 
  • 1Like
Reactions:
Its better than ck3, which isn’t saying much. But even with 10 empires on a large galaxy with 3 fallen empires and 2 marauders and normal options otherwise, I really don’t have any issues beyond trying to run the speed on high with 1m+ in ships fighting inside of a single system.
In those situations i just slow down the speed to get through it.
I’m really not seeing the crashes (luckily) others complain about. Im on a Series X and sometimes play on cloud for reference.
I play on PlayStation... there is no version for PlayStation 5, only for PlayStation 4, but it is definitely an improved version of the game for PlayStation 5. However, optimization is completely non-existent in this version, I play in very similar settings that you write about. As soon as I cross the year 2250 and discover most of the empires, the drama begins. when you cross each month there is a lag, to the extent that sometimes I have to click three times to build a building, not to mention automatic saving... don't get me wrong, I appreciate the number of changes in the new version but the way this game works is simply not acceptable. Additionally, the news that another patch improving the game's smoothness will most likely appear at the end of the year does not improve the whole situation, especially after what has already happened with this game on consoles over the last year. In short, I don't think the player base will be able to sustain all this for long.
 
I play on PlayStation... there is no version for PlayStation 5, only for PlayStation 4, but it is definitely an improved version of the game for PlayStation 5. However, optimization is completely non-existent in this version, I play in very similar settings that you write about. As soon as I cross the year 2250 and discover most of the empires, the drama begins. when you cross each month there is a lag, to the extent that sometimes I have to click three times to build a building, not to mention automatic saving... don't get me wrong, I appreciate the number of changes in the new version but the way this game works is simply not acceptable. Additionally, the news that another patch improving the game's smoothness will most likely appear at the end of the year does not improve the whole situation, especially after what has already happened with this game on consoles over the last year. In short, I don't think the player base will be able to sustain all this for long.
Thats a shame, sorry to hear that. I did boot it up on my old xbox one awhile back and it was admittedly abysmal, though I expected that.
The unfortunate reality is barring the abandonment of the older gen, I don’t think they’ll get to an optimal version, especially as they continue to expand.
 
  • 1Like
Reactions:
I play on PlayStation... there is no version for PlayStation 5, only for PlayStation 4, but it is definitely an improved version of the game for PlayStation 5. However, optimization is completely non-existent in this version, I play in very similar settings that you write about. As soon as I cross the year 2250 and discover most of the empires, the drama begins. when you cross each month there is a lag, to the extent that sometimes I have to click three times to build a building, not to mention automatic saving... don't get me wrong, I appreciate the number of changes in the new version but the way this game works is simply not acceptable. Additionally, the news that another patch improving the game's smoothness will most likely appear at the end of the year does not improve the whole situation, especially after what has already happened with this game on consoles over the last year. In short, I don't think the player base will be able to sustain all this for long.
It is markedly faster on PS5. There is some slow down by 2250+ but it is not as bad as what PS4 users are describing.
 
It is markedly faster on PS5. There is some slow down by 2250+ but it is not as bad as what PS4 users are describing.
I play on PlayStation 5, I played on PlayStation 4. I have been playing Stellaris practically from the very beginning in the console version. I've never seen such poor optimization... I don't even want to think what PS4 players feel.
 
I play on PlayStation 5, I played on PlayStation 4. I have been playing Stellaris practically from the very beginning in the console version. I've never seen such poor optimization... I don't even want to think what PS4 players feel.
hmm, kinda think it has more to do with the nature of the type of game. Sid Meier's Civilization series games on PC, turn based, man alive, they're awful too once you get into the game. And they're all bad.. the last as bad as the first.
 
Last edited:
hmm, kinda think it has more to do with the nature of the type of game. Civilization games on PC, turn based, man alive, they're awful too once you get into the game.
perhaps, but in my opinion it does not change the fact that the game in this condition should not be left for so long to players who bought it and cannot or do not want to play it due to its technical condition. In my opinion, if I pay for something, I should receive a satisfactory product, but from what we know, further improvements will probably appear only at the end of the year.
 
perhaps, but in my opinion it does not change the fact that the game in this condition should not be left for so long to players who bought it and cannot or do not want to play it due to its technical condition. In my opinion, if I pay for something, I should receive a satisfactory product, but from what we know, further improvements will probably appear only at the end of the year.
I haven't had any problem with the game at all, for me the game runs as smooth as butter, no lag until the end game events happen, and even then it's laughable compared to other games I play, but some mechanics of the game should be updated.
 
  • 2Like
  • 1
Reactions:
I haven't had any problem with the game at all, for me the game runs as smooth as butter, no lag until the end game events happen, and even then it's laughable compared to other games I play, but some mechanics of the game should be updated.
Same here... I'm even playing on PS5 Portal Remote and it's fine.
 
  • 1Like
  • 1
Reactions:
Hey,
As first thank you, just wanted to get attention on an sort of problem a lot of paradox multiplayer games with several game saves have. It makes the game unplayable and I really don’t know why.

I posted a support ticket to that and in the Forums. The problem is after a certain time when you play every player gets kicked out after someone want to rejoin. It happens in Crusader Kings III and in Stellaris. This issue makes the game unplayable and k experienced it, we had a long server with a lot of progress but then it started to lag and the CE Errors just spammed us out of this saved game.

I hope if you work for Stellaris 3.9 u can manage to look at the problem and maybe solve it or make clear what is the problem.
 
  • 1Like
Reactions:
Why the devs change the number of AI empires same numbers of PC?
don't worry, even if you start with 8 empires, over time you will get about 20... a few times I even had about 30 after 50-100 years of playing. By the way, I'm wondering about one thing - the quick jump from version 3.5 to 3.9, the change of the studio responsible for the console version of the game, and a whole year of time to complete the task... is the PS5 version finally coming? ;)
 
I play on PlayStation 5, I played on PlayStation 4. I have been playing Stellaris practically from the very beginning in the console version. I've never seen such poor optimization... I don't even want to think what PS4 players feel.
I've played the game on both a base PS4 and a Pro and it plays pretty great most of the time on the regular system, only freezing a bit very late game on one, but it happens pretty rarely and it didn't really bother me...

On PS4 Pro however even late game, it plays perfectly with no issues :) .
 
  • 1
Reactions:
Hmmm this is a message promoting content we cant buy here on PSN while not even giving us the content we have already paid for like First Contact. When should we expect to recieve the content we've already paid for?

Can we get an update on REAL relevent issues, please?
 
I've played the game on both a base PS4 and a Pro and it plays pretty great most of the time on the regular system, only freezing a bit very late game on one, but it happens pretty rarely and it didn't really bother me...

On PS4 Pro however even late game, it plays perfectly with no issues :) .
how can you write such things when even the developers posted such information recently...

"And finally, we would like to apologize for the poor quality of the Expansion Pass Six and Toxoids Species Pack launch, and for the poor communication around whether or not these issues would be addressed.

Thank you for your patience, and thank you for playing Stellaris: Console Edition."
 
how can you write such things when even the developers posted such information recently...

"And finally, we would like to apologize for the poor quality of the Expansion Pass Six and Toxoids Species Pack launch, and for the poor communication around whether or not these issues would be addressed.

Thank you for your patience, and thank you for playing Stellaris: Console Edition."
Well to be honest, I haven't installed expansion six, with the most recent one I bought being five, having last play the game about six months ago, so maybe having that installed introduced more bugs and instabilities than before!...

(Indeed I could never find the recent expansions on sale and they're too expensive at their regular price!)

But overall, I have played lots of the game and indeed with it pretty loaded with content and as said, it was fine most of the time with any freezing rare and only on the base PS4 late game :) .
 
não se preocupe, mesmo se você começar com 8 impérios, com o tempo você terá cerca de 20... algumas vezes eu até tive cerca de 30 depois de 50-100 anos jogando. A propósito, estou pensando em uma coisa - o salto rápido da versão 3.5 para 3.9, a mudança do estúdio responsável pela versão do jogo para console e um ano inteiro para completar a tarefa... é o Versão PS5 finalmente chegando?;)

don't worry, even if you start with 8 empires, over time you will get about 20... a few times I even had about 30 after 50-100 years of playing. By the way, I'm wondering about one thing - the quick jump from version 3.5 to 3.9, the change of the studio responsible for the console version of the game, and a whole year of time to complete the task... is the PS5 version finally coming? ;)
I play on Xbox and I'm going to switch from Xbox One to Series X/S. Could I run the same number of Empires as the PC on the new consoles?