Introduction
Solarus, the open-source 2D game engine, has finally unveiled its much-anticipated version 2.0.0. This release marks a significant leap forward in the engine’s capabilities and user experience, promising to improve the way developers create and players enjoy 2D games.
The journey to Solarus 2.0.0 has been one of dedication and community effort. For the last 4 years, the Solarus team and its vibrant community worked tirelessly to integrate new features and stabilize the engine.
New Features and Improvements
Solarus 2.0.0 introduces a plethora of new cool features that make it even more ready for free or commercial game development:
Multiplayer Support: For the first time, Solarus offers built-in multiplayer capabilities, allowing developers to create cooperative and competitive multiplayer experiences with ease. You can now have multiple heroes, on one or multiple maps, with one or multiple cameras, simultaneously!
Enhanced Audio API: The new audio features provide more control and flexibility, enabling richer and more immersive soundscapes in games, such as audio spatialization.
New Gamepad API: The gamepad API has been rethought and now supports much more gamepads and functionnalities, including the rumble!
Stability and Performance: Extensive testing and bug fixing have resulted in a more stable and performant engine, ensuring a smoother development process and better gameplay experience.
New Launcher: The launcher has been remade from scratch, aiming to streamline the process of discovering, downloading, and updating Solarus games. These features will be added in future minor releases.
Q.O.L Improvements for the Editor: The editor got a huge look n’feel overhaul, now displaying a sleek and modern interface, thanks to the use of the Qlementine library and SVG icons. It also got very handy tools such as grouping elements on a map, or resizing tile patterns, and, last but not least: you can now run the current map immediately!
New Documentation Website: The documentation website now uses Material for MkDocs for everything, from Lua API to Quest Files Specifications. It should be easier to navigate and find what you need to make your game!
The full changelogs are available here:
Thanks to the Community
The success of Solarus 2.0.0 is a testament to the strength of its community. From contributing to engine improvements to creating resource packs and new games, the community’s involvement has been instrumental. Notably, the documentation migration would not have been possible without the help of two young contributors who made an outstanding job!
We want to thank everyone who have contributed to the project: game engine gurus, CI wizards who work in the shadows but are essential, resource packs maestros, documentation scribes and all the game developers who use Solarus and make this project more alive than ever!
Final Words
The release of Solarus 2.0.0 is more than just an update; it’s a celebration of the open-source spirit and our community. As the engine continues to evolve, it opens new horizons for developers and gamers alike, paving the way for innovative and captivating 2D gaming experiences. The future of Solarus shines bright!
Stay tuned for more updates and join the Solarus community to be part of this exciting adventure in open-source gaming.
Again, thank you everyone, and have fun making games!