Loric Games and Snail Games USA released Update 0.18 for Echoes of Elysium on April 20, 2026, marking the largest update yet for the Steam Early Access title.
The patch overhauls the game’s introduction to improve clarity and reduce early friction, adds a fresh Power Jump ability for enhanced vertical mobility, and introduces a progression system for the personal glider that requires players to craft and upgrade it over time.
Alongside these changes, the update includes 150 new unique items, a complete overhaul of the hint system to be less intrusive, and broad performance and polish improvements based on player feedback from Discord and reviews.
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Crafting and invention speeds have been increased, the main menu and starting area layouts have been refined, and general responsiveness across gameplay and UI features has been improved.
The update positions Echoes of Elysium to better retain new players while deepening long-term engagement through expanded movement and progression systems.
Brian Johnson, cofounder and CEO of Loric Games, said the update was designed to make the first-time experience experience more natural and less overwhelming, particularly for players bringing friends into the game for the first time.
Echoes of Elysium, set in a reimagined Elysian Fields inspired by classical Greek inventors like Heron of Alexandria, continues to support up to six players in cooperative airship construction and exploration of floating islands.
The game remains in Early Access, with the development team using player feedback to iteratively refine core systems ahead of a full launch.
What specific changes were made to the new player experience in Update 0.18?
The introduction sequence was reworked to be clearer, smoother, and less overwhelming, with streamlined tutorials and improved layout in the starting area and early world based on direct feedback from players and reviews.
How does the new glider progression system work?
Players must now craft their personal glider and upgrade it over time, turning it into a core progression system rather than an immediately available tool, with performance improvements also applied to glider handling.