Eco’s Alpha 5 brings in its comprehensive ecosystem mechanics, but as a result of polishing those mechanics, it’s going to take a little longer to push those systems live. An update to the game’s Kickstarter backers confirms that the next alpha build will be available on October 24th, complete with an animated shot of the client’s dynamic plant growth system.
The ecosystems and biomes will be taking center stage with the fifth alpha update, with complex interplays causing the various biomes to shift over time. Overfarmed prairies can become deserts as the soil is depleted, changing cloud patterns can bring new rains, and so forth. It’s going to be a little while before the patch is ready to go, but it’s a complex system, so it will hopefully be well worth the wait.
