Xenauri Riders DLC Is Out Now!

Hello, Commanders!

We're excited to announce that the Xenauri Riders DLC is officially out now!

The new DLC introduces an entirely new playable faction to Heroes of Science & Fiction, bringing fresh tactical possibilities and new challenges to the battlefield.

Watch the official Xenauri Faction trailer:

Here's what the Xenauri Riders DLC includes:

• A unique faction base
• A new Spawner
• 16 new commanders
• 7 upgradeable units
• A new war machine, the Battle Beacon
• 2 unique campaign missions
• Possibility to turn on Xenauri faction for existing skirmish maps
• An original musical theme for the Xenauri Riders

But there's much more to the Xenauri Riders than just new units and buildings. Let's take a closer look at the faction itself!

Xenauri Riders

Grab your scimitar and mount your Ssaari, my friend. As we travel across the wastelands, we can talk about the riders from the crystal planet, the scaly steeds they ride, and the mighty Altari psykers. It's time to learn about the Siren System's newest force to be reckoned with: the Xenauri.

Origin

The Xenauri homeworld was a place of endless crystal plains, diamond-shaped mountains, and deserts of tiny, razor-sharp crystal shards, a barren, resource-depleted place capable of sustaining only a limited population. Its fauna consisted of the ferocious Ssaari lizards, of which only a few species could be domesticated. Beyond the countless varieties of crystals, the wasteland offered few natural resources, with only sparse deposits of low-grade metals and barely any other useful materials. But the Xenauri have learned to make the most of what little they possess, treating their weapons and equipment as precious clan heirlooms, often passed down through generations. Even though your world is not a good place to live, leaving your home is never an easy decision. But after all you've just read, it's hardly surprising that the Xenauri went from dreaming of escape to embarking on an actual voyage in a very short time.

Adaptation

The Xenauri's anatomy is remarkably similar to that of humans. So much so that Däniken's theories about ancient astronauts no longer sound so far-fetched. However, this resemblance has its limits. A symbiotic relationship with crystals embedded in their bones causes horn-like growths to emerge from their heads in early childhood, giving them a distinctly alien appearance. Some of them even believe the symbiosis with crystals has made them somehow “tuned” to the moods and quirks of their former crystal world, but that cannot be confirmed or denied from their new home in the Siren System. Their dangerous old homeworld played a major role in shaping the Xenauri into a species of tough warriors. Traditionally, the Xenauri are clad in heavy armor. This is partly due to aggressive Ssaari fauna and partly to other raiders. Dust storms carrying sharp, glassy crystal shards also played a role. The side effect of being protected from head to toe is the ostentatious neglect of firearms. The ancient prototypes were not capable of defeating either the thick scales of the Ssaari nor the heavy armor of the Xenauri. To this very day, the scimitar remains the most common weapon of choice. The Xenauri adaptation does not stop at the individual level. Even their society must have kept pace with harsh conditions. Thus, the clan-based structure was formed, with each clan inhabiting secluded, fortified shelters scattered throughout the crystal wastelands. Although the clans fiercely guarded their territories, from time to time their isolation was broken by the arrival of caravans. Crossing the vast distances between shelters would have been nearly impossible without the domesticated Ssaari lizards. These creatures serve not only as mounts but, in some cases, as beasts of burden, making long-distance travel across the unforgiving landscape possible.

Psyker mutation

Besides anatomical and behavioral adaptation, there is another trait that sets the Xenauri apart from any other species. A small percentage of Xenauri are born with the abilities of Altari, the psyker capable of extraordinary feats, including telekinesis, teleportation, and the manipulation of the planet's information field. The power of an Altari can vary enormously, ranging from little more than a hedge wizard's ability to perform simple tricks to the kind of devastating power that could level whole cities to the ground. Yet even the weakest Altari commands the respect of Xenauri society.

The Pathfinder and the exodus

For countless generations, Xenauri society remained rigidly structured, with the clans following traditions that seemed unlikely to change. Eventually, however, change arrived from the crystal desert in the form of a mysterious prophet known as the Pathfinder. Despite the desperate conditions on their homeworld, few were initially willing to listen to his plans to abandon the planet and journey to a distant star system. His vision seemed little more than an impossible dream. Only when the most powerful Altari pledged their support did his words begin to carry the weight he needed. The final turning point came when the newly formed Altari Guard lifted an ancient starship from the depths of the crystal deserts. When the ship finally opened the path to the stars, the Xenauri clans put aside their divisions and united under the Pathfinder's leadership, forming a single force with one shared purpose. Their destination: the Siren System. Their ambition: to claim a new world for themselves, regardless of the objections of its current rulers.

The base game is also updated with following fixes:

• Hidden mines in a siege were briefly visible to the attacker at the start of the battle
• The commander's movement point gauge did not refresh after the last step of a walk
• Fix broken combat log message for damage dealt by mental bond
• Fix AI hero can endlessly teleport between bases
• Fix broken map replay when recorder moves contain hero status effect
• Fix replay wasn't working if Editor wasn't opened first

As always, let us know what you think on our Discord or here in the comments! If you're enjoying the update, we'd really appreciate it if you left us a Steam review!