Catan Universe

The upcoming Seafarers season is on the horizon, and we've already done some serious cleanup under the hood ahead of it. Here's everything that changed in this update.

🏆 Season Matchmaking

Last season had a few pain points: players occasionally landed in non-season games or on maps that shouldn't have been part of the season. Settings changed in the Seafarers menu also saved correctly but couldn't be edited again while searching for season games.

Here's what we fixed: ✅ A new "seasonOnly" filter in the matchmaker cleanly separates season searches from regular ones. ✅ Caching has been reworked, season searches now run independently of regular matches (e.g. Seafarers). ✅ Players searching from the season menu will now only ever be matched with other season players, and these games always count toward Elo.

🎲 Player Count Fixes

Several bugs caused matches with the wrong player count, for example: 🔧 Searching for 3 players sometimes resulted in 4 or even 6-player matches 🔧 Searching for a minimum of 4 players sometimes placed players in 3-player matches 🔧 3-3 settings with all base game maps selected occasionally ended in a 6-player match

These are now fixed. Player count settings save and load reliably, including after returning from a match.

🗺️ Map Fixes

Map loading also had issues: 4 players ending up on a 3-player map, 6 players on a 4-player map, even after clearing the cache. We've added filtering for 6-island maps and to properly distinguish between 3-player-only and 4-player-only maps.

⚙️ Slider & Settings

😤 The player count slider used to reset to 3-6 without warning whenever a 3-6 player map was selected, or when opening map selection. ✅ That no longer happens as long as there's overlap with your current selection. If there's no overlap, the slider now automatically adjusts to the new valid range. ✅ Missing a board customisation choice during handshake used to block matchmaking entirely. A default option is now chosen automatically.

Stay tuned, the new season is just around the corner! 🏝️

Hey Catanians!

Update 2.7.4 is now live. While this isn’t a major content drop, it’s an important step as we begin preparing for the next Season in CATAN Universe.

🛠️ What’s new?

• Behind-the-scenes improvements to overall stability

• Minor system adjustments to support upcoming features

This update is the first step in a series of improvements we’ll be rolling out in the near future. Our current focus is making sure everything runs smoother and is ready for what’s coming next.

🚀 What’s next? Bigger updates are already in the works and will arrive in the upcoming patches. This update helps lay the foundation for those improvements.

Thanks for your continued support—and stay tuned, there’s more on the way!

Changes & Fixes

Rejoin Loop Workaround

• Added an "X" button next to the "connecting…" pop-up.

• Clicking the "X" removes the player from the match they are attempting to reconnect to.

• In certain edge cases, a loading screen may still appear after leaving.

• If the loading screen persists, a full client restart is required.

Custom Match Fix

• Fixed an issue preventing the randomized scenario option from being used in Custom Matches.

• Players who own the corresponding expansion can now properly select and use the randomized scenario.

✅ The default display for Freematches has been reactivated.

🎲 Additionally, changing the starting player now works as intended again.

🛠️ Version 2.7.2 is currently being tested to allow users to resolve issues with connecting to already finished games.

Hey CATANIANS,

Update 2.7.0 has arrived! This update introduces a major visual overhaul, new matchmaking options, and multiple improvements to overall stability and gameplay experience.

🎨 New User Interface

We’ve introduced a completely redesigned UI to improve navigation, clarity, and overall usability across CATAN Universe.

🏠 Main Menu Redesign

• Modernized layout with improved accessibility

• Clearer navigation between game modes and features

• Improved visual clarity and responsiveness

🎲 Scenario Selection Screen

• Updated structure for easier scenario browsing

• Improved readability and organization of available game modes

• Smoother transitions and improved user flow

🛒 In-Game Shop Update

• Refreshed visual design

• Improved item browsing and presentation

• Optimized navigation and performance

🌍 New “Arrival on CATAN”

• Updated presentation for new players entering CATAN Universe

• Improved onboarding flow and clarity

🏟️ New Custom Match Lobby

The custom match experience has been completely reworked:

• New lobby interface for better match configuration

• Improved clarity when setting match rules

• Enhanced player management and match setup

• Overall smoother and more intuitive experience when hosting or joining custom games

🎯 Matchmaking Improvements

👥 Expanded Automatic Matchmaking

• Players can now queue for 3–6 player matches in automatic matchmaking

• Increased matchmaking flexibility and improved queue availability

🎲 Balanced Dice Mode (Auto Matches)

• Adjustments have been made to the dice distribution algorithm

• Reduced likelihood of dice roll sequences that the community reported as overly extreme

• Designed to maintain randomness while allowing for fairness and smoother gameplay flow

⚙️ Stability & Performance Improvements

• Numerous backend and client-side optimizations

• Improved overall game stability

• Various bug fixes and performance enhancements across multiple systems

💬 We Want Your Feedback

This update introduces major UI changes, and your feedback is extremely valuable to us. Please share your thoughts, suggestions, and experiences with the new interface.

Thank you for being part of CATAN Universe and helping us improve the game!

Hey Catanians!

We’re rolling out a stability-focused update to make your games smoother, chats clearer, and matchmaking more reliable. Downtime starts Today around 11:00 CEST and will last roughly 2 hours. Thanks for your patience!

Here’s what you’ll notice:

** Matchmaking & connections**

• More reliable auto-matchmaking

• Stopping your search now truly stops it

• Fewer “kicked but still in match” edge cases

• Turn timer behavior is more consistent

** Lobby & invites**

• Invites, declines, and ready states work more reliably, so getting into games is easier

** Chat, mail & social**

• In-game chat fixes: no more random server messages in MP matches, and “unknown” sender/receiver is resolved

• Whisper chat works again

• Better profanity filtering in chat and guild names (you’ll see clear error messages)

• Helpful popups when your friends/blocked lists hit their limits

• Friend requests are more dependable

** XP, Elo & leaderboards**

• Missing XP issues fixed and weird end-screen XP/Elo displays corrected

• Elo values normalized on leaderboards

• “Hide on leaderboard” actually hides you again

** Gameplay & UI polish**

• No more double “End Turn” click after receiving VP

• “View progress” no longer throws errors

• Report window now closes properly

** Emails & account flow**

• Cleaner, updated account and password reset emails

• Registration/reset flows won’t get stuck

We’ll keep an eye on things after the update—if you spot anything odd, drop details in the #feedback-discussion-forum on Discrod.

Thanks for playing CATAN Universe!

🚀 New Feature:

• The report system has been improved! From now on, Catanians will receive a confirmation message once their report has been successfully sent. You’ll always know when your report has gone through.

🛠️ Fixed Issues and Improvements:

• 🎯 XP is now correctly awarded in all circumstances. No more missing experience points!

• 🔍 Leaderboard filters are working properly again, so you can sort and view entries as intended.

• 🌐 Multiplayer stability has been improved — expect fewer crashes and disconnects.

• 📱 Mobile custom match lobbies now run more smoothly and with better performance.

• 🏆 Season leaderboards correctly display player names. No more missing or broken name entries.

• 🏅 Elo rating now displays correctly after completing an Automatch.

• 🤖 Replacement AI is now more stable. When a player leaves, the AI will take over more reliably than before.

💡 Thanks to all of you for your feedback!

Dear Catanians, On Monday, April 14, we’ll be rolling out Update 2.6.1, bringing several important fixes and improvements to enhance your experience in CATAN Universe.

🔧 Here’s what’s included in this update: 🔹 Fixed an issue with friend requests 🔹 Resolved the recurring lobby popup bug 🔹 Corrected a visual bug in the ELO display for Rivals 🔹 Various multiplayer improvements for better stability during matches 🔹 Adjustments and fixes to localized text across multiple languages

Thank you for your continued feedback and support! Have fun and enjoy the game! 🎲 Your CATAN Universe Team

Dear Catanians, On Monday, April 14, we’ll be rolling out Update 2.6.1, bringing several important fixes and improvements to enhance your experience in CATAN Universe.

🔧 Here’s what’s included in this update: 🔹 Fixed an issue with friend requests 🔹 Resolved the recurring lobby popup bug 🔹 Corrected a visual bug in the ELO display for Rivals 🔹 Various multiplayer improvements for better stability during matches 🔹 Adjustments and fixes to localized text across multiple languages

Thank you for your continued feedback and support! Have fun and enjoy the game! 🎲 Your CATAN Universe Team

• Custom Match Lobbies: 5/6 player lobbies now work as intended.

• Rivals Lobbies: Custom lobbies for Rivals now function correctly.

**Elo Display: **

• Elo delta is now displayed correctly after automatches.

• Elo display in leaderboards now works as intended.

** Password Reset:**

• Fixed an issue that caused a timeout when trying to reset your password.

Moderation:

• Improved capabilities to ban users faster for violating the ToS.

**New Season Coming Soon 🎉: **

• We will soon announce a new season in which all players who own the base game can participate for free!

**Miscellaneous: **

• Various minor fixes and stability improvements.

Update 2.5.3:

You can now log in again. Please make sure that you have downloaded version 2.5.3 from the stores beforehand. Users of the browser version automatically have the latest version.

Version 2.5.3 contains many improvements:

Revision of the Custommatch lobbies for more reliability Numerous fixes for issues that could cause users to get stuck in a “Find running game” loop Fixed issues with the UI that could cause a display error after a CATAN Gold purchase Increased server stability and reliability in times of high demand Fixed issues with the AI that could cause games to stop running

Hi Catanians,

Version 2.5.0 is now available for download. Users of the web version will download the new version automatically.

Version 2.5.0 contains various bug fixes and improvements: Numerous improvements for the online Multiplayer Numerous improvements for Custom match lobbies Numerous enhancements for the replacement A.I Numerous fixes for password reset issues Fixed issues with visual Bugs in the custom match Lobbies for certain screen resolutions Numerous improvements for more stability of the friend lists Fixed Issues with the scrolling in long lists

Hi Catanians,

Version 2.5.0 is now available for download. Users of the web version will download the new version automatically.

Version 2.5.0 contains various bug fixes and improvements: Numerous improvements for the online Multiplayer Numerous improvements for Custom match lobbies Numerous enhancements for the replacement A.I Numerous fixes for password reset issues Fixed issues with visual Bugs in the custom match Lobbies for certain screen resolutions Numerous improvements for more stability of the friend lists Fixed Issues with the scrolling in long lists

More stable friend search More stable custom match lobbies especially when receiving multiple invites Fixed issues with scrolling long lists in the game

Multiple smaller enhancements and bug fixes

This new version is the groundwork for more subnational changes and reworks in the upcoming updates.

Version 2.3.9 is now available on all platforms. Please make sure to update as soon as possible.

• Multiple replacement A.I. Bugfixes for a smoother gameplay experience in online matches

• Resolved multiple Error codes that could get displayed in the custom match lobby screen

• Fixed lobbies for Rivals custom matches

• Optimized search functionality for guild and friend search

• Optimizing and rewriting the code base to further optimize the gameplay experience

No new Client required (!)

Removing “old lobbies” if they exist when creating custom matches (increased reliability for creating custom matches) Fixed “error getting account: account not found” issue when searching friends Fixed listing friends to avoid the “error getting account: context canceled” error Fixed “Cannot read property 'getPrivateData' of undefined or null” error when changing password

Numerous optimizations are made to reduce the error messages displayed in the game's menus and increase the stability of our service.

This update is a “Pre-Patch” for a more significant update we are working on at the moment. Our team is currently rewriting the entire multiplayer to make it perform better.

We will announce more details about this update in the near future.

The A.I. will now always wait for the answer to a trade request in single player games before continuing

Elo scores will now get displayed more reliably at the end of Automatches

Custom Match lobbies will work more reliably (initial loading time increased)

New Maintenance Mode that will disconnect all clients when we are working on the servers

Exclusion of outdated clients to connect to our servers

Improved Login flow to minimize resource usage while logging in

Improved matchmaking flow to minimize resource usage for matchmaking

Overall improvements to the server stability and database usage

• Customatch lobby's reliability has been improved

• Elo display at the end of Automatches has been enhanced

• A crash issue affecting the STEAM version of the game has been resolved

• AI's behavior in singleplayer matches has been changed to wait for your response to trade offers before proceeding, making the game feel more natural and allowing for a smoother gameplay experience

Hello Catanians!

Update 2.3.4 includes a huge number of technical improvements and optimizations that will lead to a much more efficient communication between the game clients (your apps) and the CU servers. As a result, login, profile, shop etc. will all be faster, contributing to an overall smoother gameplay experience.

Have fun playing Catan!

Dear Catanians,

Today, May 24th 2023, we are releasing update 2.3.3 Please note that from now on, you will always need the latest client version to log in. If you try to log in with an outdated version 2.3.2 and lower, you will see an error message and a notification in the login screen.

Changelog:

• Older client versions can no longer connect to the server. Please update to 2.3.3 to log in.
• Optimizations to game actions in multiplayer
• Optimizations to increase overall stability
• Increased reliability for matchmaker and filters

Hi Catanians,

With version 2.3.2 we bring you a lot of improvements:

• Search for friends will now always show correct results

• Guild chat will work reliably now

• Custommatch Lobbies will now also work for users who had problems with it until now

• Custommatch Lobbies for CATAN - Rivals will now work properly

• Automatches for CATAN - Rivals are now started correctly when more than one theme set is selected

• Elo values will now be displayed correctly at the end of a match

• Elo leaderboards are now correctly updated after a match

• Prestige ranks are now correctly displayed at the end of a game

• Prestige ranks are now correctly updated at the end of a game

• Elo leaderboards are now reloaded correctly

• New account registration button is now grayed out while registering an account to avoid unnecessary duplicate requests

• Various adjustments and improvements for the multiplayer mode: this concerns mainly reconnect, resync, trade and replacement AI and tunrtimer