Awesomenauts

Awesomenauts transitioned back to a premium product on November 24, 2025, allowing online play and marking a significant shift in its business model. Alongside this, players gained access to all characters unlocked from the Overdrive and Starstorm expansions, enhancing the roster for returning players.

• New Content: The Starstorm and Overdrive expansions were included in the base game on October 28, 2025, making previously paid content freely available. Additionally, all previously pulled content and character skins were restored on the same day.
• New Systems: A new moderating system was implemented on November 24, 2025, improving player experience and behavior management. A new moderation policy was also introduced, enforcing a three-strike rule for inappropriate conduct.
• Quality of Life: The SlowWolf Announcer became available to all players on November 18, 2025, previously locked behind an achievement.
• UI/UX Improvements: The in-game chat feature was re-enabled on October 28, 2025, allowing for better player communication. Additionally, an unused 'unlocks' tab was removed from character armory pages on December 31, 2025.
• Performance Enhancements: General performance improvements were noted on December 31, 2025, alongside fixes for invisible characters and special skin unlocks for Creeper Clunk and Augmented Ayla.
• Achievement Changes: On November 18, 2025, several unattainable achievements were removed from the game, streamlining the achievement system.

Awesomenauts saw significant changes with the reintroduction of the Starstorm and Overdrive expansions on June 17, 2025, now included in the base game for all players. This update also marked the launch of the Awesomenauts Premium Version, reintroducing the game at a price of $19.99 for new players.

• New Content: The game transitioned to a premium title with the launch of the Awesomenauts Premium Version. Additionally, the release of Awesomenauts version 3.2.8 made the game publicly available on Steam without access codes. The Galactron Test Branch was announced to gradually implement content from the Galactron version.
• Access to DLC: On January 17, 2025, previously purchased DLC became accessible again after the restoration of the Galactron version.

• System Changes: The development of a back-office moderation tool was initiated to manage user-reported negative behavior, and the in-game chat was disabled until this moderation tool is released.

• Feature Removals: Several features were removed, including matchmaking improvements, rejoin options, and global chat. Characters such as Snork Gunk, Qi'Tara, and Commander Rocket were also removed from the game.

• Beta Testing: A Beta Branch Testing phase for the new premium version was made available for community feedback.

The Nutty Nauts 6 Tournament launched on August 8, 2023, bringing exciting new content to Awesomenauts, including two new maps and a revamped drafting format. This tournament marked a significant event for competitive play, engaging both veterans and newcomers alike.

• New Maps: The tournament introduced two reworked maps, AI Station 205 and Starstorm, enhancing the competitive landscape.
  • AI Station 205
  • Starstorm
• Drafting Format: A new four-ban drafting format was implemented for the tournament, adding strategic depth to team compositions.
• Tournament Announcement: The Nutty Nauts 6 Tournament was announced, hosted by ryan2ms and nopete, generating enthusiasm in the community.

The Awesomenauts 10-Year Anniversary Celebrations kicked off on August 1, 2022, featuring a stream with developers and the introduction of a 3D Printable Clunk Figurine for the community. This year also saw the return of the Nutty Nauts Tournament Series, alongside various new player initiatives and seasonal events.

• New Content:
  • 3D Printable Clunk Figurine launched on August 1, allowing players to create their own figurine using provided files.
  • Tournament Rewards on October 21 granted every participant an Awesomenauts skin or announcer based on performance.
  • Rumble Medal Rewards for top teams were also introduced on October 21, with special medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams.

• Gameplay Changes:
  • The Nutty Nauts Tournament Series returned for its 5th iteration on August 1, featuring standard 3v3 matches.
  • A New Player Rating Adjustment implemented on December 22 helped newer players by lowering their ratings to avoid mismatches with higher-ranked opponents.

• Seasonal Events:
  • A New Season began on December 22, resetting all players to a rating of 10,000 for leaderboard rankings.
  • The Awesomenauts Arena League 3 was announced on October 21, featuring group stage qualifiers and playoffs in November.
  • The 10-Year Anniversary Celebrations included a special stream and tournament on August 1.

• Significant Bug Fixes:
  • Multiple critical issues were resolved on September 21, including problems with unlocking Nauts, displaying purchased items, and incorrect pricing in the Steam store.

The Nutty Nauts 5 Tournament marked a major highlight in Year 10 of Awesomenauts, alongside a range of new skins and announcers available for purchase with Roni Points. Players also experienced a leaderboard reset as part of the new season, adjusting matchmaking dynamics.

• Major content drops:
  • Eight new skins launched on May 11, including Hotrod Derpl, Desperado Penny, and Scourge Captain McPain, available for various Roni Points.
  • New announcers, including the Ghosthouse Announcer and Wildlife Announcer, were introduced, priced at 7,500 Roni Points each.

• New gameplay features:
  • A Leaderboard Rating Reset occurred on April 1, resetting all players to a rating of 10,000 to balance matchmaking.
  • Mixed Skill Level Matchmaking was implemented for the new season, allowing players to be matched with varying skill levels initially.

• Seasonal events:
  • The Nutty Nauts 5 Tournament was announced for August 13 and 20, inviting players to compete.
  • The Awesomenauts Clone Wars Tournament began on April 16, featuring teams playing as the same Naut.
  • The Rotation 8 Rewards were unveiled on May 11, offering new skins and announcers for Roni Points earned by watching developer streams.

• Balance changes:
  • A Reduced Rating for New Players policy was established, ensuring newcomers receive lower ratings to prevent mismatches with higher-ranked players.

• Quality of life update:
  • Players gained the ability to earn in-game rewards by watching developer streams every Monday and Thursday.

RoboScoop launched as the Ultimate Prize on January 11, 2021, offering a new way for players to engage with the game through Roni Points. Notably, a new rotation of free skins and announcers became available on July 5, 2021, alongside various new skins redeemable for Roni Points throughout the year.

• New Content: 41 new skins and announcers were introduced, including:
  • RoboScoop as an Ultimate Prize skin available for 30,000 Roni Points.
  • Disco Voltar and Coco McFly, both available for Roni Points.
  • Party Boy McPain and Summertime Chucho skins released on July 5, 2021.
  • Rockstar Announcer available for 7,500 Roni Points on April 22, 2021.
• Gameplay: A new mixed skill level matching system was implemented on May 27, 2021, allowing new players with fewer than 100 games to receive a reduced rating to improve their matchmaking experience.
• Seasonal Events: Several events unlocked all characters for limited periods:
  • Lunar New Year event on February 9, 2021, offered all Nauts for a week.
  • A two-week event starting June 25, 2021, allowed all Nauts to be playable for everyone.
• Shop Discounts: During the Steam Summer Sale on June 25, 2021, numerous items, including skins and announcers, were discounted by up to 60%, with the All Nauts Pack available at 25% off, featuring an exclusive Lonestar skin.

Tracked sources for Awesomenauts were limited between 2019-08-01 and 2020-08-01, with only 1 verified change captured in this window. The recorded activity centers on Awesomenauts Conquest Tournament Announcement and sits between All Nauts Unlocked for Summer Sale on 2019-06-25 (dlc_release) and Free Twitch Skins Announcement on 2020-12-15 (new_content), making this a light but still readable period in the game's history.

• Verified activity: 2019-10-23 - Awesomenauts Conquest Tournament Announcement: A new tournament featuring a unique lock-out draft system for team compositions..
• What stands out: The period is defined more by a small number of isolated updates than by a large roadmap beat or expansion-sized release.
• Before this window: The closest earlier tracked activity was All Nauts Unlocked for Summer Sale on 2019-06-25 (dlc_release).
• After this window: The next tracked activity was Free Twitch Skins Announcement on 2020-12-15 (new_content).

Awesomenauts celebrated its 7th anniversary with significant content releases and events, including a major Anniversary Sale featuring new skins and announcers. During this time, players also enjoyed the All Nauts Unlocked for Summer Sale, allowing free access to all characters.

• DLC Releases:
  • All Nauts Unlocked for Summer Sale launched on June 25, allowing all characters to be free-to-play during the Steam Summer Sale.
  • Anniversary Sale Week 6 on May 21 introduced new skins and an announcer at 60% off until May 27.
  • Anniversary Sale - Week 4 on May 6 featured additional skins and announcers available at a significant discount.

• New Content:
  • The Rockstar Announcer debuted on May 21 as part of the Anniversary Sale.
  • New skins were released, including Digital G, Teddy Ayla, Capn Vinnie, and others on May 21.
  • A Weekly Rotation of Characters introduced selected characters for play, enhancing variety.

• Gameplay Changes:
  • The Leaderboard Reset on June 20 reset all players to a rating of 10,000, with adjustments for newer players.
  • Weekly rotation characters included Sheriff Lonestar, Voltar the Omniscient, and others, providing fresh gameplay options.

• Seasonal Events:
  • The 7 Year Anniversary Celebrations on April 19 featured character unlocks and significant discounts.
  • The Anniversary Sale - Week 5 Discounts on May 13 offered new skins and characters at 60% off.

• Balance Changes:
  • A Reduced Rating for New Players was implemented on March 1 to ensure fair matchmaking.

• Quality of Life Improvements:
  • Players enjoyed a Free Selection of 34 Nauts for two weeks starting June 25, expanding gameplay options.

Awesomenauts 4.5 launched on December 6, 2017, introducing the new character Qi'Tara, a cloaked assassin with high attack speed and poison abilities. Alongside this, the All Nauts Pack was retired, giving way to a new Starter Pack that featured eight characters, aimed at making the game more accessible for newcomers.

• New Characters:
  • Qi'Tara became a playable character on December 6, 2017, enhancing the roster with her unique abilities.
  • Commander Rocket launched as part of the anniversary celebration on August 1, 2017, introducing new gameplay dynamics.
  • Snork Gunk was introduced in the Slam Dunk update on July 17, 2018, adding a new conchballing hero to the mix.

• Gameplay Enhancements:
  • The Brawls Game Mode debuted on October 5, 2017, providing unique rulesets and rewards for players.
  • Daily Missions were introduced, offering players challenges for additional Awesomepoints and enhancing gameplay engagement.

• Balance Changes:
  • Significant balance adjustments were made in Update 4.6, impacting characters like Derpl Zork, Qi'Tara, and Commander Rocket, ensuring a more competitive environment.

• Seasonal Events:
  • The Cirque du Brawlee event launched on October 5, 2017, featuring weekly Brawls that offered bonus XP and Awesomepoints, engaging players with fresh content.

• Modding Tools:
  • A new animation editor was added on December 6, 2017, allowing modders to create complex animations for their custom content.

Awesomenauts transitioned to a free-to-play model on May 24, 2017, significantly expanding its player base. Along with this major shift, the Awesomenauts 4.0 update launched on April 26, 2017, introducing new features and content. The addition of new characters like Dizzy and Smiles provided fresh gameplay options and dynamics.

• Free-to-Play Model: Awesomenauts became free-to-play on May 24, allowing new players to join the community while offering existing players 'Founder' rewards.
• New Characters:
  • Dizzy joined the roster on June 14, bringing unique skills like Multi Dash and Explosive Clone.
  • Smiles, another new character, was introduced on July 12 with abilities including Trapper's Hook and Bush Fire.
• Content Updates:
  • The Overdrive Expansion released in December 2016, adding Max Focus as a playable character.
  • The Galactron update launched in November 2016, featuring a matchmaking overhaul and a new party system.
• Gameplay Enhancements:
  • The Level Editor and Steam Workshop features launched on March 8, enabling players to create and share custom content.
  • A new matchmaking system debuted in November 2016, improving player groupings and reducing skill disparities.
• Balance Changes: Numerous characters received adjustments, including major reworks for Derpl Zork and Yuri, enhancing gameplay balance and competitive integrity.

The Overdrive expansion launched on March 3, 2016, introducing three new characters: Professor M. Yoolip, Chucho Krokk, and Jimmy with the LUX5000. This expansion also heralded the arrival of the community-designed character Ix the Interloper, who became available for free on July 6, 2016. Significant gameplay enhancements included the introduction of a Persistent Party System and the Leaver Punishment System to improve match integrity.

• New Characters:
  • Ix the Interloper: A community-designed support character released on July 6, 2016.
  • Professor M. Yoolip, Chucho Krokk, and Jimmy with the LUX5000: Added in the Overdrive expansion on March 3, 2016.
• New Systems:
  • Persistent Party System: Implemented on July 15, 2016, allowing players to form parties before games and maintain them post-match.
  • Leaver Punishment System: Introduced on July 29, 2016, penalizing players who abandon games.
• Gameplay Improvements:
  • Assist Feature: Launched on July 27, 2016, granting players credit for assists in defeating enemies.
  • Matchmaking Overhaul: A comprehensive redesign of the matchmaking system was completed on July 18, 2016, enhancing the overall player experience.
• Seasonal Events:
  • Season 22 Commencement: Began on July 25, 2016, resetting player rankings.
• Visual and Audio Updates:
  • Sheriff Lonestar Overhaul: A complete audiovisual update occurred on March 3, 2016, enhancing character themes and visuals.

Rocco, the new character, launched on July 8, 2015, alongside the introduction of custom game settings for all players. This year saw significant additions, including the new dragon warrior Nibbs and various balance changes that altered gameplay dynamics. The removal of the loadout system also marked a pivotal shift in player strategy.

• New Characters:
  • Rocco: A new free character added on July 8, 2015.
  • Nibbs: A dragon warrior from the Starstorm DLC introduced on March 9, 2015.

• Gameplay Changes:
  • Removal of Loadouts: The loadout system was completely removed on August 2, 2014, enhancing item selection and gameplay options.
  • Expanded Item Selection: Players could now choose from all available items during gameplay, allowing for more strategic choices.

• Balance Adjustments:
  • Buff to All Damage and Health: All damage and health numbers were multiplied by 10 on September 18, 2014, improving the overall gameplay experience.
  • Significant balance tweaks were made to characters like Lonestar and Voltar on July 8, 2015.

• New Features:
  • Replay Killcam: A new feature allowed players to watch a shortened version of replays, highlighting kills and tower destructions, introduced on May 30, 2015.
  • Global Chat Feature: Various chat rooms for in-game communication were introduced on December 17, 2014.

• New Shop Mechanic:
  • A new shop interface was introduced on August 2, 2014, allowing players to choose from all items available to a character, with a maximum of three items per row.

Starstorm Expansion Early Access launched on December 12, 2013, bringing significant new features and content to Awesomenauts. This expansion introduced Penny Fox as the 17th Awesomenaut on April 10, 2014, along with several other new characters and gameplay enhancements.

• New Characters:
  • Penny Fox: A new playable character available with the Starstorm expansion.
  • Sentry: A powerful robot character introduced on May 14, 2014.
  • Skree: Another new character added on June 12, 2014.
  • Admiral Swiggins: The winner of the community 'Design Your 'Naut' competition, introduced on August 30, 2013.
• New Features:
  • Spectator Mode and Dual Stick Controls were added as part of the Starstorm expansion.
  • A new AI editor feature was introduced on June 12, 2014, allowing players to customize AI behavior.
  • The Replay Feature was implemented on May 14, 2014, enabling players to access saved match replays.
• New Map: The AI Station 205 replaced AI Station 404 in the matchmaking map rotation on July 28, 2014.

• Balance Changes: Comprehensive balance tweaks were made to all characters on April 10, 2014, as part of the ongoing effort to refine gameplay.

• Graphical Improvements: The game saw improved graphical effects and a new in-game song, "I'll Make You a Star, Baby," added to the music mix on April 10, 2014.

Ayla, the new character, launched on June 13, 2013, bringing unique abilities and a cute yet dark personality to the roster. Alongside her introduction, players received the Costume Party 2 Skin Pack, which included nine popular skins. This year also saw significant balance changes, including an increase in experience gain, allowing players to level up faster.

• New Character: Ayla debuted as a playable character, featuring psychokinetic powers and a unique playstyle.
• New Skins:
  • Pirate Leon Premium Skin released on May 7, 2013, was the first premium skin with a custom voice set.
  • Costume Party 2 Skin Pack introduced on July 3, 2013, included skins for popular Awesomenauts like Demon Skolldir and Cluck Clunk.
  • Gnabot Skin, a community-chosen skin for Gnaw, became available on July 29, 2013.
• Gameplay Changes:
  • Experience gain was increased on June 19, 2013, allowing players to unlock upgrades and characters more quickly.
  • Various gameplay tweaks were made for Yuri and Voltar on July 29, 2013.
• Balance Adjustments: Notable adjustments included a reduction in the size of Ayla's Rage and improvements to Vinnie's Withered President Mask effect.
• Soundtrack DLC: A new song featuring the Awesomenauts theme by the Ludwig Ensemble was added to the soundtrack on May 7, 2013.