Guns of Icarus Online

Stars of Icarus launched as a spiritual follow-up to the Guns series on June 8, 2025, introducing team-based PvP dogfights. This period also featured the 13th Birthday Event, offering free items like the Pumpkin Head mask for mission completions, and significant balance changes across various weapons and tools.

• New Game Launch: Stars of Icarus introduced new gameplay modes, including Team Deathmatch, Bounty, and Capture the Flag, along with hand-crafted maps set in unique environments like asteroids and junkyards.
  • Alpha Playtest: The first public alpha playtest for Stars of Icarus began on September 24, 2025.
  • New Weapon: The Immortal Gaze Heavy Accelerator Mk. S was added, designed for breaking enemy armor at extreme range.
  • New Maps: Several new PvP maps were introduced for Gunner, Engineer, and Pilot classes.

• Balance Changes: A variety of balance adjustments were made, including the following:
  • Armor Increase: Crusader armor increased from 530 to 600.
  • Weapon Adjustments: The Immortal Gaze Heavy Accelerator's fire rate was fixed, and its reload time reduced from 10 seconds to 5 seconds.
  • Burst Rounds Changes: Arming time for burst rounds was reduced by 25%, and clip size was cut by 12.5%.

• Gameplay Improvements: An Achievement Amnesty was granted, allowing players to unlock previously difficult achievements, enhancing overall player engagement.

• Seasonal Event: The 13th Birthday Event on October 23, 2025, celebrated the game's anniversary with free items for players completing missions.

• Community Engagement: A new Discord community was announced for Stars of Icarus, fostering player interaction and engagement.

Tracked sources for Guns of Icarus Online were limited between 2022-10-29 and 2023-10-29, with only 2 verified changes captured in this window. The recorded activity centers on 10th Anniversary Celebration Giveaway and 10th Birthday Tournament Announcement and sits between Fix for broken music assets on 2020-10-23 (bug_fix) and Announcement of Stars of Icarus on 2025-06-08 (new_content), making this a light but still readable period in the game's history.

• Verified activity: 2022-10-30 - 10th Anniversary Celebration Giveaway: Exclusive new title, dye + outfit bundle, crew and ship loadout slots, and themed outfit for Wildmender.; 2022-10-30 - 10th Birthday Tournament Announcement: Semi-competitive tournament with matches including Crazy King, King of the Hill, and Deathmatch, streamed on Twitch..
• 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 Fix for broken music assets on 2020-10-23 (bug_fix).
• After this window: The next tracked activity was Announcement of Stars of Icarus on 2025-06-08 (new_content).

Guns of Icarus Online celebrated its 8th birthday with a range of new content and balance adjustments, including the introduction of the Sunken Reach Rumpus map on June 1, 2020, designed for 4v4 PvP matches. Additionally, players received new Crusader armor paint options and the Drift Sail Helm Tool, which modifies gameplay mechanics by reducing drag while increasing damage taken.

• New Maps: The Sunken Reach Rumpus launched on June 1, 2020, offering a fresh 4v4 Brawl experience.
• New Content:
  • 27 New Faction Colors introduced, enhancing customization options.
  • 8th Birthday Tournament Items added on October 22, 2020, featuring exclusive hats, decals, and titles.
  • New Pirate Voicepack and Iron Skull Figurehead revealed, expanding the game's thematic options.
• Balance Changes:
  • Adjustments to Boss Cluster Hades reduced the cluster shot count and velocity on October 22, 2020.
  • Cooldown Adjustments for PvE Abilities and changes to various guns were made on October 29, 2019, improving gameplay dynamics.
  • Significant changes to the Scars of Lutessa Map transitioned it from Intercept to Assault mode on June 1, 2020.
• Seasonal Events: The Dev Games Event began on April 10, 2020, allowing players to engage with developers and earn free items.
• Shop Offers: A notable 85% off sale on Guns of Icarus Alliance occurred from May 5 to May 12, 2020.

Year 7 saw the launch of the Flight of the Ancients Tournament on November 2, celebrating the game's anniversary with a journey through its history. Alongside this, players enjoyed new content like the Scars of Lutessa PvE map and several exciting new game modes, including Sunken Base Defense and Jesters' Parade.

• New Content:
  • Costume and Ship Colors: Interchangeable colors for costumes and ships became available on July 5, 2019.
  • New PvP Maps: Introduced Thornholt and Ashen Brawl on November 28, 2018, adding variety to PvP gameplay.
  • Expanded Maps: Crown Summit and Desert Scrap received expanded versions for additional player counts.
• Gameplay Changes:
  • New Mission Objectives: Missions now include objectives like making factions lose resources as of December 27, 2018.
  • AI Improvements: AI ships were made more effective with increased repair abilities and active durations.

• Balance Changes:
  • Roaring Tiger Heavy Detonator: Adjustments on July 5, 2019, included reduced arming delay and increased velocity.
  • Flamethrower Adjustments: Balance changes on April 1, 2019, reduced its range and increased area of effect damage.

• Seasonal Events:
  • 7th Birthday Missions: Exclusive birthday cosmetics were awarded through special missions starting October 18, 2019.
  • Fiery Passion Event: A Valentine's challenge offered themed rewards on February 14, 2019.

• Quality of Life:
  • Ship Loadout Naming: Players gained the ability to name their ship loadouts for easier identification as of December 27, 2018.

Guns of Icarus Alliance launched on PlayStation 4 on May 1, 2018, marking a significant expansion for the game. This year also introduced the Alliance War: Sanguine March vs. The Halcyon Cartel, a new faction conflict that allowed players to choose sides. Notable gameplay additions included the introduction of the Four Team Brawl PvP game mode and several new maps and ships.

• Major Content Drops:
  • Guns of Icarus Alliance launched on PS4 on May 1, 2018.
  • Alliance War: Sanguine March vs. The Halcyon Cartel launched on July 23, 2018.

• New Content:
  • The Crusader Ship and Wandering Ridge Map were introduced on March 30, 2018.
  • New PvE Defense Map: Blistered Abyss launched on February 14, 2018.
  • The Arashi Stormbreaker Ship became available on January 16, 2018.
  • Canyon Ambush Map and Yellow and Purple Teams added on July 23, 2018.

• Gameplay Enhancements:
  • Crazy King Mode underwent renovations on January 16, 2018, activating for all lobby sizes.
  • New PvE maps, including Crown Summit, were introduced, expanding the game's cooperative gameplay options.

• Balance Changes:
  • Corsair and Stormbreaker received significant balance adjustments on May 24 and July 23, 2018, respectively.
  • Various ships, including the Galleon and Mobula, had their stats modified based on player feedback.

• Seasonal Events:
  • The Fiery Passion Event launched on February 14, 2018, allowing players to earn exclusive items by completing specific missions.

Guns of Icarus Alliance launched on March 31, 2017, marking a significant expansion of the gameplay experience with both PvE and PvP modes. This update introduced new factions, ships, and mechanics that enhanced the overall depth of the game. Additionally, the original Guns of Icarus Online continued to receive support and updates, integrating new content from the Alliance expansion.

• Guns of Icarus Alliance Launch: This new release brought extensive content, including co-op gameplay and factional warfare, enhancing the game's offerings significantly.
• New Factions and Ships: Four unique factions were introduced, each with specialized weapons and ships, alongside new ships like the Yeshan Judgement and Shrike available in PvP.
  • Yeshan Judgement Ship: A new PvP ship featuring a double heavy gun layout.
  • Shrike: New ship introduced for PvP gameplay.
• New Gameplay Mechanics: Players could now unlock special abilities, with new game modes such as Ambush and Infiltration added, providing fresh strategic options.
• New Weapons and Equipment: The launch included various new weapons, such as the Tempest Launcher and MK II weapons, which enhanced combat dynamics.
• Seasonal Events: Events like Pirate Week and the Rise of the Machine encouraged players to engage in themed challenges for exclusive rewards.

Alliance Open Alpha launched on August 1, 2016, introducing a wealth of new content including four new ships and six new maps. Additionally, players gained access to four new weapons and three new game modes, enhancing the gameplay experience significantly.

• New Weapons Introduced: Four new weapons were added: Seraph Tempest Missiles, Charybdis Gas Mortar, Februus Weaponized Coil, and Aten Lens Array.
• New Ships Added: Four new ships were introduced: Chaladonian Shrike, Anglean Corsair, Fjord Baronies Crusader, and Mercantile Guild Magnate.
• New Game Modes Available: The Alliance Open Alpha introduced three game modes: Assault, Defense, and Retrieve.
  • Additional Modes: A new VIP game mode was also introduced, where teams score points by eliminating each other's VIP.
• New Maps: Six new maps were added, including Oblivion Approach, Voyager’s Cove, Seas of Alleron, Parous Glen, Thornholt Crest, and Devil’s Eye.
• Alliance Character Progression: Players could now improve class equipment through battles, earning Upgrade Points that unlock through achievements.

Guns of Icarus: Alliance launched early access for Kickstarter backers on September 9, 2015, marking a significant shift towards PvE gameplay with scenario-driven objectives and AI enemies. This update introduced new maps, including "Clash on Blackcliff," and various mechanics like the Minotaur Heavy Cannon and a revamped clan leveling system. Players also gained access to new customization options and workshop support.

• PvE Expansion: The "Guns of Icarus: Alliance" update introduced scenario-driven objectives and AI enemies, enhancing the PvE experience.
  • New Maps: "Clash on Blackcliff" and "3v3 Paritan Rumble" were added, expanding the competitive landscape.
• New Weapons: The Minotaur Heavy Cannon was introduced, providing a powerful support option that knocks back enemy ships.
• Clan Leveling System: Clans now feature a five-level system where members contribute XP through match completions, enhancing clan dynamics.
• Progression Systems: New character and faction progression systems were added, allowing players to unlock ships, weapons, and customization options.
• Stamina System: A new stamina mechanic was introduced for Pilot, Gunner, and Engineer roles, adding strategic depth to gameplay.
• Balance Changes: Various weapons received adjustments, including the Flamethrower and Carronade, to refine combat dynamics.

Clan System Implementation launched on May 21, 2014, introducing new features for creating and managing clans, along with a competitive leaderboard. This update was part of a significant overhaul that also included new ship customization options, allowing players to personalize their vessels with various decorations, themes, and colors.

• Clan System: The new community section included clan registration, member management, clan chat, and competitive leaderboards.
• Ship Customization: Players gained access to new store sections for ship decorations, including figureheads, deck themes, and paint colors.
• Events List Feature: An upcoming events list was added, allowing players to join community events directly.
• Gameplay Changes: A rematch scrambling feature was introduced, ensuring matches would scramble teams, and players could swap ships between sides.
• Balance Adjustments: Notable changes included updates to the Portable Flak weapon and Tar Barrel activation mechanics to improve gameplay balance and usability.

The introduction of the Phobos Light Mine Launcher and the Mobula ship** marked a significant content drop on July 9, 2013, expanding the gameplay options in *Guns of Icarus Online*. Additionally, players received exclusive anniversary hats and Halloween hats as part of the festivities around the game's first anniversary.**

• New Content: Multiple new ships and weapons were introduced.
  • Mobula: An advanced attack ship with a unique design featuring five front-facing guns.
  • Phobos Light Mine Launcher: A new weapon that deploys proximity mines with devastating area damage.
  • Hades Light Cannon: A new gun that deals fire and piercing damage.
  • New Maps: Added four new 3v3 deathmatch maps including Fight over Firnfeld and Battle on the Dunes.

• Gameplay Modes:
  • Crazy King Mode: A new mode introduced on January 29, 2013, involving point capture with a moving objective.
  • Commendation System: Launched on April 30, 2013, allowing players to recognize good sportsmanship.

• Balance Changes:
  • Significant adjustments were made to various weapons and ships, including the Gatling Gun and Lumberjack. The Squid's speed was increased, and various guns received tweaks to their firing mechanics, including adjustments to the Rocket Carousel and Heavy Flak.

• Seasonal Events:
  • An Anniversary Celebration decorated all ships with festive decorations and offered special hats from October 28 to November 5, 2013.
• Quality of Life Improvements:
  • Features like a Character Rename option and AFK detection were introduced, enhancing player experience.