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Megaquarium — patch notes and updates

Stored observation / content update:

Dated developer announcements recorded from Steam. Open the source for the complete update.

UpdateDateExcerpt / source
v5.1.5 patch2026-06-05Dear Curators,A few small bug fixes this time. Details below.Tim Twice Circledv5.1.5 ChangelogFixed bug: Schooling Bannerfish had a warning icon but nothing listed unless Invertebrilliant DLC was installed.Modding: menuTag is now added to tags automatically on load giving better forward and back compatibility with custom objectives.Modding: Blue and Red Slushie sales are now tracked separately for custom objectives.
v5.1.4 patch2026-04-19Dear Curators,Just a single bug fixed, introduced 2 patches ago with the optimisation updates.Tim Twice Circledv5.1.4 ChangelogFixed bug: simulation stalled if you added lights to a polar dome, saved and then reloaded that game.
v5.1.3 patch2026-04-16Dear Curators,This patch contains bug fixes.Tim Twice Circledv5.1.3 ChangelogFixed bug: game was giving 'eat or damage' warnings incorrectly for Button Polyps (heavily armored).Fixed bug: minor issue with Species Time Trial where it would not be checked unless a new animal was added.Fixed bug: Staff could be spawned with no skills if you started a sandbox at rank 1.Fixed bug: Explorer trait was counting different sized backdrops of the same type as unique decorations.Fixed bug: Backdrops could be built anywhere in larger polar domes. Also backdrops are now allowed on viewing walls of polar domes because they are deep enough that the view is n
v5.1.2 patch2026-04-02Dear Curators,This patch contains bug fixes and some minor performance improvements that could help very large aquariums.Tim Twice Circledv5.1.2 ChangelogOptimisation: Reduced the frequency of multi-tank system updates to reduce CPU load in late-game aquariums with many tanks combined into a single system.Optimisation: Utilise caching and adjusted logic to reduce CPU load from objective checking (helps most in late game aquariums with 1000+ objects).Fixed bug: game was giving 'eat or damage' warnings incorrectly in some circumstances.Fixed bug: Prestige window species count was not reducing when you sold a species until the game was reloaded.
v5.1.0 Replay the base campaign with collection DLCs plus other improvements2026-03-25Hello Curators,It's been a busy time since the launch of the Invertebrilliant Collection last month. Thank you to everyone who purchased the DLC, and welcome to all the new players who have joined us since the launch.Based on the feedback from players over the last month, I've chosen a selection of features and improvements and put these into a larger-than-normal update. Let's take a look.Replay base campaign with DLCsOne of the key bits of feedback I received about the Invertebrilliant Collection was the desire to play the base campaign levels with the DLC enabled. While this was possible with some save file editing, I can totally understand
v5.0.14 patch2026-03-16Dear Curators,This patch is mostly bug fixes, but there are a couple of niceties such as pumps reconnecting automatically after moving and some extra info regarding mounting points while placing corals.Tim Twice Circledv5.0.14 ChangelogUI: Pumps, compressors and pumps reconnect automatically when moved. They can still be disconnected manually and will disconnect when placed outside of range to whatever they are connected to.UI: land animals can always be returned to tanks after being picked up, even if there is not enough land due to a reduction in ice.UI: Added a 'mounting point' count to the bottom game bar when placing a mountable object o
v5.0.X patches2026-02-25Dear Curators,All patches associated with the v5.0 release will be combined into this post to keep things tidy.Tim Twice Circledv5.0.13 ChangelogFixed bug: Calcium Reactor was not available in 3. Sulasi in the Deep Freeze campaign.v5.0.12 ChangelogReduced requirement for Sandbox Trials - Species time trial to 70 species. Well done to everybody who already completed it, you did it on hard mode!Improved mod update code to be slightly more resilient.v5.0.11 ChangelogTranslation: Words for 'Centerpiece' and 'Slushie' in Chinese changed to better fit meaning.Translation: Words for 'Centerpiece' in German changed to better fit meaning.Fixed bug: Bu
Megaquarium: Invertebrilliant Collection is out now!2026-02-25Megaquarium's latest expansion is out now! A huge gameplay update has also gone live. For more information on what was included, check out these blog posts:Convert to capsule:If anyone notices any bugs to do with either the new DLC or update, then please let me know via the Steam discussions.To celebrate the launch of the Invertebrilliant Collection, I've highlighted a few of my favourite animals below...Coco WormThe Coco Worm creates its protective tube by secreting calcium carbonate, so guess what? It needs a lot of Calcium. See last week's blog post if you missed the changes coming to calcium reactors.One thing I really like about Coco Wor
The Big Update - Gameplay Changes2026-02-18New DLC!If you've not heard, Megaquarium's getting a new DLC. Head over to the store page for a rundown of what's included. Remember to wishlist if you want a reminder on the day it comes out. Free updateAs I've mentioned in previous posts, there will be a free update that releases alongside the new DLC on the 25th February. If you missed the first blog post about the update, we looked at UI improvements. Today, we look at the changes to gameplay coming your way.Advanced prioritiesStrictly speaking, the following change is an UI improvement, but it has such a big effect on the gameplay, I thought it deserved to go in this post.In the advanced
New Tanks, new design challenges - Megaquarium: Invertebrilliant Collection2026-02-12New DLC!If you've not heard, Megaquarium's getting a new DLC. Head over to the store page for a rundown of what's included. Remember to wishlist if you want a reminder on the day it comes out. Zooming in on magnifying and raised tanksMagnifying and raised tanks let guests see species more easily, increasing the Prestige Chance - that's the chance that a guest will generate Prestige when they see the animal in the tank - by 40% and 20% respectively.There are three groups that benefit from this greatly:Small species, because their basic Prestige Chance is very low.Rare species and those that Dislike Conspecifics, because you cannot add addition
The Big Update - UI improvements2026-02-05New DLC!If you've not heard, Megaquarium's getting a new DLC. Head over to the store page for a rundown of what's included. Remember to wishlist if you want a reminder on the day it comes out. Free updateAs I've mentioned in previous posts, there will be a free update that releases alongside the new DLC on the 25th February. In fact, there's so many great improvements to highlight that I need to spread them across two blog posts!In part one, we'll look at UI improvements, while gameplay changes will be left for part two.Finding what you needThe message log will have extra buttons allowing you to filter messages to one of the following:Objecti
v4.2.8 patch2026-02-02Hello Curators,No major changes. Another small patch fixing minor sandbox issues. Details are available in the changelog.Tim Twice Circledv4.2.8 ChangelogFixed bug: In Sandbox, various side objectives were being generated using content from installed, but inactive, DLCs.
v4.2.7 patch2026-01-30Hello Curators,There are no major changes in this update, a player made me aware of an issue that needed an immediate fix. Details are available in the changelog.That "big" update is coming alongside the release of the new expansion next month.Tim Twice Circledv4.2.7 ChangelogFixed bug: ARG abyssal research side objectives were not generating with animal availability set to 'Very Limited'.Simulation: Increased bin attraction strength to 1 so it can interrupt other pathfinding. This should resolve the issue of litter being dropped in range of a bin.9. Carbon City: Made Orange Pellet available from the start of the level.
Backdrops and Centerpieces - Megaquarium: Invertebrilliant Collection2026-01-29New DLC!If you've not heard, Megaquarium's getting a new DLC. Head over to the store page for a rundown of what's included. Remember to wishlist if you want a reminder on the day it comes out. A new way to display coralsOne of my major goals for this expansion was to make playing with corals and other static invertebrates more interesting. I wanted scope for more verticality in the displays to make the most of corals when placed in larger tanks.Secondly, I wanted the player to have more creative freedom when it comes to placing corals, to make more personal displays.To achieve this, I had to completely rework the way corals are placed in the
Announcing Megaquarium: Invertebrilliant Collection!2026-01-22Announcing a brand new expansion for Megaquarium: Introducing the Invertebrilliant Collection! This expansion focuses on the world of invertebrates, featuring 15 brand new invertebrates for your collection, as well as many new tanks and other objects that help make the most of this unique animal group!For a full rundown of what's on offer, head over to the store page. Remember to wishlist so you'll be notified when it goes live! The expansion will be priced at $9.99 (or your regional equivalent) and will launch 25th February 2026 on both GOG and Steam. As usual, this expansion will be launching alongside a big upgrade to the base game includi
v4.2.6 patch2025-10-03Hello Curators,There are no major changes in this update, the timing is related to a hotfix, the details of which are below.I do have an exciting Megaquarium-related thing to share with you guys soon though! Thank you for your parience,Tim Twice Circledv4.2.6 ChangelogSecurity: Upgraded build to Unity 2019.4.41f1 as a security precaution at the request of Unity Technologies. This is a Unity-wide event, nothing specific to Megaquarium. As of writing no users (of any game) have been affected, this is just a precaution.Bug: Fixed bug where the last tank of DF 1. Cotsbury had to be specifically a Small Abyssal Tank - this is the only tank in vani
v4.2.5 patch2025-05-26Hello Curators, today's patch contains a set of bug fixes I've been working on over the recent months. Thank you all for your feedback. I read every post. :) For those that are curious what else I've been working on, I have been working on a couple of other more substantial projects, which I look forward to sharing with you down the line. Changelog below. Any issues, let me know. v4.2.5 Changelog - 19/05/2025 UI: Added latin names as search tags to all animals. UI: Close Window button and hotkey now closes build menu, research windows, prestige window and message window. UI: Fix typo on Family Poster description. UI: Fixed bug 'needs light' n
v4.2.4 patch2024-07-16v4.2.4 Changelog - 16/07/2024 UI: Updated some incorrect Chinese localisations. UI: Added guest count to prestige window. UI: Increased maximum money from 1,000,000 to 10,000,000. UI: Updated Daisy Star Polyp latin name to Knopia Octocontacanalis. Balance: Arctic Skate now tolerates abyssal. Balance: Dislikes stony coral is now counted by science poster. Graphics: Fixed minor error in 3d model of Mega Polar Tank. Graphics: Whale skeleton is 100% opaque now leading to less glitchy use in abyssal tank. Graphics: Improved frozen paint UVs on some objects. Fixed bug/modding: 'Chemistry' objects with footprints larger than 9 tiles caused error. Ve
v4.2.3 patch2024-05-07v4.2.3 Changelog - 07/05/2024 Misc: Upgraded back up to Unity 2019.4.40f1 after fixing the issue causing textures and audio files not to load correctly on OSX and Linux. Optimisation note: Upgrading to 2019.4.40f1 has yielded a significant boost in the rendering side on my Macbook Pro. I don't know if this is limited to OSX, but it felt like possibly all versions were running a bit smoother. Nice to have! ːsteamthumbsupː Misc: Changed Peacock Squid latin name to: Taonius Borealis. Fixed bug: In staff level up tooltip, on hover over skill, modifiers from talents that were zero (--) appeared in red, instead of green.
Megaquarium v4.2.0 - Spring cleaning update!2024-05-01Greetings curators! Behold the spring cleaning update - an update dedicated to minor improvements and bug fixes that have been raised by the community. Let's take a look! Let your researchers take a break When playing with mods there can be a lot to research, and that means a lot of popups. Many Megaquarium players asked for a way to opt-out of research. Now there is a setting that allows you to do that. Options -> Interface -> Allow no research project -> On; Now the game will no longer force you to have an active research project. Warning: Your ecology and science points will be wasted so unless you're playing with mods I'd recommend leavin