As we approach the 2.96 release, we are working on addressing gameplay bugs, quality of life improvements and DLC updates.

Further updated April 10th. To bring an even better AlienGPT into the 2.96 Insiders build, along with further game improvements.

To enable the patch, please do the following:

1. Select Galactic Civilizations IV from your Steam Library list.

2. Right-click and select "Properties."

3. Select the BETAS tab.

4. From the dropdown, select "Insider" and click Close. (if you don't see this option, restart Steam.)

5. Steam should pull down the changed files; if you ever want to return, do the same as above but select "default."

Please note: The opt-in (Insider Build) is an early preview of the next update, and you might experience bugs or other issues.

Key Features

• Gameplay Bug Fixes. We fixed gameplay bugs for techs, leader recruitment, wealth anomalies, Civilization traits and abilities.

• Quality of Life Improvements. We improved UI issues, confusing text, camera scrolling, and default map settings.

• DLCs Updated. We added updates to the gameplay and UI for the Tales of the Arnor and Megastructures DLCs.

v2.96 April 10th, 2025 Changelog

AlienGPT

• Added in AlienGPT 2.0

  • Alien images are cached as part of the install

  • Added the ability to browse through all alien images

  • AlienGPT is smarter, enhancing the writing and image selection

Auto for Ships

• Auto survey now correctly identifies surveyable anomalies

• Auto mine correctly identifies asteroid fields

Custom Civ

• Fixed an issue where Custom Civilizations with Random citizen don’t maintain the random citizen if used in multiple games

Missions

• Fixed a bug during The Opportunity Mission players are unable to scan the Navigators planet

Ships

• Ship designs with the Precursor Particle Beam will no longer become locked and unable to build

• Fixed a bug where freighter ships could go onto the same tiles as planets

• If you redesign an existing ship and change its class, it will now properly remove the old class’s ability

UI

• Resized the Alterian citizen role UI

• Added Approval Icon for Lagoon Tiles

War

• If a player is in a permanent war with another civilization players cannot speak, trade or end the war

v2.96 March 31st, 2025 Changelog

Gameplay

• Advanced ship design mode is now on by default

• Fixed Capital City not increasing population correctly

• Anomalies that give wealth have reduced turns to survey and are more likely to occur

• Artifact anomaly turns to survey reduced from 8 to 5.

• Minister of Justice crime reduction benefit doubled

• Gave ship sensor range a minimum of 1

• Removed duplicate Egalitarian Awareness buff from Radiated Ability

• Fix Famer Civilization Trait to give the correct Farmer Bonus

• Shipyards after an invasion will no longer display correct build times instead of N/A

• Prevented the player from offering more credits than they own in a trade

Leaders

• Leadership recruiting is given higher priority by AI so that it can start using factions more effectively.

• Increased odds that a new leader will show up in each turn by 20%.

• Fixed a bug where leadership recruitment cost is negative

Techs

• Beacon reconstruction lab adjacency bonus for tech increased from 1 to 3

• Added Tech requirements for Commercial Starliner and Orbital Destination Resort

• Fixed The Opportunity Mission Logistics Tech Tree to appear correctly

Map Settings

• Default map settings changed from Binary to Singular Sectors

• Default map settings changed from Medium map size to Small map size

• Default map settings changed from starting near another civ to starting further away.

Misc

• Fixed stuck Camera scrolling issues

• Sped up scrolling in and out of the map with the mouse wheel

Text

• Added missing "(We are at War)" text to Korath war declaration

• Added missing descriptions for resource tooltips

• Fixed loading screen tooltip to say, “You can rebind useful hotkeys in the Key Bindings section of the Options menu."

• Correct probe tooltip to say “Ignored by pirates, space monsters, and precursor sentinels”

• Added clarifying text onto Techs that unlock Galactic Challenges

• Fixed tutorial pop-up to explain Executive Orders and Control

UI

• Fleet/Ship context panel shows combat rating and related stats first

• Tweaked the planet window to give a bit more space for planet improvements list.

• Fixed the scientist tech tree tooltip to show the correct information

• Fixed the “Customize your Civilization” screen from disappearing after clicking back and forth between the Civilization Select Screen

• Prevented the abilities in the “Customize your Civilization” screen from duplicating when changing them

• Defeat Video updated with new music and scene

• Fixed a bug where you can take a Leader out of the Leaders screen

• The Pause Menu no longer opens when the Automation screen is open

Tales of the Arnor DLC

Gameplay

• Fixed Citizen Stat effects for Systemic Processing Overload event

• Fixed effect for The Nexus of Computation Event

• Fixed and Buffed Supply Attrition Bonus for Prime of Colony Oversight

• Increased Supply Attrition Bonus for Prime of Colony Oversight from -0.1% to -0.5% per point of resolve

• Removed Liberate option from the Tales of the Arnor Missions

• Fixed a bug where if you locate a minor Civilization before you locate the Iconians the objective to locate the Iconians is completed

• Tech Tree

  • Cybernetic ability techs don't show up in tech tree for synthetic Civilizations

  • Added Urbanite techs to the Nyx Tech Tree

  • Added Exotic World Colonization to the Nyx Tech Tree

  • Holometric Culture Vistas unlocks Entertainers for the Nyx

Localization

• Fixed Polish localization Issues

Multiplayer

• When a player joins a multiplayer game and own Tales of the Arnor DLC, they do not need to exit and reenter the lobby to see the Nyx as a Civilization option

UI

• Added clarifying text that Synthetic races do not have access to the Cybernetic Ability and tech tree unlocks

• Updated Computational Core description indicate that it needs to be built before certain Improvements and Districts

• Fixed Incorrect Text for Lost Weapon Jammer anomaly event

• Fixed bug where the Free Will tech does not show up in the Tech Library

Megastructures DLC

Stellar Nexus

• Fixed Blue Nexus: Quantum Mirror intelligence buffs

UI

• Added new icons to represent Megastructures in the tech tree