We also improved our matchmaking by adding region filtering and better ranked searching after similar complaints throughout development.įor the uninitiated, Rivals of Aether is a platform fighter set in a world where warring civilizations do battle with the power of Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. We increased our player limit from two to four players after hearing many requests throughout development. We had a lot of improvements that we wanted to make now that we had more control over the system.

The moment we began bringing Rivals over to Game Maker Studio 2, we also began converting our netcode away from Code Mystics' system and toward YAL's netcode framework. YAL was already making great strides doing netcode related work in other Game Maker games such as an online multiplayer version of Nuclear Throne. We came across the programmer YellowAfterlife and it was a match made in heaven. Here's what developer Dan Fornace had to say about that in a Medium post: Plus, the game will feature an improved netcode, which will allow for up to four players to jump into free-for-all or 2v2 sessions. All of the previously-featured game modes will be available to play along with a new one called Tetherball, which is exactly what it sounds like, pitting two players against one another in a game of beach tetherball. This includes every character, which means you'll also get guest fighters Shovel Knight and Ori & Sein. And if you haven't tried Rivals of Aether, there's going to be no better time to give it a shot, because the Definitive Edition is set to come out next week.Īs the name might imply, the Definitive Edition for Rivals of Aether will come with all of the game's characters, stages, and game modes unlocked. So on top of playing Brawlhalla, we've also kept an eye on another Smash-adjacent effort, Rivals of Aether. Ultimate netcode has given us a new appreciation for, it's Smash Bros.-adjacent games.

Rivals of aether free to play