Developer ACQUIRE has released a major update for its real-time RPG, Scars of Mars, for players on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. This new patch introduces a difficult post-game mode, streamlines several core systems, and adds a host of quality-of-life improvements. The update is available now and offers a fresh experience for both new and returning players.
A New Challenge for Veteran Players
The centerpiece of this update is the brand-new Challenge Mode. This mode is designed for players who have already completed the main story and are looking for a much tougher test of their skills. It’s not just a simple difficulty spike; it changes fundamental rules of the game to create a more strategic and intense experience.
This mode forces you to rethink your strategies by removing Safe Rooms entirely. Players must manage their resources carefully throughout each deployment without any breaks. The mode is split into ten distinct levels, accessible from the “Deploy” screen after finishing the game.
Key features of the Challenge Mode include:
- Stronger Enemies: Every foe you encounter is significantly more powerful.
- No Safe Rooms: You can no longer rely on these safe havens to recover.
- Best Clear Time: The game now tracks your fastest completion times for each level.
- + Equipment Blueprints: Clearing levels rewards you with upgraded versions of existing gear.
- Higher Research Cap: The Research Level Cap increases after each first-time clear.
Streamlined Upgrades and New Customization
Managing your gear just got much easier. A new “Convert All to Upgrade Points” feature has been added, allowing you to instantly process all your unused blueprints. This eliminates the tedious process of converting them one by one, letting you focus more on upgrading your best equipment.
The update also adds new cosmetic options for your humanoid characters. Players can now unlock new Masks by completing the game on different difficulty settings. This provides a great incentive to replay the story and show off your achievements.
| Difficulty Cleared | Unlocked Reward |
| Normal Mode | New Mask |
| Hard Mode | Another Unique Mask |
| Extreme Mode | An Exclusive Mask |
Additionally, important information like Class icons can now be displayed on the Humanoid Masks, making it easier to identify unit roles during chaotic battles.
Quality of Life Gets a Major Boost
Several much-needed improvements have been made to enhance the overall player experience. The storage capacity for both Research Points and Upgrade Points at the base has been increased. This change allows you to save up more resources before deciding where to spend them, making progression feel smoother and less restrictive.
A helpful new “Remaining Item Notification” has also been added to the game’s options. When turned on, this feature will alert you if you are about to leave a mission area with uncollected items left behind, ensuring you never miss out on valuable loot again. The user interface has also seen minor tweaks for better clarity, such as showing equipment levels as “Current Level / Max Level”.
Achievements and Final Fixes
For Steam players, the update addresses an achievement issue. Now, clearing the game on Extreme difficulty will automatically unlock the achievement for completing it on Normal difficulty as well, saving achievement hunters from an extra playthrough.
Finally, the patch includes several bug fixes to improve performance. An issue preventing certain animations from being skipped has been resolved, and general stability has been improved for a smoother gameplay experience across both PC and Nintendo Switch.
