Screenshot from Kitfox Games
Dwarf Fortress Premium, which recently launched on Steam and Itch.io, has quickly returned to its roots with the release of a new switchable setting that switches it back to ASCII graphics. The new patch was released on December 22 and gave us the new graphics option (as announced in Twitter), new information about the Dwarf Fortress team, and some quality of life changes.
To switch to the classic ASCII setting, simply go to settings and under graphics select the Use classic ASCII glyphs option, changing it to Yes. This will take you back to the good old days of classic ASCII symbols and not really knowing what anything was. This is a great little nostalgic feature for older fans, but it may not get much traction with newer players.
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However, the settings also give us a preview of how the updated classic version of the game might play. The free, classic version of Dwarf Fortress is slated for an update in the new year, and this graphics option feels like a preview of what to expect.
In addition to the graphical update, the patch added Steam Trading Cards, some new symbols, additional graphical elements, and some music updates. Full details can be found in the patch notes.
These also include some updates on the team working on Dwarf Fortress, with the announcement of two new team members. Putnam, a community modder originally responsible for the game’s long-running Dragon Ball Z mod, will become the first programmer outside of Tarn and Zach Adams to see the game’s heavily guarded code. Content creator SalfordSal also joins the team as a community support member who will help with Discord and stream as a host.
Overall, it’s a great note to end the first few months of Dwarf Fortress’s release. The timeless game is finally getting the more recognition it deserves, and with that comes new patches, new team members, and even more dwarf shenanigans!
For more Dwarf Fortress news, guides, and more, check out How to Start a New Fortress in Dwarf Fortress in MyFullGames.