Updates

Sandustry Demo Patch Notes

Dated demo hotfixes — controls, botanical farming, buildings, and mod compatibility.

Last updated: 2026-08-08

The free Sandustry Steam demo (app 3490390) receives updates independent of the main Early Access listing (2764460). Patches rebalance Shaker yields, research costs, building behavior, flower farming, and Fluxloader compatibility. This wiki page tracks dated demo patch summaries so Guides, Tier List, and Mods stay aligned — always cross-check Steam news and itch.io notes for exact version strings.

Why demo patches matter

Demo is the tutorial for EA. Players who learn on demo carry muscle memory into 2026-08-13 launch (Release Date and Platforms). When patches change controls or machine speeds, pages like Keyboard Shortcuts and Production Ratio Helper need review.

Mods depend on version match. After each demo download, verify Fluxloader and Custom Map Loader compatibility (Fluxloader Install).

Saves may not migrate. Back up before updating; assume demo saves are disposable practice (Demo Review).

Patch categories to watch

Controls and UX

Changes to S descend, R build toggle, X remove, Shift marquee or launcher skip, Ctrl building replace, Lock Hotbar, and AZERTY hotbar keys hit Controls immediately.

Research and economy

Gold costs for Refining 1, Logistics 1, Refining 2, or Tools shift Research Priority timing — update tier prose when costs move more than ~10%.

Buildings and physics

Shaker proc rates (~20–25% gold), slag behavior, pipe throughput, Flux Emanator growth — cross-update How to Get Gold, How to Get Fluxite, Slag Processing, Water Management.

Botanical systems

Flower algorithm changes, Amethelis filter fixes, Hydro Sponge Grabber restrictions, embers igniting Moss and Flowers — sync Flowers and Planters and Voidbloom and Amethelis.

Content scope

Demo branch caps added or removed — sync Early Access Preview and EA Roadmap.

Mod loader breakage

Community posts on Discord/GitHub — summarize loader version pairs here when confirmed.

How we log patches on this wiki

When Steam or itch.io publishes demo news:

Note date and headline in the client or store page.
Identify affected systems (controls, research, buildings, mods, botanical).
Update relevant guide JSON sources — never hand-edit MDX.
Run npm run sync before build.
Add a summary entry below (newest first).

Patch log (wiki-maintained)

Hotfix 8 — 2025-02-21

Source: Steam demo news / developer notes
Highlights:

Flower algorithm revised — petal yields and growth timing may differ from pre-patch farms.
Ctrl hold to replace/override buildings in place (Build Modes).
Hydro Sponge Grabber — works above ground only; underground farms need pipes (Flowers and Planters).
World no longer looping — map edges behave as bounded terrain.
Loading stuck fix plus debug console on load screen for troubleshooting.
Lock Hotbar option in Building/Inventory UI (Keyboard Shortcuts).
AZERTY physical hotbar keys — hotbar maps to physical key positions, not just QWERTY labels.
Embers ignite Moss and Flowers — fire hazard for botanical wings.
Marquee click-anywhere — select regions more flexibly in build UI.
1-tile filter direction control on Filters.
Rocket Launcher nerf vs RedSand.
Circuit breaker threshold 100 → 300.
Version display added for easier bug reports.
Amethelis and filter behavior fixes for botanical belts.

Wiki pages refreshed: Keyboard Shortcuts, Build Modes, Flowers and Planters, Filters, Demo Patches

Hotfix 7 — 2025-02-12

Source: Steam demo news
Highlights:

Phase through buildings while hovering — community vote ~88% in favor; reduces collision frustration when wiring logistics.

Wiki pages refreshed: Build Modes, Controls Hub

itch.io demo parity — 2025-02-10

Source: itch.io demo update aligned with Steam demo branch
Highlights:

Brief parity pass so itch.io demo players receive the same fixes heading into Hotfix 7/8 on Steam. Verify your storefront build date if controls feel outdated.

Wiki pages refreshed: Release Date and Platforms

Pre-launch baseline (2026)

Status: Demo available on Steam (app 3490390) teaching core refinery and partial Fluxite chains ahead of EA 2026-08-13.
Known stable assumptions: Diagonal shakers, Refining → Logistics research spine, Flowers → Amethelis → Voidbloom → Flux Emanator → Fluxite, single-player only, one Flux Emanator per factory.
Action: Monitor Steam for post-EA patches; label Demo vs EA entries clearly.

After demo patches — player checklist

Read Steam patch notes
Update Fluxloader / mods if needed
Re-test diagonal shaker line (Getting Started)
Re-test Ctrl replace on refinery retrofits (Build Modes)
Revisit Research Checklist costs
Re-check flower farm if Hotfix 8 changed yields (Flowers and Planters)
Report wiki contradictions via community channels

EA patch transition

When main game EA goes live, demo patches may slow while EA patches accelerate. Continue using this page for demo-specific notes; create EA-specific summaries on Updates Hub or extend this log with clear Demo vs EA labels.

Subscribing to patch signals

Enable Steam news for app 3490390 so demo updates appear in the client. Join the official Discord announcement channel if you mod — loader authors often post compatibility there before wiki summaries. After each download, launch vanilla once before re-enabling Fluxloader mods. Note the build number in your personal log; it helps compare crash reports with Fluxloader Install troubleshooting steps.

Version pinning for content creators

If you record tutorials, note the demo build date in video descriptions. Viewers on Hotfix 8 see Ctrl replace and sponge grabber rules older videos skip — link them to this log and Research Priority rather than timestamp-only chapters. EA launch will split demo vs main-game version strings; label footage clearly after 2026-08-13.

Reporting wiki gaps

If a demo patch changes research costs and tier pages lag, mention the Steam news headline in community channels so editors can update JSON sources and rerun npm run sync.

Release Date and Platforms — Store listings and specs.
Review — Demo scope context.
Mods — Map loader versions.
Buildings — Machine behavior reference.
How to Get Fluxite — Post-Hotfix 8 botanical loop.

Demo patches are the live heartbeat of pre-EA Sandustry — bookmark this page if you mod, farm Flowers, or speedrun research order.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the most common Sandustry questions.

Where are official Sandustry demo patch notes?

Steam **news** for demo app **3490390** and itch.io demo updates. This wiki summarizes changes affecting guides.

What did Hotfix 8 change for building?

Hold **Ctrl** to replace/override buildings, improved **marquee** selection, **Lock Hotbar**, and **AZERTY** physical hotbar keys — see [Keyboard Shortcuts](/controls/keyboard-shortcuts/).

What did Hotfix 8 change for flowers?

Revised **flower algorithm**, **Hydro Sponge Grabber** above ground only, embers igniting **Moss**/**Flowers**. Read [Flowers and Planters](/guides/flowers-planters/).

Do demo patches break mods?

Often until **Fluxloader** updates. Disable mods and verify vanilla launch after each demo update.

Do demo saves work in Early Access?

Do not assume compatibility. Use demo saves as practice only.